Happy Birthday, Laura!

This week was a lot of fun!  We had several adventures and activities that were great, so it's always hard to highlight just one.  For example, we had a really interesting lesson at The Mariners' Museum on Tuesday, hung out with our therapy dogs and handler friends on Wednesday, watched the 3rd and final Ralph S. Mouse movie on Thursday, and celebrated Laura's birthday on Friday (after an Eaton work morning).  We're very lucky to have all of these activities and more to keep us occupied each week!  

Tuesday

A rainy early morning gave way to clouds and even a bit of sunshine as we headed to The Mariners' Museum.  No one got wet loading the vans, going into, or leaving the museum, and for that, we were grateful!  Once at the museum, we hooked up with Wisteria and Cindi for a super interesting lesson about how the US Navy "camouflaged" (in plain sight) ships during WWI to keep the Germans from sinking them!

 Cindi asked us what we knew about camouflage, and we mentioned typical things like animals, insects, and "Army guys" who use camouflage.  Then she told us that during WWI, the Germans were using "unterseeboots" (submarines) to sneak up on and fire torpedoes at American and other Allied ships.  Some artists at the time, led by a marine artist named Norman Wilkinson, came up with the idea of painting ships with patterns and geometric shapes that would help confuse the Germans when they spotted the weirdly painted ships through their periscopes.

The idea was that instead of concealing the ships, the complex patterns and colors would make it difficult to estimate a ship's speed or direction, and therefore make it very hard to plan when to fire at the target.  Wisteria told us to imagine looking at one of the dazzle ships through a periscope from inside a submarine.  With it moving in the water, bobbing up and down, and being painted in strange shapes and patterns, the Germans would have a hard time hitting their mark...and they didn't have torpedoes to waste!

The bottom picture here shows what a ship looked like with and without its dazzle paint.

Dazzle painting ships didn't technically "camouflage" them in the sense of being concealed, but still, it made them difficult to target.  Cindi said the military wasn't so sure of how effective dazzle painting was, but there was some evidence that it helped save lives!  By WWII and beyond, there was better technology to help ships avoid being struck by torpedoes, so dazzle painting of ships wasn't used much after WWI.

Our project was to create our own dazzle patterns on ship drawings.

We enjoyed coming up with color schemes and patterns...we weren't surprised that many of our friends chose colors of their favorite teams!

We imagined we would get seasick and not have very good aim if we had to look at some of these designs through a periscope before firing a torpedo!

After our designs were complete, Wisteria showed us a model of a dazzle ship that was painted at our very own Newport News Shipbuilding!

Wisteria also took a moment to thank us for our many visits to the museum over the years, because through our feedback, she and other museum staff have been able to better understand how to make exhibits and activities more accessible for people of all abilities!  For example, this popular exhibit is being reworked to make a larger boat and remove the steps so that it will be accessible to those in wheelchairs.  There are also plans to add audio support to the display, so those who are visually-impaired, or who have reading challenges, can learn more about it.

Thank you, Wisteria (and Cindi, not shown), for an educational, interesting, and fun lesson today!  Who knew that painting boats with dazzling colors and patterns could be helpful during a time of war?!

It was almost 12:30 when we got back to AFCC, so we had lunch and Choice Time, and then we prepared some dishes for tomorrow's fun activities!

Annmarie, Alexis, and Laura whipped up some fresh pesto using the basil we harvested from the garden last week.  We're going to use it as dressing for a pasta salad which will be a tasty snack when our therapy dog friends visit tomorrow.

Under Devin's approving 2 thumbs up, Gail, Erik, and Emma helped mix the filling for chocolate pies that we will serve tomorrow when we enjoy a visit from our former member, Sam.  

Wednesday

We had a day filled with visitors, and what a wonderful time we had with them all!  First, our therapy dogs and handler friends came for their monthly visit.  Our theme today was cookbooks!

We are thankful for the JRES Library for always welcoming us to check out books!

Can you spot Aja in Abraham's lap?  Erik and Patrick also read in this group with Aja and her handler, Susan.

Marisol and Tucker were joined by Nan, Devin, Xavier, and Michelle as they shared favorite recipes and also read books about animals and food!

Thomas, Alexis, and Kevin got hungry as they read cookbooks with Caroline, Pip, and Indy!

Kent brought Leo and Tavish (tucked behind Leo near Kent) to hear favorite recipes and food stories with Drew, Liz, and Annmarie.

Hearing Bryan, Gail, and Laura read from their recipes got Casey's attention!  Carol gave him a treat for being such a good listener!

