The principal reason we live at Meadowlark Hills is that they are accredited in management of Parkinson's disease. Don has PD and various therapies address the many symptoms. We credit them with...
Outdoor Encounters: Pebble & Pond
April 22, 2025
Blog
Submitted by Don Rasmussen
Breakfast is served! Many mornings I find as many as five deer eating corn at the feeder near Bayer Pond. They have come to associate the sound of the feeder slinging corn (each morning at 7 a.m.) with a favorite breakfast.
If you approach from down wind and move very slowly they will permit you to get as close as 25 feet as this beautiful doe and three month old fawn did to me.
The IL Resident Council wishes to remind all residents that this is the time of year we recognize the work of our outstanding staff here at Meadowlark Hills. As you know, there is a no tipping policy and our way of expressing our thanks to them is to give generously to our Appreciation Fund.
You should have received your letter from the Committee by this time. The deadline for your contribution will be Monday, Nov. 9, through Wednesday, Nov. 11. We encourage you to remember the many ways in which the staff has served you and give generously.
The calendar says it’s September, but for the past several months, Art Committee members could be convinced it’s Christmas time. Since last spring, various potential donations of fine art and decorative art (framed posters, etc.) have been presented at each of our first Friday-of-the-month meetings for consideration. I believe I speak for a majority of members in saying that it’s been a treat to examine and/or research the proposed gifts.
Every first and third Tuesdays (and the fifth Tuesday when they come around!), a group of talented residents gather in the Living Room four an hour in the afternoon to exercise their writing skills and learn new techniques from their fearless leader. The most recent leader of the Meadowlark Hills Writing Group, Charlie Kempthorne, led his last class Tuesday, Sept. 1, as he and his wife will be moving from Manhattan to be closer to family.
How many of us can think of multiple times that we have been called by a telemarketer – and the funny thing is, they always call at the most inconvenient times such as in the middle of dinner or when you are walking out the door. Some of us might argue that anytime a telemarketer is calling, whether your have the time to deal with it or not, is inconvenient. A possible solution to this problem is the National Do Not Call Registry.
Submitted by Sue Hunt
I went down to feed the worms Labor Day morning and although the wet weather has caused very tall ragweed the sunflower field is in full bloom.
Tall Joe-Pye weed has white fluffy tops and the snow on the mountain covers many bud areas. Thistles are making purple tuffs. The big bluegrass flowering and the Indian grass has yellow top.
There are plenty of grasshoppers and if you can catch one, hold it upside down by the legs and it will become very still so you can see its spur throat or bond wings.
Submitted by Duane Miksch
Among the birds visiting our feeders, are a large number of doves. The Mourning Doves are especially prevalent. Adults were joined in mid-summer by many juveniles. The youngsters seem to flutter around less when not feeding and sometimes can be seen sitting quietly on the path in the shade outside our north windows.
Outside is the best side!
In April 2015, the Duggans moved into our first house. The family’s first mission? Grow grass. Our new backyard was an overwhelming mountain of mud. I grew up in the country and there, growing grass wasn’t a priority. If we had it – great! If we didn’t – less to mow. Edward grew up in the city without a yard. Fast forward to 2015 and two newbie homeowners are standing in the lawn and garden section at Home Depot, heads tilted in confusion.
Meadowlark Hills resident Sue Hunt held up an adjustable cane decorated with hand-painted roses, and the knot in my stomach began to unravel. Meadowlark Hills Foundation’s first public auction of donated household items had lured several capable volunteers and a large crowd to Pottorf Hall in Cico Park on Tuesday, Sept. 1, and the raised hands and nodding heads that were prompted by auctioneer Vern Gannon did much to calm my nerves.