NIAGARA, Wis. — When I was in grade school, our teachers usually began each new school year by having us address the topic of our summer vacation. I guess this was a way to help us close the door on summer and to mentally prepare us for the discipline of the year ahead; it helped us change our focus from fun to work.

Back then, as kids, most of us really did not want summer to end. We were not that eager to exchange shorts and a T-shirt for school clothes we had to keep clean. Nor were we looking forward to trading in our favorite place in the tree we had just climbed for the rigid chair that was part of our school desk. As adolescents, the end of summer vacation meant we lost the ability to sleep as long as we wanted.

As adults, many of us look forward to summer as a time when our schedules relax a bit, and we have time for family vacations. In retirement, most of us appreciate summer for the simple fact that it isn’t winter. I, for one, do not look forward to the slippery driving conditions that I know will soon arrive, and my husband certainly does not relish the thought of snow removal. This summer was unlike any we have had in the past as it was filled with two large home improvement projects. One was a piece of cake, but the other proved to be frustrating to the point of hair pulling! Consequently, I am happy to see the end of this particular summer.

My husband and I are no strangers to the disruption caused by home improvement projects. We bought our Niagara home in 1978 in the seventh year of our marriage. In those seven years, we had completed college, had our two boys and had moved six times. We were anxious to put down roots. We bought what we could afford back then, and to say it was a “fixer-upper” would be a gross understatement. But it was ours and located in a neighborhood filled with kids along with good neighbors who had been there for decades themselves.

We saw the house in February, in the dim light of winter, and filled with the current owners’ belongings. We moved into it in July; all the rooms were now empty, and in the bright summer sun we could see the threadbare carpet and the hole in the lathe and plaster wall. I sat down on the stairs and cried, thinking to myself, “What have we done?” Slowly but surely, we improved what we could.

Our initial mortgage allowed us to remodel the kitchen with more counter space and cabinets made on Iron Mountain’s northside. It would be a while before we could replace carpeting, but in the meantime, the boys enjoyed sliding into an imaginary home plate in the living room. I overheard our youngest son exclaim to the neighborhood that “our carpeting was so old that the dinosaurs lived on it.” Good grief!

Naturally, some repairs could not wait until we could afford them. There was an old wood stove in the basement with an oil furnace as back up. We had never burned wood before, so that first winter was pretty cold and drafty. We figured we should get the chimney cleaned in the spring.

As the chimney specialist was on our roof, he called down and asked if we knew what shape our chimney was in as he was picking the bricks apart one by one! It turns out that we had no chimney liner and had to sink $1,000 of stainless steel down that chimney to prevent a fire… and we could not even see the result of the improvement! Then we learned we had no cold air returns installed back to the furnace; no wonder we were so cold that first winter!

Gradually, over the course of 45 years and with the help of many qualified, local trades people we have turned our fixer-upper into a little gem of a house. My first job was with Dickinson Homes — a wonderful place filled with skilled carpenters, electricians and plumbers who were always looking for side jobs.

They were very willing to help us fix our house. One of my co-workers even spent a Saturday helping my husband blow insulation into our attic crawl space, and all I had to pay for was the product. We have had a parade of contractors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians, window experts and “basement fixers” who have helped us improve and maintain our home. Every one of them has been a gem to work with and has treated our home as though it was their own. Now we are beginning to “improve our improvements.” As our neighbor has reminded us, as he continues to maintain his home as well, “we are never done.”

This second wave of improvements has not been as easy. I no longer work with skilled trades people. And over time, the number of people entering the building trades has fallen way behind the needs of the market. The people who helped us out before are retired now themselves so we had to hunt for a roofer and a retaining wall builder to help us out with our two summer projects. After three years of waiting — yes, you read that correctly — we finally lined up the help we needed, and our names were next on their lists of customers who were waiting for their services.

We’ve had a busy summer. A local roofer put a new roof on our original house; the addition and garage roofs were still new enough that they did not need replacing. But the original house with its very steep roof was a complete tear down. A crew of four showed up in May and inside of four days, we had our new roof. The project from start to finish went like clockwork. In fact, we could set our clocks by the time they were on site each of those four mornings. And they cleaned up the work site at the end of each day. Our new roof looks amazing.

In February, we signed a contract with a local landscape specialist to tear out and rebuild our retaining wall; he told us he would begin in June. He arrived in August, and the project is finally underway. This one is more involved than a new roof so we find ourselves still living in a construction zone. We live on a hill, and the project includes our neighbor’s retaining wall as well because it ties right into ours.

It is nearly 6 feet tall at the corner where our two walls meet. Our contractor is juggling multiple projects so is not on our site every day, but he does have a pretty dedicated crew — small, but knowledgeable. But they can only go so fast. It has proven to be a much more complicated process than we had ever imagined.

