ESTEVAN - Spring at the lodge is almost over and we are definitely looking towards the summer months.
We welcomed a few new faces to the lodge since our last column. Gabriel Raiwet moved in and has been such a great guy to get to know. Gabriel is active and participates in anything that gets him moving. He is going to be a great asset in motivating us all to move more.
Irene and Earl Craig also moved in, which is fantastic for her sister Marie Bonokoski to have Irene so close now. Irene and Earl are both settling in quite nicely and are enjoying the extra socialization with their new neighbours.
We celebrated our birthday parties with entertainment provided by Del Koch and Kelly Eagles. Joan McDavid, Olive Aspinall, Elsie Ludtke and Mary Fedyk all celebrated birthdays in April. For May we celebrated Betty Eagles, Gail Mack, Bertha Chicoine, Margaret Elash and Irene Craig.
The April resident social night was barbecued hotdogs as a special treat, with homemade baked beans and potato salad to accent the meal. Dessert was Dairy Queen sundaes. Everyone enjoyed the night.
In May we had our delicious KFC meals which were enjoyed as usual.
Thank you to Bev Holinaty, Irene Dyer and Jean Delorme for hosting our weekly Bingo events. Thank you to Sharon Dayman for exercising us each Wednesday, and to Irene Tarnes for coming on Fridays to get us moving.
Joy Beahm faithfully comes each Monday and always stays until everyone wanting a manicure receives one. Every other Monday we have Norma Blackburn and Melodye Pierson host our cocktail hour. Thank you ladies for being so dedicated in ensuring we have social events.
Our musical groups – the Olson’s, Laurie Fornwald from Lampman and Homespun Harmonies – were all here to entertain us last month. Thank you to everyone who is talented and can bring a smile to our faces.
Easter was celebrated with a ham dinner prepared with all the trimmings and Mother’s Day with a special tea for all our moms. We drank from our china tea cups, snacked on delicious dainties and sat with invited guests. Nothing is more special than a mother and daughter sharing a moment to recognize their love for each other.
May 25th was the annual Day of Caring with United Way Estevan. We are fortunate to have Kingston Midstream as our crew who comes to plant, weed, rake, paint, wash windows and just work their butts off to ensure our grounds are beautiful. We love their smiling faces.
This year with the help of Warren Stubel and the day of Caring crew, we planted five trees on the south side and five on the north side. These trees were planted with funds donated from Otillia Gervais’s family in her memory. We will be adding a plaque to acknowledge their generosity and in memory of their mother Otillia.
We received a generous donation for our garden from the family of Benita Brennen. Benita loved to be in the garden with her friend Irma Kreager. These two ladies spent hours ensuring our garden on the north side by the alley was kept filled with beautiful flowers using their own money to buy the flowers each year as a donation to the lodge.
With the donation from Benita’s family, we will be able to continue to plant flowers in the gardens in memory of Benita. This year we planted colourful perennials with a vision to add more. We will be placing a plaque to honour Benita and her family.
Did I mention the ice cream truck is back for another season of delicious ice cream? A Cherry on Top pulls up each month, we all run out and stand in line to be able to choose our favourite flavours. Maple walnut is a fan favorite (favourite) but so is the chocolate peanut butter cup.
We are thankful the first day of summer is just around the corner but we are equally thankful for the invention of ice cream. Our wish for you all is that you take the time each day to count your blessings, appreciate your loved ones and live your best life possible.