After our reading rotations with the therapy dogs, we gathered in our main room to play Food Bingo, which was fun and made us hungry!  Luckily, we had a snack buffet that came together in a beautiful way.  We made pesto yesterday to mix with pasta as a way to use our bounty of basil from the garden, and to have a tasty treat to share with today's guests.  Much to our delight, they also brought contributions, so we ended up with tastes of redskin potato salad from Carol and Casey, oatmeal raisin cookies from Susan and Aja, and donut holes from Kent, Leo, and Tavish!  Thank you, handler friends, for sweet and savory surprises that we all enjoyed very much!

We're putting in a plug for Kent's Positive Dog Training business.  We snapped the contact info from the back of his t-shirt!  If you or anyone you know is looking for assistance with dog training, we cannot recommend Kent highly enough.  He's got some certifications, but more than that, he's got the spirit and demeanor that dogs (and people) love!

Thanks to Carol and Allison who put together the flower arrangements for CSL this week while we were busy enjoying therapy dog time!  

We finished the morning with some movement activity and a passage from our read-aloud so we would be ready after lunch to welcome Sam for a "farewell" celebration!  Sam left the AoA in June to pursue travel opportunities with his family, but we didn't have time to pull together a fitting farewell.  Until today!  Thanks Coach Teri and Tim for dropping Sam off to spend the afternoon with us.  We really enjoyed a chance to tell him how much he will be missed, and to wish you all the best in the future!

Laura made a beautiful speech as she told Sam that he is "very, very special and very, very kind."  She tells us every day that she misses him. 💙

Everyone knows what best buddies Devin and Sam are.  Devin's speech included how much he misses Choice Time game playing with Sam.  He and Sam had a special connection, but Devin sincerely wished him well in his new adventures, because that's how Devin rolls. 

Alexis read the group card we wrote for Sam, which was included in a parting gift for him.  We didn't get a picture, but we gave Sam two framed photo collages highlighting some of our favorite pictures of him from 2016-2025.  Sam is a "charter member" of the Arc of Abilities!

Everyone knows Sam is a pie guy, so we celebrated our friendship with his favorite, chocolate pie!  

After pie we rounded out the afternoon with a few of Sam's favorite activities.  There was dancing, a challenging game of  American History Jeopardy, and a friendly game of corn hole.  EVERYONE won today because we got to see a good friend and relish in great memories!  Don't be a stranger, Sam!  Safe travels on your next trip to Arizona to see family, and we'll look for you down the road at other Arc events!!

Thursday

Today we were busy cleaning, cooking, and preparing for a party!  But first, we started the morning with an unusually energetic dance warm up!

Our tables were overdue for a thorough cleaning, so Bryan, Drew, Patrick, and Abraham went through a few wipes and got the job done!  Xavier removed games and puzzles from the shelves so Bryan could wipe them down, and then Xavier helped Bryan replace things.

Our friend Laura is having a birthday and it's a special one!  We started getting ready today for tomorrow's party, because we have to work at Eaton in the morning and want to have everything set up before we go.  Erik, Alexis, and Emma decorated colorful napkin rings and then got silverware ready.

Gail, Annmarie, Laura, and Kate worked on making colorful bubble letters that will spell something special!

Of course, the letters colored by Liz, Kevin, Michelle, Devin, and Thomas will also be needed for the special message!

Here's a sneak peek of how our decorations look...don't let Laura see!  😂

It was time to cook lunch when we finished the decorating work.  Some of us went to the gym for free time, but others volunteered to cook.  Erik grilled the burgers, Gail and Laura sauteed onions and potatoes and then combined them to make home fries!  Our lunch plate was very tasty, and also included sauteed patty pan squash that we harvested from the garden last week.  The home fries were made with the last of our harvested potatoes.  Thanks again, Master Gardeners, for supporting us with therapeutic gardening!  Our lunch is so much better when we eat things we learned to grow for ourselves!

There was one more short film in the Ralph S. Mouse series we have been watching, so we settled in near the end of the day to laugh at a silly mouse's antics after he hitched a ride to school in a kid's pocket!  Nothing too heavy here, but a lot of laughs!

Just as our movie ended and we got tables and chairs put away, Tracy and Katrina popped in to tell us about all kinds of fun activities and events coming up through Parks & Rec.  There will be Exceptional Expeditions, Sensory Walks, a fun Halloween-themed painting and mocktail experience, and even a trip to a county fair!  Tracy will send an email to families with all the info, but our guys brought home fliers today for a jump start on checking out the fun!

There were big cheers when Tracy announced destinations for the Monday "Exceptional Expedition" trips scheduled for this fall.

Katrina announced the addition of more "Sensory Walks" that will take place at different county parks.  These will also be held on Mondays!

