We had Birthday Bash for the month of October with Minnie. The room was packed. The staff and residents were singing and some got up and dance and those who remains on their sits were still shaking their body and legs with the rhythm of the music. Wow it was a blast! Do you want to experience the CRV fun? Come and join us in our happy hour on Fridays at 3:00pm in the living room.

October 8, 2011

It’s pampering time. Brooke and friends from HOSA volunteers came and as usual residents were in line for their turn for the “pretty nails.”

October 9, 2011

It’s nominating time for Employee of the Month. Residents were choosing the person who deserves this title.

October 10, 2011

It’s Columbus Day. We discussed Columbus History and did a Columbus Trivia. That was interesting.

Drum roll…… Employee of the Month (September) is …..

Ermelinda Quintana! (Med. Technician)    Congratulations!

October 11, 2011

Teatime was enjoyed by our residents today!

Our new volunteer, Andrew from Coronado played his classic piano music to our residents and they loved it. “Way to go, Andrew!”

October 2, 2011

Bingo from our newlywed couple volunteers from Clairemont Flood Group. Welcome back Jacques, Tiffany & friends!

October 3, 2011

BINGO Xtravaganza today. Big prize to win!

October 4, 2011

In our Art with Karie, we just found out today that Tina Crowder can really draw. She created her own interpretation of the model picture.

October 5, 2011

Great music to remember by with Jeff.

October 6, 2011

We had a guest speaker from Mission Home Health and talked about “How to Cope with Life change”. It was educational and well presented.

We had some interesting stories during our “Welcoming New Comers” Tea Social. We found out that one of our Residents was a ballroom dancer and her husband was a Band player.

September 28, 2011

Pastor Mark delivers a great inspirational scripture during the bible study.

September 29, 2011

It’s Family Night. All aboard  . . .   back to U.S.A.!  And it’s Native-American theme for this month. The menu was a combination of both American and Native-American. We had Aztec dancers to complete the evening.

September 30, 2011

Marilyn Rees, devoted volunteer played the piano for our  happy hour.

Town Hall meeting was held today. A new committee was organized, The Menu Planning Committee. 

September 21, 2011

Helen (100 years old) continue to participate in our exercise program. Hooray!

September 22, 2011

It’s Philippines time for our chair travel / travelogue. Residents explore the Philippine dances and history. They had pansit, lumpia and adobo for lunch.

September 23, 2011

One of our residents’ favorite “Smilin’ Jack” performed in our happy hour. Awesome!

September 24, 2011.

Residents “meet & greet” at the bistro as they enjoy their morning coffee & donuts.

September 25, 2011

Trip to Sunday church service at Sacred Heart and a

non-denomination religious service is being offered at the community.

September 26, 2011

Newsletter / Calendar Committee meeting was held today. Activity programs were discussed and the upcoming events for next month.

The residents were looking forward to Teatime with Staff. It’s a time to relax and enjoy socializing with each other.

September 14, 2011

The participants of “Music and Movement with Elinor“ is increasing its participants. The program is getting more exciting and fun. You’ve got to check this out! Elinor comes at 10:00am on Mondays and Fridays and 11:00 on Wednesdays.

September 15, 2011

It’s our time to chair travel to Australia and taste some of their cuisine. Barbara Runco from Accent Care did a great presentation on “All About Eyes”.

September 16, 2011

Odey entertains today with her old time favorite music.

September 17, 2011

It’s coffee & donuts time at the bistro. 

September 18, 2011

Do you play Poker? Yes, we do. We don’t need to go to casino to play poker. We bring the fun game to us.

September 19, 2011

Residents were doing the sing-along of the memorable tunes of yesteryears played by Jeff, our piano teacher.

Enjoying the outdors

This week at Coronado:

September 1, 2011

CRV’s courtyard has become really homey; all the white roses around the edge of the lawn as you are facing the park and the view of Coronado Bridge. “What a great feeling of relaxation” as stated by one of the resident.

September 2, 2011

Residents enjoyed our new happy hour entertainers Sylvia and Salvador. They played good variety old time favorites.

September 3, 2011

Bridge Club is moving along.

September 4, 2011

Eric, our volunteer, delivers a great non-denominational religious service.

September 5, 2011

It’s Labor Day.  Barbecue has to be on the menu today. Residents had big winnings in BINGO Extravaganza.

September 6, 2011

Art with Karie (Adult Ed. teacher) keeps our Memory Care residents beezzy.

September 7, 2011

Residents had fun singing and reminiscing the good old days as they guess the song in “Name That Tune” activity program.

September 8, 2011

All aboard …. “Spain”. It’s quite an experience to learn about other countries’ culture and history and finish the chair travel program with the taste of “Spanish Paella”!

“Balance and Safety” was presented by The Amedisys’ speaker.

It was demonstrated very well and the residents were well educated after the presentation.

Brown-out in Coronado was an experience to remember. Every staff member were assisting one another to ensure the safety of each resident in our community. Some staff stayed late and others such as Martin (Maintenance), Mikey and Alex (PCs) spent the evening with the residents. Minnie (Activity Director) did some trivia and other activities to entertain residents in the midst of unsure situation as to how long the light would be gone. The team effort was surely noticed at this challenging moment.

September 9, 2011

Our Employee of the month  (August) . . . Mario Ordonez was awarded today. Kudos to our Dietary staff!

