Flower Planting and Mother's Day Tea

This month’s Alive in All Seasons theme is “Grow Strong Daily” so what better way to start off the month then with our Best Friend’s flower planting!

It was a perfect day to be outside to do our flower planting.  We all donned our hats and gloves (and sunscreen) and enjoyed getting some exercise, spending time with friends and community, and celebrating the beauty of spring.  And spring is the perfect season to celebrate growth!

Later, we celebrated Mother’s Day with our traditional Mother’s Day Tea.  We had wonderful pastries,  beautiful harp music, and roses and gifts for all the women that attended our celebration.  Just a small token to show our appreciation for all the wonderful women in our lives!

“A mother is a verb.  It’s something  you do.  Not just who you are.”  - Cheryl Lacey Donovan

“Mother’s hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.”  Author Unknown

Bunnies! Cute, fluffy, adorable, little bunnies!

People that come to Juniper Village at Aurora often notice and ask about all the giraffe statues they see all over the community.  The giraffe is a symbol of sorts for us for two reasons:  One has to do with the giraffe’s long neck which symbolizes how we strive to reach way up, to go above and beyond.  The second reason is because at one time it was thought that giraffes had one of the largest hearts.  In reality, they have a small heart, however, it has such great power from a very strong heart beat because it has to generate blood flow from the heart all the way up to the brain which is quite a distance.  This heart beat is so strong generates twice the blood pressure of a human and double the beats per minute (170 beats per minute) as compared to a human.

We take pride in our giraffe symbol and a beautiful example of this is a recent rescue made by our maintenance director, Steve.  Steve found three dead baby bunnies in our courtyard.  The mother rabbit was gone and there were two small surviving baby bunnies.  He took them in and bought cat’s milk formula and a very small bottle and began the process of bottle feeding them.  One of them was extremely small, much smaller than the other one, and we didn’t think it would survive.  However, Steve would not even entertain the idea that the little one wouldn’t make it.  He took them home every night and fed them every two hours.  After the first couple of days, you could see that the smallest one was getting stronger.  It was not able to hop initially, it would walk off balance, and when it would sit up to try to clean its face, it would fall over. Still, Steve kept feeding them and letting them run around to get strong (even letting them run around on his bed at home) and they both continued to grow and flourish!

The team at JVA helped as Steve’s backup on occasion so he had some time off from caring for these adorable bunnies.  They are both doing very well, eating grass now and even drinking water from a shallow dish, so the goal is to release them back into the courtyard at JVA in the next week or two.

What a perfect example of the wonderful heart of Steve and the staff at Juniper Village at Aurora!  They truly embody the philosophy of a compassionate, strong heart and going above and beyond to make a difference!

Grow Strong Daily: May Events

Welcome to May where we will be dancing around the May Pole on May Day; donning opulent hats for the Kentucky Derby and sombreros for Cinco de Mayo; honoring our mothers on Mother’s Day and our fallen heroes on Memorial Day. What a fantastic month of celebration! In addition to observing these holidays, Juniper Village will be focusing on this month’s Alive In All Seasons theme “Grow Strong Daily” with an emphasis on fitness.

Studies show exercise is an effective treatment for many chronic conditions such as arthritis, heart disease and diabetes and can also help people with high blood pressure, balance problems or difficulty walking. Stress management, improved mood and cognitive function are other benefits of regular exercise. This is why Juniper Village makes exercise a part of every day! We are completely dedicated to whole person wellness and “nurturing the spirit of life” for each individual we touch by encouraging an active body, an engaged mind and a fulfilled spirit.

Join us here at Juniper Village at Aurora for our Best Friends Flower Painting on May 2^nd at 2:00 pm; our Mother’s Day Tea on May 10^th at 10:00 am; our Eat and Be Fit Luncheon on May 22^nd at noon; or our Memorial Day BBQ on May 26^th at noon. See our newsletter calendar for a complete listing of events and come visit us during any that suit your fancy!

Annual Easter brunch and Easter egg hunt!

Spring is such a wonderful time of year!  Flowers are beginning to come up from the ground and the trees are starting to bloom.  The weather warms up, the days start to get a little longer, and the birds can be heard chirping from early in the morning until late in the evening.  Another sign of spring is our annual Easter brunch and Easter egg hunt at Juniper Village at Aurora!

This year we had an even bigger turnout thanks to the beautiful weather!  For April, our Alive in All Seasons focuses on the brain and we know that social activity and healthy food are very important for brain health.  Our Easter brunch included lots of colorful, fresh fruits and lots of wonderful social activity starting with coloring eggs, stuffing candy into plastic eggs, hiding the eggs in our beautiful back yard, and nurturing relationships with our residents, their family and friends, and our staff and their children! 

And what would Easter be without a visit from the Easter bunny!

Spring is a magical time of year!

