Our "Here's To Life" Elmcroft Choir

Well, our choir went on the road this week and sang at another assisted living home on Thursday. The choir members range from ages  87 to 91. They sang songs like "Fly Me To The Moon" and "Proud Mary" (our favorite).  I lead them and they follow very well, I must say. Right now, we have 8 songs, but we will be adding a few more songs. Next month, we are singing at a life care facility.    I will try to get a video so you can hear them.

It's a new year and we are in the middle of a cold snap. However, this week will warm up to the 50's! I can't wait! It has been 25 degrees or colder for many days now, and my heating bill is going higher and higher. I have been working on my afghan lately because I feel warmer when I crochet or knit. Don't you?? After I make my afghan, I'm going to add my tatting to it. There are not too many afghans around with tatting trim, right? Anyway, it will take me a little longer, but I am really enjoying the experience. I have been making little washcloths for awhile now and have actually used them for cleaning. They do a great job--especially on the bathroom sinks! My daughter uses them as washcloths for my grandson because they scrub really good. I gave them as gifts during the Holidays--that's what is fun about handmade items. They don't cost a lot to make and people know that you took the time to make them something instead of buying them something that they don't need.

I have included a picture of one of the cloths that I added my tatting to. I sewed all the tatting on so it is attached really well and will wash with no problem. I think they would look nice in someone's victorian bath.

I think I have a "floater" in my eye and it is bothering me at times. I hope it will go away soon--I have had it about a week. From what I hear, the older one gets, unfortunately the more eye problems one has. I hope and pray my eyes last out as long as I do. It's hard getting old, isn't it? But I have a lot to be thankful for each day and try to keep a positive attitude. Working at my assisted living home helps me tremendously with my attitude. So many of the residents have so many physical problems and they just keep going each day. I do the activities, so I help them keep moving and try to make things interesting. We are making our first quilt--I'll try to get some pictures and post them. It is a very simple quilt because many of the residents use to sew, but their eyesight and arthritis keeps them from being able to do anything complicated. I just want to get it done so they can see that they can still accomplish this. How fun!!

Our Clay Pendant Class

Well, our clay pendant class at Elmcroft was a great success! I had a crowd there (about 12 residents) and even the daughter and granddaughter of one of the residents came to help out! The residents loved making the pendant because they had no trouble kneeding the clay (which was good exercise for their hands) and flattening it out. Some of them wanted to make round pendants instead of square, which was fine. I prefer to let them be their creative selves instead of telling them they have to do it my way. That way they "own" it and love it even more! We made about 20 pendants all together. Some of the residents had to go to the doctor and couldn't be there, so I said we would make them one, and they were happy. I guess I will have to do another clay craft real soon. The centers of the pendants are kind of hard to see (especially in a photo on here), but that's what makes them unique. In real life, people like to peer into them and figure out what the image is in there. At Elmcroft, my residents are from 85 to 92 years old, and they did a great job!