Last month I predicted the weather was going to be crazy, but I am thankful that I was wrong. The weather was great. Finally something wonderful in 2020 to talk about.
The residents were out walking on a few of the sunny days and some have been able to take their cars for a drive without fearing the snow. It was just a great November as far as the weather goes.
The Royal Canadian Legion’s Estevan branch brought us a poppy tray so that we could support the legion and wear our poppies in memory of those who fought for our freedom. This year we weren’t able to host the legion and have a Remembrance Day service. Some watched the services that were on the television and others took time to reflect on their own.
In November we welcomed a couple new faces to the lodge. Mabel Bouchard, who had been patiently waiting for a call, moved in first. Mabel came just in time as her birthday was coming so we can celebrate with her.
Then we welcomed Lila Forseth, who is just a delight. Lila seems to be fitting in quite well and is getting to know her way around the lodge. Both of our new residents enjoy a good game of Bingo.
Our cocktail hours were fun. The ladies made Harvey Wallbangers, a few paralyzers, the odd rum and ginger ale. A bud light was enjoyed and finished up with a nice rye and coke. We offer non-alcoholic drinks, too, just so we include everyone who likes to come out. Non-alchoholic beer even made an appearance this month and we found it to be quite tasty.
I think for December we should try a Moscow Mule or eggnog and rum. We will keep you posted on which cocktail is the new favourite.
We hosted the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation tea and it was so much fun. We brought out the good china tea cups, perked a pot of tea and then the ladies from the foundation dropped off dainties, information about the foundation and gift bags donated by Sun Country Hearing. The gift bags were filled with a beautiful tea cup and spoon, glass cleaner and so much more.
We appreciated the effort that was put into bringing the tea to us instead of cancelling it. Bravo to all involved. We sent our donations over and know they will be put to good use at the hospital.
A small group of us ventured out to the Souris Valley Museum for an outing in November. We weighed the pros and cons and decided it was time to get out for a few hours. Art Beselt safely picked us up in the SMILE van, and Mark Veneziano met us at the museum’s door with a welcoming smile.
We were the only ones in the museum for a private tour. He allowed us to look around at the displays, answering all our questions and he was very patient with us. Mark even let us venture out to the old school house that was donated by Stanley Durr, who used to live at the lodge. We finished up the afternoon with a cup of coffee and then it was time to head home.
We watched the movie We Bought a Zoo and it was great. Filled with laughs and even a few tears. How great to see a dad move mountains to make sure his kids get the best childhood he could provide. Then we watched The Long Shot, which was a movie about a woman who is left to raise her daughter and the struggles she overcomes because of her connection with horses.
It was another great movie that tugged at our heartstrings and had us rooting for the family to come out on top.
December is going to bring some Christmas movies, and we can hardly wait to see which ones they will be.
There were only two birthdays in November: Emilia Lalonde and Minnie Fleck. We celebrated. We enjoyed birthday treats and then sang Happy Birthday to our special ladies. There was a day when we would buy presents for each resident on their birthday but that tradition was stopped because most seniors have everything materialistic that they could want or need.
We found it was the gathering of peers with a treat and a song that was the true gift.
