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St. Luke Living Center

By SUE GUTSCH

St. Luke Living Center correspondent

Friday morning we continued to "munch our way across the USA," toward Lansing, the capital of Michigan. We made pudding chip cookies, submitted by Florine Rader who says the recipe has been in her family so long, that no one remembers where it came from.

We enjoyed bingo caller Pat Smith that afternoon, but probably could have done without one of the facts she shared from Happiness magazine — when a person reaches the age of 35, they begin losing brain cells at the rate of 7,000 per day. We concluded some people must have been given more than their share at birth, because we know some very cerebral octogenarians. At least the delicious zucchini bread she shared with us "soothed" our concerns.

A sack of Avon products inspired an afternoon of penny-ante Saturday. We passed pennies left or right for about an hour, depending on whether we answered yes or no to questions like: Have you seen the Grand Canyon? Did you ever drive a Model T? Have you ridden a roller coaster? When we finished, those with the most pennies chose first from the items, gifts from Dorothy Broce of Lost Springs, until everyone had a prize. We learned that Aline cannot swim (just float) and Amelia has never played golf!

Earlier in the afternoon Don Viets spent time in the courtyard capturing the array of beautiful blooming colors on film.

A group of youngsters from Strassburg Baptist Church made the Sunday afternoon service a special one. Their musical numbers in their identical lettered T-shirts were delightful.

The pretty-up shop was really a manicure shop Monday morning. Shortly after lunch, Marie Navrat was here looking for pitch players and she didn't look long. Ruby, Olinda, Amelia, and Melvin filled the "slots."

Mid-afternoon we enjoyed having Kristie Wright, Abby and Elizabeth here to help us make large 18x12 August placemats. It was our job to color the cute picnic-theme picture above individual names Kristie stenciled on each one. When a mat was finished, she laminated it for longer life. The little girls, granddaughters of Phyllis and Gene Enos, were wonderful helpers and our thoughtful dietary department prepared a big bowl of party mix and some lemonade along with other juices.

While the beauty shop was open Tuesday morning, residents would come and go using some artistic mental muscle finishing the placemats for those who were unable to participate.

In the afternoon an old Indian told the locals of the "21-year winter" that was coming, confirming Pa's instincts. The Ingalls family moved into the false-front store in town, bringing their cow and calf, to better prepare for the long winter.

We also did some exercising, picked three more tomatoes from the courtyard, and visited with Frances Steiner, who had come to visit his aunt Irma.

Dick Pracht, Nancy Tharp, and Lydia Batt were the prayer group leaders Wednesday morning. We couldn't hear the spoke message in the halls, but the hymns floating out were beautiful.

A big thank you to Shirley Bowers who was willing to read the Marion County Record during our current events activity in the afternoon.

"One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anyplace else on earth." That's how 12 residents felt Thursday morning when Theodora and Harry Koslowsky and their 11-year-old granddaughter, Emily hosted a garden party.

Emily, who is visiting from Georgia, entertained us with a song while using sign language. Honey, Emily's dog, demonstrated her intelligence by performing tricks, assisted by Emily.

Ellie Zerger assisted her neighbors in serving refreshments, which were beautifully displayed on a table graced by lovely flowers from the garden. We enjoyed lemonade, cupcakes, petit fours, patriotic cookies, and delicious homegrown blackberries. After refreshments, we were taken on a tour through the garden and Theodora's potting shed/hobby house, which houses a scale model of her childhood country school, complete with miniature furnishings. We so enjoyed our picture-perfect summer morning amidst flowers and friends.

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