And I have to admit that I have not been handling this project very well. As I have already shared with you in previous columns, my husband has the “patience genes” — a trait I greatly appreciate and lack severely.

So, each day as I am watching out my living room window for the wall crew to show, he is sitting at the dining room table eating his breakfast and reminding me that “they will get here when they get here so come and drink your tea.” Sigh!

It will be good to have the projects done… and they will get done. And patience is a virtue that few possess… but I do keep trying.

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NURSING HOMES/SENIOR LIVING FACILITIES

Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Community

Kingsford

906-774-1530

Group activities are ongoing, and doors are unlocked for visits. They welcome anyone who would like to entertain residents.

Volunteers are also needed to help with crafts and other activities.

Sunday: Church on TV/coloring/resident choice, 10 a.m.

Monday: Rosary, 10 a.m.; room visits, 10 a.m.; music, 11:45 a.m.; gardening, 1:30 p.m.; reminisce, 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Church with Lisa, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:45 a.m.; crossword, 1:30 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Wednesday: Art, 10 a.m.; music, 11:45 a.m.; finish art work, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Room visits, 10 a.m.; trivia, 11:45 a.m.; science fun, 1:30 p.m.; Yahtzee, 2:30 p.m.

Friday: Jam workout, 10 a.m.; picture search, 10:30 a.m.; music, 11:45 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Bingo with Lisa/resident choice, 10 a.m.

Iron County Medical Care Facility

Crystal Falls

906-874-1501

Sunday: Room visits, 9 a.m.; “Name That Tune,” 10 a.m.; chair exercise, 11 a.m.; room visits, 12:30 p.m.; bingorama, 2 p.m.

Monday: Coffee social/crafts, 9 to 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.; Riddler, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Book Club, 10 a.m.; loud acres, 10:30 a.m.; resident council, 10:30 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; chocolate shakes/trivia, 2 p.m.; western movie, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Community breakfast, 8:30 a.m.; coffee social/Animal Kingdom, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; Christ United, 2 p.m.; current events, 2:30 p.m.; night bingo, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Puzzler, 9:30 a.m.; bowling, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1 p.m.; wildlife film, 1:30 p.m.; happy hour, 2 p.m.

Friday: Crafts, 9 to 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:45 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; tractor parade in the pavilion, 2 p.m.; comedy movie, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Puzzler/room visits, 9 a.m.; hangman, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; room visits, 1 p.m.; social hour, 2 p.m.

Optalis Healthcare

(formerly Manor Care/ProMedica)

Kingsford

906-774-4805

The center is now open for visitation. Vistors no longer need to call in advance.

Sunday: Morning mixer, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Name 5 game, 1 p.m.

Monday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; 9/11 look back, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Bob Larson, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; resident council, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Flip-o, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Leisure cart, 9 a.m.; devotional, 10 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; First Lutheran Church service, 2 p.m.

Thursday: Wet your whistle, 9 a.m.; just jokes, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Golden K bingo, 2 p.m.

Friday: Chips and chatter, 9 a.m.; reminiscing, 9:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Yahtzee, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Morning mixer, 9:30 a.m.; manicures, 10:30 a.m.; room visits, 11 a.m.; Po-ke-no, 1 p.m.

Maryhill Manor Nursing Home

Niagara, Wis.

715-251-3172

Visitation is allowed. Daily scheduled activities continue to be for residents only.

Sunday: Coffee and tic-tac trivia, 10 a.m.; delivery of communion, 12:30 p.m.; flag football — Packers vs. Bears, 1 p.m.

Monday: Rosary/communion, 9 a.m.; pamper and polish, 10 a.m.; joker-eno, 2 p.m.

Tuesday: Rosary/communion, 9 a.m.; exercise, kick ball, 10 a.m.; resident council, 2 p.m.; Scattegories, 2:30 p.m.; Chaplet of Divine Mercy, 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Rosary/communion, 9 a.m.; Protestant service, 10 a.m.; Yahtzee, 10 a.m.; Whammo, 2 p.m.; evening prayer, 5 p.m.

Thursday: Rosary/communion, 9 a.m.; exercise — ring toss, 10 a.m.; coloring contest, 2 p.m.; Bible study, 3 p.m.

Friday: Men’s breakfast, 7 a.m.; Uno, 10 a.m.; happy hour with Jim D., 2 p.m.

Saturday: Morning mingle/tic-tac trivia, 10 a.m.; romance movie and popcorn, 2 p.m.

Florence Health Services

Florence, Wis.

715-528-4833

Visitation is allowed seven days a week in designated areas only. Each visit is limited to 30 minutes and must be scheduled in advance. All visitors will be subject to health screening before entering the facility. There are no group activities at this time.