  

Celebrating Tradition with Performance

At Juniper, during the month of March we celebrated opportunities with performances of many kinds.  Included in the many and various opportunities that were offered were the Drama Club, Sing-a-longs, Scarf Dancing, Music Therapy, a Pom Pom Dance, One Accord Musical group performance, Poetry reading, a dance party, and we wouldn’t let the month pass without the Irish High Step Dancers performing on St. Patrick’s Day…it’s a long standing tradition! 

According to Wikipedia:  Irish step-dance is a style of dance with its roots in traditional Irish dance. It can be performed solo or by troupes. Two types of shoes are worn; hard shoes, which make sounds similar to tap shoes, and soft shoes, which are similar to ballet slippers. Dancers stiffen their upper bodies while performing quick, intricate footwork. Costumes are considered important for stage presence in competitive Irish step-dance. There are several levels of competition available for both individuals and groups.

The nature of the Irish dance tradition has changed and adapted over the centuries to accommodate and reflect changing populations and the fusion of new cultures. The history of Irish dancing is as a result a fascinating one. The popular Irish dance stage shows of the past ten years have reinvigorated this cultural art, and today Irish dancing is healthy, vibrant, and enjoyed by people across the globe.

Being able watch the young dancers move with such vibrancy, intent, and detail is always a joyful experience.  The smiles of the on-lookers brighten the room every time!  Being able to enjoy such performances with good friends, families, and acquaintances…and let’s not forget the delicious corned beef, cabbage, along with the rest of the very delicious meal would be the luck of the Irish.  With that said, we can all be a wee bit Irish on St. Patty’s Day.

Believe in Yourself: April Events

April, the month where we play innocent pranks on April Fool’s Day; celebrate Springtime and Easter with egg hunts, brunches, and church; pay homage to mother earth on Earth Day; and welcome the return of America’s favorite pastime – Baseball. This month we embark on a new quarter in our Alive in All Seasons calendar where we celebrate Healthy Aging and will “Let Wellbeing Thrive”. Throughout April our focus is on the brain and honoring the theme “Believe in Yourself”. Did you know that activities that are good for your heart are also good for your brain? The American Heart Association tells us that protecting memory and brain health is a matter of keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy. Regular cardio exercise and a healthy diet not only keep your heart happy, but your brain too.

This month’s offerings include activities and events that will keep our bodies and brains healthy and renew our faith in ourselves. Educational opportunities will cover brain health topics such as brain booster activities and ways to keep fit. We will rejoice in our individuality and celebrate ourselves through life affirming reminiscent and creative activities while reminding each other to “Believe in Yourself”.

Please join us here at Juniper Village at Aurora for Drum Therapy with Helen on April 5^th at 2:00 pm; our Healthy Brain Luncheon on April 10^th at noon; our Best Friends Dying Easter Eggs activity on April 18^th at 2:00 pm; our Easter Brunch and Egg Hunt on April 19^th at 10:00 am; and our Holocaust Remembrance Discussion on April 26^th at 2:00 pm. See our newsletter calendar for a complete listing of events and come visit us during any that suit your fancy!

H'Art and Soul of Dining - New Menus with Delicious Recipes!

We are proud to announce that on April 5th our revitalized spring/summer menus will begin for our H’Art and Soul of Dining Signature Program at all of our communities.  This new signature program will help us improve quality of life and whole person wellness for the individuals that call Juniper Village home.  We are very excited this season since the offerings will feature a delicious 5-week entrée select option featuring fabulous new choices using some of the fresh products available through our food vendors. Also, on our updated menus, we have added many lighter alternatives as well as recipes specific to each community that take into account special diets, regional tastes, food committee requests and our resident’s special needs and personal requests.  These changes to our meal plans significantly increase the variety of selections provided for our residents while focusing upon scratch made offerings and heart-healthy meals.  Furthermore, in celebration of our AIAS spring quarter “Healthy Aging,” our Grill Menus will be re-vamped to highlight healthier offerings throughout the season. In addition we will be implementing an innovative hydration assurance program served from our “Oasis Carts,” featuring a variety of flavored waters using citrus or mint or cucumbers, fresh brewed iced tea, lemonade, punch, smoothies and juices as well as nutritious snacks.

Below are some of the recipes featured on our new menu:

Carrot-Currant Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour (to measure, spoon into a cup and level)
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup carrot juice
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup shredded carrots

1/2 cup dried currants
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with paper liners. In a large bowl whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl whisk together butter, egg, milk, carrot juice and vanilla. Pour the egg mixture over the dry ingredients and gently fold just until moistened. Fold carrots and dried currants into the mix. Scoop batter into the muffin pan and bake until golden brown and firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from pan (cool on a wire rack if you have one).

Yellow Squash Soup

Cooking Spray

1/2 cup diced yellow onion

1 cup diced zucchini

1 cup diced yellow squash

3 cups low-sodium vegetable stock

1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasonings

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 (15 ounce) can Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 ounce) can diced no-salt-added tomatoes

Coat a large saucepan with cooking spray. Heat over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 3 minutes. Add zucchini and yellow squash; sauté 3 minutes. Add all other ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes.