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Peggy Reece

Issue # 62

December 2016 • 12295 Schold Place NW • Silverdale, WA 98383 • 360-692-1228

Merry Christmas Peggy Reece

of the first cheerful signs that the holidays are upon

us are the festive pots of scarlet poinsettias that brighten our sur-roundings. It is the quintessential flower of Christmas, with its tiny yellow flowers surrounded by brilliant red bracts and green leaves. It has an interesting history, long used by the Aztecs for dye and medicinal purposes. In 1828, Joel Roberts Poinsett, American ambassador to Mexico, became enchanted by the brilliant red blooms and sent some plants back to his hothouses in Greenville, South Carolina. He began propagating the plants and sending them to friends and to botanical gardens. A Pennsylvania nurseryman sold them under their botanical name Euphorbia pulcherrima, but by around 1836 they began to be known by the more popular name, poinsettia, in honor of the man who brought them to the United States.

In their native Mexico, there is a charming legend told about this beautiful plant.

A young child walked sadly to church on Christmas Eve. As was the custom in the village, everyone would bring gifts to lay at the feet of Baby Jesus. But she was poor and had no gift to bring. Her cousin

INSIDE Page 2: Country Meadows

Page 3: Clearbrook Inn

Page 4: The Ridge

Page 5: Holiday Reminder

Page 6: Featured Staff Member

Page 7: Featured Resident

Page 8: Here’s to Your Health

sensed her embarrassment and consoled her with these words. “I am sure that even the most humble gift given in love will be acceptable in His eyes.” As they neared the church, she was still emptyhanded. Not knowing what to do, she bent down and gathered a handful of common weeds, fashioning them into a small bouquet. She fought back a tear as she entered the small village chapel with her lowly gift. As she approached the altar, she remembered her cousin’s kind words and felt her spirit lift as she knelt to lay her humble offering at the foot of the Nativity. Suddenly, the bouquet of weeds burst into blooms of brilliant red, and all who

saw them were certain they had witnessed a Christmas Miracle right before their eyes. From that day on, the bright

red flowers were known as the Flores de Noche Buena, or Flowers of the Holy Night, for they bloomed each year during the Christmas season and thus, the legend of the poinsettia was born. As we approach this season of celebration and giving, may all your days be gifts, full of tender moments humbly wrapped in love.

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The Legend of the Poinsettia

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December 2016

Activity Highlights

Read the fine print...

Oysters. Bee’s favorite.

Oysters. Any good, Earl?

At Sweet Laurette’s in Port Townsend, Anne’s huge

cappuccino cup matched her outfit!

Speaking of matching, these girls did too, right

down to the shoes!

Food figures into a lot of our fun—Romeo Club at The

19th Hole for lunch

Oysters. We could have a theme going here.

Duke’s Chowder House Almond Roca Factory Thursday December 1, depart at 10:00a.m. Residents requested these two destinations so we’ll kick off a month of festivities with lunch on the waterfront on Ruston Way and then stock up on stocking stuffers, the chocolate kind, of course!

Country Meadows Christmas Celebration Sunday December 4 from 4:00 to 6:00p.m. Santa will be here-bring your families, enjoy the buffet and some of our chef’s wonderful cookies, sing Christmas carols, celebrate!

Tour the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia Lunch at the Oyster House Wednesday December 7, depart 8:30a.m. The Governor’s Mansion’s interesting history and beautiful holiday decorations make it a perfect destination this month.

Lefse Making & Eating Party Friday December 9 at 1:30p.m. Bring your rolling pin and your appetite!

Timberhouse Restaurant in Quilcene Saturday December 10, depart at10:30a.m. Such good food, inviting décor, all decked out for the holidays—a special treat!

Music! Friday December 2, The Hometown Band Concert at Silverdale Lutheran; Tuesday December 6 with The Choral Belles; Tuesday December 13 Caroling with Gwen; Thursday December 15 Caroling with Carol’s Piano Students; Friday December 16, Caroling with the Merry Ole Souls Kazoo Band; Hank & Claire for the birthday party & Monica Harle for the Grange Social.

Christmas Lights Tours Tuesday & Wednesday Nights the 20th & 21st Everyone wants to go-be sure to sign up!

Lunch at Alderbrook Inn on Hood Canal Thursday December 29, depart at 10:00a.m. Beautiful setting all decked out for the holiday

New Year’s Eve Party with Denny Gore at the piano December 31 from 4:30-6:30p.m.

