by Jan Colter

With all the excitement and signs of the recent holidays now out of sight and mind, the atmosphere around Wake Robin is one of starting anew. Yes, it was hard to see the beautiful Christmas tree come down, but now we can enjoy a more open and inviting lobby updated with fresh bright paint just before the holidays began. Some new chairs and lamps made in Vermont were selected by the decorating committee to produce conversation areas with a homey feeling.

The exhibition of paintings by resident and art instructor Adair Lobdell extends a similar feeling in the nearby Gentry Gallery where portraits of the artist's own family hang among a variety of familiar landscapes as well as renditions of still life.  On the opposite wall are display cases filled with toys of yesteryear.  These bring back memories of days long ago when holidays and birthdays brought similar dolls, trucks, and games.  

Thanks to three residents, whom did all the preliminary work, we now have a brand new modern "toy" of our own to play with.  The large TV and sound system recently installed by Fred Hiltz in one of the apartment building lounges will provide the enjoyment of movies, sports, and with assistance of the Wii, games such as bowling. Various groups will use the lounge for presentations that require smaller space than does the large meeting room.  The cabinet holding the TV and equipment and the new window shades, selected by Jini Hornung and Carol Castle make attractive additions for our "theater."                                            

Some of the many activities which were put on hold for the holidays have started up anew.  Among these are the English Country Dancers, the Wake Robin Chorus, the combination resident and staff bowling teams, and the woodworkers who are constructing miniature barns to be donated for young Shelburne Farms visitors to play with next summer. It is likewise a time when the food and contributions collected by staff and residents will be donated to the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.  In these winter months, many residents are helping to provide warm clothing through weekly donations to the Refugee Resettlement Program.

Another mark of the new year is the start of the Wednesday afternoon winter teas to which all residents are invited.  Who can resist chatting with friends in front of a dancing fire, with a cup of tea and of course a sandwich and cookie or two? The scene is enhanced by a group of snow shoe hikers or cross country skiers going by the living room window in lightly falling snow. Occasionally even deer come into view from the nearby woods.

January also signals rehearsal time for the annual production of the Wake Robin Players who in their eleventh play, "Bon Voyage," plan to take the audience on the maiden cruise of the ship, "Ocean Queen."  Some key elements of the plot are secret—even from the 25 performers as well as another 25 working on scenery, props, costumes, and P.R.

"Bon Voyage" to all in the year 2011!