Flower Art Show - Celebrating Spring

Looking toward the opposite end of the hall this is what you see as you stand at the entrance to the hall designated as our Art Gallery. More about what you see further on. Last fall when picking paintings from those done by our residents I suggested to fellow Gallery Committee members that we withhold any that were of flowers with the intent of creating an all flowal art show to be hung just when we couldn't tolerate one more bit of winter. By the arrival of spring due to the productivity of our artists throughout the long cold dreary winter we were pleased to find ourselves with a plentiful supply of paintings from which to choose for the anticipated flower art show.

As we made our selections we found that the pictures available to us were in deed lovely harbingers of spring. So lovely they inspired us to expand our opening reception into a celebration of spring at which time we would not only honor our artists but also the people in our community who have particularly enhanced our lives here by what they have done with flowers. Thus special invitations went to a couple who have for several years created a huge oval garden planted with a variety of beautiful annuals from which we were all allowed to pick flowers, the members of our Landscape Committee, and a lady who has become known for the number of small bouquets she distributes throughout our small village to those celebrating birthdays or anniversaries or who may need perking upfor one reason or another.

The weeks just before the show was hung my particular responsibilities kept me busy as I framed ten of the recently completed paintings, sent out invitations, made labels to identify the paintings and name tags for our honorees, created posters, and arranged for the reception including flowers for table decorations.

Now back to those pictures at the top - twelve beautiful paintings based on calendar illustrations which had as their inspiration Monet's garden. My job was to figure out an arrangement for hanging that would be more pleasing to the eye than in a long straight line. To do this I ended up taking all twelve pictures to my apartment, placing them on my floor and experimenting with assorted layouts until I had one that suited me. Actually it was thinking about that oval garden that gave me the idea. Since it's been up people seem to like it, so it was well worth the time and effort.

On the morning of April 4 our entire commitee was on hand to assist with hanging the fifty-five pictures we had chosen. We were pleased that the favorable comments began even as were hanging the pictures. It took us several hours to get all of them in place to our mutual satisfaction. When it was finished we had assembled a kaleidoscope of colors ranging from pale pastels to brilliant reds, greens, purples, and oranges with all of the shades in between.

They ran the gamut you would expect to find in a large flower show (the kind I was privileged to see when I lived in the Philadelphia area and could attend their fantastic internationally recognized annual flower show). We had the twelve bits from Monet's garden; we had a beautiful pink dogwood tree in bloom in a local church yard; we had a tiny clump of snow drops heralding the end of winter along with bouquets, both large and small; mixed and single blossom; as well as a number of single specimen blossoms of many vibrant colors. We also were privileged to have what you wouldn't find at an actual flower show: several paintings done by artists who shared with us their special vision that allows them to see more than the ordinary eye perceives when looking at flowers in a garden.

Since the show has been up we have had the usual fickel April weather here - lots of gray skies and rain. We have even had to cope with tornado warnings and a power outage lasting for almost twelve hours. So it's nice to know that spring has arrived and remains constant in at least one spot. Although Easter Sunday here dawned as a gray grungy day we had a lovely spot where we could walk with our many visitors without getting wet. I know that's where my family and I headed for a stroll after eating brunch in our dining room.

Brunch at Kendal

Of all the meals at Kendal, the one Susan and I most enjoy is Sunday brunch. It's served from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., thus accommodating both those of an active bent who want to have a late-morning meal before setting off on an afternoon excursion, and those of a more leisurely cast of mind who prefer to spend their entire Sunday mornings and early afternoons at home, pajama-clad perhaps, drinking their coffee while reading their way through the multi-sectioned Sunday paper or catching up on email and web offerings (often with the TV chat shows purring in the background). Happily, the range of hours also suits the needs of church-attenders of all stripes. Susan and I tend to be part of the noon-hour crowd at brunch.

The fare at each brunch has its predictable features. There are muffins, bread, rolls, and bagels. There is an array of jams and jellies. There's an egg-bar, where a staff member stands ready to prepare eggs to order. And I shouldn't omit the omelets, the waffles, and the selection of vegetables, berries, melons, and fruits. But each brunch also has its special treat on offer. Yesterday it was a juicy roast beef, but some Sundays it's fish or fowl, and sometimes the staff complements the scheduled menu with an option of blueberry pancakes.

Another joy that brunch brings is the arrival of many visitors into our midst. It is, of course, not uncommon for friends and relatives of residents to be dining with the community on weekdays, but on weekends their numbers proliferate. The families become larger, as the children of residents arrive together to enjoy Kendal cuisine, and still younger children – grandchildren and great grandchildren of residents – arrive on the scene to take up the challenge and fun of navigating their way among the various food and dessert options. These guests lend a vibrancy to our brunches that is palpable and exciting.