Christmas gift suggestions: to your enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, your

heart. To a customer, service. To all, charity. To every child, a good example. To yourself, respect.

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The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

Ya’ gotta know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em...

Out to Lunch December 5 @ 11:00 Red Apple Diner

December 20 @ 11:00 Applebee’s

December 26 @ 11:00 Red Lobster

Shopping December 12

@ 11:00 Safeway

Tuesday December 6 @ 2:00 p.m.

Choral Belles in Concert

Wednesday December 7 @ 1:30 p.m.

Make Christmas Cookies

Thursday December 8 @ 10:30 a.m.

Diesel the Therapy Horse

Friday December 9 @ 2:00 p.m.

The 4-H Rabbits

Saturday December 10 from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Celebrate with your Family! Christmas Party with music by Trisha

Monday December 12 @ 6:00 p.m.

Navy Band Holiday Concert at the Bremerton Performing Arts Center

Wednesday December 14 @ 7:00 p.m.

Puget Soundsters Chorale

Saturday December 17 @ 2:00 p.m.

Kitsap Pines Chorus

Friday November 18 @ 7:00 pm

The Puget Soundsters Chorale

Tuesday December 20 @ 2:00 p.m.

Merry Ole Souls Kazoo Band from Country Meadows

Wednesday December 21 @ 2:00

Sunshine Singers

Thursday December 22 @ 7:00 p.m.

Christmas Lights Tour

Friday December 23 @ 2:00 p.m.

Reindeer Races

Saturday December 31 @ 2:00 p.m.

Happy New Year with piano music & the Clearbrook Casino

December 2016 Activity Highlights

Ceramic painting class is always full!

The fall leaves craft gets everyone into the act

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Christmas is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give,

it’s Christmas. ~Dale Evans

The Ridge provides a comprehensive

activity program that specializes in

memory/dementia stimulation.

Loved ones are encouraged to join us

for our daily activities,

special events & outings! Be sure to

check out our calendar at the Ridge

or visit our website to discover the

events unique to each week—so

many of our activities are in keeping

with the season and we enjoy

having you with us as we celebrate.

Merry Christmas

The Ridge warmly invites family members

and friends to attend our monthly Support

Group. At 1:00 p.m. on the last Wednesday of

each month we serve a light lunch and visit

around the table, sharing our questions

and concerns, being encouraged by each

other and learning from educational

presentations or visiting professionals.

Everyone is welcome and respite care is

provided for guests during the meeting.

December 2016

Activity Highlights

Pinecone Feeders for the Birds

Thursday December 1 @ 2:00

Merry Ole Souls Kazoo Band from Country Meadows

Friday December 2 @ 3:00

Letters to Santa

Thursday December 8 @ 3:30

Friday December 9 departing at 11:30 a.m. How about some bacon and pancakes? Yum!

Navy Band Christmas Concert

Monday December 12 @ 6:00

Diesel the Therapy Horse

Tuesday December 13 at 3:30

Reindeer Races with Jingle Juice and Reindeer Feed

Friday December 16 @ 3:00

Girl Scout Troop #44328 Christmas Caroling and Crafts

Saturday December 17 at 2:00 p.m.

Caroling and Holiday Treats Saturday December 24 @ 2:30

Celebrate the New Year with a party Friday December 30 at 3:00 p.m. with music by Brett

Page 5 Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

A Holiday Reminder

to all our Encore Residents

The holiday season is a time rich with traditions, and you each have our own which make your celebrations more meaningful. Because we want your

celebrations to be safe as well as happy, please remember that at

Clearbrook Inn, you are unable to have any fresh trees, wreaths, or boughs in floral arrangements in your apartments,

per the Fire Marshal’s regulation.

Another tradition you may have had in the past is giving gifts to acknowledge your gratitude for services rendered. Please remember that staff members may not accept an individual gift, but you may give something that can be

shared with all the staff.

Have a blessed holiday season!

Each year we start off the holiday season with a performance at Country Meadows and Clearbrook

Inn by the Puget Soundsters Chorale. Some of their members have been singing with them for over 30 years, and they have the sound that reflects their

dedication. We love their songs with an upbeat message and beautiful harmony.

Pat’s radiant smile was brighter than

usual after the World Series!

Doris & her Queen Anne’s Lace Cards

Jean & Charlie Brown at Knotty Needles for

fun & fellowship, and to finish the embroidered

pillowcases she’s making.

