A calendar of remembrances.

"Winter Wonderland." "Midsummer." "The Lee Farm." "Autumn Love." "Splash." These and the artwork you see on this and adjoining pages are taken from a unique calendar published by a Minnesota nursing home chain, Health Dimensions. They were the winning entries in a calendar art contest sponsored for residents by each of Health Dimension's 14 facilities. "They are a way," says Jan Williams, the chain's Marketing Director, "of seeing the person behind the illness or disability. In seeing what they've done and talking with them about it, you discover things you never would have learned otherwise."

Inspired by an idea from a particularly art-oriented activities director, each facility's activities department conducted an art contest for all residents who were able and willing to participate -- "and most of those who could participate wanted to," remembers Williams. Some of the residents had previously dabbled in art, but most had not. Nursing home staff judged the entries, and the winners and, in some cases, first runners-up had a special day of recognition with their families and friends before the art was sent off to be published in the calendar.

"The response from facility to facility varied, depending on the level of care," says Williams. "Some of the lower case-mix facilities had several participants, and some of the higher case-mix had only a few. The fun part for us," she adds, "was talking with the residents about their stories. They lived in a very different time from now, and many had such incredibly hard-working lives." Resident Dolly Weekes of the Osseo Health Care Center in Osseo, MN, for example, told of having to carry all the household's water in buckets from the windmill outside. Further, says her calendar notation, "Dolly and her family milked 36 cows by hand, morning and evening. She also worked in a pea factory at night and took in washing on weekends for the 'CC boys' (Civilian Conservation Corps) during President Roosevelt's tenure."

Williams was also struck by the fact that some of the participants more profoundly afflicted by dementia tended to depict scenes from their very early childhoods_"these seemed to be their strongest memories."

Health Dimensions distributed the calendar as a Christmas gift to staffers, families, local hospitals, banks and other "friends of the facilities." Health Dimensions isn't marketing it, but does have a limited quantity left over for anyone who is interested. Contact Jan Williams at Health Dimensions, 7100 Northland Circle, Minneapolis, MN 55428.

And, if all goes according to plan, the 1994 calendar will be in the works soon.

"Daisies" LAURA GAMEL, 82 -- Cambridge Health Care Center, Cambridge, Minnesota.

Laura and her husband Lawrence resided in Isanti for many years, where they raised four children. She painted, he crafted jewelry, and the two displayed their work at art and craft shows across Minnesota. Laura especially enjoys painting pictures of flowers and outdoor scenery.

"Flowers" OLGA HAUG, 84 -- Greensview Healthcare Center, Bagley, Minnesota.

Flowers have always been an important part of Olga's life. Her home was known for its beautiful flower beds, which were her pride and the envy of all. Olga recalls her house guest would never leave without a flowerbed tour. This painting was inspired by those flowers, which she remembers vividly.

"New Year's Eve" ELLIE GERKEN, 80 -- Hi-Park Care Center, Red Wing, Minnesota.

A talented artist in younger years, Ellie was inspired to do this piece after spending time in Hi-Park's arts and crafts program. Working with various art mediums, her skills returned. Upon completion of the piece she remarked, "It's kind of wild. Reminds me of New Year's Eve years ago."

"Lake Woebegon" LILLIE McCALL, 77 -- Villa Health Center, Mora, Minnesota.

Listening to Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion, Lillie drew images of Lake Woebegon in her mind and put those thoughts down on canvas. She began painting in 1982. In early years, Lillie and her two sisters sang in her hometown of Mora, Minnesota, where they were affectionately known as the "Agony Trio."

"Silk Flowers" FLORINE REED, 75; ELDA WACHHOLZ, 87 -- Innsbruck Healthcare Center, New Brighton, Minnesota.

Throughout their lives, Florine and Elda have enjoyed flowers of all types, picking them and arranging colors with an attractive flair. The two found great pleasure in bringing these silk flowers "to life," remarking that this piece reminds them of the flowers they picked when they were young.