Susan and I tend to be predictable in our choice of brunch foods. We go first for bread or muffins, toasting and buttering and jamming them to taste. Then we like to get our eggs, usually scrambled but occasionally fried over easy. To go with the eggs we generally choose from among bacon, sausage, and home fries. After that, we like to get a bowl of fruit. If we're feeling hungry or just adventurous, we might top the meal off with a dish of ice cream or a piece of cake or pie. Meanwhile, though Susan and I usually prefer to choose a table for two, we have conversations with friends who are seated nearby or making their way from one serving station to another. At brunch, as at all meals, there are staff members standing ready to help residents who need assistance in getting their dishes to their tables.

It's hard to put my finger on what makes a Kendal brunch so satisfying. In part, it's the food itself – ample and delicious. In part, it's the atmosphere of relaxed friendliness, the opportunities to swap thoughts with neighbors (and it turns out that lots of Indian fans are suddenly emerging in this spring of baseball wonders). In part, it's the evidence that the Kendal family includes a whole range of people who, though not seen here on a regular basis, want and mean to be part of a community that is home to people who are dear to them.

The Kendal Bus

I just saw the Kendal bus going past my cottage on the way to the grocery store. The bus makes two trips to the grocery on Tuesdays because senior citizens get a whole five percent discount on Tuesdays! The bus also stops at the dry cleaners and the drug store. John and I still have a car and drive, but sometimes I am tempted to go by bus because Tom, the driver, loads the groceries from the carts into the bus and then, when the bus gets back, he carries each of the marked containers straight into each individual kitchen. What service! Some residents like to shop at the mall in Newark, so on Friday either Tom or Dick drives the residents to the mall. Imagine when the weather is cold, and it is dark, and there are a few snow flurries, but you really, really want to go to that special concert at Denison. Well, the bus will be waiting outside the main Kendal building and someone will help you climb on, and then you are transported to Swazey Chapel and dropped off right at the entrance. And after a lovely evening of music, you walk out and the bus is at the door and takes you home. We do take advantage of that sometimes and leave our car at home. There are also necessary and not such fun trips to the doctor either by van or bus. But I will not write about those. I would rather talk about going to the plays at Newark on Sunday afternoon or to a special exhibit at The Works, or concerts at the Reese Center at the OSU Newark Campus. Thank you, Tom and Dick, and the Kendal Bus!

Lecture on Archaeoastronomy

A friend of mine, Bill Hoffman, has written the following account of a recent lecture at Kendal. With his permission I am putting it on our blog.

Dr. Michael Mickelson, J. Reid Anderson Emeritus Professor of Physics at Denison University, talked with Kendal at Granville residents on Wednesday, 9 March, about “Archaeoastromony.” Archaeoastronomy (also spelled archeoastronomy) is the study of how people in the past have understood phenomena in the sky, how they used phenomena in the sky and what role the sky played in their cultures.

The topic is one of local interest because the Newark Earthworks is some six miles to the East of Kendal at Granville. Granville also has a particular interest in the “Alligator Mound,” within the Village limits, and one of many small satellite circle mounds on the Kendal site – all part of the greater Earthworks complex. The Earthworks, which include the very large ‘octagon & circle’ [incorporates a golf course] and ‘great circle’ mounds, are attributed to the Hopewell culture dating some 2000 years before the present (BP). They have a complex lunar alignment, not discovered until about 1980. For more information, see http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/places/c08/greatcircle.shtml

Dr. Mickelson talked of sites all over the world that have solar and lunar orientations, notably Stonehenge and the Parthenon, and many of greater age, perhaps to at least 6000 BP. He did not discuss particular Egyptian or meso-American pyramids but they too have astronomical orientations.

It is curious that most temples and other important structures in Greece & Turkey have clear directional East/West axes – the rising and setting of the sun and moon – whereas Roman buildings are, in the main, without identifiable directional orientation, like ours; look at most of our curving sub-divisions. Some religious structures do still follow specific directional orientations.

Dr. Mickelson’s talk was part of an ongoing Speaker/Lecture series at Kendal at Granville with presentations occurring at least twice monthly. His presentation was based on his own work and that of his undergraduate students, primarily in the area of the eastern Mediterranean .

Our Pool

Here is a photo of our beautiful enclosed pool. It's another area where the philosopy and values of Kendal can be seen in action.. They are evident in the manner in which the policies by which our pool operates were developed and the way in which it is used.

The policies were developed by a committee of residents with representation from the staff because early on it was decided that residents wanted to share the use of the pool with our staff members. Opening the pool to our staff is one way we can let staff members know that they are respected and valued by residents. Because administration has the ultimate responsibility for safety and health issues there was consultation with the administrator about policies that impinged on these issues.

The pool is used for both physical therapy and recreation. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning there is a Water Wellness class designed to provide exercise suitable for those with arthritis. It is open to any resident who wishes to come. It has also been made available on a fee basis to a limited number of individuals in the Granville community who have had rehabilitation here at Kendal. Our physical therapists also use the pool to provide individual water therapy sessions. Our hydraulic lift facilitates getting handicapped persons in and out of the pool.

