You won’t find a lot of complaining about the winter weather in this column. How lucky we’ve been this year to have such sunny days and no blizzards at all. We just hope we didn’t speak too soon. We are looking forward to watching the trees bud and anticipating the arrival of the crew to do some landscaping for us. The yard is quite a mess from our lounge construction, so that will be where our efforts lay this spring and summer.
The lodge was busy with entertainers galore last month. We started with our special friends, Freddie and the Freebies. We love to listen to their tunes. Birthday party entertainment was provided by resident Norma Barber on the piano. Norma played in a band for years and we love her swinging way of playing.
Valentine’s Day was a treat when Mel Herman and Doreen Sanderson entertained in the afternoon. The next evening Jim Pratt provided a Valentine program of love songs with Judy accompanying him on the piano. The Church of Christ singers are so faithful to direct us in a sing-song twice a month. The Happy Wanderers were here for a rousing afternoon of music and we ended the month with entertainment from Bob Olson and his family. All in all, we are a lucky bunch to have these people take time to share their talents with us. Thanks.
We’ve been carrying on with our exercise program thanks to Audrey Dupuis, Sharon Dayman and Irene Tarnes. Sharon commented she is noting some improvement in strength and movement with those attending regularly. That’s great news. We sure appreciate the commitment these ladies have made to our program.
Our spiritual needs were met with regular Sunday services by the Ministerial Association, Catholic Mass every Friday and Sunday, and Lutheran Communion on the first Wednesday, provided by Trinity Lutheran Church. This is so important to the residents, and we are very thankful to all those involved.
Lots of card playing is going on at our new tables in the lounge. It’s so nice to hear the chatter as a game of Whist is taking place. Some folks are enjoying sitting around the fireplace on the couches or watching a TV show on our big screen television. The lounge has been booked by many for family gatherings and dinners. A few final touches need to be made (window coverings and maybe a few more décor items) and then the room is officially completed. Everyone is thoroughly enjoying the space.
We want to thank our regular bingo caller, Joan Wock and our substitute bingo caller, Garry Hoffart, for providing us with our Wednesday night bingo games. We can’t miss bingo. We enjoy Christina Wock’s dog therapy program, which she is so faithful with by bringing her pets to visit us. The ladies from the Estevan Public Library deserve a big thanks also for making their monthly trek over here so we can get new books.
We have 10 members of the Creighton Lodge Songbirds who practice every Wednesday. They are Kay Johnson, Norma Barber, Elsie Earl, Marie Bill, Gladys Lindgren, Sarah Harder, Bette MacDonald, Dick Willows, Bob Cochran and “one more time,” Frank deBoth. They produce quite a sound, it’s certainly a highlight of Judy’s week to play for them.
We’ve been treated to a new program by the artist-in-residence from the Estevan Arts Council. Many Estevan and surrounding area artists have been coming to help us create new art with felt. We are learning different techniques with the goal to create something for Creighton Lodge to display. We are pleased they chose the lodge for this new endeavour.
We welcomed Herman and Nancy Kleebaum and Bette MacDonald to the Creighton Lodge family. We hope they enjoy their new homes.
A big thank you to Bob Wock for creating our beautiful fireplace mantle. He donated it to the lodge and it has finished off our new fireplace beautifully.
On Feb. 27 there was a celebration in the lounge for Benita Brennan’s 90th birthday. At one point we had over 100 people singing Happy Birthday to Benita. She smiled and had tears of joy in her eyes as she thanked everyone for joining in her celebration. After the party, there was a smaller supper celebration held in the lounge with approximately 50 of Benita’s family members. What a joyous day it was for her to be surrounded by everyone who loves her.
This month I though we would close with a poem written by Cornelius Lucy, a resident of Creighton Lodge.
All the Same in a Hundred Years.
‘Twil be all the same in a 100 years
Success, endeavour, trophies, fame
Our measure in the list appears
Honours for our worth proclaim
Must it be so? For our eulogy?
Our credit in the passing years
Destined for the record be
‘Twil be all the same in 100 years.