Victorian Pines

Iron Mountain

906-774-5158

Sunday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; Bible study, 1:30 p.m.

Monday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; vanilla malts, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; bingo and refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Thursday: Communion with Deacon Don, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; left-center-right/refreshments, 1:30 p.m.

Friday: Juice time, 10 a.m.; exercise, 11 a.m.; music with Jim Edberg, 1:30 p.m.

Saturday: Juice time, 10 a.m.

Pinecrest Medical

Care Facility

Powers

906-497-5244

Sunday: Spa treatments/manicures, 10:30 a.m.; ice cream social, 2 p.m.

Monday: Crafts, 10:30 a.m.; movie, 2 p.m.; Skipbo, 3:30 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 6 p.m.

Tuesday: Menu committee, 10:30 a.m.; Resident Council, 10:45 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; cards, 3:30 p.m.; sensory, 6 p.m.

Wednesday: Spa treatments/manicures, 10 a.m.; social circle, 2 p.m.; cards, 3:30 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 6 p.m.

Thursday: Exercise, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 1:45 p.m.; cards, 3:30 p.m.

Friday: Catholic Mass, 10:30 a.m.; ice cream social, 2 p.m.; outside social, 3:30 p.m.; one-to-one visits, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Trivia, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 2 p.m.

SENIOR CENTERS

Alpha-Mastodon Center

906-875-3315

The center at 415 Main St. is open four days a week, serving soup and sandwich meal from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, fish fries from 4 to 7 p.m. Fridays, pizzas from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday and dinner from 2 to 3 p.m. Sundays.

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Chicken parmesan, mixed vegetables and broccoli salad.

Wednesday: BLT wrap, potato salad and wild rice.

Thursday: Pork chops, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables and salad.

Breen Center

Kingsford

906-774-5110

Open for dine-in eating Monday through Thursday, serving at noon. Friday and night meals are on hold indefinitely. Carryout meals are available. Soup and salad bar are also available. Menu for the week —

Monday: Brat, fries and baked beans.

Tuesday: Shredded barbecue chicken, macaroni and cheese and baked beans.

Wednesday: Liver, parsey potatoes and California blend vegetables.

Thursday: Pork chop, mashed potatoes and green beans.

Note: All meals served with a choice of skim milk or juice and fruit.

Crystal Falls Center

Head Cook: Sterling Peryam

Assistant Cook: Bitsy Peryam

906-875-6709

The center is open on Mondays and is serving meals for dine-in or takeout — call the center by 1 p.m. to make reservations or to place an order. All food is purchased from local vendors. All dinners include warm vegetables, salad bar, soup, homemade desserts, coffee, tea or milk. Salad bar begins at 4:30 p.m. and dinner is served at 5 p.m. Pickup for takeout meals is 4 p.m. — call ahead and leave a message with phone number. A volunteer will deliver meals to homebound citizens only.

Menu for the week —

Monday: Pulled pork sandwiches and oven-browned potatoes.

Tuesday: Beef burgundy over egg noodles.

Wednesday: Chicken pot pie with a biscuit topping.

Home-delivered meals (prepared by DICSA — independent from above menu) —

Monday: Chili mac, four-way mixed vegetables and spiced fruit.

Tuesday: Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, corn and dinner roll.

Wednesday: Shepherd’s pie, dinner roll and dill carrots.

Thursday: Lasagna, garlic bread and broccoli.

Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency

DICSA

Iron Mountain

906-774-2256, ext. 230 or ext. 235

This is a Meals on Wheels program only. Home-delivered meals only — call to make arrangements. Menu for the week —

Monday: Chili mac, four-way mixed vegetables and spiced fruit.

Tuesday: Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, corn and dinner roll.

Wednesday: Shepherd’s pie, dinner roll and dill carrots.

Thursday: Lasagna, garlic bread and broccoli.

Friday: Chicken salad sandwich, cheese stick and chips.

Note: All meals include a choice of skim milk, juice, or no beverage.

For more information, call Christine McMahon at 906-774-2256.

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-828-1776

Schedule for the week:

Monday: Les Artistes’ Art Club, noon to 4 p.m.; woodcarvers, starting 9 a.m.

Tuesday: Cards — pinochle and cribbage, noon to 4 p.m.; Happy Quilters, noon to 3 p.m.

Wednesday: Bingo, 1 to 3 p.m., cards cost 25 cents with 10 games played.

Thursday: Spinning Spools quilting, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Friday: Cards — Smear, noon to 4 p.m.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Open for dine-in eating — call for serving times. Carryout meals also available. Menu for the week —

Monday: Chicken wings, french fries and coleslaw.

Tuesday: Biscuits and gravy and fried apples.

Wednesday: Swedish meatballs, mashed potatoes, gravy and winter blend vegetables.

