CHRISTMAS PARTY at ST JOSEPH'S SPECIAL CARE HOME

The Daae Family from Torquay and Bromhead area

As promised, I'll do a blog tonight about last night's gathering.  Each resident could have two guests for the evening, but I was able to buy a third ticket so Laurel and Clare were able to join Howard and me.  We were seated at round tables with Aunt Viola, Hartley and Louise also at our table.  Our table was front and centre so we had the best seats in the auditorium!  Right up close to the Daae family who entertained us with many favorite Christmas songs as well as some from their CD's.  

Elaine, Clare and Howard

The Halvorsons - Hartley, Viola and Louise

The evening began with the entertainment at four.  The Daae Family have provided the music for several years and are a crowd favorite.  I was glad that they did their special version of "Grandma's House for Christmas" with Wayne having the main part, lutefisk and all!  Laurel got that one on video and Ashley has watched it over and over.

The turkey with all the trimmings was served at five.  Members of the 4-H beef club from Benson have volunteered to help serve this meal for the last three years.  They did an excellent job of helping to get the food to each table while it was hot, making sure we had refills of coffee and tea.  The food was excellent.  I don't think any restaurant in Estevan could have matched it! Laurel dished up quite a full plate for Howard and he ate it all.  The meal was topped off with warm Christmas pudding and sauce.  The steamed pudding must be a Christmas specialty in the kitchen at St. Joe's as it's also for sale in the cafeteria, while the supply lasts!

Santa made his appearance and presented each resident with a Christmas ornament with a picture of the resident on one side and name on the other.  These are all hanging on the Christmas tree in the lounge area.  Hats off to Jennifer who took all the pictures and had these special gifts for each one.  She was also in charge of most of the arrangements for the evening.  A job well done!

I should have had Aunt Viola put her hands on the table to show off her red "Christmas nails". The ladies were treated to manicures and had their hair done by volunteers to make the evening even more special.  They made sure Howard's hair was styled just right for the evening too!

The man with a tie
(I think he was the only one there wearing one!)

I should have grabbed Laurel's camera and taken a picture with her in it but it's too late now.   They left right after supper as Clare had to curl at 7 in Weyburn.  Laurel was back home shortly by 8:30 after picking up Dawson at the rink in Milestone and Ashley at Grandma Gaylene's.

I'm going to have to leave Aunt Viola's memories for another day as it's my bedtime.  I was at Creighton Lodge tonight where three of us led the residents in singing Christmas carols.  They always have lunch afterwards so I enjoyed the visiting too. I had brought flatbread, something new to quite a few of them. Before the carol singing, a group of band students played several carols.  It was fun to see our neighbour at the farm, Brooke Stepp, playing with them and announcing the numbers.

On Sunday at Trinity, Torquay we have our worship service at 10:30 followed by our annual Christmas dinner with turkey, meatballs and all that goes with it.  Maybe some of you will join us.  See you there!