September 10, 2011

Our residents had a great time with Brooke, granddaughter of our resident, Marie, with her friends from HOSA. The volunteers pampered our residents during our “Pretty Nails” session.

September 11, 2011

“A moment of silence” was requested to remember the victims of 9/11.

Grandparents Day! Special treats for special grandparents. They enjoyed the Kernel Popcorn and European crackers donated by Hadyn and Bradley our future volunteer who just got married September 4, 2011.

September 12, 2011

Scrapbooking was a lot of work but a lot of fun!

Easier ways to ditch the drive-thru for the dinner table

Whether it’s planned or spontaneous eating with friends or family is a form of communication and community and has been since the beginning of time.

A good meal shared with loved ones can be an informal therapy session, a way to meet new friends, a way to celebrate holidays or just a time to catch up with one another.  I grew up in a real life “Leave it to Beaver” household, where my mother gathered us around the dinner table every evening with a home-cooked meal.  We would all take turns talking about our respective days and any upcoming activities.  As an adult, I still hold that tradition close to my heart.  Unfortunately, life seems to be a lot more hectic and days a lot shorter than they used to when I was a kid but I am my mother’s daughter so I had to find the way because I certainly had the will.

I knew I had to find a way to ditch my nightly drive-thru encounters and get back to the moments I still cherish from my childhood and wanted to share with my own family.   Whether you’ve heard of them as “One pot wonders” or “One Dish Dinners” they came to the rescue and put my family meal time back on the map.

Below is one of my family favorites that hope you and your loved ones can enjoy.

Hearty Shepherd’s Pie

Yield: 6 to 10 servings

• 6 to 8 cups mashed potatoes, fresh or instant
• 1 pound lean ground meat (beef, chicken, pork, lamb etc)
• 4 to 6 cups unsalted beef broth, drippings or canned broth (reserve 1 ½ cups)
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• several green onions finely chopped, (optional)**
• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3 to 4 large eggs
• salt
• Canned or frozen peas, carrots and corn
• 1 cup shredded medium Cheddar cheese

Prepare mashed potatoes. Set aside.

In large deep skillet add onion and ground meat, cook until meat is done and onion just tender. Drain fat. Add 4 cups beef broth. Heat to boiling. While broth mixture is heating mix the dumplings.

In a large mixing bowl add together flour, dash of salt, baking powder, and 3 eggs. Mix together until well mixed and forms ball. If mixture is still dry add the other egg. Turn onto well-floured surface and form into ball as for making noodles. Cut into nickel size balls or smaller.

As soon as broth is boiling, add dumplings and simmer until tender. If broth becomes too thick add more broth as needed to thin slightly.

As soon as dumplings are tender, thicken mixture with flour (Use reserved 1 ½ cups of broth to whisk with flour to avoid getting lumps) to a thick gravy. Fold in the peas, carrots and corn.

Transfer mixture to a large 9 x 13 metal or glass baking pan. Sprinkle top of mixture with two-thirds of the cheese. Spread mashed potatoes over top of mixture.

Bake in preheated oven at 375 degrees until well heated and potatoes are browned.

Sprinkle the rest of the cheese and the green onions on top of the potatoes.

Once cheese is melted and starting to brown remove from oven. Let cool 5 minutes and then serve.

August 23, 2011 CRV residents are excited & busy making personalized lei to wear for LUAU day this coming Thursday. Aloha!

August 24, 2011 Residents were thrilled about their scenic ride. “Mt. Soledad is always a great place to visit” as stated by Mr. Franck.

August 25, 2011 It’s LUAU DAY at CRV. Early afternoon, Minnie the Activity Director decorated the courtyard with all the trimmings such as the sarongs provided by Terri (Christina’s friend), surf boards and a sail boat by Manny (also, Christina’s friend) and plants and more to bring in the tropic mood of Hawaii. Renee prepared some Hawaiian dish. The Kailani’s Wahines dancers were great. It’s another successful event (as always). ALOHA !
Julia, our Yoga teacher is back. “The residents have maintained their flexibility. You must have done something!” as she was talking to the activity director.

August 26, 2011 Marilyn Rees is our featured entertainer for the happy hour. What an awesome entertainer. She volunteered her time to share her talents to our CRV residents. Kudos to Marilyn! If you wish to entertain our residents with your talents and skills, Please contact Minnie Groel (Activity Director) for details at (619) 437-1777.
Elinor, Music & Movement instructor starts her class today at 10:00am in the CRV living room. The residents were looking forward to attend her class as usual.

August 27, 2011 Donuts & coffee are served at 10am in the bistro. We are having “Bridge” game on Saturdays at 2:00pm in the hobby room. We still need more players to join us. Can you?

August 28, 2011 Jacques (lead volunteer) and Tiffany just got back from their honeymoon. B-I-N-G-O with Clairemont Flood Group at 2:00pm is back with our newlywed couple. Congratulations!

August 29, 2011 Jeff, our new teacher from Adult Education is starting his “Music Appreciation” program. His schedule starts at 8:30am till 10:00am. For our early riser residents, please join us in the living room for some relaxing music of various musical instruments from piano to string. This program will encourage you to have an early breakfast so you won’t miss an early morning treat of great music.

August 30, 2011 Welcoming New Comers: “Meet and Greet” in the dining room at 2:00pm. August 31 2011 September’s activity program calendar will be available at the concierge. On behalf of the CRV Management, I would like to thank everyone who participated and contributed to the success of our monthly event and activity programs. . . Minnie