The Care Giver News Holiday Edition 2020 - Care At Home
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CareAtHome & CareAtHome Preferred
The Care Giver News
Holiday Edition - 2020
Did you know that December 26 is National Candy Cane Day?! Believe it or not, I first heard about this
fun day last year while watching a Hallmark Movie during the holiday season! Of course, I had to look it up
to see if this was truly an observable event. It turns out it does exist and gives candy lovers a day to
celebrate the red and white striped candies found abundantly during the holidays.
In 1844, a recipe for a straight peppermint candy stick, which was white with colored stripes, was published.
However, some stories tell of all-white candy sticks in much earlier times. Folklore tells of the origin of the
candy cane, yet there is no documented proof of its real beginning. Literature begins mentioning the candy
cane in 1866, and it was first known to be mentioned in connection with Christmas in 1874. As early as 1882, candy canes have
been hung on Christmas trees.
Fun Candy Cane Facts:
• The average candy cane is 5 inches tall.
• While most candy canes are not sugar or calorie-free, they do not have any fat or cholesterol.
• Striped red and white candy canes were first introduced in 1900.
• The first machine to make candy canes were invented in 1921 by Brasher O. Westerfield. Until then, they were made by
hand.
• Bob McCormack and his brother-in-law & priest Gregory Keller brought the candy cane to the masses. What started out
as candy making for McCormack’s friends and family turned into mass production when Keller invented the machine that
enabled Bob’s Candies to go big time.
• Traditionally, the flavor for candy canes is peppermint, but today, there are a variety of flavors (if you can think it, there’s
probably one available in that flavor!).
• Alain Roby, Geneva pastry chef, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest candy cane, measuring 51 feet long.
The myth of Santa’s Reindeer
While we all have been led to believe that the reindeer carrying the big guy every Christmas
Eve were male, it turns out, that this may not be true! Both male and female
reindeer grow antlers, while in most other deer species, only the males have antlers.
Males drop their antlers in November, leaving them without antlers until the following spring,
while females keep their antlers through the winter until their calves are born in May.
We women should have realized that only females would have been able to carry that big guy all around the world in one night
without having to stop and ask for directions!
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE – HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
If you are shipping holiday cards and gifts for Hanukkah (December 10-18), Christmas (December
25), Kwanzaa (December 26-Jauary 1) or any other holiday traditions you celebrate, listed below
are the USPS recommended domestic send-by-dates for expected delivery before December 25:
USPS Retail Ground Service December 15
First-Class Mail Service December 18
Priority Mail Service December 19
Priority Mail Express Service December 23
Please note: for Priority Mail Express shipments mailed December 22-25, the money-back guarantee applies only if the shipment
was not delivered or delivery was not attempted with 2 busines days.
Holiday Edition, 2020 The Caregiver News Page 2 of 4
TOYS … TOYS … TOYS … TOYS … TOYS … TOYS … TOYS … TOYS … TOYS
Getting your hands on a specific, requested toy this year could be trickier than
ever thanks to shipping delays caused by the pandemic and more people than
ever doing a majority of their holiday shopping online. With many of us forgoing
travel and big family gatherings this holiday season, there will be more time for
families to play together at home. Or maybe you just want to surprise your niece
or nephew and cement your status as the coolest grandmother, grandfather,
aunt or uncle alive. Whatever your reason, Target actually put together a toy
listing by age group. Here it is – just in case you’d like to check it out: https://www.target.com/c/top-toys/-/N-5cgh5
Here’s a sampling of top toy/gift ideas for kids, all under $30. Don’t forget, if you have a Target Card, you get another
5% off … and free shipping!
Rainbow Jellies Surprise Creation Kit - $17.99 Rainbow High Dolls - $26.99 (several colors available)
Grouch Couch Board Game - $14.89 B. Toys Interactive Cat Piano - Meowsic ($22.99)
Cool Maker Go Glam Nail Salon Mani-Pedi Set - $18.99 LeapFrog Speak & Learn Puppy ($19.89)
A Game of Cat & Mouth by Exploding Kittens - $22.99 Hatchimals Pixies Crystal Flyers - Pink & Purple ($24.99)
Best Sugar Cookie Recipe
Prep Time: 30 min / Yield: 36 cookies
Soft cut-out sugar cookie recipe that keeps its shape and dough does not need to
be chilled before baking – perfect edges every time!
Your presence we miss,
INGREDIENTS: Your memory we treasure,
• 1 Cup unsalted butter • 1 egg Forgetting you never.
• 1 Cup granulated white sugar • 2 teaspoons baking powder In Memoriam:
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • ½ teaspoon salt Elenor Canzano
• ½ teaspoon almond extract • 3 cups all purpose flour Dr. Sheldon Dubinett
Elizabeth Ferguson
DIRECTIONS: Dr. Paul Fiehler
Preheat oven to 350F. In your mixer bowl, cream butter and sugar until smooth Janice Grieco
(at least 3 minutes). Beat in extracts and egg. In a separate bowl, combine Jack Reilsono
baking powder and salt with flour and add a little at a time to the wet Sally Santman
ingredients. The dough will be stiff. If it becomes too stiff for your mixer, spread
flour onto your counter top surface and turn out the dough onto the counter. Deepest apologies to Mr. George Willock who was erroneously listed
Wet your hands and finish off kneading the dough by hand. as deceased in our last newsletter. We wish you many wonderful
years ahead.
