Painting and Stenciling

Today we listened to tranquil music and painted. Some residents used stencils and others free hand.
Everyone took their time and enjoyed the calm music and working with a brush.
It was nice to hear everyone comment on each other's work. The color choices are beautiful.

Reindeer Brownies Bring Smiles to a Cold Day!

Decadent chocolate brownies were cut in triangles for us from the kitchen.
Next we just used our artistic skills and imagination to turn them into a fun treat!

What you need;
Tray of brownies. Use a jelly roll pan for best results. Cut into triangles.
Stiff frosting like royal works best. It will be your "glue," and red nose.
Two small throw away piping bags. Cut tip off. No need to buy a metal tip.
Mini m&m's.
Small pretzels.
Red food coloring for nose.

Reference picture above.
At the top squeeze two drops of frosting. Attach antlers/pretzels.
Next squeeze two small dots for the eyes. Add mini m&ms to the center of each frosting dot.
The next part will require a separate piping bag. Dye your frosting red. Take piping bag and add a large red nose at the bottom of your brownie.
That is it! You have reindeer for you and your guests!

Today we had peach herbal tea and coffee with our brownies. We listened to holiday music. Afterwards carolers came to visit and sang for the entire building.

Peach Tea

We also had a fantastic game of trivia earlier today! Several people made it to round two however only four made it to round three. Bob was our winner!

Family Holiday Party

On Sunday the residents enjoyed a party thrown for them and their invited guests.

To get started the young violinists and flutist from "We Play Music 4 You," donated their time and talents to entertain everyone. https://www.weplaymusic4you.org/

Everyone was impressed with the musicians!

It was a great start to an enjoyable afternoon for everyone!
Hot and cold appetizers were provided as well as cold drinks. A party wouldn't be complete without cookies and of course a beautiful cake!

Vanilla and chocolate cake

Special Moments

Hanging out and enjoying guests.

A Busy Wed!

Jackson, the pet therapy dog came to visit! Any pet visit is a fun day for many residents.

Smiles all around for Jackson!

Afterwards we had a cookie and a choice of herbal tea. Herbal tea was a hit last time so we tried black cherry today. Many residents said it was really good!

Black Cherry Tea!

Earlier in the day we added to our awesome sweet street theme! We made giant lollipops for the dining room. Tim from the kitchen cut big circles out from boxes for us. We then painted and glittered. Betty our wrapping super star then wrapped leftover wrapping paper rolls for the sticks. Crafting sure is fun!

DIY! Cardboard and wrapping paper rolls!

Penn Hills Girl Scouts Made our Day!

Troop 52394 from Penn Hills made the resident's day!
These young ladies gave up their holiday party to spend time with us. They gave us an over the top party!

Fancy piping!

Patient, artistic decorating!

They brought beautiful cookies. Girls sat down and helped each resident decorate their cookie with piping bags. I saw many smiles a mile long!

Next the young ladies lined up and asked the room trivia questions. All did a great job public speaking. If a resident answered then they had loads of prizes to hand out. They were not done! Emily, the leader pulled out coloring books. The younger girls really enjoyed coloring with the residents. 

They wrapped up by singing Christmas carols.
This was a fun, memorable day for the residents and I am sure for the Girl Scouts. It was a pleasure seeing them so engaged with the residents. A great day and a fantastic job by the young ladies and the Girl Scout leaders. Thank you from all us!
https://www.gswpa.org/

We Had A Great Time!

Dancing and singing along!

Trina the Entertainer came today and wow what a show! The residents had a fabulous time!
She is full of energy and the residents really enjoyed her show! Smiles, laughs and singing all around!
http://trinajanura.com/

Trina selected a head elf!

A dancing tree!

Enjoying the show.

More Sweet Treat Crafts and Helping Hands!

This morning a resident and I worked on wrapping "fake" gifts for a table centerpiece. It was nice to have the help and she really enjoys helping me too! #DIY can be easy and affordable.
Wrapped gifts with fancy bows or tied on ornaments can turn a boring table into something festive.

