Nursing Home Honored

LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR NAMED TO US NEWS & WORLD REPORT HONOR ROLL 2012 FOR BEST NURSING HOMES


After my Dad died in 2001, my sister and I took some of his medical equipment to a local nursing home because we knew the items would be put to good use. The Little Sisters of the Poor Home's reputation in the Pittsburgh area is stellar. So it was with no surprise that I read the following news release and decided to post it to my blog:

The Little Sisters of the Poor, who are celebrating their 140th year of serving Pittsburgh, received another reason to celebrate this week: Their Home in Pittsburgh’s Brighton Heights neighborhood was named to the 2012 Honor Roll for Best Nursing Homes by U.S. News and World Report. The Home was one of only 39 Homes in the nation named to the list out of more than 15,500 that U.S. News reviewed. Achieving this honor was a result of the Little Sisters’ Home receiving four straight quarters of perfect five-star ratings from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in all three areas including health inspections, nurse staffing, and quality of care.

Sister Judith Meredith, Administrator of the Little Sisters of the Poor Home in Pittsburgh, was pleased to hear the news. “I am so proud that our Home has received this achievement. Everyone involved in the care of our residents from the staff and volunteers, to the benefactors who help us carry out our ministry should be thanked for helping our Home attain this special recognition.”

The Pittsburgh community invited the Little Sisters of the Poor to establish a home for the elderly poor in 1872. Over the years the Sisters have cared for more than 12,000 aged poor regardless of race or religion. Their Home on Benton Avenue provides personal care, nursing care, and independent living apartments for low income seniors.

For more information, visit the Little Sisters of the Poor website.

Count Birds This Week

Join the Great Backyard Bird Count

Looking for something to do on these snowy winter days? Here's some info from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology on a winter event that's fun for all ages:

The 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up beginning February 17 and running through February 20, and you’re invited to join one of the largest, most enjoyable citizen-science projects on the planet. This year should be especially interesting because of the warmer temperatures and lack of snowfall in so many parts of North America. And how far south will the Snowy Owls roam? We're in the middle of a massive irruption that's dazzling bird watchers across the lower 48 states!

To participate, just count birds anywhere you wish for at least 15 minutes on one or more days of the GBBC. Then, report the highest number of each species seen together at one time on the GBBC website: http://www.birdcount.org/ Everything you need to know is on the website along with an instructional video and downloadable instructions.

You can upload a photo for consideration in the GBBC photo contest. Explore data on the website using maps and charts that show what everyone is reporting. Anyone who participates also has a chance to win great prizes! Tweet about the birds you’re seeing and include the #gbbc tag to have your message show up in the Twitter widget on the GBBC home page. Become a fan on the GBBC Facebook page. The GBBC is hosted by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society along with Canadian partner, Bird Studies Canada. Join us for the Great Backyard Bird Count and help set a new checklist record!

Orchids for Everyday

You are looking at a Dtps. Leopard Prince Star orchid, which is not blooming in a conservatory, but in my humble kitchen.

I received this lovely flower from my husband as a gift and it is a wonder. I have taken several photos of the flowers and as each bud opens fully, I am recording that too.

I used to be afraid to purchase orchids because I thought they were too fragile for my gardening skills, so the only time we saw them was in nosegays. But things have changed. I saw rows of orchids on sale at our local grocery store last week (see below). The price was reasonable, and they are so gorgeous that it's a great way to brighten up the gloom of winter. There's nothing to be afraid of, just enjoy.

Taking Care of the Winter Soul

When I arrived at the local park to walk last week, two of these ladies pictured above were talking to a third. By the time I finished my walk, they had talked to two other different women -- a 40 + minute chat!

Guess the days of talking over the fence to neighbors and friends are over and have been replaced by small get-togethers in other places. To that I say, Hooray!

They picked a beautiful day to be out in their shiny new walking shoes, and even the cool winds that always blow through the park did not deter them from catching up with each other.

In the background you can see an elf light display, part of the huge holdiay light show the park puts on every year. These days the county workers are tearing it down and packing it away till next fall when the process begins again.

If you have the opportunity, I hope you will walk outside today, taking advantage of whatever outdoor light January has to offer. And if you run into an old friend or neighbor, stop for a chat. Both experiences are good for the winter soul.

Volunteering in the New Year

Hello, all. It's January 3, 2012 and the New Year is humming along. We have had snow for the last two days so I guess winter, which was late arriving, is here to stay.

As the New Year arrives, most of us spend some time thinking about resolutions and to-do lists that can make our lives better. One suggestion I have written about recently was to post a resolution at a website dedicated to having people commit to doing more volunteer work on any scale that suits them.

Resolution12 suggests we write our resolution down for all to see and that may help us to get it done.

Like you I have been thinking about doing more volunteer work. Right before Christmas my husband and son and I were happy to be asked to help with the local Toys for Tots program. As you know the annual program is sponsored by the United States Marine Corps and provides toys to children who otherwise might not receive anything under the tree.

We worked several jobs at the chilly warehouse during our volunteer hours that Saturday, not really feeling the cold because of all of the warm hearts we worked alongside. One job in particular required taking a slip of paper with the genders and ages of a family's children marked off and "shop" for toys for those children/ We then placed the toys in a bag to hand to a Marine who handed the bag to a family member.

Mothers, fathers, friends and small children did the shopping and truly, there were no complaints from any one of any age while doing the fast-paced work.

Performing that volunteer work made me feel that there is so much more to be done and that we Baby Boomers often have some extra time to do those jobs.

I hope you will find time this year to volunteer and offer the world your talents and love. It's waiting.

Traveling? Read this first!

Susan Foster is all about traveling. For the past 30 years she has been the consummate traveler, learning as she went and always passing on her knowledge to others to make the friendly skies even friendlier.

As a gift for the holidays, Susan has written an updated, state-of-the-art, article on how you can avoid holiday travel mishaps and be as prepared as a Boy Scout on your way.

Visit my website, http://www.boomthis.com/,  to read Susan's article.

Trimmed for the Holidays

It's nice to see small towns dressed for the holiday season. This particular gazebo is in Chagrin Falls, OH, a quaint little town near Cleveland.

We had a chance to visit this town last month, remembering when we had been there years ago to shop. My husband and father-in-law dropped us ladies off at a parking lot in town and then they went to a Cleveland Indians game. They drove back to pick us up after the game. All of this done without cell phones! Imagine!

Hope your town is decked out this year. A nice change from the dreary skies we have been experiencing.