“Each gives to each, and like the star gets back its gift in tenfold pay.”
This line from a poem by Joaquin Miller guides the philosophy at Prairie City Landing. Our senior living community is built on the premise that residents and team members all contribute to a positive environment where everyone benefits from both giving and receiving.
It sounds lovely, but does this ideal actually exist in everyday life? For Kim, a resident at Prairie City Landing, the answer is a resounding yes.
Learning and playing as a child
Growing up as one of four girls in Northern California, Kim learned how to sew and mend and tend to the traditionally female roles in the house from her mother. And her father taught his daughters about being self-sufficient in the rugged and sometimes unforgiving world outside the home, too. “Dad taught me everything I know,” Kim says with pride.
Kim remembers childhood visits to Lassen National Park. In the winter, frozen lakes were natural ice-skating rinks for Kim and her sisters. In warmer months, they would scramble up to the top of many of the peaks in the park, several approaching 10,000 feet.
Teaching and Creating
With the confidence that such parenting inspires, Kim was prepared to make a difference in the world. She became a preschool teacher and childcare provider. Never having children of her own, Kim showered the kids in her care with love and attention. “I loved every minute of it,” she remembers about her work with children.
Kim stands with her loom. On the wall behind her, you can see some of her quilted artwork.
When Kim wasn’t caring for children, she was creating. Fiber arts are Kim’s specialty. She quilts, she sews, and she weaves. Her products are a combination of artistic expression and practical use. She shared a tapestry she wove that decorates her home. And a beautiful vest she wove for when she wants to feel cozy in the cooler winter months. Quilts she created adorn her bed and walls. And she weaves purses of beautiful wool with wooden handles that could be heirloom accessories.
Kim displays four of her beautiful woven bags, each so colorful and unique.
Sharing her gifts
Like the Joaquin Miller quote, Kim shares her gifts generously. In her three years living at Prairie City Landing, Kim formed a deep bond with Bob, a fellow resident. When Bob had to leave for more intensive medical care, a quilt that Kim had made for him became a symbol of their connection, carrying her warmth and care across the distance.
Kim appreciates the team members at Prairie City Landing. “They’re more than just a person helping you,” Kim says. They are more like friends who care about you.
Kim’s friendship is cherished by all who are part of her life.
Kim cares about her friends. She noticed how the pockets on their uniforms often get frayed. She takes the uniforms, mends them, and sends them back in good repair. Missing a button? Kim will help.
In Kim’s community, care is always a two-way street. The attention and warmth she receives from others, she returns tenfold. Visiting Kim left me in awe—not only of the beautiful quilts and woven art she creates but of the deeper beauty in how she shares her gifts, enriching the lives of those around her.
Each gives to each, and in return gets back tenfold. Kim exemplifies this vision. The community at Prairie City Landing is lucky to have Kim as a resident and friend.
Come experience the joy of community for yourself! Our Counselors invite you to schedule a tour of Prairie City Landing.
Curious to learn more? Find answers to your questions in our latest guide, FAQS: Answers to Your Questions from the People Who Make Tenfold Communities Amazing.