One extra event is a trip to the Isle of Wight County Fair during special "Sensory Hours" that will be on Friday, September 12.  Tracy and Katrina will stop by AFCC to pick up anyone in our group who would like to join this trip, and pick up after the trip will be at the JCC Rec Center sometime around 5-6 p.m.

Friday

Vocational work on Fridays helps to keep us grounded.  We were excited as we anticipated Laura's party coming up this afternoon, but first, we had to go to work at Eaton!  We did our usual, sorting, packing, and consolidating parts.  A few of us also clipped small pieces off of larger ones.  We were busy and efficient...working hard so we could return to the center to party harder!  😉

Our timing was perfect when we got back to the center as Laura's parents, Lisa and Tom, and her nieces Olivia, Eloise, and Charlotte were just arriving, too!  Time to celebrate Laura's 40th birthday!

🎉🥳🎉🥳🎉🥳

There's nothing better than a Friday afternoon pizza party, except when the party is to celebrate one of our friends!  We agree with Laura's shirt that she is "Another Year Cooler!"

We are very thankful for the delicious pizza luncheon that Laura's parents, Lisa and Tom, provided for us as we helped Laura bring in her 40th year!  With the Peanuts Gang as inspiration, we feasted on pizza and other goodies such as Sally's Honeydew and Lucy's Lemonade!

Liz was home with a summer cold and we missed her...but Erik stepped up and was an excellent Beverage Cart Attendant substitute!  Liz would be proud of how well he served Lucy's Lemonade to everyone!

Laura adores her nieces, Olivia, Eloise, and Charlotte (not in this photo).  We all enjoyed having them join us for the party!

Here's niece Charlotte along with Laura, dad Tom, Oliva, mom Lisa, and Eloise.  We gathered them for a family photo before we sang and devoured Charlie's Brownies! 😋  Thank you Tom and Lisa for putting together a special party for your special girl.  Turning 40 is a big deal, and she deserved ALL the attention today!!

After Charlie's Brownies, we played Peanuts Bingo and also watched a Peanuts Summer Musical on Apple TV+, courtesy of Laura's family.  During the show, we enjoyed popcorn with fun mix-ins like Peppermint Patty's peppermint patties, Linus's m&m's, Marcie's gummy bears, and Pigpen's pretzels.  The party was so much fun!  Laura, we hope all of your wishes come true, and your 40th year is your best yet!  You look fabulous, Darling!

What a way to wrap up the week!  We have much to look forward to next week, including a trip to a new museum AND the return of lunch orders from JRES Cafeteria!  Here's a look at our plans:

Tuesday:  We're going to visit the Muscarelle Museum of Art at William and Mary for the first time today!  It reopened earlier this year after a 2 year renovation and expansion project.  Our host/art instructor will be none other that Xavier's stepdad, Steve Prince.  Steve is the Director of Engagement and Distinguished Artist in Residence at the museum, and he's looking forward to working with us at "his" place!  (He's worked with us at our place before.)  The weather looks promising for a picnic, so please bring a bagged lunch and hopefully we can enjoy eating outside and also check our garden at Freedom Park.

Wednesday:  We will work on CSL flower arrangements and volunteer at GCOC this morning, so please wear Arc shirts.  We will play card games as we learn why today is National According to Hoyle Day, and we'll also complete a Mystery Science lesson and activity about dealing with mosquitoes!  Lunch on your own.  JRES Cafeteria (!!!) is available and they are offering Asian Chicken with Veggie Rice or Flatbread Sandwich.  Lunch price remains $3.10.  

Thursday:  We are thrilled to welcome a workshop presentation from Young Audiences of Virginia / Arts 4 Learning this morning!  We'll spend time with two special guests who will lead us in a lesson on songwriting and storytelling.  Later, we will celebrate the wonderful summer we've had with a visit to Wendy's for Frosties, a gift from our dearly missed friend in Arizona, "Sweet" T (Devin T.) and his thoughtful family!  Lunch on your own.  JRES Cafeteria is available for Domino's Pizza or Hamburger.

Friday:  This morning we will send a group to work at Pet Supplies Plus while the others join the Cooking Crew to prepare our lunch, so please wear PSP shirts.  The Friday before Labor Day is National College Colors Day, and we like to celebrate our favorite schools and teams, so feel free to bring a change of clothing for the afternoon.  We'll also have our annual Labor Day lesson, and one last kickball game in the gym since it's the first "day off" for the students since school started on Monday!  LOL!  Pizza/Pasta Casserole with Caesar Salad for lunch.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Lisa, Carol, Nan, and the AoA Gang

 

P.S. Don't forget to register for the 5k by the end of August!  The registration fee increases on September 1.  Click the graphic below for a link to the registration page!