661 W. Calle Torres Blancas • Green Valley, AZ 85614 • Phone (520) 777-4800 • www.seniorlivinginstyle.com

DECEMBER 2020 House It is that time of year celebrating all week long THE PEAKS AT starting December 11th SANTA RITA STAFF all week long! We will Management Team ���������������������LEW & LINDA SPEARS be working on our Management Team ������������������ JOHN & JEAN HOGSTAD gingerbread village Executive Chef ��������������������������������������� MITCH THOMAS during that week to Activity Coordinator ���������������������������BARBARA SUTTON complete our village Maintenance Coordinator �������������������������������VERN COX by December 20th. Transportation ����������������������������������������J.C. CARRIZOZA December 12th is the Head Housekeeper ����������������������������MARIA PALOMINO official Day. TRANSPORTATION We chose our theme during our brainstorming sessions in Monday, 8:15 and 9 a.m.: Green Valley Shopping November. Drum roll! The theme chosen is “Santa’s Workshop at Tuesday, All Day: Tucson Medical Appointments the North Pole.” There will be sign-up sheets for those interested Thursday, All Day: Green Valley Medical Appointments in helping assemble our creation. We have eight gingerbread houses to assemble and decorate. You will not want to miss out HOURS OF OPERATION on the fun! All are welcome to attend. There will be different time Daily: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Breakfast: 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. slots available so all will get a chance to participate according to Dinner: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. social distancing. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year The end of the year brings no greater joy than the opportunity to express to you season’s greetings and good wishes. May your holidays and new year be filled with joy. Love, The Peaks Management and Staff Thank you! Games Gingerbread Takes There are games scheduled throughout December. We will play beanbag baseball, Charades, and different TV Form in Europe games. Come and watch and join in. Residents have Gingerbread and the many shapes it takes really enjoyed beanbag baseball and Charades. The have a long history. First appearing in ancient more you practice, the better you get. Greece and Egypt, gingerbread was used more for memorial purposes. Later, gingerbread found its way to Europe when 11th-centruy Crusaders brought back ginger from the Middle East for the aristocrats’ cooks to experiment with. An early European recipe for gingerbread consisted of ground almonds, stale breadcrumbs, rosewater, sugar and, naturally, ginger. The resultant paste was pressed into wooden molds. These carved works of art served as a sort of storyboard that told the news of the day, bearing the likeness of new kings, emperors, and queens, or religious symbols. The finished might be decorated with edible gold paint for those who afford it or flat white to bring out the details in relief. Welcome to the Peaks In the 16th century, the English replaced the We would like to breadcrumbs with flour, and added eggs and welcome our new sweeteners, resulting in a lighter product. The residents to their new first gingerbread man is credited to Queen home and we look Elizabeth I, who knocked the socks off visiting forward to getting to dignitaries by presenting them with one baked in know you: their own likeness. Peter D. Carri M.

