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Yesterday my brother, David Crook, and I went to Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. We both have memberships. It is a magical place. Sounds strange, since most people don’t think of a desert area as magical, but trust me, it’s possible. Shapes, colors, textures, stages of life, cute little critters, chirping birds, shade tree areas . . . there’s so much. And on this day, Palo Verde blossoms blanketed much of the garden. Enjoy!
It was a beautiful spring morning and I decided to apply sunscreen, grab my camera, jump in the car, and head for the White Tank Mountains. It’s about a 25-minute drive straight west. They look so bare from home, but as you approach, you begin to see the color and growth. Sure, we’re in the Sonoran Desert, but it has its own beauty. I’ve been coming here for decades and have always been thrilled at the beauty and personality of the White Tanks. Next year I’ll come earlier for the wildflowers. They’re on their way out. Cactus blossoms are just beginning. Enjoy!
Far away from the United States is an amazing island in the Philippines: Mindanao. Tucked away in the mountains is a tiny community known as Pacuhan.
It is in the Pacuhan Elementary School that you will find the Vorfeld Toy/Book Library, a room that I had built to honor the memory of five of the most incredible men I’ve ever known: my husband, Jack Vorfeld, his brother Bob Vorfeld, Jack’s sons, Peter Vorfeld and Ted Vorfeld, and Peter’s son, John C. Vorfeld.
When it was time, I contacted the co-founder of “I Can Make A Difference, Inc.,” Meryl Grace Agudelo. At that time, Grace was employed as a nurse by the Philippine Air Force, and an enthusiastic volunteer for her own NGO and others, including The Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation. She has since moved to London, England to continue in her profession, but she still volunteers with I Can Make a Difference and endorses and encourages others.
With the encouragement of her grandmother, Cresencia Nantes Pabatao, Grace envisioned a special way for us to honor memories of the five Vorfeld men: A Toy & Book Library in the somewhat isolated but special elementary school in the barangay of Pacuhan. Pictures to follow. Grace will be adding more toys and books (as of February 2019).
Pacuhan is a barangay in the municipality of Salug, in the province of Zamboange Del Norte, with a population of less than 1,000. The elevation is about 377 feet above mean sea level. I have included a photo of some of the Pacuhan school children.
Salug falls within the third type of climate wherein the seasons are not very pronounced. Rain is more or less evenly distributed throughout the year. Because of its tropical location the municipality does not experience cold weather. Neither does it experience strong weather disturbances due to its geographical location (being outside the typhoon belt) and also because of the mountains that are surrounding the Municipality.
All of the Vorfelds are strong believers in the value of education, and it seemed like a good idea to honor these five men by doing something to encourage school children to read and play in a colorful, specially designed library.
Raise awareness of and help solve the problematic situations involving children, women, indigenous people and other marginalized members of a community, especially problems concerning health, education, and the environment; and address these problems through the mobilization of people, social institutions, and social entities of the community.
June 16, 2018Happy Anniversary I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Seven years and counting! What started an initiative to create a solar reflector for water disinfection has become a movement to develop young innovators to make a difference in their communities. Almost a decade ago, we envisioned a generation of youth who do not only have the power to mobilise resources & communities through social media, but also possess the power to create innovations to transform the socioeconomic landscape of their communities.
In the advent of the challenge possessed by artificial Intelligence, the vision of I CAN is ever more relevant, as it endeavours to make small but passionate contributions to make the Philippines a center of the sciences. One thing that time or technology can never replace is the heart and soul of a creative. Imagine a Filipino youth with the knowledge of innovation and the enabling experience to make their innovation happen. We will become a country of creatives, a vision so wonderful! To more years of innovations.
You may want to visit these websites:
https://wikivisually.com/wiki/Salug,_Zamboanga_del_Norte
https://schools.trokis.com/pacuhan-elementary-school.html
https://www.facebook.com/icanteam/
The three main factors affecting sleep are:
We’ll take a look at each factor — what it means, and how to set it for maximum effectiveness.
Sleep researchers believe that the more consistent your evening routine is, the better your sleep will be. You surely have some form of sleep routine already — brushing your teeth, putting on your pajamas, stalking the grandkids on Facebook.
If you’re having trouble getting to sleep, or staying asleep, try making this routine more regimented. Turn it into a schedule.
These are just guidelines. There is no “best time to sleep” for everyone, just one that works for you. Your sleep routine should include whatever you feel will put you in a relaxed frame of mind — and on the express train to Dreamtown.
One suggestion that isn’t in everyone’s toolkit — some sort of mindfulness practice. If you do a nightly prayer, that’s a form of mindfulness. If that’s not your thing, mindfulness could take the form of meditation, listening to calming music, or writing letters of advice to your less successful grandkids. Dr. Andrew Weil, the Harvard-trained doctor and author, promotes a breathing technique, the 4-7-8. Here he shows you how to do it:
Most of us only think about our sleep environment when it gets disrupted. An extremely hot night. A partner with a persistent cough. A neighbor learning the trombone. But what about the basics: Is your room a place of peace? Is your bed comfortable? If you aren’t sleeping well, it might be time to experiment.
Our bodies are used to sleeping at night, as the temperature cools down. If your bedroom is too hot, your body may simply be confused. One simple step to getting better sleep? Try setting the thermostat a tick or two lower. If you can’t control the temperature of your bedroom, fans can make you feel cooler. It’s okay to trick your body for its own good.
The whole sleeping at night thing also means our bodies expect darkness. Fewer and fewer of us have it. Modern bedrooms often have larger windows. And, because the heavy curtains of the English country house are so expensive, we tend to cover them with thin paper or metal blinds. Cities and suburbs are brighter at night than they used to be. To sum up, everyone before you in the family tree probably slept in a darker bedroom than you do.
We’re not suggesting you go sleep in a cave, but you might benefit from a room that’s lit like one. Blackout curtains are inexpensive and easy to install. Figure out how to dim any electronics that toss light at night. Or, invest in an eye mask.
Important: If your bedroom is too dark, you might be risking a fall if you need to get up in the middle of the night. Keep light within arm’s reach of your bed at all times, whether that’s a lamp, a flashlight, or your iPhone.
Persistent noise during sleep not only prevents you from sleeping, but it might lead to something even more dangerous. Trying to sleep when the noise level is 55 decibels or above, or about what a busy street sounds like, can cause higher blood pressure and heart attacks.
Unexpected sounds from passing cars, night-owl neighbors, or clumsy partners can drop you straight out of your dream cloud. If outside noises are disturbing your sleep, heavy curtains can help block them out. A white noise machine or “soothing sounds” recordings may help relax you. Finally, the brute force method — ear plugs.
