As time marches on and we get closer and closer to returning to Grand Horizons, we do get reports on how things are in our development.
From the newsletter that comes from Grand Horizons, and also some friends, we have heard of the activities that are starting to pick up and some that never stopped.
Activities that have been going on continually and getting larger as you read this, are dominoes, which is loads of fun; mah-jongg, which certainly makes you think; exercises in the pool, which is a good way to maintain your health and get some exercise; and some card games like poker, pay me, and others which are loads of fun.
Bingo is a big hit for our residents and has continued throughout the summer months.
There is so much more that have continued but now that our northern friends are returning, there will be so much more. I’m looking forward to a nice game of pinochle and learning new things in the world of art.
In the meantime, while we are getting ready to join our friends in Florida, we are trying to make the most of it by going on some overnight or day trips. On Sept. 28, we went for a mystery trip. Marty knows that I enjoy not knowing where we are going and thereby tries to surprise me at least once during the summer or fall. The fact that I honestly do not know kind of intrigues me to guess, and I never guess correctly. As time progresses, maybe I will.
Anyway, on this particular day, we woke up relatively early to fit in what Marty had planned. We started off by going to a huge church fair that they have every year, and we had fun just browsing and looking at all the baked goods. They sure looked good enough to eat, but we didn’t purchase any of them. We just tasted them in our dreams.
We then drove on to North Windham, Conn., where we saw alpacas. Some were full-grown, while others were just a week old. I did feel one of them, and now I see why alpaca goods that are sold in gift shops are so very expensive, as it felt as smooth as silk.
After spending some time here, we continued our trip to Brooklyn, Conn., where we went on the Creamery Brook Bison Tour. They had special wagon tours to take us through where the buffalo roam. It was a 40-minute ride through the entire working farm.
Once they got to a clearing and stopped the wagon, the bison, cows and their calves came over to the wagon to get a snack of grain or hay. There were approximately 90 bison on this farm, and you can literally find them all over.
The Creamery Brook Farm began as a dairy farm and later became a bison farm. It was because of their fascination with the “majestic buffalo” that the buffalo herd grew.
After spending a lovely few hours here, we continued on to view the Mansfield Dam. We had stopped here many years ago, and they have built a lovely parking area where you can view the dam at your leisure.
We then continued through several more towns until we stopped at Coventry and had a nice dinner. All in all it was a nice day and we got to enjoy the sunshine.
When we arrived home from our mystery tour, an email came through with the upcoming events that they will have at Grand Horizons. Just to name a few, and what the people in Grand Horizons can expect in the future, are things like Taco Night that will be hosted by Andy and Margaret Castonguay, pancake breakfasts will once again start up and so will Egg n’ bag. Both of these functions are an absolute delight. Card making, which is always very enjoyable, will also start up, plus so many other activities.
There will be a Halloween potluck on Oct. 31 hosted by Robbie Lockard, and we will have music by Gary Wilcox. There will be a fashion show by Bon Worth hosted by Cathy Cribbs.
A community wide yard sale will be on Nov. 16, and there will be lunch, plus baked goods and a book sale in the community center.
Also planned is a Thanksgiving dinner/ potluck on Nov. 26. A talent show is planned for some time in the fall season plus more as the year progresses.
We have all this to look forward to!
By Helene Rubenstein
