Senior Living News December 2025
The Canopy at Westridge
Newsletter
Around the world with Atlas - December 2025 - France
Resident's Birthdays
Month's Celebrations
Events Spotlight
Associate of the Month
Ciera Simmons
Ciera has worked for Atlas for a short time and has become a stellar employee !Between her thorough cleaning or her sparkling positivity to go along with it! Ciera has 3 Beautiful children that keep her busy when she’s not working. Her daily goal is to keep the community clean and smelling fresh. When asked if she could do one other job in the community for a day, she replied to being a Medtech. Thanks Ciera for all you do !
From France with Love
Alexa, play Minor Swing, by Django Reinhardt.
Django Reinhardt’s Minor Swing (1937) is one of the most electrifying pieces in French music history — a cornerstone of Gypsy jazz and a brilliant display of Django’s unmatched guitar mastery. Paired with Stéphane Grappelli’s effortlessly swinging violin, the track bursts with rhythm, improvisation, and the unmistakable flair of Parisian jazz cafés of the 1930s. Even today, Minor Swing feels fresh, bold, and unique — a timeless tribute to Reinhardt’s genius and the vibrant soul of French jazz.
Christmas fun facts
- In 2023, almost 90% of people in the United States planned to celebrate Christmas.
- No one likes dropped pine needles. According to a Statista survey, only 24% of respondents said they were putting up a real Christmas tree in 2023; another 46% said they were opting for fake trees.
- Some people like to get ahead with their Christmas shopping, while others are on the lookout for stores open on Christmas Day. According to a 2024 Gartner report, 32% of U.S. consumers plan to start their holiday shopping early, specifically between July and October.
- Count ’em up: Your true love gives you 364 gifts total, according to the “12 Days of Christmas” song—that’s one every day of the year … except Christmas.
- We love our minty treats. Nearly 2 billion candy canes are sold every year in the four weeks before Christmas, and the longest candy cane ever created was 51 feet long.
- Christmas carols know no bounds. “Jingle Bells” was the first song ever played from outer space when it was broadcast during NASA’s Gemini 6A space flight in December 1965.
- Online shopping is popular. In fact, 86% of holiday shoppers plan to shop online for gifts in 2024, while 14% are planning to shop in stores, according to SmartCommerce’s 2024 Holiday Gatherings and Shopping Report
Welcome to France
Around the World with Atlas
France is a country built on centuries of history, artistry, and revolutionary ideas. From ancient Gaul and the rise of the Frankish kingdoms to the birth of the modern French state, its story is one of transformation. The foundations of France took shape through the coronation of Clovis in the 5th century, the brilliance of Charlemagne’s empire, and the evolution of a nation that would eventually stand at the center of European culture and politics. Over time, France became known not only for its kings and cathedrals but for a spirit of curiosity and change that shaped the world.
French culture has left an indelible mark across the arts, philosophy, cuisine, literature, and fashion. From the Enlightenment thinkers who reimagined human rights to the painters who transformed visual expression — Monet, Renoir, Cézanne, Degas — France has long been a beacon for creativity. Its influence extends into cinema, music, architecture, and the culinary traditions cherished worldwide, from buttery croissants to slow-cooked Coq au Vin. Every corner of French life carries a sense of refinement balanced with a deep appreciation for pleasure, beauty, and daily rituals.
To explore France is to step into a living tapestry of medieval villages, grand boulevards, vineyards, seaside cliffs, and cafés where time seems to slow down. It is a country that invites discovery — whether through the echo of cathedral bells, the quiet glow of a museum hall, or the simple joy of strolling along the Seine. France welcomes visitors not just to see its landmarks but to feel its spirit: a blend of elegance, history, and poetic charm that has captivated the world for centuries.
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Share our good news:
Happy Holidays! May this season bring you peace, happiness, and a little extra sparkle.
Recipe of the Month
French Madelines
Ingredients:
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, melted until browned
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 and 1/2 teaspoons lemon zest, finely grated
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 and 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, at room temperature
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup confectioners sugar, sifted, optional
Instructions:
Cut the butter in tablespoons and place them in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, reduce the heat to low and continue cooking, until the solids sink to the bottom of the pan and turn golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and pour the browned butter into a small bowl. Stir the vanilla and lemon zest into the butter, then set aside to cool.
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside until needed.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs at medium speed while gradually adding the sugar. Once all of the sugar has been added, increase the speed to medium-high and continue whipping the mixture until it’s very thick and pale in color, about 3 to 4 minutes. Turn the mixer off and, using a silicon spatula, fold in the flour mixture in three additions, stirring just until combined. Fold in the butter mixture.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, and up to 2 days.
30 minutes before you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375 degrees (F). Generously brush the molds of your madeleine pan with butter, then lightly dust with flour.
Using a medium cookie scoop, spoon level scoops of the batter into the center of each mold. You don’t need to spread the batter.
Bake for 12 minutes, or until the “bellies” have risen and they’re golden brown.
Cool madeleines in the pan placed on a cooling rack for a minute or two, then gently loosen them from the molds. If they stick, carefully run a small knife around the edge of the cakes until they release.
Dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve warm, with coffee or tea.
Resident of the Month
Preston Anderson
Preston is 90 years old; his birthday is July 20th. He grew up in Augusta Georgia, up until he went to the Navy for 3 years. Later on, he took a job for IBM and retired after 32 years! Preston married twice, his first marriage which he was married for 36 years and had 3 beautiful children. His second marriage of 30 years. His pride and joy are his 3 grandkids & 7 great grandchildren. Preston enjoys Happy Hour and helping Jay do any activities! Thank you Preston for Choosing The Canopy to be your forever home!
Collaborators:
Jahqui Gibbs
