Holidays at La Costa Glen
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Nothing says the holidays like gingerbread houses. At La Costa Glen, residents recently enjoyed all the fun without the fuss of decorating delectable miniature cottages. Everything from gumdrops to Red Hots, licorice and icing were used to fashion the fairy-tale houses.
Decorating their confectionary classic are Skippy and Vic Freudenberger.
Betty Holst and Bixby Smith also joined in the sweet festivities.
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By Orpha Cade
You haven't met a real live Santa Claus or a Saint Nicholas until you've met Vic Freudenberger. Vic, a former Marine, now 91, has enjoyed serving as both since 1958 or for more than 50 years, and he still hangs on to his terrific costumes. A pillow is a problem solved for this tall, lean man.
Over three generations, Vic has appeared as Santa for many groups of young children, among them Boys and Girls Clubs. As St. Nicholas, he enjoys giving foil (chocolate) coins to each child. One of his favorite experiences was visiting abused women and children...
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By Carole Eibelheuser
Jay Eibelheuser and his cross-country Christmas cactus.
Holly, ivy, mistletoe and the Christmas rose are popular. Ivy leaves symbolize eternity and resurrection—its leaf has been associated with the Egyptian God, Osiris, and the Greco- Roman God, Attis, (both of whom were reportedly resurrected from the dead.) Mistletoe is a Christmas plant whose origins date back to the Pagans. Druid priests used this plant in their winter celebrations.
One of my favorite gifts to send from a great catalog is the stunning amaryllis. The colors are not only cheerful, but amazing.
Plants and flowers bring joy when chosen in the spirit of...
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By Carole Eibelheuser
Who's Behind That Mask?
When my kids were small, we lived in a development filled with young families. Halloween was an exciting time for them. Some moms made clever costumes, but the ones my kids wore were handpicked and storebought. One special Halloween, they were accompanied by their great-grandfather...all wore berets and fake mustaches.
Halloween was not the same after we moved to a house situated far from the road and on a number of acres. Trick or treaters were few and far between and arrived mostly by car. We did our share of driving with the kids to show...
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By Marian Goe
Recently, I felt a strong urge to do some spring cleaning and decided to start with my antique chest of drawers that holds many memories of years past. As I sorted through old menus, wedding clippings, obituaries and the like, my hand touched a colorful crayoned drawing by one of my children, emblazoned with the letters "Mother’s Day" in between red hearts that encircled stick figures of our family. I sat there remembering the love that poured into each and every Mother’s Day card and one particular Mother’s Day when I was served breakfast in bed on a...
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- By Eleanor Seidenglanz and Ruth Van Wyck -
Toy drive organizers (L-R): Paul Cook, Darolyn Jorgensen-Kares, our 2009 Marine representative and June Cook.
This year the Rotary Club of Camp Pendleton is asking us for help by providing toys for the children of Camp Pendleton Marine families. These toys will be distributed at Camp Pendleton only and will meet the needs of children whose father or mother is on active duty overseas. Many of these families are on food stamps and have little left over for toys.
In 1948, the Marines established a nationwide toy drive that was a complete success and...
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- By Ruth Van Wyck -
Activities Manager Jen Krail
in the holiday storage room.
Have you ever wrestled with Christmas decorations probably stored in a closet, in the garage or even under the bed? Well, can you imagine what it must be like to haul out all the trees, wreaths, garlands and assorted tree ornaments at La Costa Glen?
Michele Chaffee and Jen Krail are in charge of this gigantic operation and gave us a peek at what’s involved.
First, everything is stored in a special storage unit. On Nov. 29th the huge 9 ft. trees will be pulled out and set...
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- By Eleanor Seidenglanz -
What would life be without its games and toys? Here at LCG they can be found in the libraries and lounges. Here’s a little history on three that we have surely enjoyed over our lifetimes.
During World War II, there was a serious shortage of rubber. Scientists were attempting to develop a synthetic rubber. An engineer at General Electric combined boric acid and silicone oil and inadvertently dropped some on the floor. It bounced! It couldn’t be used in place of rubber; but five years later this gooey substance...
- By Marian Goe -
Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights, will be celebrated for eight days, commencing at sundown of the 21st of December, to commemorate the victory of the Jews over the Hellenist Syrians in 165 BCE.
The most important observance associated with Hanukkah is the kindling of the Hanukkah lights on the Menorah, a seven or nine branch candelabrum.
The Menorah light symbolizes the light of religious, national and cultural freedom won by the Maccabees (the Judean heroes) who were making ready to rededicate the Temple and were unable to find enough undefiled oil to light the lamps. They...
- By Ben Widmer -
The display cases in Lakeside will feature Charlene Willeman’s special collection of Santas. Charlene says at one time, she had collected about 300 Santas, but gifts to friends and relatives have reduced this number considerably.
The Santas are from all over the world. One of her favorites is from Scotland. This Santa has kilts and bagpipes.
Charlene hasn’t unpacked her Santas in several years, and she says she’ll have a few surprises for us to see.
At the Fairway clubhouse, a “Community Holiday Display” will be featured with treasures from north campus residents, such as nativity sets, menorahs,...
Full Holidays at La Costa Glen Archive