Even in Oregon we can have a little SUNSHINE!

Meet resident Jo Collins and her parakeet SUNSHINE. After our first pet day Jo realized that she wanted to get an animal, someone to look after and to keep her company. After looking at various animals Jo decided to invest in a parakeet and found Sunshine. Although Sunshine appears like another bird, he definitely is not! Sunshine can often be seen in his carrier either in the arms of Jo or in the front basket of her motorized scooter. Sunshine is also an artist, taking Styrofoam cups and chipping away at the edges, creating unique designs! Wednesday in the lobby Jo decided to display all of her art in the lobby so all who passed by could see what amazing things her bird can do!

We are filling up fast!

Garden Way is filling up fast and we have had countless move-ins over the past few months! We have developed a welcoming committee, comprised of residents who have a desire to meet and get to know our new residents! Each month we have a dinner with our new residents and the welcome committee in our very special private dining room. It is an opportunity for our resident to find out what interests our newest residents have and in what activities, clubs or events they would most likely enjoy.

On Tuesday night we had our first dinner and Annie, Rob, Les and Bernice (and their son Peter too!)joined us as they were welcomed by Jeri, Marlene, Jody and Kathleen! They enjoyed a wonderful meal in the private dining room and even a hand delivered dessert made special for them from Executive Chef Martin.

Monster Mash, Ballroom Bash!

Yesterday was the debut of our Monster Mash, Ballroom Bash! We invited residents and their family and friends to join us in celebrating Halloween. Residents and guests wore a variety of costumes including witches, kittens, angels, flappers, hippies, ghosts and even King Kong! Local musician Carl Duvuhl played music as we danced the afternoon away. We then had a costume contest for the scariest, funniest, most creative and least likely to recognize. Everyone had a great time eating cookies and candies, conversing with friends and celebrating the day!

Here are just some of the fun moments that occured.

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Trick or Treat

Yesterday the halls of Garden Way were not filled with the usual shrieks and shrills of Halloween, but instead filled laughter and excitement. Our favorite Girl Scouts came to visit each resident they saw they gave a special painted pumpkin. The girls were decorated in Halloween costumes and during dinner time went to each table and trick or treated going from table to table.

 

 

 

Oktoberfest

Guten Tag!

Yesterday at Garden Way we had our first Oktoberfest! The accordion music was playing, people were dancing and stomachs were fill to the brim with delicious German food made specially by our Executive Chef Martin and Sous Chef Brandon! We all enjoyed pork chops, sausage and sour crout, beet salad, pear walnut salad, apple fritters, corn on the cob, green beans and German chocolate cake for dessert. A local musician, Carl Duvahu,l played traditional German Music as our residents and guest danced the afternoon away!

 

 

Ninkasi Brewery

According to the Oregon Brewers Guild, there is an estimated 159 microbreweries in Oregon. We were able to travel across town to Ninkasi, the third largest brewery in Oregon for a tour and beer tasting. Marlene's granddaughter Zoe is the director of the tasting room at Ninkasi and set us up with a private tour, as well as free tastings of their most popular selections of beer. The tour showed the process it took to from wheat and barley until it is bottled to perfection and our tour giude Winter, knew exactly what we would want to see! We then got to sit in the crisp fall air and enjoy beer tasting compliments of Zoe!

Winter showing us what Hops looked and smelled like

Marge telling us that this keg was her serving size

Zoe explaining the different beers to us

The crew holding their favorite drink

Karaoke Night

Last night at Garden Way was a true party which showed what fun loving and zestful residents we have here! Sandra, one of our residents, asked if we could pull out her karaoke machine for a good time! And that is just what we did! Our assistant managers, Jeffrey and Sheila started of the night singing "I Got You Babe" to set the mood. We then enjoyed an evening of various songs ranging in genre. Before long, our karaoke night turned into a sing-a-long as residents enjoyed all joining in and singing their favorite songs such as "In the Garden", "Could I Have This Dance", "My Old Kentucky Home" and so much more! There were many laughs and smiles as we all reminisced through song after song bringing back joyous memories!