The Farmer’s Almanac

By:

Doug Junker

Over the past couple of months, I have

referenced the fact that The Farmer’s Almanac is

predicting a colder than usual winter with high

amounts of snowfall. In fact, the report I read was

specific enough to predict an extreme winter storm

which is to take place in the final weeks of

January. This is the type of topic that lends itself

to profitable chit-chat and interesting discussion.

It seems as though everyone is interested in the

weather; at least they seem willing to discuss it

when other topics, like politics for example, are

strictly avoided. My references to the almanac’s

predictions has caused me to wonder just how

accurate these forecasts are. In addition, I became

curios as to the history of this staple of America

publications and therefore, I chose to feature The

Farmer’s Almanac in this month’s article.

The Farmer’s Almanac has been in

constant publication since 1818 and features long-

range weather predictions, humor, fun facts, and

advice on topics ranging from gardening to

fishing. The topic selection is designed to ensure

its appeal to a wide-ranging audience. The

weather predictions, in specific. were originally

envisioned to provide assistance to farmers who

depended on agreeable weather to produce a

profitable crop and has remained the most popular

of its offerings. So, just how accurate are these

predictions?

The accuracy of the almanac’s weather

predictions is a whole separate topic of

conversation. Polls have shown that subscribers to

the almanac feel as though it accurately predicts the

weather roughly, 80% of the time. This is

contrasted by studies done by independent

organizations that claim the almanac is accurate

only 50% of the time. 50% is not bad, but it is not

much better than the average person’s educated

guess. The editors of the almanac state that they

utilize a complex pattern of weather history, lunar

cycles, sunspots, and tidal patters when formulating

their forecasts. Regardless of the means, it does not

seem as though one should utilize the almanac’s

weather forecast when determining when to plant

crops, take a trip, or even budget for having to pay

the neighbor’s son to scoop your sidewalks; that is

unless you’re a subscriber.

Despite this, the almanac has continued to

be an American tradition for the past 200 years. Its

true value may only be nostalgic but for centuries,

people just like me have been injecting its “facts”

and predictions into everyday conversations. I am

not saying its contributions to our society have been

monumental or someone’s life has been changed for

the better because of it, but it has made an impact.

The more complicated life gets as the years roll on

and technology advances, the more valuable simple

things like “The Farmer’s Almanac” become. In a

way, it links us to our past and keeps us connected

to our traditions. Besides, if winter brings colder

than usual temps, large amounts of snowfall, and a

major snowstorm during the last week of January

we will all have something else to talk about!

Vintage Park Apartments, 810 East Van Buren, Lenox, IA 50851 Vintageparkapts.com 641-333-2233

VINTAGE TIMES October 2019

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Vintage Times

Halloween Door Decorating Challenge

Tenants are encouraged to decorate their doors for Halloween. Doors

must be decorated by October 17th as staff will judge them on the 18th. Winners will be announced at the

Halloween Bash on the 26th. Tenants are allowed to have help from

friends, family or staff!

Trick or Treat October 31st

We usually have quite a few

kids visit on Halloween. If you are passing out candy, please let Melissa know and she will put a sign on your door. This sign lets kids know it is ok to

knock on your door. Participation is optional,

please don’t feel obligated to pass out candy.

Staff Pumpkin Challenge

This year we have decided to hold a pumpkin decorating contest for staff. Staff will be provided with a pumpkin and must have it

returned to Vintage Park by the 18th. Tenants will then have a week to judge the

pumpkins.

A Lady Walks into the Drugstore….

A lady walks into the drug store and asks the pharmacist for some arsenic. The pharmacist asks, "Ma'am, what do you want with arsenic?" The lady says, "To kill my husband." "I can't sell you any for that reason," says the pharmacist. The lady then reaches into her purse and pulls out a photo of a man and a woman in a compromising position. The man is her husband and the lady is the pharmacist's wife. The Pharmacist looks at the photo and says, "Oh I didn't know you had a prescription!" Read more on page: http://www.jokesoftheday.net/the-best-jokes/

Page 3 Vintage Times

It won’t be long, and we will be winterizing planters and putting hoses away. I will be flexible about this, as the flowers still look great! As the weather gets colder, we will remove and store them. We are moving tenants into our new Memory Care addition and just want to thank everyone for their patience with this project. We realize this took longer than predicted, but it was well worth it. The new addition looks great and we are very proud of the finished product. The pond construction is complete, and the water level rises a little more each week. I will begin stocking it with fish very soon.

