"YEAH" we all survived August and only 23 more days until FALL!!!! Joanne, Tom and I would like to THANK all of you for being such wonderful residents. Throughout the month of September we will be out and about performing "RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS" so if you find us planting fresh flowers, or pulling weeds for your neighbor we are just giving back to this lovely community. You may even find us running around with BREAKFAST ON THE GO one morning!!!
Just our way of saying THANK YOU, we do APPRECIATE YOU!!!
We would like to take this opportunity to "WELCOME BACK HOME" our snow birds who have landed, and PLEASE if I have not had the opportunity to meet you feel free to stop by and say HI!!!
"HAPPY SEPTEMBER"
Kathy, Joanne, Tom
...from the desk of the SOCHA president
Is everyone surviving the ‘dog days of summer”? We had a very successful Super Bingo this month…very well attended. Thanks to the “bingo crew” for all of your hard work. Also, we had an ice cream social which is always a fun and delicious event…thanks to the Otto’s for hosting this event.
I received an email from a friend in Cincinnati this week and I liked it so much I want to share with everyone. I hope you enjoy it...
As I have aged, I have become kinder to myself and less critical of myself. I have become my own friend. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon, before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4:00 am or sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50’s and 60’s and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will. I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old. I know I am sometimes forgetful but there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And, I will eventually remember the important things. Sure, over the years, my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break, when you lose a loved one or when a child suffers or even when somebody’s beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn grey and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep groves on my face. So many have never laughed and so many have died before their hair turned silver. As you get older, it is easier to be POSITIVE. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I have earned the right to be wrong. So I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here I will not waste time lamenting about what could have been or worrying about what will be...and I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it)!!!!
For those of you up north and those of you who are not able to make it to coffee & donuts on Saturday mornings…….I have been talking about being more positive and remembering all the reasons why you like living at Saddle Oak Club and all the good things about living here. That is why I liked the above paragraph...because it says as we get ”older” it is easier to be positive!!! Luther and I wish you a happy September and don’t forget to be kind to your friends and neighbors!
Tammie Hornsby
The Board of Directors has received a proposal from a group of residents who would like to begin a fund raising campaign to purchase a large screen TV for the clubhouse. The TV will be used for various events such as morning exercise classes, sporting event parties, movie nights, etc. The committee has been formed and will begin communicating, through the newsletter and meetings, their plans for the fundraisers. You will be hearing more about this in the near future, but the group wanted to make the community aware of what the goals will be for the fundraising.
BITS AND PIECES
SEPTEMBER VOLUNTEER OF THE MONTH
This month our Volunteer of the Month is Richard Clements. Every week Richard donates BAGS of food to Interfaith for the less fortunate. If everyone would donate just one item a week to Interfaith imagine how many people would not have to go hungry. Also, when possible, Richard puts people's newspapers closer to their door. We are so fortunate to have Richard living in our community.
SUNSHINE REPORT
I have to submit the Sunshine Report a little early this month since I am leaving for a vacation in Seattle, WA to celebrate my son's 50th birthday, so if you were hospitalized after August 9, it will be noted in next month's column.
Hospitalizations this month included Betty Jo Kennedy, Rich Putka, Lorraine Berthiaume, and Bill Wyllie. They are all at home now. Those in nursing homes include Sandy Fedak and Chuck Doherty in Life Care, Ellie Evans and Betty Cigrand in Timberridge, George Overman in Avante. Al and Janet Stacy were discharged from Palm Garden and are now at home.
Please call Fran Bolson with any reports of hospitalization.
BREAVMENT REPORT
Ed Casey passed away August 3rd in an auto accident.
THANK YOU, AND YOU AND YOU.....!!!!!
Harry and I would like to thank the gang who gave us a wonderful evening. We were the guests of honor but they had to start without us. Thanks to Tammie and special thanks to Kay; because of her we know a lot more about each other. And thanks too to all the residents who came and brought goodies. You made it very special for Harry and myself. Greetings from a wet and much cooler Holland. Harry and Terry.
A very special thank you to Dick Ouimette and Ritchie Harris for installing a new camera and receiver in the clubhouse for our Bingo machine. Thank you very much!
What a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than eating ICE CREAM with friends. I would like to thank Donna Frakes, Tammie Hornsby, Katherine Sitkowski, Diane Anderson, Alyssa and Alivia. A very special thank you to Claudia Janis; I am really grateful for all your help. We had two people show up after we were all finished, for ice cream. To those two ladies -- Please set your alarm next time (lol).
