Thoughts with Pastor Pete

We all say so many things, and you probably heard so

much in your life.

Advice is something that’s easily handed out but not always

readily accepted. Thought perhaps a bit of sharing of word’s

never hurt and may even come in handy someday so here

goes..... (yes, rolling your eyes is optional here....)

Never let a fool kiss you and never let a kiss fool you

A rumor is about as hard to un-spread as butter

Why is it that all the vitamins are found in spinach rather

than in ice cream?

Thinking well is wise; planning well wiser; doing well

wisest of all

Success is sweet, but its secret is sweat

Dieting: A matter of mind over platter

Gossip: Ear pollution

Giving: The hardest thing to give is in...is it true ?

...well....had enough..? ..... just a few more....

In conclusion: The phrase that wakes up the audience

“To me” she said “ old age is always 15 years older then I ”

An anxious heart weighs a person down, but a kind word

cheers one up!

THE LAUREL LEAF

SEPTEMBER 2019

SPECIAL DAYS

IN SEPTEMBER

Sept. 4th Peter Rabbit’s

Birthday

Sept. 5th Fashion Week

Sept. 8th

Grandparents Day

Sept.13th

Golden Girls Day

Sept. 21st Oktoberfest

Sept. 23rd

Autumn Season Begins

Sept. 27th

World Tourism Day

Join us! Singspiration with

Pastor Pete on July 24th at

2:30pm in the Fun & Games

Room on the first floor.

Pastor Pete’s Information:

Hours may vary

Contact:

peterkok@shaw.ca

The Origins of Peter Rabbit

The Tale of Peter Rabbit is a British children's book

written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter that follows

mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he is

chased about the garden of Mr. McGregor. He escapes and

returns home to his mother, who puts him to bed after giving

him some tea.

The tale was written for five-year-old Noel Moore, son

of Potter's former governess Annie Carter Moore, in 1893. It

was revised and privately printed by Potter in 1901 after

several publishers' rejections, but was printed in a trade

edition by Frederick Warne & Co. in 1902. The book was a

success, and multiple reprints were issued in the years

immediately following its debut. It has been translated into

36 languages, and with 45 million copies sold it is one of the

best-selling books of all time.

One interesting fact relating to the book is that there

was actually a real Peter Rabbit! He was a Belgian buck

rabbit named Peter Piper.

Potter was especially fond of

Peter Piper, and would take

him on walks on a leash.

She even described in a

letter how he like to lie in

front of the fire “like a cat”.

September’s flower is the late-blooming

aster, considered the afterthought of the

Roman goddess Flora because it blooms

later in the season than most flowers.

These mid– to late– summer blooms get

their name from aster, the Greek word

for “star”. The aster comes in a variety of

colors– including pink, purple lavender,

blue, and red—usually with a yellow

center but sometimes centered in black.

It’s a perennial, blooming year after year

following a first year of dormancy. So, in

the language of flowers, the aster has come to symbolize daintiness, love,

and patience.

The cool blue sapphire is made of corundum, and when it is red, it is

called a ruby. The most expensive sapphires are mined in Kashmir and

Myanmar, but they are also found in Australia, Africa, and India.

Sapphires are very hard and durable. Perhaps that is why they are

associated with truth and fidelity. In ancient times,

it was believed that if the wearer was unfaithful,

the stone would not shine. Sapphires were reputed

to have healing powers that helped with eye and

ear problems, bleeding, and inflammation.

Birthstone of the Month—Sapphire

Birthstone of the Month—Sapphire August Flashback

Seniors who read often enjoy much more than just a good story. Scientific

studies have found many benefits of reading for older adults, from reducing

stress and enhancing sleep to improving memory circuits, sharpening decision-

making and possibly even delaying the onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s

Disease. These top five benefits demonstrate why good senior reading

habits help preserve mental faculties, enabling people to live independently

longer.

The Top Four Benefits of Reading for Older Adults include:

1. Enhancing Memory: A study of 294 seniors published in Neurology found

that those who engaged in mentally simulating activities such as reading

across their life-span had slower rates of memory decline compared to those

who did not. Reading exercises your memory, which is critical to the short-

term recall of everyday events

2. Sharpening Decision-Making Skills: Reading can improve the analytical

and reasoning power seniors need to solve problems, an ability known as fluid

intelligence that declines throughout adulthood.

3. Delaying Onset of Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Research

has determined that adults in their 70s who engaged in mentally intense

hobbies, such as reading, from ages 20 to 60 are less likely to develop

Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Reducing Stress: Stress from your

daily life can just slip away when you

find yourself in the middle of a great

story. A novel can transport you to

another place and time. It is a great

distraction from the present moment

and will drain away tensions and let

you relax.

Healthy Habits: The Benefits of Books Laurel Place Cookbook

Wishing a Happy Birthday to...

The Mid-Autumn or Moon Festival is a harvest festival celebrated

notably by the Chinese and Vietnamese people. This year the Mid-Autumn

Festival takes place on September 13th. During the celebration, families

get together to watch the full moon rise, eat mooncakes, play with lanterns,

recite moon poems and watch dragon and lion dances. Moon cakes are a

traditional Chinese pastry that is eaten at the festival and they consist of a

thin layer of pastry wrapped

around a dense filling. They are

important to the festival because

they are round and symbolize the

gathering and reunion of family.

Nowadays, people present moon

cakes to relatives and friends to

demonstrate that they wish them a

long and happy life.

