Around the world with Atlas - January 2025 - Brazil
Resident's Birthdays
Independent Living
Barbara Clark 1/01
Paula Barr 1/03
Ruth Wiggins 1/08
Nelda Hiley 1/13
Elisabeth Shove 1/16
Sandy Crabb 1/17
Sarah Crofton 1/25
Jim Harrison 1/25
Memory Resident
Judith Hill 1/06
Marianne Porter 1/15
Roy Hartfield 1/24
Dorye Wiersma 1/25
Month's Celebrations
All month > Brazil
1/09 Chili Cooking contest
1/15 Martin Luther King Day
1/19 National Popcorn Day
1/23 National Pie Day
1/30 National Croissant Day
Events Spotlights
1/09 Chili Cooking contest
1/29 Chinese New Year Celebration
1/30 January Birthday Bash
Chinese Newyear 2025
Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and it is also widely celebrated in South Korea, Vietnam, and countries with a significant overseas Chinese population. While the official dates encompassing the holiday vary by culture, those celebrating consider it the time of the year to reunite with immediate and extended family.
Commonly known as the Spring Festival in China, Lunar New Year is a fifteen-day celebration marked by many traditions. At home, families decorate windows with red paper cuttings and adorn doors with couplets expressing auspicious wishes for the new year. Shopping for holiday sundries in open-air markets and cleaning the house are also beloved traditions. The Lunar New Year’s Eve reunion dinner is the highlight that kicks off the holiday, a feast with a spread of symbolic dishes, such as a whole fish representing abundance, that bring good luck and fortune. The fifteenth and final day of the holiday is the Lantern Festival, during which people have tangyuan, or sweet glutinous rice balls, and children carry lanterns around the neighborhood at night to mark the end of the celebration.
BRAZIL
Around the World with Atlas
Brazil, the largest country in South America, is known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and stunning natural beauty. Home to the Amazon Rainforest and Christ the Redeemer statue, it offers breathtaking landscapes and iconic landmarks. With diverse influences, lively music, samba, Carnival, and soccer, Brazil is a global symbol of celebration and passion.
Here are some New Year's resolution ideas:
– Spend more time with family: Plan time for family activities like dinners, walks, or game nights.
– Get more sleep: Establish a bedtime routine, limit screen time before bed, and create a quiet sleep environment.
– Quit smoking: Inhaling anything other than air can be damaging to your lungs.
– Exercise more: Set a time to exercise, like practicing a relaxation exercise at 9 AM on Saturday mornings.
– Set achievable goals: Make resolutions that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.
BRAZIL
Around the World with Atlas
Brazil is the most successful soccer team in history, winning a record five FIFA World Cup titles. Known for its skillful players, creative style, and attacking flair, Brazil has produced legends like Pelé, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho. Its deep passion for the sport and rich talent have made Brazil a dominant force in international soccer.
Resident of the Month
Robert Frownfelter
Robert Frownfelter, affectionately known as “Bob,” was born in Lomita, California, on February 16, 1936. He was raised in a family that included two brothers and a sister. Throughout his high school years, he engaged in various activities, including athletics, where he participated in running, football, and gymnastics.
After completing his high school education, Bob served honorably in the military for two years as a private stationed in Germany. Following his military service, he dedicated over 35 years to a successful career in the construction industry.
In August 2019, Bob and his wife, Beverly, made the decision to relocate to Alabama to be closer to their family. Bob’s commitment to Beverly was unwavering, and he consistently demonstrated his love and admiration for her throughout their life together. They were blessed with two daughters, Bev’Ann and Robin, whom he cherished deeply.
Aviation was a lifelong passion for Bob; he enjoyed flying a variety of aircraft, including the Cub, L-13, T-6, and Corsair, as well as piloting helicopters. He also maintained an interest in observing technological advancements at Mojave Airport. Additionally, Bob found joy in wildlife photography, capturing images of elk and mountain lions in California, and he had a fondness for hiking.