October Birthdays

Oct. 9th- Norma Gold

BY DON COX

Please feel free to contact us via email at anytime

Doug Junker, Manager: manager@vintageparkapts.com Rachael Gard, Health Care Coordinator: nurse@vintageparkapts.com Melissa Butler, Life Enrichment Coordinator: life@vintageparkapts.com

Maintenance Matters

Riddle of the Month….

Q. Why didn’t the mummy have any friends? Answer to last month’s question:

Q. What did the judge say when a skunk entered the court room? A. “Odor in the Court!”

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Vintage Times

1. If you were born in October—what

would your birthstone be?

2. What is considered the flower for

October?

3. Which United States President was

born on the 4th of October?

4. Which famous Queen was beheaded

on the 16th of October 1793?

5. What famous fashion item made its

debut on the 24th of October 1939?

6. Which state joined the US on the 31st

of October 1864?

That ought to get you thinking! You will

find the answers to these questions on

page 10.

FROM CINDY’S DESK…

VINTAGE PARK COMMUNITY NURSE…We

thought we had someone selected for this

position, however—it did not work out as we

had hoped it would. The individual we were

talking to, had a family situation arise that

prevented her from accepting the job. So,

we will continue with our interim plan until

we find the right person for the position

(Julie Beck (RN) is in the Nursing Office on

Weds each week and helps out with weekend

on-call. Julie was formerly the Vintage Park

Health Care Coordinator and knows a lot

about Vintage Park and our residents). And,

Kim is still in the building and helps out in the

Nursing Office regularly. You are in good

hands with Rachael, Kim and Julie on our

Nursing staff!

HOMECOMING—We are having a lot of fun

decorating our “float” for the Homecoming

Parade! The slogan you guys selected was

“Lenox Tigers…. the football team your

Grandma warned you about”! In addition to

the “Gator Float” we will also have a cotton

candy machine set up downtown and will

provide free cotton candy to the kids!

I have a couple of trivia questions about the

month of October listed to the right.

Page 5 Vintage Times

In the photo above Margie Wilson

shows off her pendant, which she has attached to a fashionable necklace.

“Pendants” -- Merriam-Webster defines a

pendant as “something suspended such as

an ornament (as on a necklace) allowed to

hang free or an electrical fixture suspended

from the ceiling”.

At Vintage Park our pendants are your

emergency call button. I want to remind

you of the importance of ALWAYS wearing

your pendant not matter what you are

doing. We have had several instances in the

last few months someone was not wearing

their pendant and there was an

emergency…. And, since they weren’t

wearing their pendant--they were unable to

call for assistance.

Please notice that I said the tenants were

not wearing their pendants…having your

pendant hanging on your walker or on your

nightstand, or anywhere else besides on

your body-- is not going to help you in an

emergency. I know that pendants are bulky

and not “fashionable,” but they are there to

help my staff and me, help YOU!

Our staff are very very good at their jobs—

but, they are not psychic! We want what is

best for you, and we want to be able to

help you in emergent situations. To help us

do our jobs to the best of our abilities, we

need your help by wearing your pendant all

day—every day!

Thank you!

Dr. Kopp Visits

October 3rd &

October 17th

Pendants – A Lifeline to Help

By Rachael Gard

Flu Shots October 11th

Taylor County Public Health will be in the building to administer shots to all tenants and staff who wish to receive

one.

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Vintage Times

Page 7 Vintage Times

Around the World with Amy

Monday, October 21st 10:45am

We head to France!

I want to start off by thanking everyone who brought in fresh vegetables. We really enjoy our fresh produce at Vintage Park. The tomatoes grown on the patio have been a wonderful treat and will be greatly missed. Great job to all who provided TLC to the plants! While we are on vegetables, we should also acknowledge all the folks who helped shuck sweet corn this summer. Hopefully everyone got their fill of this seasonal treat. On Monday October 7th we will have our “Order off the Menu Day”. There will be no special prepared on this day as everyone is encouraged to order something off the menu. The purpose of this day is to remind tenants that you can order off the menu if you don’t like what we are serving. Although this is a quarterly offering, the menu is available all the time. You don’t have to wait for “order off the menu Day” to use the anytime menus. We want you to leave the dining room satisfied and full, so be sure to take advantage of your options! For our “Around the World” this month we have decided to celebrate Apple Month by making caramel apple martinis. I’m not sure where they originate from, but my mouth is already tingling with excitement to try one. If you are thinking to yourself…. It’s a little early in the day for Martini’s, then you are wrong. This tasty drink will take you back to your childhood with the familiar tastes of caramel and apples and you will be eager to try what’s next. As always, keep it saucy and play with your food!