Helping Hands.

Easy table decor!

Later on a group of us made lollipop paper crafts. We took a paper plate and created an old time swirl pattern with marker. Next painted and then of course added some glitter. Once dry a pop stick you by from the craft store will be glued on the back.  These will go in the dining room for our sweet treat theme!

Sweet Treat 2018 Theme!

Charles Dicken's Day

So many of us have a favorite holiday movie, song or play. Today we enjoyed a "Christmas Carol," by Charles Dicken's. Gene Lockhart was the lead. Several residents were eager to watch this black and white classic on our large t.v. screen.

In the afternoon our porcelain tea cups were brought out for a Dicken's tea. When celebrating an English author it seems fitting to have tea! Raspberry and wild berry tea was offered and it was popular! Of course a sweet is necessary for tea so we had a small brownie and cookie too.

While having our tea we listened to Victorian carols as well as some Dicken's readings mixed in. Christmas and holiday music has been a soothing and also fun filled addition to events and meal times. Many residents break out in song and it is thoroughly enjoyed!

Group Collage is More Fun!

So many helping hands and so much fun!
We took winter and holiday cut outs from magazines and created a long mural.

Supplies you need;
A little bit of paint for snow and clouds, sponge brush.
Break down a card board box and cut off flaps. Makes a long mural.
Old magazines.
Scissors and glue.

Paint your clouds and snow first.
We had our magazine cut outs done so we could easily view where they should be placed. We did not cut as we go. Glue your pieces on the board.
**Cards also make nice cut outs too.
Remember this is a more abstract story. You are not looking for perfection.

Hung in Activities Room

A Pittsburgh Lunch!

So many of us have walked in the door from a long day at school or sled riding and smelled your Mom's or Grandma's "Pigs in the Blanket," or stuffed cabbage.
This lunch brings back memories for many Pittsburghers!
Lunch today had few plates with any left overs.

Need a recipe, here you go:


For cabbage rolls:

1 head cabbage                  2 c. cooked rice
1 small onion, chopped     1 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. lean pork                1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper

For topping:

2 T. brown sugar
1 c. water
1 c. ketchup
1 c. tomato soup  

Core cabbage.  Place cabbage in large pot of boiling water; simmer gently for 10 minutes.  Remove, drain.  Gently pull off leaves; set aside.  Mix meat, onion, rice, salt, and pepper until it holds together well.  Place a heaping tablespoon of rice mixture on a cabbage leaf and wrap.  Place in a greased casserole.  Combine topping ingredients and pour over rolls.  Bake at 300 degrees for 2 hours.  

Gingerbread Craft Turns Out Awesome!

On Tuesday it was chilly but, we were thinking about warm gingerbread cookies!
We used Strathmore artist paper so our gingerbread did not weigh down the paper.
One of my favorite craft tools are q-tips. They are easy to use and create an interesting design.
So we dabbed q-tips in different colors. Every gingerbread is unique and really makes our holiday display a pleasure to look at! Enjoy!

Dining room

The resident's art welcomes you!

A Cozy Chair in the Lobby

Isn't this the perfect spot to read a book among the festive decorations? Residents sure think it is!
Cozy up by the fire and the soft white lights on the mantle. Or sit with a friend and chat.
Welcome friends!

Crafty Residents Created a Beautiful Tree!

Our theme this year is Sweet Street! So a sweet tree seemed like the perfect idea for the dining room.

Residents worked all of November creating whimsical, handmade ornaments for the tree.

We created sweet dessert adult colorings. Each were hole punched and strung with yarn. Also cupcakes made out of Styrofoam and glitter. The most fun was making the felt candy. Everyone thought this was a clever craft. We rolled felt like sushi and then wrapped in cellophane and tied.

Visitors don't miss checking out this awesome, festive tree in the dining room!

Felted candy and glittered kitchen scoops!

Dave created a sundae with styrofoam, glitter and cotton balls!