St. Luke Living Center
By SUE GUTSCH
St. Luke Living Center reporter
Eleven residents met with Khrista Wednesday after lunch for our monthly council get-together. Many of the matters discussed pertained to meals or food.
Most residents approve of the present mealtimes, 8 a.m., 12 noon, and 5:45 p.m. We agree an occasional time change is OK if we're made aware in advance.
Everyone enjoyed the Christmas Eve party and New Year's Eve meal and would like having the pizza/pasta menu more often. It was suggested that lunch bunch be scheduled once or twice a month rather than weekly.
We are otherwise happy with the activities and appreciative of the positive responses to requests made to meet our needs.
The admission, transfer, and discharge portion of the Residents' Rights was read, as part of our ongoing coverage.
Our large van, a full load of residents and Khrista, hit the road Thursday afternoon, heading toward Florence. We then took U.S.-50 west to Sunflower Road, detoured through Aulne, and came back to town on the "old" highway.
After all the holiday mixing, dipping, and baking, a dedicated group of bakers went back to work Friday morning to make orange slice cookies, another deliciously crisp hit. This particular recipe is attributed to Mrs. Russell Sylvester of Ottawa.
Of course, the afternoon is almost always set aside for bingo. Bill Schmipf called the numbers this week, adding a few new wrinkles to the games. Ruby brought a tin of sugar cookies to share. It was during this time that several of us realized there was something new in our courtyard. The lighted wise men were gone and a large snowman was standing right outside our windowed wall. This fellow had long, skinny tree branch arms, sycamore tree fruit-ball eyes, and a large blue tin can hat, which prompted us to christen him "Max." And, by the following morning, there were two more snow people in the yard! Sadly, by the next afternoon, Max's eyes had fallen out and his stature was rapidly declining. But like Frosty, maybe he'll "be back again someday."
Back by popular demand, we played penny-ante Saturday afternoon. The pennies, passed back and forth, take a back seat to knowing Phyllis has been sprayed by a skunk and Alice could make a hula hoop "hula," by their yes answers to those questions. Amelia did appear to be this days' winner, but we put the pennies back into the ceramic cup for another day.
Larry King, pastor of Good News Christian Fellowship, was our guest minister Sunday afternoon, assisted by Shirley Bowers for hymn singing.
Monday afternoon we began un-decorating. Our front door living area looks so naked without the large lighted tree's presence.
Nearing the end of the seventh book in the "Little House" series, the book club loyalists listened as Almanzo Wilder began seeing Miss Ingalls home.
Members of the hospital auxiliary not only provided conversation Tuesday afternoon, but brought a variety of good snacks. There also were pretty napkins, plates to hold the meats, cheeses, party mix, crackers, and fresh orange sections. We had made a pitcher of steeped iced tea and a pot of hot coffee to serve. Thanks to Jean Case, Iris Summers, and Evelyn and Dick Bredemeier for a lovely afternoon.
Thursday morning we sang hymns with Shirley Bowers and the afternoon was spent eating freshly popped corn and playing the Ungame. A nice way to spend time indoors when it's too cold and damp to be outdoors, even in the van.
