Deer Path of Huntley

Super fun craft and part of our Route 66 journey. We made hot air balloon door decorations in celebration of the annual hot air balloon festival.

https://shelterforce.org/2026/07/20/the-population-is-getting-older-our-housing-system-isnt-ready/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=rasa_io&utm_campaign=newsletter

The Population Is Getting Older. Our Housing System Isn’t Ready. — Shelterforce Our new Under the Lens series explores what it means when our housing system isn’t built for a population that’s growing older.

We had so much fun recently on National Water Balloon Day. Who doesn't love a little balloon toss?

Saturday Surprise Dinner: A Long Overdue Culver's Outing - by Nico

"Do you want to go out for lunch today or dinner?" my mommy had asked me this morning in a Facebook message. "We can have a "car picnic" after we do some dog training. (She said she'd be bringing Coltrane along.)
"What time works best for you?" I'd asked.
"How about an early dinner after we do a bit of dog training?" my mom asked.
"What time are you thinking?" I replied back.
"I'll be by at 4."
"That works for me," I replied.
Usually when we do this, I know my feet will hurt big time. So, I usually get back into shoes after I've taken my dinner meds.
As long as Mommy does not forget-- even though I've said something already-- a photo MUST be taken. We usually do that anyways.
"I know what I'm going to have," I said in a Facebook message.
I always know what I want to have whenever we go out, mostly because I know what our favorite places have because we've been there so much already.
I got downstairs to wait for my mom, knowing that there was a possibility that she'd be late.
"What would you like to eat?" my mom asked me, and the man who took our orders did the same.
"I would like a single butter burger with the works," I said. "And, fries, and a Coke." I had asked for a medium fries and small Coke.
"I'll take the same," my mom said. But the difference was that she didn't want cheese on hers.
"Enjoy," said the person, who brought the food to our car.
"Where do you want to go and eat?" I asked my mom, knowing we didn't want a sunny spot because it was so hot.
"Let's try over by Walmart Huntley," my mom suggested.
"I had fun chatting with you and catching up," my mom later said, as we talked about my reunion with my Illinois School for the Visually Impaired best friend.
My legs are fried after this.

It's Danielle's turn to share her afternoon pulling w**ds in the resident garden. We are happy to see our residents taking such great care of their garden.

Attack of the Prickly Weeds
Here we go again
year number two
On my knees
Pulling w**ds
Trying not to sneeze
Where’s the Benadryl please
But wait ouch
What just poked me
As I go to pull it
Wait it’s a sticky w**d
With all of its little needles on it
I’ve got to get rid of it
After a minute of pulling
And getting the one out
I go to pull more
A few easy dandelion ones
And simple clovers
But then I spot another sticky w**d
As I kneel on the ground
And I go here we go again
And ouch I say again
As I find another sticky w**d
And I get poked again
And so I go at it again
Getting poked again
But I don’t let the sticky w**d win
After I get this one sticky w**d pulled
I’m like please no more
So I continue pulling
Various w**ds
And yet again
I look at one of the flower plants
And there’s another sticky w**d
growing into the plant
So I’m like
Here we go again
And yet again
“Ouch” I say
I just got poked again
I don’t know how many times
I said “ouch”
If I had to guess probably almost
a dozen if not more times
with sticky w**ds
I don’t like them
By the time we were done
A whole trash bag
was full of w**ds

https://www.uniondemocrat.com/lifestyle/article_b31e0878-305a-404b-9842-fd579b0cee26.html

Rethinking aging: Why ‘healthspan’ matters as much as lifespan Mayo Clinic physicians are working hard to change how clinicians and patients think about aging. A new publication in Mayo Clinic Proceedings outlines a new framework for "healthspan" — the

Touching Lives: Happy-Go-Lucky

Kevin was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Although he and his family moved to the Northwest suburbs when he was 10, he returned to Chicago as an adult where he remained until coming to live at Deer Path. During his childhood, he was a little leaguer, ran track, and even raced motocross at Niles East High School in Skokie. Kevin proudly acknowledges he grew up in a home where they raised Siamese show cats. Being a very compassionate person, he began rescuing cats during his teen years and has volunteered for various animal shelters here in Illinois and Tennessee. To date, he has rescued 23 cats. He currently has two of his own, Farris and Fergie, whom he adores! At one point in his life, he was also a motorcycle mechanic and belonged to various H.O.G.’s (Harley’s owner’s groups). When his doctor suggested he move into an assisted living facility, he did some research and found Deer Path, choosing our community mainly for the location, reviews, and knowing he would maintain his independence. Since moving to Deer Path 2 years ago, Kevin has developed many friendships and is someone other residents can go to if they need help. He keeps busy and involved in the Deer Path community by leading a weekly pool league and participating in other activities such as Bingo and Spades. We are glad he chose Deer Path to call “home”.

Nico's Thursday Splatter Art experience.
Splatter-Painting Shenanigans

It is a nice morning-- although warm and a bit breezy for this. But, it's better than being super stifling hot.
"Everybody, sit at a table without an umbrella," Tiffany said, as she didn't want to ruin any of the furniture on the patio area.
I claimed a spot almost near where we'd been for the activity around this time last year.
"What colors do you want?" I was asked after claiming my spot for today's splatter-painting activity.
"Red, blue, and green," I answered.
"Here's your paint," Nora said, helping the activity director.
"What size brush do you need?"
"Medium," I answered.
After getting the supplies I needed, I went straight to work on my present for our exiting administrator-- something I meant to do on Saturday when we were supposed to have the marble art activity.
"Don't get anyone else covered in paint, so only two to a table-- and not where you will get each other covered in paint. . "Nico. . . " Tiffany said, looking at me because I usually am known for attempting to get her covered in water when we have water balloon fights.
"That looks good," Nora said to me, as I finished up my creation. "Go inside, so you don't get too hot, sweety."
"Who's that for?" Danielle wanted to know, looking at my work.
"Tara," I said.
"She's going to love it," both Danielle and Nora agreed. I had this planned for a bit; however, the original masterpiece was supposed to be done on Saturday-- marble art. Unfortunately, that didn't happen, so I had to resort to this backup plan. I was going to do it anyways.
"Is Tara here today?" I asked.
Nora wasn't sure, but said she had a plan for all of our presents-- a way to put them all together into one big thing.
"Can't do that with mine," Danielle said, as hers was a poem that I already saw and told her what I thought Tara's reaction is going to be.
I know that I’ll eventually get to add some marble art shenanigans to what I’ve already accomplished this morning. I’m sure that Tara is going to be extremely emotional when she sees what I’ve worked so hard on– especially when it’s put together with what other friends have done and are doing.