GREEETINGS FROM WISCONSIN!
Summers are beautiful in the Midwest. The hills are lush and green and the grass is a soft cushion beneath your feet.
For the summer, Mike and I have moved to a wonderful old home aside a picturesque lake. However, a house that is 100 years old comes with its own little quirks. For instance, the hardwood floors creak and groan as you walk, making it nearly impossible to step quietly.
Last night, I lay in bed reading, Mike snoring beside me. Suddenly a black figure hovered near the ceiling! A bat! I shook Mike from his slumber and we huddled beneath the sheets contemplating our next move.
It was initially decided that we would leave, trapping the bat in our room. Mike marched to the basement. He returned armed with a tennis racket and a fish net! He was ready for action! As we entered the room, the poor creature was clinging to the screen trying to escape. My resourceful husband pulled down the interior window trapping the bat until morning. Thus, saving us from a potentially hysterical bat hunt! In the morning the screen was released from the outside and both bat and Doughertys felt better.
We miss you all and will be returning soon!
Nancy Dougherty
NO GOODBYE......
Betty Cigrand disappeared out of many of Saddle Oak resident's lives as if a thief in the night came and snatched her away. She was a long-time friend to many old timers and other residents in the park. Even when she moved away to Alabama for seven years many of us kept in touch with her. When she moved back to Saddle Oak, she and her husband, Bob, bought Betty's brother's house across from the pool, which is where she lived until she had to go to TimberRidge a few weeks ago. Betty was a fixture at the clubhouse. I, Fran Fritz, am writing this for all the old timers and all the other residents who know her and wish they had gotten to say "Goodbye". Goodbye, Betty, we hope you are doing well in your new home up North, and you are missed!
NEEDLE WINNER "No, it was not in a haystack" where would we get a haystack in August? Ann Tsaras found the needle in the August issue of the Newsletter, no haystack involved. Congratulations, Ann! To be a winner simply find the needle hidden in this issue, write your name and location of the needle on a piece of paper and drop in the box in the clubhouse. Good Luck!
CLASSIFIED ADS FROM RESIDENTS
Small hand tools, screw drivers, socket wrenches, router, pliers, etc. $1.00 to $25.00 -- also table saw $100.00. Call Honey 304-8862
The LADIES LUNCHEON will be held this month on September 15 at 11:30 a.m. at Blakely House, 103 SE Tuscawilla Avenue, in Ocala. Questions? Call Betty Overman 237-1176
OLD TIMERS -- October 16, 2011 at 2:30 p.m .is the date and time of the next get-together of those of you who have lived here in Saddle Oak for 18 years or longer. Please call us at 237-5931 if this time span includes you. Looking forward to hearing from you. Fran & Jim Fritz
THE SADDLE OAK PLAYERS are presenting a Mystery Dinner and Show on October 29th. We are really looking forward to "eliminating" someone! I wonder who it will be?
VETERAN TRIBUTE -- The tribute to our Saddle Oak veterans is still planned. These brave men and women deserve much recognition. I will be creating a permanent bulletin board display in our clubhouse.
Please collect pictures from you or your spouse's military days. There will also be a space for any family you may have in the military. I will be collecting pictures from mid-October until Veterans Day. Nancy Dougherty
MUSIC IN THE PARK - Please mark your calendar for this upcoming event. Sun Communities is sponsoring Music in the Park on Saturday, November 12th at 2:00 p.m.
Featured will be The Amazing Steel Drum Ensemble. Come bring your lawn chairs and join us for some great entertainment and refreshments served by John and Joan Record. We will be having hot dogs, drinks and old-fashioned popcorn. All of this is sponsored by Sun Communities for your enjoyment at no cost to residents. So come and enjoy the fun!
INTERESTING FACTS --- This year we have experienced, or will in the future, some unusual dates: 1/1/11, 1/11/11, 11/1/11 and 11/11/11. This past July there were 5 weeks in the month consisting of 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays and 5 Sundays. This occurs only once in every 823 years. This is called Money Bags according to Chinese Feng Shui. Also, in this year of 2011 if you take the last two digits of your birth year and add them to the age you are or will be this year, the results will be 111. The answer will be the same for everyone in the whole world. Try it for yourself!! From Fran Fritz
SOME IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
PETS -- Many of us are pet owners and we love our pets...please remember that our neighbors don't necessarily love our pets like we do so we must keep that in mind when our pet are ready to "potty".