Mistletoe Day Bingo Mistletoe Day is sponsored by the Mistletoe December is the beginning of Bingo’s Birthday Month. Foundation in England. By parliamentary Bingo is scheduled every Monday in December at decree, it is recognized on the first of December, 2:30 p.m., and on Friday, December 4th at 2:30 p.m. though mistletoe events often occur on the Please sign up. nearest Saturday. Here are a few songs that have mistletoe in the title or lyrics, such as “Mistletoe and Holly,” “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” “Holly Jolly,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and “It Must Have Been the Mistletoe.” Memory Lane December Special Days December 2nd is the day of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting that can be watched on TV. In 1867, Charles Dickens Day was celebrated and Dickens began a public reading tour of “A Christmas Carol.” When Dickens read the story in Chicago, one of the audience members, manufacturer Mr. Fairbanks, was so moved that he decided to “break the custom we have hitherto observed of opening the works on Christmas Day.” Not only did he close the factory on Christmas, but he also gave Christmas turkeys to all of his employees. December 5th is Walt Disney Day, Walt Disney lived from 1901 to 1966. The first week of December is Cookie Cutter Week. There are over 218 ways to use a cookie cutter. You can make , candles, stamping, and make gingerbread men. St. Nicholas Day is on the eve of December 5th, the tradition is to reward children for their kindness by leaving candy and treats outside homes. December 7, 1941, the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor is remembered as “a date which will live in infamy.” On this day was the last man on the moon Eugene Cernan. NASA’s last manned mission to the moon, Apollo 17, launched on this day in 1972. December 9th was the day the World’s First Christmas Card is said to have been produced in 1843. Do you still send Christmas cards? • Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 10th. • December 10th — Emily Dickinson Day — she was born on this day in 1830. • National Poinsettia Day is on December 12th, honoring the death anniversary of Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett (1779-1851). • Frank Sinatra was born on this day in 1915. • December 15, 1964, the maple leaf flag was adopted as the Canadian national flag. • December 17th — the Wright Brothers first flew their airplane! • December 18th — Ugly Sweater Day in on the third Friday of December. • December 19th is National Wreaths Across America Day. This holiday, designated by Congress, is devoted to veterans through wreath-laying ceremonies, honoring veterans in our lives, and educational programs for children. • December 21st is the first day of winter according to the Farmer’s Almanac, winter officially begins that day at 11:19 p.m., EST. • December 23rd was the day “Twas the Night Before Christmas” was published in 1823. • December 24th is Christmas Eve. It commemorates “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Tchaikovsky along with “The Nutcracker.” • December 26th — Kwanzaa begins and it is also Candy Cane Day. • December 27th is Day and Learn a New Language Day. • December 28th is Chocolate Candy Day. • December 31st — Happy New Year to All! SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY DEC 2020 1 2 3 4 5 8:45 Wii Bowling Birthdays 9:30 Exercise with Ice Cream Trolley, FL 9:00 Wii Bowling Team 7, CN 9:30 Strength & T., 1st Bands, FL 9:00 Storytelling, LB Team 8, LB 9:00 Trivia, LB Balance, FL Sharon H., 1st 10:00 Farmer’s 9:30 Balance Class, FL 10:30 Wii Bowling 9:30 Chair Zumba, FL 1:00 Wii Bowling Jim W., 2nd Market, PL 10:00 Wii Bowling Team 9, LB 10:30 Wii Bowling Team 6, LB Jeff G., 8th 10:30 Wii Bowling Team Team 2, LB 1:00 Wii Bowliing Team 3, LB 2:30 Bingo, FL Richard Ho., 12th 4, LB 2:00 Baking with Barbara Team 12, LB 2:15 Bean Bag 3:30 Ping-Pong, LB 2:00 Craft Time, FL & Charades, FL 3:00 Ping-Pong, FL Betty A., 12th Baseball, FL Lee H., 13th Lowell H., 14th 6 7 8 9 HANUKKAH BEGINS AT SUNSET 10 11 12 8:15 G.V. Shopping: Mary Si., 14th 9:30 Exercise with 8:45 Wii Bowling Gingerbread House Day Safeway Ice Cream Trolley, FL 9:30 Strength & Corinne Po., 14th Bands, FL Team 7, CN 9:00 Wii Bowling 9:00 Wii Bowling 9:00 G.V. Shopping: 9:00 Storytelling, LB Balance, FL Anita B., 14th 10:00 Farmer’s 9:00 Trivia, LB Team 8, LB Team 10, LB Walmart 9:30 Balance Class, FL 1:00 Wii Bowling Darrell Sh., 17th 9:30 Wii Bowling Team 5, LB Market, PL 9:30 Chair Zumba, FL 10:30 Wii Bowling 1:30 Wii Bowling 10:00 Wii Bowling Team 6, LB Beverly Gr., 19th 9:30 Exercise with 10:30 Wii Bowling 10:30 Wii Bowling Team 9, LB Team 13, LB Team 2, LB 1:30 Gingerbread Craig B., 21st Weights, FL Team 4, LB Team 3, LB 1:00 Wii Bowliing Team 3:00 Ping-Pong, FL 12:30 2:00 Gingerbread House Village, FL Barbara St., 22nd Wii Bowling Team 1, LB 2:00 Gingerbread 2:15 Bean Bag 12, LB 2:30 Bingo, FL Preparation, FL 3:30 Ping-Pong, LB Marlane T., 26th Preparation, FL Baseball, FL 3:00 Ping-Pong, FL 3:00 The Garden Club, LB 3:00 Charades, FL Otis H., 27th Josie H., 27th 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Florence D., 28th 8:15 G.V. Shopping: Safeway 9:30 Exercise with 8:45 Wii Bowling 9:30 Strength & Ice Cream Trolley, FL 9:00 Wii Bowling Vanda B., 28th 9:00 G.V. Shopping: Walmart Bands, FL Team 7, CN Balance, FL 9:00 Wii Bowling 9:00 Storytelling, LB Team 8, LB 9:30 Wii Bowling Team 5, LB 10:00 Farmer’s 9:00 Trivia, LB 1:00 Wii Bowling Team 10, LB 9:30 9:30 Balance Class, FL 10:30 Wii Bowling Anniversaries Exercise with Market, PL 9:30 Chair Zumba, FL Team 6, LB 1:30 Wii Bowling Weights, FL 10:00 Wii Bowling Team 9, LB Gene & Charlotte 10:30 Wii Bowling 10:30 Wii Bowling 1:30 Gingerbread Team 13, LB 12:30 Wii Bowling Team 1, LB Team 2, LB 1:00 Wii Bowliing Team T., 12/15/1951 Team 4, LB Team 3, LB House, FL 3:00 Ping-Pong, FL 1:30 Gingerbread 1:30 Gingerbread 12, LB Jim & Jeanne C., House, FL 1:30 Gingerbread 1:30 Gingerbread 2:30 Bingo, FL House, FL 3:00 Ping-Pong, FL 12/26/1955 2:30 Bingo, FL Village, FL Village, FL 3:30 Ping-Pong, LB

