Commun ty Matters Kansas City Presbyterian Manor
COMING UP IN COMMUNITY MATTERS:
Everyone has a story to tell
What’s your secret artistic talent? An upcoming edition of Community Matters will focus on Art is Ageless®. The Art is Ageless® program encourages residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through an annual art competition and exhibit, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions. What talent have you discovered? If you’ve got a story about what inspires you to create, contact Tina Ashford, activity director, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
Are you keeping your talent hidden? Share it with us.
December 2015
December Brings Sweet Memories for Two Residents Remembering Pearl Harbor and the Great Depression
Doris Sass remembers that her husband was drafted in the Army in February of 1941, shortly after they were married, and the year the attack on Pearl Harbor occurred on Dec. 7. He was stationed in California, and she decided to move to there to be closer to him.
She remembers taking a bus all by herself to California. She stayed three years but came back to Kansas when he was sent to the South Pacific and stationed in Hawaii. When she moved back to the Kansas City Doris Sass area, she stayed with her sister and brother-in-law. She got a job at the Fairfax plant where she worked in the oil bay and set parts for B-25 Bombers. She shared that she would go downtown every day for lunch because her sister was not a very good cook. When her husband returned after the war was over, she bought her first cookbook and learned to cook. She loved to cook. Once she had children, Doris brought back the tradition of baking and decorating Christmas cookies, something she enjoyed with her sisters when she was younger. She was the second to youngest out of seven girls. She grew up during the Great Depression, and they did not have very much money for gifts. A fond memory she shared is that she used to love to sweep with her mother’s broom, and she received a child’s size broom for Christmas one year. We thank Doris for sharing her memories, and for sharing her famous Christmas cookie recipe. (see page 2)
Christmas Memories of Real Trees and Big Feasts
When she was younger, Patricia Watson remembers going to a small Methodist Church of about 20 members. She remembers that the church
MEMORIES continued on page 2
MEMORIES
had a large, real Christmas tree with real candles on it and also a bucket of water close by. They would go to church and sing Christmas songs, and the children would receive a small gift.
continued from page 1
At her family’s home, they would have duck or goose for Christmas because they raised them. Her grandmother would bring dressing, and other family members would bring items. After she was married with children, she remembers making a lot of Christmas cookies and candies and sharing with neighbors and friends. They would give out 13 or 14 plates of goodies. Here are some of Patricia’s prized recipes. Recipes from Patricia Watson
COLOSSAL COOKIES ½ c. oleo (margarine) 1 18-oz jar chunky peanut butter 1 ½ c. brown sugar 1 ½ c. granulated sugar 1 tsp. vanilla
Patricia Watson
2 ½ tsp. baking soda 4 eggs 6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips 6 c. cuick cooking oatmeal
Blend all ingredients in a large container. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Mash down with a dampened fork. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
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Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Kansas City Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Peatric Gates, executive director Tina Ashford, activity director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Tina at tashford@pmma.org. Telephone: 913-334-3666 Fax: 913-334-2904 Address: 7850 Freeman, Kansas City, KS 66112-2133 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. KansasCityPresbyterianManor.org
REBA COOKIES 3 eggs 1 tsp. baking powder 1 box brown sugar
½ tsp. salt 2/3 c. melted shortening 1 pkg. chocolate chips
2 2/3 c. flour 1 tsp. vanilla
Mix everything together in a large bowl and stir well. Bake 10 minutes on large cookie sheet at 350 degrees, then lower heat to 300 degrees until mixture falls.
PEANUT BLOSSOMS 1 ¾ c. flour ½ c. shortening ½ c. sugar ½ c. peanut butter
½ c. brown sugar 2 tbsp. milk 1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla ½ tsp. salt 1 beaten egg 1 pkg. Hershey Kisses
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine flour, sugars, soda, shortening, peanut butter, milk, vanilla, and egg. Shape into 1” balls. Roll in a bowl of granulated sugar. Place 2” apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Top each with a Hershey Kiss. Press down till edge of cookie cracks. Put back into oven and bake another 3-4 minutes.
A recipe from Doris Sass
COOKIE CUT-OUTS 4 cupsall-purpose flour, sifted ½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt 1 cup butter or margarine 2 cups sugar
3 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla
Cream butter and sugar. Add vanilla and eggs. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Let chill. Roll out and cut into shapes of choice. Bake at 350 until golden brown. 2 COMMUNITY MATTERS DECEMBER 2015
DECEMBER HAPPENINGS
Dec. 4 – Monthly Birthday Party & Special Entertainment by “Noteworthy” at 2 p.m. in Chapel
Dec. 6 – Salvation Army visit and bringing calendars to share with everyone. Dec. 9 – Residents' Christmas Store (contact Activity Department for more information)
Dec. 14 – RSVPs due for the Family Christmas dinners, $8 per guest. No charge for residents.
Dec. 17 – Western Wyandotte County Library Craft Time, 2:30 in Chapel
Dec. 19 – City Wide Nursing Home Ministries at 2 p.m. in Chapel
Family Christmas Dinner Menu
Potato Crusted Baked Chicken with Rosemary Butter Cream Sauce Grilled FreshVegetables Honey Butter Rolls Cheesecake with strawberry topping RESERVATIONS REQUIRED
Barbara McKee enjoys visiting with Jolly Old St. Nicholas at the Christmas party last year.
Dec. 21 – Residents’ Christmas party and Santa visits at 2 p.m. in neighborhoods.
Dec. 21 – Resident Family Christmas Dinner in the Chapel at 5 p.m. RSVP required with signup by Dec. 14. Meals are $8 per guest; no charge for residents.
Dec. 22 – 12 p.m. Resident Family Christmas Dinner in the Chapel. RSVP required with signup by Dec. 14. Meals are $8 per guest; no charge for residents.
Dec. 31 – NewYear’s Eve Party at 2 p.m. in the Chapel with entertainment by Nick Godbois
Christmas light tour outing TBA and decided by weather. See activity department for more information.
Send an angel this holiday season. Special angels will be adorning holiday displays at every Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America (PMMA) senior living community.
The “angels” are ornaments that will arrive throughout the holiday season along with gifts to the annual Christmas Angel Appeal, which raises funds for the Good Samaritan Program for Benevolent Care.
If you would like to participate in the Angel Appeal, please email Development@pmma.org or call 800-336-8511.
KANSAS CITY PRESBYTERIAN MANOR 3
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Vehicle donations help others
Vehicle donations help the seniors who have outlived their financial resources.
The season of giving is here. Wouldn’t it be great to know that your vehicle donation helped seniors who have outlived their financial resources receive the care they need this year? Turn that unneeded vehicle into holiday cheer and receive a tax deduction! We accept many donations types including cars, RVs, boats, planes and more. Donating your vehicle will help seniors who have outlived their financial resources at a Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus in so many ways. Call us at 844-490-GIVE (4483) or visit KansasCityPresbyterianManor.org/vehicle_donations and fill out the form. We will take care of the rest.
Tis the season, give for a reason.
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Kansas City Presbyterian Manor 7850 Freeman Kansas City, KS 66112-2133 Return Service Requested
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4 COMMUNITY MATTERS DECEMBER 2015