St Luke Living Center
By SUE GUTSCH
St. Luke Living Center correspondent
In lieu of baking Friday morning, 13 residents took a ride downtown to greet the Union Pacific steam locomotive and soldiers who were on the train. It was a privilege, for some of us who were able, to visit with a gracious young woman soldier with the last name of Kroll. Joyce Ford, Bettie Batt, Bob Reznicek, Lissa Cardle, Shirley Bowers, Sue Gutsch, and Debbie Craig provided transportation and assistance to make the trip possible.
After eating lunch and enjoying some "down time," a large group played six games of our brand of bingo, followed by a variety of snacks and drinks. Thanks to Bill Schimpf for his help with this weekly activity.
The Rev. Larry King of Goodnews Christian Fellowship based his Sunday afternoon message on the scriptures of the apostle Paul. Shirley Bowers accompanied those in the full chapel as they sang hymns.
We admit we're probably at our finest the first of the week following Monday morning's pretty-up time and Tuesday's professional hair care.
Speaking of Monday, we were happy to have Ellen Darrow back to share her piano talent and general knowledge of music with us this week.
After beautician Bonnie left Tuesday, we checked the calendar and autumn does begin Sept. 23. Fall came early in our little beauty shop! It is ablaze in beautiful autumn colors of bronze, gold, green, and burgundy.
Most of the interruptions during book club this week were the welcomed variety. Stopping a few minutes while assisting Don Viets through our maze as he came in from the courtyard, we noted he also brought in the delicious fragrances of the blooming plants. Sometime later, we were visited by two beautiful babies, nine-month-old Aubrey Schlesener and her great-aunt Paula and Cowan Chumbley who is 14 months old.
In between times, we marveled at the candles Ma Ingalls made using yellow axle grease, a square of calico, a button, and saucer to bring a small light into the dark house during the long winter.
Each month we look forward to what is billed as St. Luke Auxiliary coffee. For this Tuesday afternoon's visit, Evelyn Bredemeier, Jean Case, and Janice Case brought large bowls of fruit — watermelon, cantaloupe, and grapes, a scrumptious pumpkin dip with cinnamon stick crackers, and a nut mix. As Barbara Libal noted, even the special occasion napkins looked "good enough to eat."
There were rave reviews about the trip to Maxwell Game Preserve Thursday noon. The lunch bunchers took a picnic lunch on a picture-perfect day. There were reported buffalo, owl, and turtle sightings, plus fishermen and birds of all kinds and even (sorry to say) some roadkill. Nine residents, our large white van, Shirley Bowers with a batch of "excellent" brownies, Joann Fitzpatrick with her red car, and Khrista made up the group who enjoyed the beauty and serenity of the refuge.
Later in the afternoon a second group toured the construction site of the new auditorium and new indoor pool. There was even time for a trip around the county lake.
