New to the Palisade Olde Fashioned Christmas' Gigerbread Contest this year was a rowdy bunch of ladies.  

Known as the "Rowdy Bunch" with a wonderful and joyous outlook on life at Hilltop’s The Fountains Assisted Living Center, they came to the contest see their gingerbread creations win a ribbon, thanks to Hilltop’s Jo Hartig who got things moving.

“They were a little skeptical at first, but then they decided it would be okay. And instead of doing a house, we ended up doing a village. We’ve already got plans for next year," Hartig said.  

So what did Arlene Rowles, born and raised in Grand Junction think of Jo’s idea?

“Well, at first I thought, ‘oh, I’ve never done that. I don’t think I can do that.’ And then Jo just said that we were going to so we just did it. It was an experience and an education," Rowles laughed.

Phyllis Pulliam was surprised to discover gingerbread house-making is great fun.

“I was so surprised at my age to work on something like that, a gingerbread house, you know? I had never done it,” said Pulliam.

Doris Parsell, retired nurse and armed with a great sense of humor, retired here in 1992 from Washington DC.

“To create all this in the short time that we did it was really special. I couldn't believe it. Well, it was a lot of fun. We were very reluctant in the beginning, I think, because none of us had ever made one. It turned out to be just a lot of fun doing it. We had good times together," said Parsell.

The final member of the group, Dorothy Follett tells us were never in her busy lifestyle.

“So, what’s their secret to sharp minds, a long and happy life they still so enjoy at the Fountains?”

“I wish I knew,” laughed Pulliam.

“I didn’t know I was,”said Follett, laughing as well.

“Well, I think the secret is just living here and being around people and doing activities,” said Parsell.

“I try to keep busy. I read, I love crafts and I do a lot of crochet,” added Rowles.

“We can laugh. We don’t cry. We can laugh," said Follett.

One more thing: How did they become known as the Rowdy Bunch?

“We’re the Rowdy Bunch and that’s because we do a lot of giggling at the table," explained Rowles.

Rumor has it they had fun celebrating their gingerbread win.

“We had a wonderful post-party and pizza and wine and all the good things," said Parsells.

Well, thanks to the Rowdy Bunch, now known as the Gingerbread Gang for showing us and telling us the secrets to a long and happy life and also for showing us, you’re never to old to build your first gingerbread house.

Merry Christmas to the Gingerbread Gang and thanks for all the smiles!