Sober Lessons from the Fryeburg Fair

Women and men new to recovery often have a hard time figuring out how to have “sober fun.” So when our program manager at the halfway house received some generously donated tickets to the Fryeburg Fair (Maine’s largest agricultural fair), she saw a unique opportunity to bring our clients on an adventure that most had never experienced before.

There was apprehension, a little push back and a bit of anxiety, but in the end it turned out to be a great lesson for all.

Here are some client quotes from the day:

• “Just like the fair atmosphere I felt free and happy and could really enjoy my time being there and sober”
• “I learned that I don’t have to be intoxicated or messed up to have fun because it was amazing”
• “I wish I could bottle the awesome feeling that I had from this experience so that I could feel it all the time”
• “Feeling like a kid again, and keeping that feeling forever”
• “It brought me back to my childhood when the family would go to all the state fairs”

What are some of your favorite “sober fun” activities? Please post in the Comments section below!

Senior Staff and Clients Connect over Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Nikki Oliver, program manager over at Crossroads for Women’s halfway house, recently invited senior managers over for lunch with clients. Our executive director, chief of operations, director of administrative services, clinical director and communications specialist make the short trek to the house and enjoyed some yummy soup and sandwiches (made by Nikki). Clients got to meet the women running the organization. And the senior managers got to hear feedback about the programs and services at Crossroads for Women from the women who experience them. Everyone had a great time and learned a little bit from each other that day. It was also a great reminder of why it’s important for women to get together and show support for each other every now and then.

Since the soup was so good, we thought it would be fun to post the recipe. There’s something comforting about good conversation over a warm bowl of soup. Enjoy!

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ripe plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
• 2 cups chopped yellow onions (2 onions)
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 (28-ounce) canned plum tomatoes, with their juice
• 4 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 quart vegetable, chicken stock or water

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Toss together the tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the tomatoes in 1 layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.

In an 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, sauté the onions and garlic with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, the butter, and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown. Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, and chicken stock. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Pass through a food mill fitted with the coarsest blade. Taste for seasonings. Serve hot or cold.

Bridging the Gap Between Halfway House and Residential Rehab Programs at Crossroads for Women

In an effort to help bridge the gap between our clients beginning their recovery journey and the clients who “know the ropes” here at Crossroads for Women, the women at our halfway house (aka, Back Cove) invited the women at our residential rehabilitation (aka, Res) program to their weekly “All House” meeting.

The All House meeting includes all of the halfway house clients, a Crossroads clinician and a personal care coordinator (PCC). Typically, the group discusses house issues, new policies or procedures, any new staff, as well as changes in phases that the clients are making. The second half of the All House meeting is more of a celebration, recognizing the women who have moved to the next phase of their recovery. It’s a time for everyone to see how far they’ve come on their journey to recovery. This is where the women from Res came in.

The level of freedom available to the clients at the halfway house may be difficult for Res women to identify with, especially for those in very early recovery. Instead of concentrating on the differences, the “newcomers” were invited to be involved in some of their sober fun activities. Both Back Cove and Res clients were in touch with their creative selves in a simple game of charades and used this to their advantage. Some of these women have come from backgrounds not conducive to playing a simple game of charades, and were even a bit fearful at first. In the end, though, all clients smashed through their fears and did a great job acting out words like calendar, water, basketball, and tack (easier said than done!).

All in all, it was a very positive experience for both residential programs. The clients living in the halfway house got an up close and personal reminder of their past. The clients out at Res had an opportunity to see what could happen next. And everyone had the chance to experience some good, sober fun with other supportive women. We’re planning on doing these get togethers once a month now.

After all, recovery isn’t over after a 28 day or 6 month program.

~ Nikki Oliver, program manager
Crossroads Back Cove halfway house

Find out more about our residential programs:
Crossroads Back Cove Halfway House
Residential Rehabilitation | Children And Mothers Program (CAMP)