Memory Garden November Look Back
The holiday season is upon us and we find ourselves snuggling in our fuzzy warm sweaters enjoying a warm cup of cocoa. Our Memory Garden residents have delighted in an abundance of events this month.
Our entertainment line up has been long and lively. The ever popular Bart & Bumpy performed a variety of country’s favorite hits. Saved by Grace joined us again with their angelic harmonies. An impromptu appearance from Michael Dennehy was a pleasant surprise! The residents always enjoy listening to the children of the Larson family sing their hearts out. The Chautauqua Shores Quartet gave a fabulous performance as well. The residents also enjoyed an appearance from Steve Davis. Angelo Alaimo joined us again with his harmonica in hand. Jeaneen Jaynes provided us with fabulous piano playing. Lucille Miller provided the entertainment for our monthly birthday party playing the resident’s favorite piano tunes. Don Sandy made his weekly Wednesday morning appearance playing polka music during coffee house. Every Wednesday afternoon we enjoy the music of Spencer Drake. Friday mornings are reserved for Mary Shmit’s variety of sing alongs, rythm circles and music games. Dave Johnson joined us with his guitar and accordion.
We devoured some delicious pizza and salad from Pizza Express for our take-out Wednesday. For the monthly lunch outing we visited the Bemus Point Inn, where everyone enjoyed the food, the service and the atmosphere.
On Veteran’s day our veterans attended a roast beef luncheon at Comfort Today, honoring them for their service to our country.
This month we celebrated National Donut Day and National Cappucino Day by holding a donut and cappuccino social. Lot’s of yummy fun! Of course on National Sundae Day our residents attended a sundae social with all the toppings. We ate some delectable parfaits while playing Pictionary on National Parfait Day. On National Chicken Soup for the Soul Day we read some inspirational stories out of our favorite Chicken Soup for the Soul books.
For the holiday craft our residents created cute paper turkeys in which they wrote everything they are thankful for on the tail feathers.
As usual we had a great turnout for the monthly tea party. Our residents enjoyed tasty muffins with their tea while listening to such crooners as Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.
Our baking club gathered in the kitchen and whipped up a batch of candy called Sundae Funday Bark. Scrumptious!
On Thanksgiving Day we played a competitive game of Thanksgiving Jeopardy in the morning and after eating turkey and all the fixings we relaxed with a Thanksgiving movie.
Resident participation was booming for the many different games we played including a new game called Rhyme Time, where you try to find as many words as possible that rhyme with the word on the white board. We also had a great time playing “What’s Next?” (After being given part of a common phrase, song or nursery rhyme, try to guess what comes next). We had a few games of bingo as well as the 7-Up card game (Players are dealt seven cards face up, when one of their cards matches a card drawn from a separate deck that card is turned over. The first to turn over all their cards wins).
We really got our exercise with our more active games like kick ball (sit around in a big circle and kick the ball to each other), ring toss, bean bag toss, bowling, penny toss and ladder ball (toss a short length rope with a ball on each end towards a three rung ladder trying to wrap it around a rung). Bean bag Twister is always fun (spin the spinner then try to toss the beanbag onto the corresponding color for a certain point value). We also played Giant Kerplunk (pull out the stick but don’t let the marbles fall), and Frisbee Golf (try to throw the Frisbee into the basket).
What a fabulous time we had this month. We’re looking forward to even more fun in December. You know what they say – “It’s the most wonderful time of the year!”
Happy Holidays to All! If you have any questions or comments for upcoming activities, please contact Margaret Wright, Memory Garden Activities Coordinator at (716)488-9434 ext 2226, or email at MWright@tanglewoodmanor.com.
