The observor has been on an end-of-year vacation of sorts.  Leaving the main building recently in the gray light of near-night, he sees our favorite migrant, the Great Blue Heron, who hunts for gophers by day, and has decided his hunting is done for this day.  He spreads his wings, then flaps them a few times and is airborne.  He heads west over the building: gray shadow on gray sky, more spirit than being.  He coasts in total silence, while inside our residents eat dinner and watch pre-inauguration news.

The observor wonders if the gophers are especially plump in the Hillside House valley, or perhaps Mr. Heron knows he’s welcome, and simply feels at home.

Searching for prey

Today we witnessed the rare phenomenon of water falling from the sky to the earth.  Hard, steady rain, something we haven’t seen for months.  Staff were out of practice and so got some of the raincoats on the wrong residents.  Gail was not pleased.  A few residents were home for meetings or doctors appointments, so Angelica and Valentina did crafts.  They made turkeys cut out of felt and cardboard.

Staff and residents making turkeys

Men, power tools and dirt

The rain stops at the end of the day, at least for long enough to hang the residents’ lunch bags on the back fence to air dry after they are washed.  Tomorrow will bring a turkey dinner. 

Yesterday our plumbing decided to remind us it is 63 years old.  To find the leak, the plumbers first excavated the hallway where the residents enter when they return from day programs.  This provided great entertainment for some.  

But the leak was elsewhere, so today excavation began in the kitchen and the kitchen operations were moved to the staff break room.  Good thing our kitchen staff are flexible. 

While all this is going, the 8th grade volunteers from Santa Barbara Middle School work on puzzles with our residents.  This is an annual occurence.  Four volunteers from SBMS come to Hillside House for a week as part of a community service program for the 8th graders.

And Sophie is absorbed by the words and melody of Jewel’s “Hands.”

Mark and Preston are heading for Hawaii on Sunday for a week.  They are going with the organization Get Out!, which organizes and staffs travel for people with disabilities.  They’ll be staying on Kauai, and as they leave at 5 AM sharp on Sunday morning, they’ve already got their bags packed.  Bon Voyage!

Mark & Preston's bags ready to go!

There’s a slow building toward Halloween that happens here.  More ghostly art.  More orange clothing and lighted decorations.  These holidays carry great meaning.  Today was Jeff’s 69th birthday.  He came to this facility from the one on Ontare Rd. 54 years ago.  Jeff rode in the Bekins moving van with the furniture.  He remembers every detail.

Cara reads the day’s news to a packed house, while Susan discusses a website with Ingelise.  Dinner begins to be served in the next room.  It’s an unmistably family scene.

Today was another beautiful day in Santa Barbara — more like summer than fall, really.  These days the fog has been heavier than normal and the sun doesn’t break through till close to 11 AM.  Barbara, Allison and Emily were home today and Maria worked with them doing puzzles and games.  Greg is excited about the Angels’ prospects in the baseball playoffs, but Al believes the Dodgers’ future is brighter.  October should be interesting for the baseball-loving residents.