Seniors Situation Room by Dawn Ford – Singing For Seniors & Fall Baking 091717

 

Cornwall Ontario – Ed Lauzon recently treated the residents of Beek Lindsay Seniors Residence and their friends to a wonderful concert. His son, Ed. Jr accompanied him which made it even more enjoyable. It was a fun filled evening of listening,  

singing and in some cases, dancing to lots of well known songs.

Ed Jr. sang also which was nice. He is very handsome young man. Good thing some of the ladies there were middle aged..well, middle aged + a bit, I guess, eh? lol.

Ed’s repertoire of music is large, entertaining us with lots of familiar songs of Rock and Roll, Spiritual, Pop and Country and Western such as:” I Want to Dance With You”, “I’m a Wonderer”, “Sunday Morning Coming Down”,” Good Morning America”, “Make the World Go Away”, “Earth Angel”, “I Can’ Help Falling in Love With You”, and a favourite of mine, “Under the Boardwalk”, among many others.

Here is a great photo of Ed and one of the residents, Joan Gibson, who seemed to thoroughly enjoy the music all evening.

Photo by Brenda Connelly

(Is that a Yankee Cap I see Ed wearing?? I will have to talk to him about that, being an old Yankee fan myself!)

I had had a hectic day having spent over 2 hours in a meeting with lots still to do before the concert. The comforting rhythm of the music that evening had been a nice break from all that rushed feeling. Dancing and singing seemed to slow me to a more tranquil pace.

Then, Ed sang “Amazing Grace”. I don’t remember hearing it sung more reverently by anyone. It was so soothing and calming. For the first time all day, I felt peaceful. What a wonderful way to end the day.

Thanks Ed and Ed Jr. for taking the time to perform for us and make the evening so special and fun.

Thomas Carlyle said that “Music is well said to be the speech of angels”. I think it is true. Recently I was talking to a nurse who is expecting a baby in December. I was reminiscing with her about the old days on Paediatrics at the former Cornwall General Hospital. Sometimes we had a whole nursery full of babies who had to be fed, changed, cuddled and loved.

I told her about my brother Ed and his babies. Many years ago, Ed and his wife Mary had four children. Whenever one of the babies would be crying, he would pick the little one up, hold it securely on his shoulder, sway gently and softly sing the very rhythmic song, “Wonderful, Wonderful Copenhagen”. The babe would snuggle up, sometimes sigh a big sigh, stop crying and lay there content to be cuddled in Dad’s strong loving arms. Nice memories to have now.

The Cornwall Living Magazine, once named “The Cornwall Business Magazine”, is a big treat this year. It is full of wonderful stories about people, places and  organizations in Cornwall.

The photos are full colour and beautiful. It is published by TC Media Cornwall and Area (Seaway News). There is a really nice editorial by Rick Shaver, Publisher Cornwall Living General Manager, talking about all the wonderful things about living in Cornwall.

Near the end of the magazine is a list of our Cornwall and Area Chamber of Commerce Citizens of the Year. It dates back from 1972 when our beloved Father Rudy Villeneuve was honoured, to 2016 when Dr. Rachel Navaneelan received the award. Lots of wonderful people listed there over the years who have given many hours devoted to helping our community. Thank you.

 

Here is a photo of a friend in Woodstock, ON, Don Irwin and his pretty granddaughter Kelly. Don is from Cornwall and used to work at Courtauld’s. Kelly just started grade 7 in a French Immersion School.

Don grew this giant zucchini in his garden. Wow!! Look at the size of it.

Don’s wife, Fran, said the zucchini went into the vegetable soup pot. Bet it was delicious.! Thanks for sharing the photo.

When I lived in Glen Norman , ON in the early 80’s, I had a vegetable garden using the skills, I thought, that my Mom had taught me many years earlier.

When we were kids, we used to help her with her garden.

I am not sure exactly what I did, right or wrong but I ended up with so many cherry tomatoes; if I had wanted that many of them, it would have been a blessing.

I was also growing zucchinis to put in a nice zucchini chocolate cake. However, they took over the whole garden. So friends and anybody who wanted anything got mostly cherry tomatoes and zucchinis as nice gifts.

The zucchini chocolate cake recipe came from my neighbour, Lorraine Austin. The icing was chocolate boiled icing…to die for!!

I couldn’t find that recipe but I found this one for zucchini muffins from Sharyn of Sharyn’s Pantry I had used many times and as you can see, there is chocolate in it:

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September 21st is World Alzheimer’s Day. September 21st. of each year is a day on which Alzheimer’s organizations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, according to the web site.

It states that every 68 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s disease. For more information or to make a donation, contact our local Alzheimer Society at 613-932-4914.

I have become, it seems, a “Mouse Chaser”. I decided that the 5 old catnip mice scattered around our home had to go. Full of dust, etc and chewed on many times, it was time for new ones.

I bought one at Sharyn’s Pantry and gave it to “His Majesty, the Cat”, Tiger. He was delighted and played with it right away. Not long afterwards, it disappeared. So out came the yard stick and I hunted for the mouse. … under the couch, chairs, bed and everywhere imaginable!!…Where was it??

Finally, I found it way way under the bed. How it got in such a very remote corner is beyond me. I had to almost bend in two with my yardstick to get it. What I do for that cat!! Does he appreciate it? Well…we are not sure but he is very loving…when he wants to be, my precious little darling ball of fur!!!

Here are more Immutable Laws from a friend:

1) The Coffee Law: as soon as you sit down to a cup of hot coffee, your boss will ask you to do something which will last until the coffee is cold.

2) Murphy’s Law of Lockers: if there are only 2 people in the changing room, they will have adjacent lockers.

3) Law of Physical Surfaces: the chances of an open sandwich landing face down on the floor is directly correlated to the newness and cost of the carpet or rug.

4) Law of Logical Argument: anything possible IF you don’t know what you are talking about.

5) Law of Commercial Marketing Strategy: as soon as you find a product that you really like, the shop will stop selling it OR WORSE they will stop making it!!

6) Doctors’ Law: If you don’t feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there, you will feel better. but don’t make an appointment and you will stay sick.

7) Law of Public speaking: A CLOSED MOUTH GATHERS NO FEET

Have a good week, Dawn

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