Resident´s Birthdays
Bill Bridges 4/1
Frances Armitage 4/6
Carole Reisbig 4/6
Beth Childress 4/7
Buddy Nelson 4/7
Kathleen Jochum 4/8
Joretta Rampey 4/10
Alline Long 4/14
Helen Duncan 4/15
Larry Wilson 4/21
Celebrating April
Lawn and Garden Month
Humor Month
Welding Month
Laugh at Work Week
April 1–7
National Volunteer Week
April 21–27
Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
April 2
World Rat Day
April 4
Teflon Day
April 6
National Gardening Day
April 14
Take a Wild Guess Day
April 15
Earth Day
April 22
Talk Like Shakespeare Day
April 23
International Jazz Day
April 30
Community Events
Arbor Day
Earth Day
Let the Good Times Roll
All April long, opponents will be throwing their knuckles down. Don’t worry, this isn’t anything sinister. “Knuckles down” is the position you assume before shooting in a classic game of marbles. So, this April, Knuckles Down Month, you too can play for keeps.
The classic game of marbles is called ringer. Two parallel lines, lag lines, are drawn 10 feet away from each other. A large 10-foot circle is drawn between the lag lines. In the middle of the circle is a cross made of 13 target marbles, or mibs. To determine who plays first, each player lags from one lag line to the other; that is, they toss their shooter marble to the opposite line. The player whose shooter lands closest to the lag line goes first.
Play starts by knuckling down along the edge of the ring and using your thumb to cast your shooter at the mibs inside. The object is to knock a mib outside the circle while keeping your shooter inside. You next knuckle down inside the ring where your shooter landed. If you fail to knock out a mib, then it is your opponent’s turn. The first player to knock out a majority of marbles wins, and it’s up to you
to determine whether to play for fair (return all marbles to their original owners) or play for keeps (the winner keeps all the marbles).
Yosemite
The park is best known for its waterfalls, On October 1, 1890, Yosemite became a national park
Yosemite
This waterfall is located on the south side of Yosemite Valley. Comprised of multiple cascades, which range in height from 50 to 500 feet.
(Sentinel falls)
For the Love of Birds
Many have heard of the Audubon Society and know it as an environmental organization dedicated to studying and preserving birds and their natural habitats. The organization is named after John James Audubon, the French American painter of birds who dedicated his life to his unique art. His birthday, April 26, is now celebrated as Audubon Day.
Audubon showed an affinity for birds starting in childhood. He spent hours roaming the countryside, collecting birds’ nests and eggs, and drawing them once he returned home. Audubon’s father was a sailor and hoped his son would join the navy, so John James went to military school. However, he suffered from seasickness and so returned to the woods.
In 1803, the Napoleonic Wars broke out in France. Audubon’s father obtained a fake passport and sent John James to America to avoid the war. It was at his family’s farm in Pennsylvania that Audubon devoted himself full-time to the outdoors: hunting, fishing, and drawing birds.
Audubon was obsessed with birds. In an effort to study their habits, he tied string around their legs to see if they returned year after year. He learned the art of taxidermy and worked in natural museums. But his greatest contribution to ornithology was his brilliant book Birds of America. He dedicated his life to drawing every single bird in America. His style was new and different: a highly detailed drawing of each bird, more accurate than ever before. His drawings were life-sized, with some pages over.
Yosemite
Yosemite is famous for its giant sequoia trees; these trees can grow to be about 30 feet wide and more than 250 feet tall
Tartan Tales
Scottish American Heritage Month is a time to don kilts, hum to the tunes of bagpipes, and celebrate the rich tapestry woven by Scottish immigrants in the fabric of American history. Rewind to the 17th and 18th centuries, and picture the adventurous Scots sailing across the Atlantic to the promising landscapes of Canada and the United States.
They sought refuge from religious persecution, economic hardships, and land scarcity. Political unrest, coupled with the promise of religious freedom and better prospects, were incentives for many Scots to pursue a fresh start in the New World. The spirited settlers didn’t just plant their flags; they wove their culture into the fabric of their new homes.
