Commun ty Matters Manor of the Plains
May 2016
Manor of the Plains announces Art is Ageless® winners Manor of the Plains recently hosted a reception for the winning artists in the annual Art is Ageless® juried competition. “We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Kurt Lampe, marketing director. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of artists age 65 and older. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.” Winners in the Manor of the Plains Art is Ageless juried competition were: Best of Show (amateur): Vivian Goetz, “Floral Elegance,” quilt Best of Show (professional): Dee Maurer, “Nativity,” Christmas Honorable Mention: Phill Gonzales, “The Image,” mixed media/crafts Drawing (amateur): Joanne Clark, “I’ll be seeing you” ART IS AGELESS continued on page 3
Eugene McAdam with traditional “Blarney Stones.”
St. Patrick’s Day tradition continues Making Blarney Stone cakes has been a St. Patrick’s Day tradition for the McAdam family ever since Gene McAdam came home from World War II. This year, the family relocated the tradition to Manor of the Plains. Several of the McAdam children and grandchildren visited in March to spend the day creating the individual cakes, which represent the Blarney Stone, a block of limestone built into Blarney Castle, near Cork, Ireland. Legend has it that kissing the stone will give you the gift of gab (specifically, “great eloquence or skill at flattery,” according to Wikipedia). Gene’s mother started the annual ritual after he and four of his brothers were discharged from the service, Michelle said. “When Mom and Dad were at home, it was a day everyone spent together,” Michelle said. “Dad’s tradition is he is the taste tester and then he takes a nap.” Gene and Maxine McAdam moved to the manor a couple of years ago; she passed away in March 2015. The family didn’t make Blarney Stones last year while she was ill. But the youngest members of the family didn’t want the tradition to end. “Dad’s grandkids are the ones who said, ‘We’ve ST. PATRICK continued on page 2