A few days ago the great pumpkin arrived at the Nursing Home I work at! This pumpkin weighs 420 pounds! The residents knew it was coming and were quite excited to see it arrive, filling the back of a pick-up truck. It took several men to get it into the facility, with many residents watching the process!
This is one of our residents, sitting next to the pumpkin so you can see how big it is. (Thanks Nancy for the picture!) The next day a man came to carve it. We (the staff) were expecting something different but this is what he did. He carved a Wizard of Oz theme and his daughter painted it. It took about 3 hours and I'm told the residents had fun watching this process..
Here is the wicked witch. That stem makes a pretty good witch nose!.
Here you see Dorothy, with the cyclone heading towards her..
On the other side we see the Lion, the Tin man, Dorothy and the Scarecrow.
Tomorrow will be a fun day for the residents too. We have a few kindergarten classes come in their costumes, and our activity staff prepares goodie bags for them. Our residents love seeing the kids and are looking forward to this.
* I just noticed that my son commented about not enjoying trick or treating here when he was young. The reason he didn't like it, (beside the fact the he was a little scared of some of the people) was because some of the confused residents didn't want to give up their candy. We try to keep staff around the residents who may do this to avoid scaring any other kids!
Wow, this is pretty good. I've never seen something like this....Kae
ReplyDeleteThat is cool that the residents can enjoy things like that. I hope the kids have a better time trick or treating at the nursing home then I did.
ReplyDeleteThat is incredible! The size those pumpkins attain just amazes me. It's a wonderful work you do for the folks, Mari. God bless.
ReplyDeleteOh my word! That is one big pumpkin. What an original way to decorate it too. I'm sure those kindergarten classes will enjoy seeing it. Either that or the witch will frighten them, although hopefully not. I remember at 5 or 6 I was scared of her and her monkeys. Maybe someone can just twirl the pumpkin's bed around if they all start screaming. :)
ReplyDeletehow fun! and i love the WofOz characters!
ReplyDeleteMari,
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad that the residents get to join in all the fun and that is one amazing pumpkin. I know many of them will enjoy seeing the costumes on the kids tomorrow.
Happy Halloween, my friend.
Blessings,
Mary
Wow...that's a BIG pumpkin!
ReplyDeleteHappy Halloween!
Hugs!
Kat
Poor Andy! I can just picture that! That is one big pumpkin! I remember some of those growing up! I'll have to dig through some of my mom's old pictures for next year maybe! We had some huge ones! BTW you've been BOOed. Stop on over and see what it's about!
ReplyDeleteGlad the residents enjoyed it. I do think I remember Andy not enjoying that.
ReplyDeleteI don't think my girls class every did that.
I think Andy speaks for many children!! That's quite the pumkin for sure. I know the residents will love seeing the children...it will be the brightest spot in their day.
ReplyDeleteWhat a huge pumpkin and very neat how they carved and painted it.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at Andrew's comment. When Alan and I were young and our children were small, we visited nursing homes quite often to sing to them. Alan played his guitar and he and I sang. The residents always enjoyed our children. I remember one time one of the residents who we were singing for was in bed. Alan and I were singing along and we looked down at Chad. He was standing at the foot of the bed playing with the resident's big toe by moving it back and forth. Ha! Ha! I think he was about five years old at the time. One night one of the old ladies would not leave Heather alone. She was frightened to death. I don't think we went back after that. She so afraid of old people. So, Andrew wasn't the only one who was traumatized! Just kidding! Ha! Ha! Maybe traumatized is too strong of a word.
ReplyDeleteI think Katelyn and Chelsea enjoyed trick or treating there. What a nice change for the residents to be able to do something different!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if any of the kids get scared at times, I used to work in nursing homes for some time and they definately had they're moments.
ReplyDeleteWOW! That is a HUGE pumpkin! Amazing!
ReplyDeleteThat's great the kids are coming over. I used to do that quite a bit when I was little either through church activities, school or on my own with my Mom.
Happy Halloween!
~melody~
Those are some cool pumpkins! I had posted painted pumpkins!
ReplyDeleteWow! That's pretty impressive! So glad your residents got to enjoy this and I hope they all had a wonderful Halloween!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fun day there. That would have been neat to watch
ReplyDeleteThat is really cool. You know who looks cute sitting there too. I like my job but miss all you guys!
ReplyDeleteI think that is the best pumpkin I have ever seen!!, Tell Gala great job!! Bet your residents loved it:)
ReplyDeleteThat great pumpkin I am sure was a hit. I wish I could have seen their faces when it showed up.
ReplyDeleteNow, whatever will they do with it?