CLUBHOUSE -- Yes, you can book the clubhouse for a personal event through Nancy or Katherine. Please clean up and leave the clubhouse as you found it. If you move tables and chairs, please put them back as you found them.
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE:
Waste Pro appreciates your business very much and they want you to know their pick-up schedule for the upcoming holidays:
Labor Day, September 3rd- will pick up Thursday, September 8.
Thanksgiving Day, November 24 -- will pick up Monday, November 28th
Christmas and New Years Day are on a weekend so these holidays won't affect your pick up.
Call them with any need of assistance.
THANKS TO TEAM CHRISTMAS IN JULY -- Many thanks go out to the great Team responsible for a successful Christmas in July. Without this team, success would not have been possible. Thank you: Kay Fiedler, Eric Hoiaas, Marge Putka, Terry and Harry Jansen and Marge Glass. Many others pitched in to set up, help out and clean up Thank you: Bev Brakhage, Claudia Janis, Grace Spiller, Katherine Sitkowski and anyone I missed.
A special thanks to Judy Furfaro for the background music and her special talents that put us in the Christmas spirit.
Thanks for those who baked for the Bake Sale. We did wonderfully. Our crafters showed us some of the awesome talent we have in our park. (I know we have more). Kathy Smith's creative handbags are one of a kind. Joyce Tifft's knitted towels and baby outfits are equal to none. Nancy Hoiaas has an awesome ability to make exquisite jewelry. Angie Baumann brought a variety of crafts from over the years to the table. For those who loved the hand-crafted ceramics, I thank you.
If you missed this event, you really missed a great treat. Hope to see you in November for our Annual Craft Fair with more talent to come. Joann Barber
From the kitchen of Sammy Koester:
Tres Leches (Three Milks) Cake
1 1/2 C all purpose flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
3 eggs, room temperature
1C sugar
2 t vanilla
1/2 C whole milk
1 1/2 C heavy cream
12 oz evaporated milk
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves, whole
14 oz sweetened condensed milk
1/2 t ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease 9x13 glass baking dish. In med. bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt and set aside.
In bowl of stand mixer with paddle, beat eggs with sugar and 1 t vanilla until very light and fluffy. (About 10 mins.) Add half of flour mixture at low speed just until incorporated. Gradually add whole milk then mix in rest of flour mixture. Pour into prepared pan and bake 25 mins. or until center springs back when pressed. Cool on rack for 30 mins.
In medium saucepan, whisk cream with evaporated milk, cinnamon stick and cloves. Bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Reduce heat & simmer for 3 mins. Remove from heat, cover and let steep 10 mins.
In heat proof bowl, combine condensed milk with remaining vanilla & ground cinnamon. Strain the steeped cream mixture into condensed milk, stir to combine and let cool for 20 mins.
Poke holes all over cooled cake with fork and gradually pour milk mixture over entire cake.
Cover with plastic wrap & refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Serve with macerated strawberries & whipped cream, if desired.
Golf
Looking for someone interested in taking over the golf. If interested, please call Jack Phinney at (352) 237-8384.
Shuffleboard
Looking for someone interested in taking over the shuffleboard. If interested, please call Jack Phinney at 237-8384
Bocce Ball
No Bocce Ball until after Oct. 15th. John Dawson
Horseshoes
No Horseshoes until October. Phyllis Congdon
Fall Bowling
Hope everyone had a great summer. Bowling season is rolling around and I want to give you an update of the coming season.
There will be a meeting at the club house on Sunday, Oct. 2nd at 1 PM. This is for the 2011-2012 season. All teams will be made up by then. So far, we have 12 teams and more to come.
League starts on Tuesday, Oct. 4th at 9 AM at AMF West Bowling Lanes on 17th Street.
If you are interested in joining, please call Tony or Ginger Pace at 237-2758 and we can put you on a team
Bowling is so much fun and good exercise too. You can meet your neighbors and enjoy the sport.
See you at the alley.
Water Aerobics
This is a warm water recreational exercise program designed specifically for people with arthritis. Its purpose is to reduce pain, stiffness, and increase range of motion of the joints. This program is NOT to replace or substitute any therapeutic exercise program prescribed by your doctor or health care team. If you have had surgery, severe joint problems or have neck problems, please talk with your doctor before starting this program.
Listen to your body. If an exercise hurts, STOP.
If you get tired, REST.