Caramel Apple Martini

Ingredients

2 ounces Apple Cider 2 ounces Caramel Vodka

1-ounce Butterscotch Schnapps Sliced fresh apple

Caramel or Cinnamon Sugar

Instructions

1. Rim your martini glass with caramel or cinnamon sugar. To get the

cinnamon sugar to stick to the glass, dip the rim in a little apple cider,

then the cinnamon sugar.

2. Combine the apple cider, caramel vodka, and butterscotch schnapps in

a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously.

3. Pour mixture into the rimmed martini glass and garnish with a

slice of fresh apple.

This is one of many ways to make a

Caramel Apple Martini!

Straight from the Kitchen Cupboard By Amy Jenkins

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Vintage Times

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1. Maple & Rosemary Pork Loin Baked Sweet Potato Crispy Roasted Brussels Sprouts Cranberry Mouse

2. Montreal Peppered Steak Cheesy Party Potatoes Green Beans Bread Butterscotch Sudae

3. Chicken & Noodles Mashed Potatoes Corn Blondie

4. Salmon Croquette Scalloped Potatoes Lemon Broccoli Devils Food Cake

5. Swedish Meatballs Over Noodles Scandinavian Vegetables Bread Applesauce

6. Roast Turkey Mashed Potatoes Gravy Stuffing Glazed Carrots Cranberry Sauce Pie

7.

Order off the Menu Day

8. Old Fashioned Meatloaf Mashed Potatoes Gravy Peas Bread Cheesecake

9. Old Bay Seasoned Fish Roasted Potato Medley Spinach Au Gratin Lemon Pudding

10. Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta Salad Cheesy Corn Chunky Monkey Brownie

11. Pork Chops in Sour Cream Gravy Parslied Mashed Potatoes Maple Roasted Carrots & Beets Oatmeal Bar

12. Classic Beef Stew Biscuit Tossed Greens Angel Food Cake with Strawberries

13. Applewood Smoked Pork Loin Baked Sweet Potato Scandinavian Vegetables Roll Pie

14. Loaded Meatloaf Casserole Seasonal Veggies Bread Hot Chocolate Mouse

15. Salmon Rice Carrots Garlic Toast Pumpkin Cake with Apple Glaze

16. Honey Baked Ham Swiss Corn Casserole Green Beans Bread Snicker Apple Dessert

17. Beef & Noodles Mashed Potatoes Cascade Blend Vegetables Spiced Apple Ring Chocolate Lasagna

18. Shrimp Scampi Penne Pasta Broccoli Garlic Toast Dark Sweet Cherries

19. Breaded Loin Tator Tots Brussells Sprouts Pudding Parfait

20. Fried Chicken Mashed Potatoes Gravy Harvard Beets Roll Fruit Pie

21. Glazed Ham Balls Macaroni & Cheese Green Beans Pear Ginger Upside Down Cake

22. Lasagna Tossed Greens Garlic Toast Apple Cobbler

23. Country Fried Steak Mashed Potatoes Gravy Maple Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon Blueberry Pie Bar

24.

Baked Potato Bar Bread

Peach Crisp

25.

Scalloped Potatoes & Ham Vegetable Blend Bread Lemon Cheesecake

26. Fajitas Baja Corn Rice Frosted Cake

27. Yankee Pot Roast With Root Vegetables Spiced Apple Ring Roll Pumpkin Pie

28. Fried Chicken Mashed Potatoes Gravy Cascade Blend Vegetables Cherry Crisp

29. Maple & Rosemary Pork Loin Baked Sweet Potato Crispy Roasted Brussells Sprouts Cranberry Mouse

30. Montreal Peppered Steak Cheesy Party Potatoes Green Beans Bread Butterscotch Sundae

31. Chicken & Noodles Mashed Potatoes Corn Blondie

October Lunch Specials

Page 9 Vintage Times

The majority of people look forward to Fall with its crisp air, deep rich colors, fragrant smells and bountiful harvests, but it hasn’t really felt like it yet. The humid 90-degree days towards the end of September have made it feel like summer is lingering around. September 23rd was the official first day of Fall, also known as the Autumnal Equinox. The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun crosses what we call the “celestial equator”-an imaginary extension into space of Earth’s equator line. The equinox occurs precisely when the Sun’s center passes through this line. After the autumnal equinox, nights begin to grow longer than the days. I bring this up because we tend to isolate and head for our rooms when the sun goes down. The majority of our activities are during daytime hours, but there is still plenty to do when the sun goes down. I encourage everyone to stay active as the fall and winter months begin. Some things you can do in the evening include; walk the halls by yourself or with a neighbor, use the exercise equipment, work on the jigsaw puzzle in the living room, grab a cup of coffee with a neighbor, practice your Wii bowling skills, play a game of cards, the list is endless. If you need help finding something to do, feel free to ask me for suggestions!

