Purple Hat Ladies
The Purple Hat Ladies met for their “Summer Surprise” Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the Smyrna-Merrill Historical Society, to end the questioning of where we would meet in August, as leader Charlotte Marley kept us all guessing.
The ladies first met for gathering at the Oakfield Community Center and proceeded to the “surprise place.” It was well worth the traveling! Tables were decorated with purple tablecloths, amply supplied with flowers, and a Hurdy Gurdy at each place setting.
The food was delicious—consisting of veggies, salads, rolls, fillings for sandwiches, pickles, black olives, chips, iced tea, water, Kool-aid, with ice-cream and a variety of cookies. Wannetta Townsend gave the blessing before the meal. Denise Clark announced the August birthdays and a “Happy Birthday” was sung.
Winners of the monthly drawing went to Marie Gillotti. A game was played to see how many could follow directions—not many did! Thank you very much for all those who helped with this gathering, the “crew.”
Eight members from the Santa Fe Trail skit performed and the ladies found out what a good “hoedown” really is.
Attending were from Cary, Jackie Colella, Denise Clark, Joanne Scott and Brenda Lacostic; from Oakfield, Donna Furrow, Tessie Barrett, Delores Locke, Mildred Gagnon, Sandra Holmes and Tessie Barrett; from Smyrna, Charlotte Marley; from Dyer Brook, Marie Gillotti and Sandra Wyman; from Houlton, Marcia Reed, Betty Wyman, Wannetta Townsend and from Merrill, Arlene Friel.
The next meeting will be at a Taste of China in Houlton. If you have any questions about Purple Hat you may contact leader Charlotte Marley, or any of the ladies mentioned.
Ricker Rumblings
by Lois Downing
The Potato Feast activities are mostly over as this is written on Sunday, Aug. 17. Too bad I missed a lot of the fun but as one grows older, we find we cannot do everything as we used to.
On our bulletin board the following is posted: Border Harmony, a capella on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 6:30 p.m. in the community room. If you like this group, come and join us. There is usually someone around who would let you through the “heavy door,” and welcome you.
Jean Cavanagh, of Manchester, N.H., the editor’s sister, and Lois’ niece Kim, from California, (the San Diego area), were overnight guests at Ricker Plaza. My niece Kim has not been here since 1986 and thinks Houlton and the surrounding area is a beautiful community. We do too!
Patrick Friel, sister of Peggy Robinson of Ricker Plaza, and Maureen Friel of Cary, is at Houlton Regional Hospital, but is improving from his stroke of several months ago, and will be back at Ricker soon, we hope.
Gloria Hall, commonly called Jeannie, is either at Houlton Regional Hospital or Madigan nursing home facility. Jeannie, I’m told, has had surgery and we hope she is doing better. Gerald and Jane Ireland, second floor tenants, have moved to another apartment with a garage, within the Houlton community.
Priscilla Brownlow has vacated her apartment on the second floor, and is at Madigan, as is Evelyn Callnan. Margaret Drew has had visitors from out-of-state and nearby. Margaret is a great person with 11 children and is an amazing person.
Saddie Carmichael enjoyed a happy picnic lunch with many of her relatives, at her nephew’s camp in Smyrna. She was especially glad to see her brother Clyde Richards.
We miss Ken Thibodeau, a former resident on the second floor. He was a good neighbor and lived at Ricker many years. Gerry Dunn has returned from a resort in Rockport. Her two daughters, Jennie and Jody, accompanied Gerry.
Shirley Nason and her sister Ruthie, who also lives at Ricker Plaza, went to Smyrna recently and visited the Amish store there, and dining at the restaurant before returning home. Robin Chambers made cupcakes one day last week and treated everyone. Thanks, Robin, always appreciated.
My angel quote is: “I left my home in heaven to come to earth below, but I wasn’t left alone here; God sent angels to guide me home.” Isn’t that beautiful?
See you next week, hopefully. God bless.
TOPS group meets
Our total this Friday, Aug. 15, for those who were weighed was 15, three of this number was three from Keep Off Pounds Sensibly.
Leader Betty Wyman opened the meeting with weight recording, each person giving her weight loss or gain with name and either TOPS or KOPS status. Loser of the week was Denise Folsom with runner-up Millie Gagnon. The 50/50 drawing went to Joyce Estey with Betty Wyman winning the skinny dish. Contest person Denise Clark says the contest is going nicely with two more weeks to run.
Leader Betty read a letter from Rick, one of our representatives, informing us of the Fall Rally coming up, possibly in September.
Our speaker was the same person as last week, Sarah. She knows nutrition and calories and is a good speaker for our group. She made a casserole in a crock pot, brought it in and most of us had a serving —delicious with summer squash, corn, tomatoes, zucchini, and other tasty vegetables.
Sarah will speak at another TOPS meeting for us.
If you have questions on TOPS, you may call Betty Ivey at 532-9653 or Charlotte Marley at 757-8653.
We meet each Friday, unless otherwise instructed, at the Aldergate building on High Street.
Come, enjoy and take off weight.