What would the holidays be without

COOKIES!

Diesel the Pet Therapy horse & his handler bring many smiles when they visit at

Clearbrook.

ASHLEY DECKER

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FEATURED STAFF MEMBER

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

A good book, a fireplace and a cat in my lap

What is your most treasured possession?

Whenever I think of this question, I always think of what I would grab if there was a fire in my house. I immediately think: my cats! They aren’t a possession but I value them over anything I own. I don’t’ think I have a most treasured possession. Things are just things. We can’t take them with

us when we’re gone.

What words or phrases go you overuse?

Definitely; maybe; I’m hilarious. (I’m sarcastic and I joke a lot; I also laugh at my own jokes. Because I’m hilarious!)

What might someone be surprised to know about you?

The range of different kinds of music I listen to surprises some. I’m actually quite shy but my general demeanor leads people

to think otherwise.

Christmas is not a time or a season but a state of mind. To cherish peace and good

will, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. ~Calvin Coolidge

What has impressed you the most about working at Encore?

The ability of the staff to meet patient and family needs whenever possible. I’ve learned

a lot about what good customer service is while working here.

If you could have dinner with anyone, past or present, who

would it be?

My great grandmother Naomi who passed before I was born but have always felt a kin-

ship with; or Carl Sagan.

How would someone describe you?

(I asked people because I’m bad at this.) Sil-ly, friendly, funny, helpful.

In your lifetime, what changes have come around that you like?

I love that being geeky or nerdy has become such a positive trend because it encourages the pursuit of happiness and the idea that you should do what you want regardless of

what others say.

What is the most rewarding experience you have had and what made it so?

When my boyfriend and I were approved to purchase a brand new care based solely on my credit score. It may not seem like much but I’ve worked hard to maintain a good score.

What is your favorite journey?

My favorite journey, my favorite adventure, is and will always be reading a book.

Ashley has lived in the Kitsap area most of her life; she is 29 and has worked at Encore

Communities since she was 19. She has four furbabies (three pictured here) and

enjoys a myriad of geeky things. (Don’t ask her

to choose between Star Trek or Star Wars!) If she could do one thing in life it would be to

attend college as a career and

learn about every little thing

she finds fascinating.

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What is your favorite journey?

My River Cruise in France, going to all the World War II places.

In your lifetime, what changes have come around that you like?

Moving to Washington State in 1970.

Millie was born in Denison, Texas, and although she has lived in the Pacific

Northwest for over 45 years, she main-tains her warm sweet southern accent. Her son, Don Kyle, lives in Port Ludlow and tries to keep tabs on his mom but

she is a busy gal! She loves to drive over there to see her son, visit friends, or to have her hair done. She got the game of “May I” started here at The

Barn and it has been a real hit—a large group play every week on Saturday, and

they gather at impromptu times during the week to play, as well. Millie is a delightful addition to our Country

Meadows family!

Millie and her friends at Country Meadows

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Enjoying doing the things that you like

What is your most treasured possession?

Family pictures

If you could have dinner with anyone who would it be?

President Obama

What is your most rewarding experience and

what made it so?

Having my baby; being a mom.

What might someone be surprised to know about

you?

That I am as old as I am (94).

Millie Kyle

Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better

throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas. ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Resident of the month

HERE’S TO YOUR HEALTH!

Peggy Reece

Hug! The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust, heals feelings of isolation, strengthens the immune system, relaxes muscles, teaches us to let go and be present in the moment, encourages understanding, and feels good!

Volunteer! People are happiest when they feel embedded in something larger than themselves.

Green Tea! It has catechins which are antioxidants that can help protect against viruses.

Berries! Three half cup servings a week of strawberries lower heart attack risk by a third and a daily cup of blueberries improves cognition.

Keep moving! Yoga or tai chi are gentle ways to build strength that gives energy and prevents fall risk; these famously flowing stretches and poses are effective at controlling pain and improving physical function. The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of any type of physical activity every day for heart health; it can be all at once or in ten minute increments throughout the day. And if it’s good for your heart, it’s good for your brain, as well!

Rest! enjoy a daily glass of wine; laugh; staying socially engaged is important to your health. Happy, healthy holidays to you all!!

How to Stay Healthy During the Holidays 12295 Schold Place NW

Silverdale, WA 98383

www.encorecommunities.com