Note: All meals served with skim milk or juice.

Home-delivered meals —

Monday: Chili mac, four-way mixed vegetables and spiced fruit.

Tuesday: Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, corn and dinner roll.

Wednesday: Shepherd’s pie, dinner roll and dill carrots.

Aging and Disability Resource Center

Florence County, Wis.

715-528-4890

Director: Tiffany White

Menu for the week —

Monday: Fish sandwich with lettuce and tomato, western baked beans and fruit.

Tuesday: Cook’s choice: entree, vegetables and fruit.

Wednesday: Pasty, beet salad, fruit and cookies.

Thursday: Liver and onions or chicken breast, mashed potatoes, broccoli and apple crisp with whipped topping.

Friday: Chicken noodle casserole, dark green salad, breadsticks and fruit.

Note: All meals served with whole grain bread, butter and milk.

Fence Center/Town Hall

715-336-2980

RSVP for meal at 855-528-2372

Same as ADRC menu, served at noon on Wednesday only.

Florence Community Center/Town Hall

RSVP for meal at 715-528-4261

Same as ADRC menu, served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Thursday.

Tipler Town Hall

RSVP for meals at 715-674-2320

Same as ADRC menu, served at noon on second Thursday only.

Hillcrest Senior Dining Center, Aurora

RSVP for meals at 715-589-4491

Same as ADRC menu, served at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Barb Peters

906-498-7735

Center is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Meals are served through the Menominee-Delta-Schoolcraft Community Action Agency in Escanaba. Meals on Wheels program is available for those who are homebound.

Monday: Breaded chicken breast, hamburger bun, potato wedges, Prince William vegetables and peaches.

Tuesday: Pepper steak over rice, beets, Oriental vegetable and yogurt with fruit.

Wednesday: Polish sausage, sauerkraut, boiled potato, corn, fruit cup and whole wheat bread.

Thursday: Swedish meatballs, egg noodles, beets, green beans and fruit cup.

Friday: Cream of potato soup, egg salad sandwich, whole wheat bread, three-bean salad and fruit cup.

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Open for dine-in eating, serving at 11 a.m. Salad bar is available. No night meals for now. Carryout meals also available. Menu for the week —

Monday: Ham and scalloped potatoes, broccoli and dinner roll.

Tuesday: Chicken dumpling soup, biscuit and side salad.

Wednesday: Pulled pork, baked beans and applesauce.

Thursday: Fish, peas and cornbread.

Niagara Senior

Center/Cafe

715-251-1603

The center is open, and dinner is served at noon Monday through Thursday. Reservations are required one day in advance. Suggested donation is $5 for those older than 60 and $11 for age 60 and younger. Bingo played on most Wednesdays. Transportation is available.

Monday: Seafood salad, muffin, broccoli slaw and fruit.

Tuesday: Chicken stir fry, rice, vegetables, dinner roll and dessert.

Wednesday: Kielbasa, German potato salad, baked beans, fruit and pudding.

Thursday: Lemon herb baked fish, potato wedges, coleslaw, rye bread and dessert.

The center will have bingo on Mondays and Wednesdays this month.

Norway Center

Director: Joyce Olesky

Head Cook: Brian Gutkowski. 

906-563-8716

Open for dine-in eating, beginning at 11:15 a.m. Salad bar available from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Takeout meals will remain available for pick-up from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Let staff know if planning to dine in or pick up. Menu for the week —

Monday: Homemade chili, cornbread and corn.

Tuesday: Pizza burger, potato wedges and vegetables.

Wednesday: Burgundy beef over noodles and vegetables.

Thursday: Shepherd’s pie, biscuit and vegetables.

All meals include milk, juice, fruit, bread and dessert.

Birthdays and bingo set for Thursday.

Center activity schedule:

Mondays and Thursdays — Exercise at 10 a.m. and card bingo after the meal.

Monday through Thursday — Card game 101 from noon to 3 p.m. Call Joe at 906-563-5587 for information.

Tuesdays — Quilting and sewing.

Wednesdays — Ceramics and crocheting.

Last Monday of each month — Book club at 9 a.m.

Second Thursday of each month — Birthdays and bingo.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Open for dine-in eating — call for serving times. Carryout meals also available. Menu for the week —

Tuesday: Scalloped potatoes with ham and carrots.

Wednesday: Cheese manicotti, broccoli and dinner roll.

Thursday: Turkey and cheese sandwich, chips and coleslaw.

All meals served with an option of milk, juice or no beverage.

Home-delivered meals —

Monday: Chili mac, four-way mixed vegetables and spiced fruit.

Tuesday: Hamburger gravy over mashed potatoes, corn and dinner roll.

Wednesday: Shepherd’s pie, dinner roll and dill carrots.