Popcorn Puppy

This is Samson, the House Dog of Greenview Place. I am a black Labrador, and have lived here at Greenview for the past year and a half.

I was so lucky to find a place here. I had been given to a shelter after a family could no longer take care of me, and once I arrived at Greenview Place, I knew I was home.

Some of my favorite things are walks, ear rubs, treats, and the residents I share my home with. For those of you do don't know, we make fresh popcorn everyday here and one of my favorite times of the day is when Carla, our Operations Assistant, plays “Pup-corn” fetch with me. You may not realize this, but dogs like me love popcorn. I will even jump up and grab it in mid-air when she tosses it my way!

Most of all, I love my home here at Greenview Place. I feel so happy to live with so many people who all love and pay attention to me. It feels so good when residents stop by to say hi, give me a treat, or pet me. So, come by and visit me sometime, I will repay your effort with lots of tail-wagging and kisses. Sometimes I am at the reception desk, otherwise I will likely be found in the front office. Come and find me, I love company!

Feeling hot, hot, hot!

In Chicago, like much of the country, we have been feeling the effects of a very intense heat wave. As many of you know, when extreme heat strikes, it is vital to stay hydrated and find safe cooling places. At Greenview, we are lucky to have a wonderful air conditioning system, maintained by a top-notch staff. However, keeping hydrated is still of high importance. In addition to drinking, did you know that eating high-water content food can help you in your quest for hydration? The CDC tells us that fruits can contain 85%-90% water! In honor of staying cool, this week we made a delicious tropical fruit salad.
Residents took part, each chopping, peeling and mixing their way to the perfect summer dish. In addition to the perennial favorites of apple and orange, our salad also had an island vibe as we included tangy pineapple, tart kiwi, creamy banana and juicy mango!
After they finished assembling the treat, it was time to enjoy. There was even enough to share with other residents and friends.

Sweeter Than Sugar

Another summer week here at Greenview Place; to celebrate the season, we held an ice cream social. Ruth & I enjoyed serving sundaes to our guests.

There was a delicious assortment of ice creams with something for everyone- classic vanilla, for those who like to concentrate on the toppings. Chocolate ice cream was popular for those craving a delicious cool coco treat. Succulent strawberry satisfied those who craved a summer seasonal flavor. Finally, we rounded things out with a fun sorbet swirl fruit thrill. The traditional topping chocolate syrup was the most popular, but other residents enjoyed their choice caramel, banana, cookies and sprinkles.

Enjoying a refreshing snack is always fun in the summer, but seeing the smiles of the residents as they enjoyed their frozen goodies was even better. Look at the sweet smile on our resident face as she enjoys a dish of ice cream, and shares her joy with us.

Happy Independence Day

How was everyone’s 4th of July? Good, I hope. Here at Greenview Place we spent the day indulging in the great American tradition of hot dogs! Many of you have probably heard about Famous Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island. This year’s winner, Joey Chestnut, ate 62 hot dogs in 10 minutes. Well, we held our own frankfurter event, celebrating all the regional dogs America has to offer.

Our menu for the afternoon featured four red-hots, each representing the specialty dogs of the nation. From New York we offered a sauerkraut, onion and brown mustard topped frank. Atlanta represented with a chili & coleslaw dog, Cincinnati brought its best chili ‘n cheese version, and of course, Chicago had its own grandstander with relish, mustard, onion, tomato, sport peppers, pickles and celery salt!

After lunch, diners were offered the chance to vote on their favorite dog. No surprise here, the home town classic Chicago dog won hands down. The win will push the Chicago dog onto Greenview’s summer menu. The residents have spoken!