Manor of the Plains
DECEMBER 2023
Artist’s experiment with new medium an award-winning success
Remembering Patrycia Ann Herndon All of us at Manor of the Plains will fondly remember local artist Patrycia Ann Herdon who passed away in June this year. A repeat participant in the Art is Ageless® program, we are grateful for her continued contributions and for sharing her creative talents. Her piece, “Last of the Hedgerow Holdouts,” won in the professional drawing category of the 2024 Art is Ageless competition and is one of the featured pieces for January in the calendar.
Linda Kobs’ career as an artist has taken many shapes and forms over the years and has utilized a wide variety of mediums. “My first love was oil painting,” Just Hanging Out by Linda Kobs said Linda. “Then I went into acrylics which was a lot faster because oil paints take so long to dry,” said Linda. Recently Linda decided to mix things up yet again by experimenting with gouache, an opaque, water-based paint that’s similar to watercolor. “I just liked the vibrant colors I got with it, and it was fun to use something different,” said Linda. One of the first paintings Linda created with gouache was a piece entitled, “Just Hanging Out,” which is this year’s Art is Ageless best of show winner in the amateur category. She entered through Manor of the Plains. Linda began painting back in the late 80s but put it on hold to raise four children and work as a community librarian.
“I know I wanted to be an artist even before I really knew what it meant,” Patrycia shared on her competition form. “No piece of paper was safe from my drawings. I attended Texas Women’s University and majored in Costume Design, Fashion Illustration and Art Education. Today, my studio is located in a historical 1888 Bank Building. Here, I create art daily and teach art classes.” u
“After I retired, I finally had the time to pursue it again,” said Linda. “It’s kind of a hobby, I’m busy with everything but I really enjoy that creative outlet.” Part of what keeps Linda busy is her life on the family farm. “We’ve been here about 57 years, so I have a lot of responsibility—a lot of yard work.” But it’s those surroundings that often inspire Linda’s work. “I like to paint wildlife, animals and birds—that’s what really appeals to me,
“Last of the Hedgerow Holdouts” by Patrycia Ann Herndon
New medium -continued on page 2 Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ManorOfThePlains.org/covid-19.
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New medium -continued from page 1 and I have a lot of sparrows and bird feeders in my yard—it’s just something in my daily environment,” said Linda.
recognize them in that way,” said Linda.
Linda has had the honor of being featured in the Art is Ageless calendar in the past and believes it can play an important role in the lives of seniors.
“I feel very special and grateful for the recognition, it helps inspire me to keep it on,” said Linda.
“I think it’s wonderful to make it important for senior citizens to continue their passions—their creativity—and it’s nice to
“I’m working on a longhorn steer with a windmill. If I can get it finished, I’ll enter it next year,” said Linda. u
Resident Referral Program
And Linda says, for her, that recognition goes a long way.
If you have friends who are interested in becoming a part of our community, providing their names could lead to rewards – for both of you! Contact our sales office for more details. u
So, what’s next?
Tips for Caregivers During the Holidays The holidays are full of family, fun and tradition, but for some caregivers and people living with dementia, this season can also be incredibly stressful. Here are our top tips to help you and your loved one get through the holidays. 1. Avoid crowded and noisy places: Loud or crowded places can further confuse or frustrate someone living with dementia. Too many people or
too many noises can be overstimulating. Instead, try to choose smaller and more low-key events that would not add to confusion or stress. 2. Maintain routines: This can be challenging when parties and holiday preparations disrupt our routine. Try however to keep your loved one’s routine unchanged. Some people living with dementia
become confused or agitated in the evenings (sundowning). Consider celebrating earlier in the day to work around this. 3. Trust your instincts: You know more than anyone else how much you and your loved one can handle without feeling overwhelmed. If an event or group of visitors may be stressful or troublesome give yourself permission to reschedule or decline. It is okay to say “no”. u
The new 2024 Art is Ageless® Calendar has arrived! Visit ArtisAgeless.org for information on how to order. There you can also learn more about the program, meet the artists, even send an e-card. u Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
Community Matters 620-225-1928 ◆ Fax: 620-225-3982 200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760
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is published quarterly for residents and friends of Manor of the Plains
To submit or suggest articles: tthompson@pmma.org Tammy Thompson, executive director
by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Halloween Spirit Week The week of October 23-27 was Halloween Spirit Week at Manor of the Plains!
We had a fun time dressing up all week with this spooky schedule: Monday: Halloween Hat or Hair Day Tuesday: Black and Orange Wednesday: Wicked Socks Thursday: Halloween Shirt/Scrub Friday: Flannel Friday u
Manor of the Plains | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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200 Campus Dr. Dodge City, KS 67801-2760 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Manor of the Plains shares customer service survey responses Manor of the Plains continues to seek customer feedback through monthly telephone surveys. Each month, residents and their representatives are randomly
selected to participate in telephone satisfaction surveys conducted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. The graphic highlights some of the
survey results. All scores are given on a 5-point scale, with 5 being the highest score and 1 the lowest score. Between September 2022 and August 2023, Manor of the Plains residents and their families gave the community high scores for demonstrating dignity and respect, professional therapy, and cleanliness. Many residents also said they would recommend our community to others. We greatly value the opinions of our residents and their representatives about the care and services we provide, and we encourage them to participate honestly when contacted by Pinnacle Quality Insight. All state and federal confidentiality laws are met in Pinnacle’s service. u
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