We Know How to Roll

We had a wild time during our Irish week long activities. Sunday, March 16, we started off with Armchair travel to Ireland. On Tuesday we potato bowled. Potato bowled? Yes, potato bowled.  A solitary agreeable firm green cabbage sat in the middle of the floor. Each participant chose a red potato and named it. Sure enough Nona Smith named her potato Spud which made me laugh as Spud is what I would have named mine. Residents sort of took turns rolling their potato towards the solitary agreeable firm green cabbage. Whoever rolled their potato closest to the cabbage received grand applause.  We watched as ten potatoes tumbled nilly willy in every direction across the floor. Some spuds hit their target; the solitary agreeable firm green cabbage but bounced off. Others came close stopping short. Yet others thought they were supposed to return to Ireland and made their way exiting our potato patch completely. 

Nadine Abel showed off her mad farm girl skills by rolling her potato the closest to the solitary agreeable firm green cabbage two different times. Nadine, however, had nothing on Ruth Lovaas who tilled a path with her potato near the solitary agreeable firm green cabbage. Spud Smith knew how to roll and turn up a winner as he showed everyone he was serious despite the clumps of clustered potatoes.  As Spud plowed a tangled path  to the solitary agreeable firm green cabbage he exclaimed, “Those other potatoes need to get out of the way!”

After our Irish Potato Bowling, we enjoyed a nice baked russet potato with butter, sour cream and shredded cheese. No, they weren’t our bowling potatoes and yes they were delicious.

As you do not ever mess with Bingo, we had Pot O’ Gold Bingo on Thursday, March 17. We had our St. Patrick’s Day party on Friday, March 18 with delicious green deviled eggs made by Mary Harrelson, Cheetos and a Screw Driver. We played an Irish themed hangman, where every word had the letters IRE in them.

We had Happy Hour complete with delicious green deviled eggs made by our Mary Harrelson and told a few jokes. Never iron a four-leaf clover. You don’t want to press your luck!    The older you get, the better you get. Unless you’re a banana! I just burned 2,000 calories. That’s the last time I leave the brownies in the oven while I take a nap.

Residents are excited to play Pokeno every Tuesday night at 6 PM. We play for quarters and have a grand time. Last week I heard one resident ask another one if they needed a security guard to see them home as they had won so much loot. Another resident said, “This is work. This is the hardest I’ve worked all day.”

Kelsey Saladin from the Physical Therapy department has been doing fun chair exercises to music with residents on Monday and Thursday mornings called “Kickin’ in It with Kelsey.” Residents play Lotto 649 and have a snort once a month. They really seem to enjoy this new game. 

National Puppy Day was March 23rd so Maizy, my six year old Schnauzer came in for a visit with residents. Animals are a big part of some resident’s lives and bring so much love and joy. It’s fun to see residents eyes light up and get big smiles on their faces when they have 4 legged visitors. 

We had no resident passings nor birthday’s this month. It was my birthday on the 27th so residents sang to me. Some residents wanted to know how old I am. Well 39 of course.

Spotlight of the month

I will soon be running out of residents who would like to be featured in our Spotlight of the Month. I think it would be great to introduce staff and volunteers as well. I have started with our staff member Miranda Deschampe. Miranda is a very sweet “local” girl. I babysit her mother Sherri back some forty years. That just can’t be right. Miranda has a twin sister Mariah and it seems like if you see one the other isn’t far behind. At North Shore Living they are commonly known as “The twins”. Miranda was born in Duluth, MN. She grew up in Grand Marais and Grand Portage. She has four siblings. She graduated from Cook County High School in 2017 and graduated as a RN from Lake Superior College in 2021. Miranda likes to play soft ball, 4 wheel and hang with her family. She has traveled to Florida, Arizona and Canada. She would like to travel to Texas, California, New York and Vegas. Something fun about working at North Shore Living is “You never expect what you hear coming out of the residents mouths. They have a great sense of humor. It’s also fun hearing their stories”. Miranda’s words of advice to those younger than her are “enjoy being a kid. You don’t have as many responsibilities.

Volunteer Appreciation Week is coming up in April. We are planning on inviting our volunteers to come play Bingo with us on Thursday, April 21. Our volunteers are so much appreciated. I remember what a relief it was when we were able to open our doors to volunteers being able to come back ito our facility.  

Thank you to the middle/high school choir for thinking of us and making us spring time cards. Thank you to our volunteers who bring in homemade snacks, assist with  games and exercise, do manicures, read, play piano, bring communion and just spend time with us. You are all so appreciated.  “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” – Dr. Seuss

We know how to roll and are having some wild times. As always “Old Age Ain’t for Sissies”

If you would like to volunteer please call Lisa at 218-387-3518.