The pool provides a good place to get healthy exercise and is used regularly be some residents for individual or group recreational swimming. Some people use this time for doing personal exercise routine or lap swims. We have one small group of early morning swimmers. Each day they get a healthy start on their day by going to the pool for lap swimming and personal exercise routines. I understand that one of these swimmers didn't even swim until after moving here.

Both residents and staff members may bring guests to the pool during designated hours.
Children who visit parents and grandparents here seem to particularly enjoy the pool. For youngsters its a great way to work off excessive energy. It's also a fun way to interact with grandparents in the pool and then when the grandparents get a little tired they can relax poolside while letting the "younguns" entertain them with their water antics. I know that my grandsons almost always tuck in their swim suits when they come here.

I personally have gained much from my experiences with our pool. First of all I found myself some how or other chairman of the Pool Committee for the first five years during which we were establishing the basic policies which now guide us in our use of the pool. That experience allowed me to use my organizational and administrative skills. I enjoy participating in the Water Wellness Class and have been a part of it since its inception when I haven't had to stay out of the water for health reasons. As a final step in the recovery process after my open chest surgery in 2008 I benefitted from physical therapy in the water. Also, I have spent some happy times in and around the pool with my grandsons and their parents just relaxing and having fun. So I for one am very glad we have this great facility here.

Dining at Kendal

Last night I had the best sauerbraten ever! I thought no one could make it like I did, but I found out that Todd surpassed me. I debated on what to have because I saw that Francis had made chicken pot pie and I think Francis makes the best pie. I hope I get another chance. Every night is good but some nights are special and sometimes I am not sure what I want. Then I remember back when my kids would ask me what we were having for dinner and I remember the responses I would get.

We usually have our meal in the evening, but some residents prefer to have their meal at noon. Some nights we sit with friends at a small table, some nights we gather with lots of people around a big table, and sometimes, when we are not feeling especially social, we find a spot to be alone. And when there is an Ohio State game of any type anywhere, these diehard fans box up their dinner and take it home. In the evening we often have lovely piano music wafting through the dining room, a gift from D. Ellen.

The dining staff puts great effort into seeing that the food and service are of exceptional quality and that the food is nutritious. For this reason we have comment cards on the table. I am on the dining committee and once a month I and three other residents, and the chef, the dining room manager, and the general director of services, meet to read the comments. The rule is that the cards must be signed and the cards need to be dated. Sue, the chef, needs the date so that she can check her records to see who made the dish and what recipe was used. Often we get several comments that say the same thing, complimentary or not. But sometimes one resident will say the dish was great and another resident will write the opposite. If upon occasion some dish does not turn out well, I again think back to my own cooking and admit that occasionally I had a dish not turn out as expected.

The staff accomodates people who are vegetarians, people who have diabetes, gluten intolerance, lactose intolerance, or other special dietary needs. Sue, Stella, and Will are good listeners and want to please. I am most happy with our dining experience here at Kendal.

Who are "The Muggers"?

What would your first impression be if you learned that Kendal at Granville had a residents' group called - of all things! - "the Muggers"? Maybe you'd worry that we harbored a gang of street bandits? Or perhaps you'd surmise that we'd created an organization for people who liked to hog the camera's attention? I've heard both suggestions - and others as well.

Actually, the group is simply the men's breakfast club at Kendal. We meet in the dining room on the last Friday of each month to eat a hearty breakfast of eggs, bacon, sausage, and pancakes; to share good conversation with each other; and to enjoy a presentation from an outside guest. And our name? Where does it come from? Well, it simply derives from the signature coffee mugs that each of us has left in the care of the dining service to certify our membership in good standing in the group when we appear each month. That's it: we have our mugs and so we're the Muggers!

Over the past three years the leadership of the group has brought in a variety of speakers and groups to get our days off to a rousing start. Nearby Denison University, for example, has provided us with musical entertainment and a small improv theater group. The local chapter of SPEBSQSA has entertained with a barber shop quartet. We've had light-hearted talks about the memorable film stars of the 1930s and 1940s, the National Road (US 40 to the uninitiated), and the contrast between gender relations then and now. A comedic ensemble from the Licking Players, our local theatrical group, has lightened our morning. We even turn serious at times, to learn for example about the global economy. One of the joys of the Muggers is that we don't know ahead of time what's on tap for each meeting: each breakfast brings its surprise.

An organization like the Muggers is valuable at Kendal, for, like most retirement communities, our demographics show a preponderance of females. That circumstance makes it useful for the men to get together occasionally - not to fall back into locker room banter, but to recover the tones and contours of male conversation and friendship. I can speak only for myself in advancing this observation - which is to say that neither Kendal nor my wife might agree! - but it seems to me that, whether from nature or nurture, certain gender differences are inexpungible. The monthly meeting of the Muggers affords Kendal's men an hour or so of male-bonding time, and the group thus becomes another of Kendal's many and various resident organizations.