I'm a liberal pagan living in West, Texas. Yes. That West, Texas.

Monday, July 19, 2010

WEST REST HAVEN..FRUIT SALAD


This is Joe...Joe is eating his third bowl of fruit salad..He's the one that always tells me "No you don't."..When I say I enjoy it more then they do..He's ex-military and we talk about places we were stationed and how much we hate civilians.ha.
The lady in the dark sunglasses is the one that came up to me...took both of my hands in her hands and told me how much they appreciated what I was doing. That it meant so much to them to know that someone cared enough about them to come and do this for them. She almost made me cry. She was so sincere and they are all so grateful for what I'm doing. Makes me feel so good, I can't tell you.
The lady in the blue is funny..She never fails to make me laugh and she always gets my smart ass remarks. The guy in the back gives me thumbs up all the time. He doesn't say much but that thumb is pretty active.
The lady on the end is one of my favorites. She has difficulty speaking and has to strain to be heard, but she lets me know what she wants and is the one that used to be a kolache cook and always wants me to make them.
If it wasn't so time consuming I would. I'm thinking about making them at home and then take them up there to put the fruit in and bake...but it still takes a long time and some of them can barely make it through the hour and a half I'm usually there for.
But the fruit salad was such a hit. I had bananas, oranges, apples, plums, grapes, blue berry's, strawberries, and pineapples. With ready whip on top. I had a huge bowl...it's about 16 inches across and 8 inches deep and it was full to the top..and there was just enough for about 3 helpings when I left. We voted and we're having banana splits next time.. I'm getting vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry Blue Bell ice cream. Will get small scoops and give them one each on top of a 1/2 banana and we still have the sauces left over from before and getting some cherries to go on top. Can't do nuts as most don't have the teeth for it and have to watch out for allergies..When Joe asked for his 3rd bowl ( I had to sneak it to him. He was pissed because we were out of whipped cream. So I'll make sure there is plenty of whipped cream. So ...another visit to the old farts..It was so much fun. Oh...and I went into Prestons grandma's room and she was asleep and I said "get your ass out of bed, I made fruit salad." She jumped up and said "let me get my drawers on."...I really like her. She also got a piece of the birthday cake I made for Preston. I teased him about not sharing it with anyone so he took her a piece...Maybe if I keep doing this I'll guilt the people that have family there into visiting them more. Oh..and the funniest part was in telling them about getting the fruit I went to HEB( Texas Grocery Store) to get the fruit as they have the best selection of fruit and the freshest, and get more for the buck..Did a lengthy HEB commercial. When I was serving this one guy(his mom is a resident) he grinned real big and said "I work for HEB in San Antonio and that's the best commercial for HEB I've ever seen. Ha. Life is good in West, by Goddess, Texas. wish you were here.

19 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

Ooooo, that sounds like a killer fruit salad that you made! Nothing's nicer than a fresh fruit salad. You brought sunshine (and a healthy treat) into their lives!

Jaliya said...

Mr. Thumbs-Up gave me a giggle!

You are such a sweet soul xoxo

... and why the hell aren't these dear elders getting fresh fruit salad from the kitchen that serves them every day??

Nit Wit said...

Thanks to you they eat better than me. Having been in an old farts home while I was going through rehab I can attest to the great excitement and enjoyment that visits cause. you start to feel abandoned at times no matter how much attention the staff gives you.
I was lucky as I got visitors just about every day.

Rainwolf said...

Now you're making me want to do a good deed.

yellowdoggranny said...

I think it's too expensive to give them fresh fruit like that on a regular basis. so they get canned fruit...it cost $40 for that bowl of fruit..and to hear them tell it..it was worth every cent of it.
I love doing it...it makes me feel good..

My name WAS Female, I shit you not! said...

You warm my heart Jackiesue. :0)
Have no doubt you love what you are doing.

Something just came to mind.
The family bunch from the library could all make things like cards at the library & another evening everyone could go to the Rest Home to visit with us old farts & hand out cards. Maybe tissue paper flowers even.
It's the supplies we need to think of a way to get. sigh!

jadedj said...

You are a good sould YDG. You make me proud to be a human being. We need more YDGs, and fewer nasty Palins.

jadedj said...

well, make that SOUL, not sould!

CorvusCorax12 said...

two of my favorites...fruit salad and banana split, you are an angel

Heff said...

Fruit Salad gives me the squirts.

I digress.

billy pilgrim said...

i like to leave the banana out of the split and toss in some extra ice cream but i guess your on a health kick adding the banana.

Intense Guy said...

I gives YDG two thumbs up... she done somethin' wonderful.

Anonymous said...

Your are probably the highlight of their dayy. Keep up to good work.

Karl said...

Good evening Jackie Sue,

Too expensive to give them fresh fruit. That's kinda sad.

Warms the heart, to know you're giving them some.

Anonymous said...

You do realize that you're pretty much gonna have to make those kolache's now, right?

rox said...

I love that you do this. I love it so much.

yellowdoggranny said...

the tale tellers already go up to the rest haven and do shows for them..they're on the ball.
yeah it's sad that the expense of fresh fruit is keeping them from having it..kathy who is my xdaughter in law and the activity director has a budget of what she can spend and she's never told me i had a limit and i think as long as i keep it under $40 I'll be ok...and I can do a lot with $40 ..and yeah, I'll probably have to make the kolaches even if I don't want to..although I might get the bakeries to maybe toss in some kolaches for them once every 3-4 months or so...the day old ones are still great and they some times will sell them a $ a bag and will have 4-6 cinnamon buns in them or 6-8 kolaches.
I know they enjoy it...but so do I..makes me feel good..

TheWayfarer said...

To use one of your fave expressions, "Yafta" feel good when you're doing something good for someone...Rock on YdG

Big Pissy said...

You never cease to amaze me with all the good things you do for the people of West.

Yet another reason why I adore you. :)


xo
~Pissy