The Mid-Autumn Festival in China has various legends and lore

surrounding its traditions. One of the most popular legends is the Chang'e

and Hou Yi. According to this legend, the world had ten suns that

destroyed the crops of the Earth and made people suffer. A Chinese hero

known as Hou Yi crafted a bow and shot down all of the sun except one

with his arrows. For saving mankind, the Queen of Heaven rewarded Hou

Yi with a motion of immortality. Hou Yi did not drink the potion because

he wanted to stay with his wife, Chang'e. Hou Yi gave the immortality

potion to his wife for safe keeping, but she drank it one day when she was

attacked. This caused her to become immortal and fly to the moon. People

honor Chang'e with moon cakes and offerings of food for good fortune.

Chinese Culture: Mid-Autumn Festival

National Grandparents day provides an

opportunity for people to appreciate and express

their love to their grandparents through kind

actions such as making a phone call or inviting

their grandparents for dinner. Grandparents Day

has both an official flower and song. The official

song of National Grandparents Day is “A Song for Grandma And Grandpa”

by Johnny Prill. The official flower for the day is the “forget-me-not” flower.

Marian McQuade hoped to establish a national day that would honor

grandparents, and in 1970 she began a campaign to do so. McQuade raised

awareness about senior citizens throughout the 1970s. In 1978, President

Jimmy Carter declared the first Sunday after Labor Day to be National

Grandparents Day. Each year, the president issues a proclamation to keep the

tradition going.

This year National Grandparents Day falls on September 8, 2019. This

is the perfect opportunity for children and grandchildren to make their

grandparent a card, visit them, or simply give them a big hug and a “thank

you”!

A Grandparent

Someone you can always call,

Will pick you up if you should fall.

Always giving a lovely hug,

The ones that feel so warm and snug.

There to teach you wrong from right,

Reminding you to be polite.

Sure to lend a helping hand

Of course, that why we call them “GRAND”!

National Grandparents Day!

Summer and Fall by Nona Keen Duffy

Today it is still summer,

Tomorrow will be fall.

I see the purple asters,

I hear the autumn’s call.

I feel the warm sun shining,

As a balmy south wind blows;

I see more flowers blooming,

And I see the grass still grows;

The goldenrod is waving,

The bees are in the clover.

I hear a distant honking -

The geese are flying over.

The maple leaves are golden;

The pumpkins round and yellow.

The apple cheeks are rosy,

The pears are getting mellow.

The nuts are growing rounder,

The cornstalks, brown and sear.

By twenty lovely tokens

I know that fall is near.

Today it is still summer,

Tomorrow will be fall.

Today I still am barefoot—

Oh, how I love it all!

Grandparents Day Word Game

1. Presents 5. Knowledge 9. Goodies

2. Recollections 6. Exceptional 10. Sweets

3. Objects made by hand 7. Parents and children 11. Nursery purchase

4. Evening Meal 8. Place for a picnic 12. Past Events

Q: What happened when the Dutch started making

wooden shoes again?

A: All the stores were clogged!

Q: Why can’t fashion designers play Uno?

A: Because they always draw a cardigan.

Q: What do you call a business jacket that is on fire?

A: A Blazer.

Q: Why did the girl bring lipstick and eye shadow to

school?

A: She had a make-up exam.

Q: Why did the golfer bring two pairs of pants?

A: Just in case he gets a hole in one.

Q: What do you call a fashion designer that rejects

everyone’s ideas?

A: Calvin DeKlein.

Fashionable Funnies

Getting to Know Your Staff

This month on September 5th Fashion week takes place! A fashion week is

a fashion industry event, lasting approximately one week, where fashion

designers display their latest collections in runway fashion shows to buyers and

the media. While the fashion industry continues to introduce new styles every

season, the industry would not be where it is today without the help of

influential fashion icons of the past. 1950’s women's fashion style was the birth

of North American Fashion and today, is one of the most popular vintage trends

to incorporate into your everyday wardrobe. Take a glimpse into history by

reading about two leading ladies who helped form today’s fashion trends.

Some would argue that Audrey Hepburn is the reason

for fashion’s obsession with the Little Black Dress. Her

classic Holly Golightly look from Breakfast at Tiffany’s

is one of the most iconic ‘Old Hollywood’ photos out

there. The simple black column gown, 3-strand pearl

necklace, sleek updo, diamond earrings, and long

cigarette holder will forever be known as an Audrey

Hepburn-inspired look!

Elizabeth Taylor’s fashion sense can only be

described as fearless. She gave off a hint of glamour

everywhere she went with her plunging necklines,

fur wraps, feather boas, and eye-catching

headpieces that would likely be considered over-

the-top next to today’s styles. Still, Elizabeth

Taylor’s love for glitz and glamour resonated with

her at all times, and her impact on the fashion

industry is still evident.

Famous Fashionistas of the 1950’s

Brenda C.— Recreation Aide & Care Aide

Laurel Place has been lucky to have Brenda for the last four

years. She spent three years as a care aid and just over one

year as a recreation aide. She has a great passion for working

in recreation and loves getting to spend quality time getting

to know resident all over the building. Brenda is always

coming up with new programs and developing new ways to

connect with residents based on their strengths, needs, and

interests. In her spare time, Brenda enjoys traveling and some of her favourite

destinations include Disneyland, Southeast Asia, and Mexico.