From Nova Scotia to North Carolina, they created communities that echoed the hills of Scotland. They didn’t leave behind their love for haggis or the skirl of bagpipes; they infused these traditions into the heartbeat of American culture. Fast forward to today, and you’ll find echoes of Scottish influence in the very fiber of America. From the lilt of folk tunes to the thunder of athletes at Highland Games, their legacy lives on. The haunting, soulful whine of the bagpipes and the swirl of the tartans evoke a sense of kinship, reminding us of the indelible mark left by these pioneers. Scottish American Heritage Month isn’t just a nod to history; it’s a celebration of resilience, tradition, and the merging of cultures. From their stories of fortitude to their rich cultural contributions.
Yosemite
National Park
Located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, spans 761,269 acre of land.
The Art of Tatting
While a handkerchief, table runner, doily, or collar made of intricate knotted lace appears nearly impossible to construct, the art of tatting is easy to learn. All you need to start tatting is thread, a shuttle (a small device that helps guide a silk thread through loops into knots), and your two hands. Give it a try on April 1, International Tatting Day.
This decorative art form may have grown from the netting and ropework handmade by sailors and fishermen of olden times. Tatting became fashionable in the 1800s and enjoyed a surge in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s. Technology has usurped the handiwork required to make tatted lace, which means that handmade tatting is more precious than ever.
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When Is the Right Time to Explore Senior Living for Your Loved One?
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Recipe Spotlight:
Spicy Fried Chicken Pasta
Ingredients:
6 pieces cold, spicy fried chicken
6 cups cooked rotini pasta
6 boiled eggs, yolks separated
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp Creole mustard
1/4 cup minced onions
1/4 cup minced celery
1 tsp chopped garlic
1/4 cup minced red bell peppers
1/4 cup minced green bell peppers
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/2 cup sweet pickle relish
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
To make this dish, start by getting 6 pieces of spicy fried chicken from your favorite fast food outlet. I recommend Popeyes. Cut the bone-in chicken into cubes, keeping the skin intact. In a bowl, mash egg yolks, then add mayonnaise and Creole mustard, blending well. Dice egg whites and add them to the mixture. Combine all other ingredients except the chicken and pasta, ensuring they’re coated with the sauce. Add rotini pasta and gently mix, then add the fried chicken cubes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve garnished with boiled eggs or additional pieces of hot fried chicken. Feel free to personalize the dish with your own seasoning blend. The key flavor comes from the seasoning on the chicken before frying.
Yosemite
Yosemite is home to a “firefall.” While it’s not actually fire, the Horsetail Fall on the eastern edge of El Capitan in the Yosemite Valley gives off the illusion of a fiery orange fall when the sunset hits at just the right angle for a few short weeks in February
Resident of the Month
Larry Wilson
Our April resident of the month is Larry Wilson. In his younger days Larry was an avid golfer and a diehard Alabama fan (Roll Tide!). He worked with his hands a lot and can build just about anything. If you have ever been in his room, you will see some amazing photographs and pictures all hung on his walls. He has a specific story for each of them. Larry found reading after he retired and that has become his latest passion. He enjoyed going on cruises and beach vacations with friends. In high school, Larry was a three sport Letterman (basketball, football, and baseball) and loved to play elaborate pranks… like putting chickens to roost overnight in the principal’s office. We are so happy to have Larry as our resident of the month!
Associate of the Month
Faith Hudgins
Our April Associate of the Month is Faith Hudgins. She was born and raised in the upstate of South Carolina. Faith graduated from Daniel High School with her CNA and has been one for twenty-four years. She has three children (Eli, Stephen, and Elizabeth) that keep her busy with watching them play football, basketball, baseball, cheering and dance. Faith has a heart for kids and the elderly. She is the cafeteria manager at Powdersville High School as well as a Med Tech here at Oakview. Faith has been with Oakview for six years now and loves her residents. She enjoys spending time with and getting to know the life stories of our residents. Faith feels like they have become part of her family, and she treats them the way she would want her grandparents to be treated. If she can brighten just a little part of our residents’ day and help them feel loved and safe, she has done her job.
Collaborators
Jennifer Klein