If you experience any chest pain, dizziness, or nausea, STOP. If any of your joints are inflamed, move it through its ROM (Range of Motion) gently.
If you cannot reach full ROM, move only as far as comfortable.
DO NOT rush or speed through exercises. Try to use slow, full movements.
Keep all joints soft during exercise.
Avoid arching your back, and DO NOT allow your knees to go past your toes when bending your knees.
If you have any questions, feel free to talk to the instructor at any time before, during, or after the program.
Enjoy yourself, have fun and meet new friends!! Kay Fiedler
SADDLE OAK SINGLES
Our next monthly meeting will be Wednesday, September 7th at 11 AM in the Clubhouse. We'll be voting for the restaurants for our October - January Lunch Outs. Do we want to plan another Pot Luck? Bring your ideas with you. Possibly car pooling to visit our Singles' friends in Rehab?
Our next Lunch Out on the Town is Thursday, September 22nd at 11:30 AM at Royal Orchid (plaza across Rt.200 from Paddock Mall). Sign up on the clipboard to reserve your seat.
The Monday morning breakfast schedule (meeting at 8:30AM) will be:
* September 5 - Bob Evans
* September 12 - Cracker Barrel
* September 19 - Bob Evans
* September 26 - Cracker Barrel
All Saddle Oak Club residents who are single, male or female, are welcome to participate. Our purpose is to enjoy activities as a group and have a good time. Any questions or comments, contact Kathy Smith, 237-6572.
HOOKS & NEEDLES
IF YOUR PROJECT REQUIRES A HOOK OR NEEDLE OF ANY KIND, THEN JOIN US IN THE CLUBHOUSE LIBRARY ON MONDAYS 1-3 TO WORK ON YOUR PROJECT. THIS GROUP IS OPEN TO ALL SADDLE OAK RESIDENTS. WE HAVE GREAT CONVERSATION, SHARE IDEAS, SEE WHAT OTHERS ARE WORKING ON, AND SOMETIMES GET ASSISTANCE ON A PARTICULAR TECHNIQUE.
Sausage & Tortellini Stew
(from Katherine Sitkowski's Kitchen)
Makes 6 servings - Prep Time: 10 minutes
Slow cook 3 hours on HIGH or 6 hours on LOW
* 4 sweet Italian turkey sausage links, casings removed
* 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes with basil, garlic & oregano
* 1 package (9 oz) frozen cut green beans
* 1 large onion, chopped
* 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
* 1 package (9 oz) refrigerated cheese tortellini (such as Buitoni)
* 1 Tbsp chopped fresh oregano
* 1 Cup water
Directions:
Crumble sausages into a bowl and stir together with tomatoes, green beans, onion and Italian seasoning; place mixture in slow cooker. Cover slow cooker bowl and cook 3 hours on HIGH or 6 hours on LOW.
When there is 20 minutes remaining, stir in tortellini, oregano and 1 cup water; continue cooking.
Per Serving: 305 calories; 10 g fat (2 g sat.); 19 g protein; 34 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 709 mg sodium; 57 mg cholesterol
September Birthdays
01. George Conroy
01. Carolyn Feller
01. Nancy May
02. Chandrama Hanoian
02. Linda Tuttle
03. Lucy Davis
03. Denis Dubuque
04. JoAnne Ebright
04. Lynda MacIntosh
05. Judith Miller
07. Dieter Simmons
08. Joan Ford
08. Phyllis Congdon
09. Arlene Darling
09. Dan Janis
10 Betty Jo Kennedy
10. Pasqual Bruno
11. Linda Johnston
11. Linda Pinkerton
13 Anne Ryan
13. Linda Norton
16. Louise Leach
17. Renaud Germain
18. Don Jones
18. Mae Knupppel
18. Pam Johnson
19. Fran Gerken
20. Charles Gerber
21. Vi Simmes
22. Gloria Buckley
23. Ann Sandor
24. Jim Fritz
26. Fred Congdon
26. Kenneth Banks
26. William Egleston
27. John Koechley
28. Jim Lowman
29. Winnie Robinson
30. Jean Powers
SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
01. John & Joan Record
01. Tom & Fae Krakenberg
03. Leo & Diane Keach
03. Bill & Marion Schoenberger
04. Gary & Angela Mott
06. John & Loretta Dawson
12. Bob & Marge Glass
14. Ken & Betty Carlyle
16. Norm & Sue Johnson
20. Don & Lucy Baisch
20. Bill & Martie Moyer
21. Bob & Pat Smith