May is a time of craziness when students are graduating, vacations are beginning, family is going and coming and coming and going. The flowers start blooming; some need planting and weeding still feels like a treat; not a chore. It’s a temperature segue between too hot and too cold And here at Decatur House, it is trying to experience it all at once and then once more.
Some of the fun experiences we had this month was an outing to Heritage Theaters to see ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’, and a lunch outing to The Pilot House, which was well attended and made especially delightful when we ran into some Decatur House friends and family. See photos of our dashing group above. From left to right – Bernadette, Mary Clare, Connie, Pat, Chuck, Lourana and Betty. Scallops, fish & chips , hummus wraps and fried brussel sprouts were a great first taste of summer.
Some residents happily replaced track walking at the Sandwich Center for Active Living (a very well attended outing) with walking on the Cape Cod Canal. Other walking enthusiast gathered to walk the property here and enjoyed the lovely gardens that have started to bloom.
Another outing, this one to Scenic Roots, gave residents the opportunity to select plants for a small herb garden as well as tomatoes and other “testers.” A couple of avid gardeners bought plants for their private use and others were content with armchair gardening; preferring to watch Linda and Billy pot the new purchases. Now the herb pots have found their way onto the daily walking route. If all goes well, some of those herbs will soon find their way into Cynthia’s delicious recipes.
A good movie is a tried-and-true recipe for a relaxing time. There were several detective and spy movies like Octopussy, Witness for the Prosecution, Little Women, and Little Men. Scrabble (see above photo of Betty, Ben, Joe and Eugenie playing Scrabble), card games and makeovers with nurse Melissa and Christine were lots of fun too!
Besides Mother’s Day, there were many birthdays celebrated this month. Mary Clare D., Joan W., and Maggie B. were recognized on their special days. We also took time to remember and honor the fallen heroes of our country. We have a lot to be grateful for.
Live music by Julie Charland and Rick Walsh was enjoyed. Lourana invited a friend and piano instructor, Melissa Harris and several of her students over to perform. It was refreshing, uplifting and fun. We are so grateful for our entertainers and volunteers that make our days happy and our hearts light.
An uplifting new activity, Devotions with Ruth Blais, was added to the spiritual self-care roster along with communion with Mike Hayes and Reiki with Susan.
Demand for the painting classes continues to increase. Seats were full in Watercolors with Mary Shea (see photo of Nancy D. and Ginny painting above) and Acrylics with L’eonie Little-Lex .
Tai Chi with Donna (of Feisty Lion Martial Arts) and work outs with personal trainer, Kristen Gorrasi continue to be wildly popular and physically beneficial.
Crafting with Joyce, Cards with US Veteran Owen Earl, and Michelle Cox- Notary and founder of the Daily Money Manager, are all activities and people we are grateful for.
And to our greater community who welcomes and helps keep our summer outings smooth and worry free while we eat, shop and connect: thank you!