One of his most significant achievements was realizing his dream of building a home in the mountains of California for himself and Beverly. His family remembers him as an engaging storyteller, a source of humor, and a true gentleman, whose presence left a lasting impact on those around him.
Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in South America, is the world’s fifth largest country, and its official language is Portuguese; the capital city is Brasilia, a planned city designed to be centrally located within the country.
Other fun facts about Brazil:
– Language: Brazilians speak Portuguese because the country was colonized by Portugal.
– Amazon Rainforest: Brazil contains a significant portion of the Amazon rainforest, holding around 25% of the world’s rainforests.
– Monkey Mania: Brazil has the highest number of monkey species globally.
– Coffee Powerhouse: Brazil is a top producer of coffee worldwide.
– Time Zones: Due to its vast size, Brazil has four different time zones.
– Capital City Design: Brasilia was designed as a planned city with a focus on a central location.
Hugs from Jaxson
Benefits of Pet Therapy
Pet therapy is associated with many different benefits. Here is a brief overview of how pet therapy may help the older adults in your life.
– Provide mental stimulation: Playing with pets is a mentally stimulating activity. In addition, interacting with animals is a great way to improve verbalization. Even non-verbal seniors can enjoy the benefits of silent communication with animals.
– Decrease anxiety: There is a reason dogs are emotional support animals. They know how to recognize signs of anxiety humans can’t detect in others. In addition, well-trained and well-mannered dogs have a calming presence that can help people with anxiety feel more relaxed and at ease.
– Help people with memory disorders recall specific memories: Animal-assisted therapy for cognitive and memory skills may involve helping the patient remember the pet’s breed or name and give basic commands to it.
– Reduce loneliness: It is not uncommon for seniors to feel lonely once their children are grown and living in their own homes. Pets make excellent companion animals because they can fill a need for emotional connection and support.
– Lower blood pressure: Pet therapy can lower blood pressure, perhaps because it helps alleviate excessive stress and anxiety.
– Trigger the release of endorphins (feel-good chemicals) that boost mood: Interacting with animals can stimulate the release of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that boost mood.
– Reduce overall physical pain: The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but research shows that pet therapy can reduce physical pain.
– Improved motor skills: Giving animals treats, petting them, and interacting with them can help to improve motor skills in seniors. Additionally, walking a pet involves using larger muscles in the torso, arms, and legs and can strengthen and improve coordination.
Veterans Day
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Recipe of the Month
Lemon Buttermilk Pie
with strawberry toping
Ingredients:
1 cup buttermilk
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp grated lemon zest
2 cups fresh Louisiana strawberries, sliced
2¼ cups sugar
1 tbsp flour
pinch of salt
2 eggs
2 egg yolks
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small mixing bowl, combine sliced strawberries with ¾ cup sugar, stir, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. This should be done at least 6 hours prior to serving. In a large mixing bowl, combine remaining sugar, flour and salt. Blend well. Add eggs and egg yolks, and using a wire whisk, cream into sugar mixture. Once blended, add buttermilk, vanilla, lemon juice and zest. Whisk well to incorporate and dissolve sugar. Pour into pie shell and place on a cookie sheet. Bake 50 minutes or until pie is lightly browned and filling is just set. Remove and cool a minimum of 30 minutes prior to serving. Top each slice with a generous portion of sugared strawberries.
Associate of the Month
Cyndi Gooch
We are pleased to congratulate Cyndi Gooch on being named Employee of the Month for January. Cyndi originated from Nashville, Tennessee, where she graduated from Brentwood High School. In 1993, she relocated to Alabama, where she has raised three children: one daughter and two sons. Cyndi’s family has since grown to include five grandchildren.
With 23 years of experience in senior living healthcare, Cyndi has shown dedication and commitment to her profession. Her interests include spending quality time with her family and exploring the outdoors, as well as her passion for horses. Notably, Cyndi celebrated her 75th birthday two years ago by participating in a skydiving experience with one of the residents.
Cyndi is a valuable member of our community, and her contributions are greatly appreciated.
Chinese Newyear 2025
Year of the Snake
Collaborators
Julie Campbell
