Celebrating at Max & Erma's

Phil and I took Mom out tonight for an early birthday dinner. We had planned to go to Olive Garden, but it is a bit of a drive. Mom opted for Max & Erma's which is closer.

We had a special birthday card to deliver to Mom - from the White House: (You can request White House greetings online: https://app1.whitehouse.gov/greetings/home.)

It was very nice - but this photo doesn't reflect that! The shadows are from the lamp.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH for all the birthday cards and letters that Mom has received!!!

Yarn, Yarn and More Yarn

We didn't take any pictures at the dentist's today! But we did enjoy seeing pictures of the hygenist's dog and hearing stories about the dentist's dog. After that we headed to Hobby Lobby for one of Mom's favorite pasttimes: yarn shopping. Since her stroke, Mom has fiercely persisted in her efforts to regain the use of her right hand for one her favorite hobbies: crocheting and knitting.

Some of the prices seemed high, but we found some bargains.

I only know how to crochet - and even then, only in one pattern. I'm totally lost with knitting. So I'm not a very good companion in the crocheting and knitting department. If anyone out there is really into this stuff, share your enthusiasm with Mary. When she has dropped stitches and such, I'm not much help! (I like photography and blogging!)

We are modeling two fun scarves Mom made before her stroke.

A Good Friend - A Good Day

Today, when I was at Mom's, we heard a knock on the door and were very pleasantly surprised with a visit from Patrice, who has been there for Mom at Summer Trace from Day One - not only as her speech therapist, but always going the extra mile as a dear friend. Today Patrice came bearing a thoughtful birthday gift and card signed from the entire therapy department! (Mom still goes over to visit them, especially when one of the therapist's dog, Bingo, comes in on Fridays.)

Patrice also brought a card of her own and - this was a RIOT - inside it Patrice (an Obama supporter who had kidded with Mom back and forth about just not being able to visit someone who had McCain ads taped all over her door) had enclosed a carefully handcrafted "ticket" to the Obama Inaguration for Mom!!!

We laughed. Mom got a big kick out of it. I thank God for all the "Patrices" at Summer Trace! Patrice and her husband ARE going to Washington in January (although not to the Inaguration itself) to partake in all the festivities. They don't know where they are staying, as all the hotel rooms are booked!

Mom has close friendships with quite a few people at Summer Trace.

After visiting with Patrice and gathering up our coupons, Mom and I made a Walmart run to order a spare/second set of eyeglasses (at a great price) and stock up on applesauce (for taking meds) and snacks and stuff to cover her while I am away next week. We love her eye doctor in Noblesville, but the glasses they sell at his office are a bit expensive. Her first pair after cataract surgery was from there and we have had to repair them several times. Here are the new ones.

After shopping, we made it back in time for Mom to join her friends for dinner.

Tomorrow we see the dentist, make a Hobby Lobby run, and possibly hit the Carmel Goodwill for Senior discount day, which is a treat for me. (Hey, at 55 I qualify for the GW senior discount!) Then Phil will join us for Weds. night cards on his way home from flying into the NEW Indianapolis airport from L.A. You out-of-towners might want to check that new airport out!

Keep those birthday cards and letters coming! (Mom doesn't know it yet, but this year she is getting a birthday card from the White House!)

Happy Birthday!!!

Mom's 84th Birthday is Nov. 25th. Summer Trace had their "November Birthdays" luncheon on Nov. 12th. I'm glad we are getting an early start on celebrating Mom's birthday as I will be away in Kansas City on the actual day. (Phil and I are spending Thanksgiving with Phil's family since we will be at home in Indiana for Christmas.) So, we will be celebrating Mom's birthday at every opportunity between now and then!

Here are some photos of Mom from the Summer Trace "November Birthdays" luncheon: Enjoy! Click on the photo to enlarge, then (and this is important) click on your browser's "back" arrow instead of closing the window to return to Mom's blog page. (PC users can "right click" on the picture and "Save Image As" to a folder on your hard drive. I'm not sure how to do that on a Mac!)

Activities staff members, Joan (pictured below in yellow to my right) and Kim (in black to my left) are so nice and so kind and make things so much fun.

Below, Mom and her friend, Mary, are looking over the menu. We had fresh fruit and vegetables from the salad bar, our entree, beverage, and then... birthday cake and ice cream, of course!

Other residents stopped on their way out of the dining room to wish everyone at the birthday table "Happy Birthday!"

Below Mom is chatting with one of the many wonderful dining room staff members she has become friends with.

Too soon the party was over and everyone said their goodbyes - that is, until they would see each other again throughout the day or at dinner!

I think Charlie was hoping there was a piece of birthday cake left for him! (Just kidding, Charlie!)

New Friends at Card Night

We have added some new friends at Card Night! Elsie (standing) brought her homemade pumpkin bread treats for the new residents. That's Pete to her right... this was his second week.

...and Helen next to Pete and Robert next to Phil. They are sitting at the Euchre table. Behind them to the left are friends who join us every Weds. night to do a manicure for their mom.

Mom, Elsie, and Charlie and I were at the Kings-in-the-Corner table. Elsie doesn't take a hand because her eyesight is compromised by macular degeneration. She flips the cards at the beginning of the game, makes sure we all remember to draw a card, and keeps us engaged in lively conversation. (I just found a set of audio tapes of the Bible for her at Goodwill as she misses being able to read her Bible. She is in the Tuesday Bible Study with us and is such a dear encouragement.) Mom also has macular degeneration but it is held at bay right now with PreserVision Eye Vitamins. Charlie is enjoying the popcorn Phil made. Joan, Amy, and Kim in the Activities Dept. keep us supplied with popcorn for the popcorn machine! That's Mom in the blue shirt.

I should have taken pictures on election day! The polls for the area are at Summer Trace. The staff at Summer Trace came up with a great "adopt-a-senior" idea for the people coming in to vote. Willing participants were giving the opportunity to stand in line for a senior. (The wait was over 2 hours.) It was a GREAT idea! I sat in line in Mom's transport chair for Mom and had another "Mary" as my adopt-a-senior and rolled Charlie's walker along to save his and his wife's spot. That would have made a funny photo!!!