Senior Living News, May 2025
Spring Park Travelers Rest
Newsletter
Around the world with Atlas - May 2025 - México
Resident´s Birthdays
Susan Peden 13th
Mildred Leopard 15th
Charlotte Newton16th
Martha Bates 16th
Sandra Gambrell 29rd
Michael Hudgens 29rd
Joyce Boggs 31rd
Month´s Celebrations
Groundhog Day – 2nd
Valentine’s Day – 14th
President’s Day – 17th
National Caregivers Day – 21st
Events Spotlights
National Caregivers Day – 21st
Family Night – 25th 6 pm – 7:00pm
The famous Aztec Calendar, shown in its original colors, is also known as the “Stone of the Sun.” It depicts the Sun God Tonatiuh, the fifth sun, at its center.
Associate of the Month
Savannah Russell
My name is Savannah Russell, I have been working here at Spring Park since October of 2023. I am currently in school at Greenville Technical College to receive my associate’s degree in health science and a Diagnostic Medical Sonography certificate. I have lived in Greenville my whole life, but moved to the Blue Ridge area 10 years ago. I live at home with my parents, sister, and two cats. In my free time, I enjoy reading fantasy or thriller books, going on hikes through the mountains, and furthering my education by obtaining certificates in the health care field. My goal once I graduate and obtain my certificate in sonography is to find a position in an OB/GYN office or a Family medicine practice as a sonographer. I have enjoyed working at Spring Park and look forward to many more adventures here
Viva México
Alexa play "Huapango" from "Jose Pablo Moncayo"
There’s no Mexican who can listen this song without feel an immense joy and pride for México, even if you’re not Mexican it’s impossible not feel shivers listening.
Composed in 1941, Huapango is a brilliant orchestral piece that captures the soul of Mexican folk music, especially the vibrant spirit of the Huasteca region. Moncayo, a classically trained composer and conductor, based the work on the traditional sones huastecos
Lily of the Valley
Lily of the valley is a fragrant, sweet-smelling plant with delicate, white, bell-shaped flowers and oval-shaped leaves. The plant is highly prized for making perfume. Lily of the valley water was once considered so precious that it was kept in gold or silver containers. In folklore, it is believed that the scent of this flower in the spring air is the signal for nightingales to begin their seasonal singing and choose a mate. These blooms are associated with luck in love, which is why they’re often used in wedding bouquets. In the language of flowers, the lily of the valley means sweetness, humility, and perfect purity. It also signifies the return of happiness. Lily of the valley is native to Europe and Asia. It got its name from early Christian monks. The flower’s Latin name, Convallaria majalis, means “valley” (Convallaria) and “the month of May” (majalis), which refers to where it thrives and when it blooms.
Viva México !!
Around the World with Atlas
A Land of Spirit, Color, and Eternal Stories, Mexico is more than a country—it’s a heartbeat, a song carried by the wind across deserts, jungles, mountains, and beautyful beaches. A place where ancient civilizations whisper through pyramids and murals, and modern life dances to the rhythm of a strong and unique cultural heritage.
The word “México” comes from the Náhuatl words “Metztli” (moon) and “xictli” (navel or belly button), meaning “the belly button of the moon.” The Mexicas pronounced it “Meshico.”
According to legend, the Mexica people were the last of the nomadic tribes to arrive in central Anáhuac (yep, that was the ancient name for the heartland of what’s now Mexico). They came from a mythical island called Aztlán—which is why they’re also called Aztecs. They were searching for a sign sent by their main god, Huitzilopochtli: an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus, devouring a snake. That was the sacred place where they were to build their city.
And they did find it—right in the middle of a vast lake called Texcoco. Legend says they took refuge on that small patch of land in the lake and founded their settlement, Tenochtitlan, around 1325. By the time the Spanish arrived in 1519, they were stunned by the sight of a majestic, dream-like well-organized metropolis—Tenochtitlan—one of the largest cities in the world at that time.
Birthstone – Emerald
Emeralds have long been a favorite of royalty; Cleopatra had them mined extensively in Egypt during her reign. Shah Jahan, builder of the Taj Mahal, wore an emerald talisman for luck and protection. Emeralds can grow very large, and giant ones have been found at Kagem, one of the world’s largest emerald mines, in Zambia. A 5,655-carat emerald was unearthed there in October 2018. The Kagem emeralds are believed to have formed more than 450 million years ago, which contributes to their size.
Flower – Hawthorn
Hawthorn is a lovely family of small trees and thorny shrubs often cultivated for their decorative qualities. The sturdy plant has beautiful flowers that bloom in white, red, or pink. Its edible, apple-like fruit comes in a variety of colors, and it ranges in flavor and texture. They are sometimes used as an herbal medicine supplement, which some people believe helps with heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.
Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza.
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Recipe Spotlight:
Guacamole
Ingredients:
3 avocados, ripe
½ small yellow onion, finely diced
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 lime, juiced
½ teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
1. Slice the avocados in half, remove the pit, and scoop into a mixing bowl.
2. Mash the avocado with a fork and make it as chunky or smooth as you’d like.
3. Add the remaining ingredients and stir together. Give it a taste test and add a pinch more salt or lime juice if needed.
4. Serve the guacamole with tortilla chips.
Viva México !!
The Corn Tamers
Corn has been a staple of Mexican culture and cuisine for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations long before the Mexicas and even the Pre-classical Mayans wich are prior to 1000 BC. It’s used in countless traditional dishes such as tortillas, tamales, pozole, tacos, chilaquiles, enchiladas, sopes and so on.
They were masters in combine native ingredients like chile, cacao, and vanilla, Mexican cuisine has shaped global tastes and preserved a deep connection to the country’s agricultural and cultural roots.
Resident of the Month
Laura Childes
Grew up in central Indiana where she excelled as a high school student and played varsity tennis. She also enjoyed being elected homecoming queen her junior year. In college she studied nursing and also played on the tennis team. At the nursing graduation ceremony she was recognized as student nurse of the year. Soon after graduation she married her husband of 42 years and raised six children. She homeschooled her children who went on to become 2 doctors, a pastor, nurses(2) and a graphic designer. Her children married and Laura now has 16 grandchildren. While her husband was in medical school, she supported him and completed her nurse practitioner degree. She has been an active member in her church and enjoys reading and birdwatching.
Colors of México
Collaborators
Lisa Hawkins