Fall Has Arrived

Apple Extravaganza October 11th

2pm

Join us as we celebrate apple month with different apple challenges

including; guess the apple, stack the apples, apple toss and there’s an

apple in your teeth. We will end the fun with apple stamping and the board game “apples to apples”.

Refreshments will be served

By Melissa Butler

Grief Support Group October 3rd

10am Vintage Park Library

Led by Kathy Rhinehart, Hospice

Bereavement Counselor

This group will meet the first Thursday of

every month and is open to the public.

~An Apple a Day Will Keep Anyone Away if Thrown Hard

Enough. ~

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Answers to Cindy’s Trivia

1. Opal 2. Marigold, Calendula or Hops. 3. Rutherford B. Hayes 4. Mary Antoinette 5. Nylons 6. Nevada

Retirement Coffee For Sonnie Rusco October 2nd 9am

Join us in the dining room as

we say good-bye and give thanks to Sonnie for her many

years of service at Vintage Park.

~ Good hair doesn’t happen by chance.

It happens by appointment! ~

K R N I S J N L N O E M E K S Z L C P A A I F L L U C S O C

E R B R E E L R H G T T F T I V B O I U D S E L T S C E E I

A L E I L R E M A H E L C L A I O M R E L M E N V O A E T T

P C K O R E K O L Z B C A R O S M L W T I K I E C C F O A A

G L W A L J L D D L O A N C K S T R H L S M T D I R N Z O A

H D N W O C I Y L G R E H P K D A K M V O P D R O S R Y M C

A B H T I P A D A R F F A N L R I N A I I G I A T E E O A E

P M I E L Z S N Y A D E W C S N I R A L C O H D G N N A A N

H O O L S A Z N D V G K R L E H G C N R G O E R E T F R C O

Y K W N S M G A J Y C O B W E B G B T M O N S T E R A C S O

R A W I T C H C R A F T F L O W E R E W O R C R A C S O O I

C N O L F E A O E R K G Z C A W I Z A R D N L I V E D Z N E

O N C B A W R R I A D O K G O K I L T V U A D K R O N T W O

N L K O R I E T E N E L L C H I C T E K E R A O A R R T I O

L L L G H K E T M C K I K A A O R C H U I Y T R E C S N E R

L E L N C N N L I N R N L F T E S J A C K L A T E R N S H W

O T O I I I T R I C K O R T R E A T I T R A N R O A B M C E

L A A N W B H N C R W Z W B N I R O S L C A A E D C O S A S

R E I E E B I Z E E N N S C C A N N D Y L B T E N S Y U R A

A N F T I N O E N E B I I N E C K G L O L T T T F C M E P D

G N L H E B O L N P A V A L L C H S K E L E T O N L D C O W

O K V G B Z M W G Y N T H O N C T C A O I E T H S D L C C R

C G I I A E O M C N E E W O L L A H T M R S F A I S C T H A

E R A R L L B M O Z I W O K A J C I W I R T Y P O O L L A H

F G K F C E S W B Z E T R S A I K T P C W O S P E N B V U N

M T H R I A D T B I E A N K M R C M T I R H A P P Y L M N B

E O T A N P M L W L E A I U B I A E S C G A A P E P W H A E

O S C W G O A C E I L R M L A V L L B T H U I W S O A N E H

G D N I B A K C B O I M R L A H B O A T G I L A E Z P H E I

R E R I E D S O H R Y B E O O W A T A P B S W N N I E G Z R

HALLOWEEN HAPPY TRICK OR TREAT JACK O LANTERN WITCH WITCH CRAFT WIZARD WEREWOLF CANDY ZOMBIE MASK SKELETON SKULL SCARECROW SPIDERS AFRAID BLACK CAT COBWEB CLOWN CREEPY DEVIL FRIGHTENING GOBLIN GHOSTS GRAVEYARD HAUNTING MUMMY MONSTER SCARE VAMPIRE