September already

 Hi all,

It's back to school time. We can remember when that was big deal says Orla. I was happy to go to school when I was young.  And then later as a Mother I was even more pleased that the children were out of the house.

We'd like Fall even more if winter didn't follow so closely afterwards, says Barbara. We haven't had much frost but a few of the trees are turning red. Imelda says it was 28 C in Toronto last week.
We decided that a computer could have it's uses. But we aren't sure about Facebook because of the loss of privacy concerns. I hope to change that. It is a great way to keep in touch.

We enjoyed the miniature horse Princess who came to see us last week. She was friendly and even showed off her jumping skills for us. Orla wanted to take the horse to bed with her. Annie Leard loves horses to this day. She would hitch up a horse and take it out for a ride when she was young but she says this was long time ago. Mary says she hitched up a lot of horses in her day too. That was the only way to get around whether is was to church or the store.  Gerard  developed a love for horses as  though he saw lots of them in the coal mines of Cape Breton. Marion's father kept a horse for running errands. She learned to control the horse and drive it back home after she dropped off her Dad at his work. Beryl had work horses on the farm. She would help Dad out and make deliveries to the next farm for example.School was from 9 to 3:30 pm and near by so there was lots of time to help around the farm in those days. If you are reading this post please leave us a comment.

Hold on tight to summer

We try to keep busy and add new activities. To that end we are starting a computer club. Members of the club will collect ideas and suggestions for the blog posts. Julia will keep on snapping photos and residents have no shortage of funny comments to make on life in general and life in a nursing home.
They are very aware of the changing season with lower temperatures at night. OH suggest it's time for undershirts and whiskey to keep her warm. Only a few residents in the 70 to 80 year range are keen on the computer. Today we have Bonnie Stordy, Barbara McQuarrie, Beryl Best and Orla Hatch.

Villa Computer Club

 

 

 

Next we will search for family and friends on Facebook and send out messages into the ether hoping for responses.

Also this week on Wednesday August 28 th we are hoping to have a miniature horse show. It's creating lots of buzz and horses big or small are of great interest to all residents. They lived with horses all their lives, used them as transportation and companionship. What is better in deep snow than a horse and wood  sleigh to pick you up at the local one room school and get you home safely?
And the horse would know that way home besides says BMQ.

More later.
Regards Julia Purcell
 Activities Director
South Shore Villa

Summer is here in the Island and we love it

Well summer is finally really here. It's hot and warm with ocaisional breezes. It's wonderful. Everyone up here is taking care to stay hydrated and dress for the hot weather.

Of course summer brings lots of family and friends home to the Island for a visits. Faustina Bradley had her great grandson Andrew visting from High River, Alberta along with his mother Jennifer Bradley and grandmother Margaret Bradley. Faustina's  grandson is at home in High River digging the family home out from the great flood of 2013.

Elma Birt enjoyed a visit with her son Al and daughter in law Teri Birt from Ontario. Here they are returning from purchasing a new walker for her.

Burt and Shirley Thompson have more than their share of visitors too. Here is Shirley with her brother and sister in law from Langley BC.

More later.
JMP

Winter is on the wane

Well things are just about complete with the grand addition. We've had workmen around everyday for weeks and weeks now, since June 30th, 2012.. The residents enjoyed watching the new wing take  shape over the last seven months. And the occupants of the beautiful new rooms  are happy too.

  The activity/dining areas have had a wall and closet removed plus new flooring, lighting and entrance doors  installed. Contemporary  window dressings and wall paper are coming too. Combined with  our million dollar view of the hills of Crapaud, the dining area is very attractive. The larger space will lend itself well to a sit- down tea at Mother's Day for example and our annual  Christmas Family Party.

On Wednesday February 27th, we will have a busy day. The Ukulele Orchestra will meet and rehearse in the morning and then Young at Heart Musical Theatre for Seniors performs in the afternoon, in our newly renovated activity room. And that is going to be wonderful as usual.

We've had a real Island winter this year with lots and lots of snow and cold wind. And the is just how winter is supposed to be. It's cozy indoors at  the Villa and with all the excitement of the build the winter had passed quickly. We look forward to another spring full of surprises.

Regards
 Julia   Activities Department

Winter festivities

Well Christmas came and went and it's been busy up here at the South Shore Villa. We start most days by reading the Guardian Newspaper www.theguardian.pe.ca/ and discussing any and all issues especially politics. And then we read the Journal Pioneer www.journalpioneer.com.It's a wonderful little paper that tries hard.

We had our super Christmas with tons of wonderful entertainment and  all the decorations and even a visit from Santa. Here is Bea M. and Florence Mc sitting on Santa's knee.

   And then we had to take it all down again. But that's all part of the fun of Christmas. And now it's time to talk about February.

On Valentines Day we had a wonderful theatre company come in and perform a musical for us. Young At Heart Musical Theatre for Seniors www.yahtheatre.com/ Three talented performers April Cook and Kevin Morris with Sean Ferris put on an amazing show with dance, song and story line with live accompaniment with Sean. The audience was spell bound and after we savour what we saw and heard this time we await the next show. Thanks for a grand show. 

JMP

November 2011

Dear readers,

We have been enjoying the autumn weather of late. The beautiful cobalt blue skies of autumn behind the rusty orange and yellows of the season never fail to impress residents when  out for a walk. We have a walking club and we try to get out every fine day that we have.

The hills around Crapaud are fit for a poem. We will start up the writing club again in winter. We can't get out as much in winter and writing is something any resident can do with assistance.As you know the Haiku employs five syllables in the first line, seven in the second and the third line uses five syllables also.  Here is one of the Haikus from last year.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Crows

Appear from nowhere

Noisy, huge and black as night.

Geedy crows swoop down. 

Eileen MacLean
age 88

This poem is  in the haiku format and was  written by Eileen MacLean last year recalling how when she would step outside her appartment to feed the birds a few crumbs, crows would suddenly fly in to grab all of the spoils.

Winter

Winter is on its way out,

The trees are naked.

thanks to the good Lord.

http://web.mac.com/zenbird/Site/Welcome.html 

This was a residents first  winter haiku and she certainly got her point across. The Haiku is a national passtime in Japan. Haiku clubs are common throughout that  country and have a competive spirit. If you are interested in trying your own check out this useful and friendly  site at http://blinkhaiku.blogspot.com/

We also recorded stories from times past and we got some really good material recorded. This is an ongoing project and over time we will have enough to put together a little jounal with recipes and photos.

Of course we did Halloween and the staff got into the spirit. Here is Rachel M and Kelly S being good sports and setting a fine example.

Director of Nursing at work

Residents aren't the only creative ones at the Villa

Regards,

Julia 

Autumn has arrived

Hi dear readers,

Well I see that it's ages in blog time since I made a post. I was keeping things up to date until I fell off the blog path. Last time I wrote, was in July. Well I am happy to say we had a nice number of family make visits at the Villa over the summer. We could use more though. There is no subsitute for family or old friends coming in to visit. We do have a few regulars and it is much appreciated by all.

 Above you see one of the two  wonderful old cars  that the PEI Antique Car Society brought  up for us to view and admire. It was a first meeting of the Old Boys Club, which we hope to get going. This was a fun afternoon an  enjoyed by all.

 Above is Elma Birt which two of her seven  brothers. One is Ollie Birt who lives down in the US and hadn't seem Elma for ten years. Welcome home Ollie.

That's all for now. We are still having lots of wonderful entertainment and try to keep busy and make the most of each day.

Regards,
Julia