We added this 6-foot coloring poster to the wall in our staff break room. Coloring is an excellent way for our staff to unwind during their break. Experts say that coloring can ease tension, reduce stress, slow our breathing, and clear our minds. It seems we have a lot of talented and creative staff who are enjoying their time to reduce their stress before heading back to work.
On May 25, Columbia Cottage staff and residents had two special guests come to see us. Aldinger Farms brought us two baby kangaroos. Abby is the biggest one at seven months; the little one has no name and is three months. I have never seen so many smiles and cuddling going on. This was a welcome break for all since we had our annual state inspection the day before.
This month we celebrated the birthday of the Blue Jean (May 20 th). We collected blue jeans from staff and recycled them into a collaborative art piece: hanging denim feathers off a stick. The tedious task brought lots of conversation time, laughter, and fine motor skill exercises. The end result was beautiful and can be seen on the front office door. Be sure to check it out next time you visit!
Our residents love getting together on Friday afternoons and singing along to some of their favorite songs. The hardest part is trying to remember what we want to sing! If you have any song suggestions, mom’s/dad’s old favorite singers or songs, please feel free to drop off a list.
Life around the Cottage isn’t always serious. At times, we can be a little silly. Here are some candid pictures to share the funny! Recycling the completed Jumbo Crossword board into a crown for our Crossword Queen Pat. Showing our patriotism with our Red, White, and Blue car display in the parking lot. There was that one-time Christine drew a picture for the word “fat” during Pictionary and it accidentally looked like Fred. Shark attack! I guess we had more rain than we thought if a shark could get in!
Our ladies really enjoy arranging the fresh flowers they receive bi-weekly from Three Peas In A Pod. It’s a time to be in touch with nature, reminisce, and bond with good friends. They really enjoy sharing the joy by creating arrangements for other residents. The smiles on everyone’s face is priceless!
I have truly been blessed to have had a job I LOVED for the past two years here at Columbia Cottage. Every resident has held a special place in my heart, and it has been a great honor getting to know them and their families. As my time here has ended, I want to thank everyone for their love and support over the years. The donations of supplies, words of encouragement, shared stories of past and present, hearing how the residents light up when talking about their day’s activities has been the greatest gift I could receive. I will never forget our time together: the laughter, the noodles, the art, and the love. So, it’s not goodbye, but see you soon. With all my love ~Christine
Sunny Days are here and so are the Backyard Games! (Ok, Cottage Kitchen Games) Residents enjoyed playing Cornhole, Ring Toss, Washers, Lawn Darts, and "Beer" Pong - Christine Style.
One of the most important principles that my grandmother “Mimi” instilled in my brother and me is that “Kindness Matters.” In a world where the daily news is filled with negative reports and events, simple acts of kindness are often overlooked. If we truly believe that kindness can have a significant and positive impact on our life and for others, the question then becomes – “what can you do to make kindness a lifelong habit?” There are many definitions of kindness but to me, to make kindness a lifelong habit, you need to have empathy and compassion toward others. Empathy is the ability to look outside of yourself and understand the needs of others. Being kind to a college, family member, friend or neighbor who is experiencing a struggle can be achieved by offering a simple smile, a hug, a compliment, offering to help or share, or just spending time together. To put it in another context, if a classmate says or does something mean, or a parent or teacher seems to always be irritable, realize that there may be things going on in that person’s life which may be contributing to that negative behavior. At these moments, I encourage us all to have empathy for their situation and react in a way that doesn’t make the circumstances (or their mood) worse. Sometimes that means just being quiet and waiting for a calm or neutral time to talk. Finally, it has been said that kindness begins within and spreads outward. When you are confident and believe in yourself, you are better able to consider the feelings of others. When you are kind to others, you not only feel better about yourself, but you are able to influence the way others treat you. I would like to leave you with a few quotes to consider: When you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours - Zig Ziglar. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about - Plato Maybe if we can all strive to be a little kinder to each other, we can make a positive impact on our corner of the world!
Do you prefer chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry? Our ice cream parlor was opened on May 25 th with delicious ice cream sundaes. Residents were able to choose their favorite ice cream and a variety of toppings. The parlor was filled with nostalgia as one Resident reflected on her fond memories of making and serving ice cream at a local ice cream parlor in her youth. “Ice cream soothes the soul.” ― Adrienne Posey
We were so excited to welcome Carrie, Don, Allene, and Fran into their new home on our opening day. Each new resident had the opportunity to cut the ribbon at the entrance to their apartment. Families were invited to a celebratory lunch, and everyone enjoyed meeting their new neighbors. We have since welcomed five more residents and are looking forward to many more!
We had a wonderful time at our Mother’s Day Tea. Everyone enjoyed the many hats that our Marketing Director, Cindy, provided for us to look at and wear for the tea. We enjoyed discussing the different styles of hats, what occasions would require a hat, where to buy hats, and proper hat etiquette. Chef Tia and Justine provided delicious treats: mini cream puffs, eclairs, tea cakes, pinwheels and more. It was a great time to socialize and celebrate Mothers! "Wearing a hat is fun; people have a good time when they`re wearing a hat." - Philip Treacy