Locations 20 WINTER BEGINS 21 22 23 24 CHRISTMAS DAY 25 26 Bistro Room, BR 8:15 G.V. Shopping: 9:30 Exercise with 8:45 Wii Bowling 9:00 Wii Bowling Cinema, CN Safeway Bands, FL Team 7, CN Ice Cream Trolley, FL 9:00 Wii Bowling Team 8, LB Dining Room, DR 9:00 G.V. Shopping: 10:00 Farmer’s 9:00 Trivia, LB 9:00 Storytelling, LB 9:30 Strength & Team 10, LB Walmart 10:30 Wii Bowling Fireplace Patio, FP Market, PL 9:30 Chair Zumba, FL 9:30 Balance Class, FL Balance, FL 1:30 Wii Bowling 9:30 Wii Bowling Team 5, LB Team 9, LB Fireside Lobby, FL 10:30 Wii Bowling 10:30 Wii Bowling 10:00 Wii Bowling 1:00 Wii Bowling Team 13, LB 9:30 Exercise with 1:00 Wii Bowliing Team Game Room, GR Team 4, LB Team 3, LB Team 2, LB Team 6, LB 3:00 Ping-Pong, FL Weights, FL 12, LB Gym, GY 12:30 Wii Bowling 2:15 Mocktail 2:15 Bean Bag 2:00 Charades, FL 3:30 Ping-Pong, LB 3:00 Ping-Pong, FL Library, LB Team 1, LB Social Time, FL Baseball, FL Poolside, PL 2:30 Bingo, FL Putting Green, PG 27 28 29 30 NEW YEAR’S EVE 31 8:15 G.V. Shopping: 8:45 Resident Computer Safeway Wii Bowling Room, RC 9:30 Exercise with Team 7, CN Ice Cream Trolley, FL 9:00 Wii Bowling 9:00 G.V. Shopping: Bands, FL 9:00 Trivia, LB Happy New Year Team 10, LB Walmart Merry 9:30 Wii Bowling Team 5, LB 10:00 Farmer’s 9:30 Chair Zumba, FL 9:00 Storytelling, LB 1:30 Wii Bowling 9:30 Exercise with Market, PL 10:30 Wii Bowling 9:30 Balance Class, FL Christmas and Team 13, LB Weights, FL 10:30 Wii Bowling Team 3, LB 10:00 Wii Bowling 3:00 Ping-Pong, FL Happy 12:30 Wii Bowling Team 4, LB 2:15 Bean Bag Team 2, LB Team 1, LB Baseball, FL 2:00 Board Games, DR New Year! 2:30 Bingo, FL Baking With Barbara In November, we made pumpkin and mini with one can of pureed pumpkin and a yellow mix. We prepared the batter and everyone took a turn filling the cupcakes and put them in the oven. While they were baking, we played Charades and taste tested them after they were baked and cooled and frosted. We will be baking or making nonbaked goods before Charades with each month’s theme.

Judy filled the cupcakes. Sandy frosting the cake Marly’s frosted cupcakes

Scented Gingerbread Ornaments! On Thursday, December 3rd at 2 p.m., we will give a try with an easy recipe to make scented gingerbread ornaments. Nothing is better than the smell of cinnamon during the holiday season. The supplies that are needed are 1/2 cup ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup applesauce, 1 Ziploc bag, 1 drinking straw, cookie cutters and ribbon. We will prepare all the ingredients needed and mix them up and cut out with our Christmas shapes and gingerbread cookie cutters. Do you have fond gingerbread memories and what is your favorite gingerbread — cookies, cake, gingersnaps with milk, or classic gingerbread men? Gingerbread Fast Facts! Gingerbread houses never caught on in Britain as they did in North America, but they do exist in other parts of Europe. Gingerbread is loved all over the world and has become a holiday tradition for many. Below are 10 fun facts all about this sweet treat! 1. Gingerbread houses originated in Germany. 2. It is said that Queen Elizabeth I came up with the concept of the gingerbread man after wanting to present them to visiting officials as gifts. 3. Unmarried women in England would often eat gingerbread men for good luck in meeting a husband. 4. The largest gingerbread house in the world is 60 feet by 42 feet and is worth 35,823,400 calories. 5. To be considered gingerbread, the recipe must feature ginger as a dominant flavor and use either honey or molasses to add sweetness. 6. According to the Swedish tradition, you can put the gingerbread in your palm and make a wish. You then have to break the gingerbread with your other hand. If the gingerbread breaks into three, the wish will come true. 7. At the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain in Tucson, Arizona, there’s a life-sized gingerbread house that you can book for a private lunch or dinner during the holiday season. 8. During the holiday season, gingerbread spice is a popular purchase. According to McCormick Spice, 3 million ounces of ground ginger are sold during this time of the year. To put that number in perspective, this amount could make 450 million gingerbread men. 9. Over time, gingerbread baking became a highly regarded profession. In fact, in the 17th century, only professional gingerbread bakers were allowed to bake gingerbread. The only exceptions were at Christmas and Easter. 10. Although gingerbread houses had been around since the 1600s in Germany, they really became popular after the Brothers Grimm published their Hansel and Gretel fairy tale in 1812. Bakers in Germany, where the Grimm brothers were from, showed off their gingerbread houses at annual Christmas markets. Soon gingerbread houses became a Christmas tradition around the world. 661 W. Calle Torres Blancas Green Valley, AZ 85614

520-777-4800