On July 12th, we enjoyed our “Picnic Memories, Then & Now” program. Part of the program included “Picnic Boxes” filled with cookies and snacks. Below is a story shared by one of our residents about her memories of picnic boxes.
“Darlene’s Picnic Box” – In 1945, when I was 14 years old living in Oklahoma, I made a picnic box in the shape of a pumpkin and it was filled with candies, cookies and fruit. The boxes were auctioned to the boys. My box was bought by Willis. Willis and I sat together in the auditorim as we ate the contents of the box. This was the beginning of many things I experienced in my rural community where I grew up.
Pictured below is Darlene and her husband, Leo. They have been married for 60 years. The box pictured is one of the boxes decorated for the program.
Every month we schedule a monthly birthday party in the Tallman Multi-Purpose Room to celebrate resident’s birthdays for that month. We bring in live entertainment which provides a festive environment and birthday cake is served. For the month of July, that day was scheduled for today, July 18th. Well, the entertainer called and said that he was not able to make it due to sickness and the cake we ordered didn’t arrive. Plan B: We all went outside in the Keives Garden, played summer music on the CD player, put our hats on, and had ice cream instead. The dragon flys were our entertainment and the ice cream was our treat. We’ll sing our happy birthdays next Monday with birthday cake.
The apples are growing. They’re not ready to pick yet, but come September they will be. And when they are ready, we plan to use them to make Apple Crisp as part of a program with residents.
Yesterday, we made smoothies. The freshness of summer in your mouth always wakes up the taste buds. (picture posted with permission)
A group of residents went to the Manitoba Legislative Building today. They enjoyed the guided tour which explained its history and architecture. Some residents said that just being in the building was special enough and that they were speechless. There were a couple of residents who remember being there as a child. For others, this was their first time.