DO NOT CHILL THE DOUGH. Divide into workable batches (2-3 chunks), roll out
onto a floured surface and cut. You want these cookies to be on the thick side
(closer to ¼ inch). Bake at 350 for 6-8 minutes. Let cool on the cookie sheet until
firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack. Icing/decorate as desired.
Congratulations to the winners of our Caregiver Appreciation – Month of “Thanks” Drawings!
Nov. 1 - Chelsey Howard Nov. 11 - Judy Seitam Nov. 21 – Dennis Wood
Nov. 2 – Britney White Nov. 12 – Tonya Norman Nov. 22 – Danielle Vining
Nov. 3 – Martha Dixon Nov. 13 – Patrick Brown Nov. 23 – Olivia Graff
Nov. 4 – Alecia Staudenmaier Nov. 14 – Nikita Hughes Nov. 24 – Makala Williams
Nov. 5 – Dee Bayne Nov. 15 – Kathleen Broach Nov. 25 – Nancy Valenzuela
Nov. 6 – Aimee Switala Nov. 16 – Amanda Wheeler Nov. 26 – Marilyn Claassen
Nov. 7 – Logan Holtzman Nov. 17 – Donna Harkins Nov. 27 – Bea Porter
Nov. 8 – Susan MacDonald Nov. 18 – Dawn Jefferies Nov. 28 – Mary Anne Butler
Nov. 9 – Justin Schrock Nov. 19 – Karen Lilac Nov. 29 – Nancy Gorencic
Nov. 10 – Deb Hrin Nov. 20 – Paul Kaus
Holiday Edition, 2020 The Caregiver News Page 3 of 4
November 2020
National Caregiver
Appreciation Month
While we appreciate our caregivers
every day of every month, we thought
we needed to provide a little extra
excitement for our caregivers during the
month of November.
As a way to show our appreciation for all
the hard work and dedication our
caregivers have put forth throughout this
year, we held a daily raffle. Each day
during November, one name was pulled
out of the drawing box and awarded a
gift card of varying amounts (see list of
winners on page two).
Our Grand Prize Drawing was held on
Wednesday, Dec. 2nd at 3pm.
Congratulations to our winner,
TOM LINGENFELTER
Tom won an Apple iPad Pro, travel case
and a $100 Apple gift card.
Thank you to all of our caregivers.
We hope each of you will have a
wonderful holiday season --- and while
different, will find new, fun ways to
celebrate the season with your family
and friends.
Merry Christmas & Happy
COVID-free 2021!
Holiday Fun Time with Family & Friends
Even though the holiday will look a little different this year, it can still be filled with just as much joy with a few special touches
and a little bit of magic. Listed below are a few ideas you may want to try out!
• Make Sweet Treats: Want to try your hand at making some holiday treats? Try a Candy Cane Reindeer or the Rudolph
Treats (recipes on next page). If you don’t like making treats, try purchasing a pre-made gingerbread house and
decorating it with your kids or friends. The more elaborate the decor, the better!
• Play Outside: Enjoy the crisp fresh air of the season. Bundle up and go dashing through the snow on a winter hike, or
take a walk through the neighborhood to enjoy all of the festive decorations and lights.
• Plan Sweet Activities for the Kids: Keep the kids entertained with a candy cane scavenger hunt in the backyard. Hide an
array of candy canes and set the kids loose to find their festive sweets.
• Cozy up With Hot Chocolate: End the day with tidings of comfort and joy by putting together a hot cocoa bar. Mix up
mugs of homemade hot chocolate and put out a platter of toppings such as crushed peppermints, chocolate chips,
marshmallows and whipped cream for everyone to dress up their perfect drink.
Holiday Edition, 2020 The Caregiver News Page 4 of 4
Candy Cane Reindeer - Have fun creating these adorable candy cane stocking stuffers!
INGREDIENTS:
12 ounces white candy coating, coarsely chopped 12 candy canes (6 inches)
12 miniature pretzels 12 Red Hots or milk chocolate M&M's
12 double candy eyes or 24 single candy eyes, black sugar pearls or miniature semisweet chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
• In a microwave, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Keep warm. Holding the curved end of a candy cane, use a spoon to drizzle coating
over the straight part of candy; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper to dry. Repeat with remaining candy canes. Break pretzels
in half to resemble antlers; set aside 24 pieces.
• Attach Red Hots candy noses to the curved portion of each candy cane with melted candy coating, holding for about 10 seconds to help
adhere. Use candy coating to attach candy eyes just above noses and pretzel antlers above eyes, holding each piece as needed to help
adhere. Place in mugs or drinking glasses; let dry for about 1 hour.
Rudolph Treats - These adorable goodies are a fun treat for kids, neighbors and friends.
INGREDIENTS:
12 miniature pretzels, halved Black decorating gel
12 fun-size Almond Joy candy bars 12 red M&M's miniature baking bits
12 miniature marshmallows, halved
DIRECTIONS:
Insert an end from two pretzel halves into each candy bar to form antlers. Gently press the cut side of two
marshmallow halves onto each candy bar for eyes; dot with decorating gel.
For nose, attach an M&M to the top of each candy with decorating gel. Store in an airtight container.
PLEASE REMEMBER – THE EASIEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND OTHERS IS TO ALWAYS “WEAR A MASK”
CareAtHome
1737 Freeport Road
Arnold, PA 15068
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