Joan Ambu Archives – Page 42 of 97 – Strength Of The Small

Touring George Air Force Base

By JM PerezJanuary 31, 20142 min read6.4K views

Once a year, my husband and I drive to his work for a Health and Wellness screening test, a program which suggests ways to stay healthy and prevent illnesses. The program also provides discounted rates for weight loss products and services. We toured George Air Force Base before returning home.

*George Air Force Base (Google Aerial View).*

George Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Victorville, California which was decommissioned in 1992 at the end of the Cold War. While most parts of the base remain abandoned, it is now the site of Southern California Logistics Airport. The Base was established by the United States Army Air Corps in June 1941 and was closed at the end of World War II. It was reopened in November 1950 as a training base and remained a training base throughout the Cold War until being closed in 1993.

The former Air Force Base is surrounded by few Businesses and parts of the Air Force Base are still operational and well maintained, such as the Children’s Playground and Game Courts which are in use on a daily basis by the public as well as a Church (First Christian Church of Victorville). The original 37-foot-wide, 81-foot-long and 32-foot-high Church building formerly located on George Air Force Base was purchased for $5 and moved to its current location by retired Pastor Tom Ratcliff at 9966 I Ave in 1979 .

*First Christian Church of Victorville, George Air Force Base, Victorville, CA.*

*First Christian Church of Victorville (Main Entrance), George Air Force Base, Victorville, CA.*

There is no doubt that George Air Force Base was once a beautiful Military Community for the military personnel and their family members. It had everything from Security Kiosk, Administrative Building, Food Bank, School, Child Care Center (Children’s World), Game Courts (for entertaining and healthy recreational activities), Church, Hospital, Photo Lab, Movie Theater, Community Center, Officers Club, Burger King Restaurant, Phantom Lanes, Hangars, Westwinds Activities Center, Base Exchange, Commissary and so much more. Some of the facilities were demolished a few years ago and some are in the process of being demolished.

*Movie Theater, George Air Force Base, Victorville, CA.*

Child Care Center (Children's World), George Air Force Base, Victorville, CA. — *Child Care Center (Children’s World), George Air Force Base, Victorville, CA.*

*Westwinds Sports Center, George Air Force Base, Victorville, CA.*

*Family Support Center, George Air Force Base, Victorville, CA.*

*Abandoned Housing, George Air Force Base, Victorville, CA.*

Given the pace at which some of these buildings are being demolished, it’s only a matter of time until pretty much everything is gone at George Air Force Base. What you should know prior to visiting the Base is that there are clear signs warning the public to keep out for various reasons and entering some buildings is considered trespassing. I heard there are installed motion sensors in the Hospital and they will go off every time someone enters the building or gets too close. Be very cautious while visiting older buildings and enter at your own risk.

Across from the base, there is the Victorville Federal Correctional Complex.

Click here to view more pictures (a Documentation Project by Bill Collinson).

Wising you a Blessed Weekend!

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By JM Perez

Birthday Blessings Love Family Gratitude

To My Soul Brother, With Love

By JM PerezJanuary 29, 20142 min read645 views

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” ― James 1:17 (ESV)

I was graced with three Brothers, all of which are special in their own ways. Being the surviving female in the family has strengthened our bond in ways I could never dream of. The first boy, my senior, is one whom I have always looked up to for advice and compassion. My follower is more or less like me. My youngest brother, who just turned thirty (hip hip!), is one with whom I had a special relationship growing up.

Oh boy, was he hardheaded and sweet!
I remember a few fights with my elder brother as a child. With Oliver, we took it to a different level. How could such a sweet little boy be so stubborn? He was strong-willed, had a mind of his own and would not give in for all the gold in the World. In the midst of it all, he had so much love and respect for me and I, loved him so.

My Dear Baby Brother. — *Oliver, My Handsome Little Soul Brother (not so little anymore).*

He is My Soul Brother who understands my unspoken words.
He is the one who gave both our Mother and me a chance to spend a few more minutes with our Sister before she left this World of mortals; though in my heart I know he was too young to witness the moment.
He is a fighter. I am so proud of his achievements and accomplishments. He could have easily chosen a different path or sought an easier way out; rather, he chose to stand tough and stay the course.

Happy Birthday Baby Brother! May our Heavenly Father grant you many, many more blessed years to share with me. Make this first year of your 30’s count and count me in for even greater support. I Love You tremendously.

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By JM Perez

Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

High Desert Spring Gardening

By JM PerezJanuary 28, 20142 min read638 views

Right now in the High Desert it literally feels like Spring. The days are getting warmer and the plants are reacting to the unseasonably warm weather. I noticed a few days ago, some flower buds on the branches of the Sweet Almond Tree in my front yard and I am excited to see the tree all covered in delicate White flowers. The Almond Tree is always the first to blossom after Winter around here; however, the Tree is blooming too early this year compared to the previous years. The weeds too, are coming on strong as they rob my yard of its beauty.

This year, my Sweet William Dwarf (Dianthus) are the first to bloom.

For Spring Colors, plant the following (just to name a few):

Eastern Redbud
Freesia
Pasque Flower*
Cherry Blossom Tree
Iris*
Daffodil*
Kangaroo Paw
Hyacinth*
Grape Hyacinth
False Indigo*
Rose Bushes

Rosemary
Tulips*
Hibiscus (Health Benefits)
Sparaxis*
Star Jasmine
Saucer Magnolia
Crocus*
Persian Buttercup (Ranunculus)*
Broom*
Lilium*
Oriental/California Poppies

Plants with the * next to the name (as well as some species of the plants) are poisonous and/or toxic (either to Humans, Livestock or both). Click here for a list of Toxic Plants.

How can you tell if your Garden is ready for Spring?
According to OrganicGardening.com, the best way to tell if a garden has dried out enough to be worked is to pick up about half a cup of earth in your hand. Now squeeze the soil together so that it forms a ball. If the ball of earth can readily be shattered by pressing with your fingers or dropping it from a height of 3 feet or so, it is dry enough to dig. If the ball keeps its shape or breaks only with difficulty into solid sections rather than loose soil, it still contains too much water. Clay soil that is too wet will feel slick when rubbed between thumb and forefinger and working soil that wet can spoil its texture for the whole season.

Since my soil is not quite ready for Spring Gardening yet, I am focusing most of my time and energy on various activities and yard tasks:

Planning a Fairy Garden
Researching Native Plants
Building Bird Houses
Cleaning Bird Feeders and Baths
Getting my Gardening Tools ready
Servicing my Weed Eater
Starting seeds indoors
Preparing new Sunken Garden Beds for Native Plants
Tending to my Perennials (pruning, trimming, cutting back, dividing)
Revitalizing my Mint Plants
Maybe start a compost pile.

With the weather this warm, it’s definitely time to Start Planning your Spring Garden.

Linking up to Beverly’s Pink Saturday.

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By JM Perez

Kids Craft Children Education DIY: Projects

3D Penguin Project

By JM PerezJanuary 21, 20141 min read1.3K views

Today my Son and the entire School are celebrating the 100th Day of School.
We were asked as a Family to create a 100th Day Project and turn it in today to be shared and displayed in my Son’s classroom. The Project was to incorporate 100 objects in a creative way.

These past weeks, my Son has been learning about Penguins at School and I suggested we do something with a Penguin. After looking at various pictures, my Son choose the one he liked best and my husband drew a Penguin on a cardboard and began making cutouts for the parts we needed for the 3D Penguin. After positioning and gluing all the parts, we traced 100 feathers with a pencil and highlighted the edges with Glitter Glue and finally, we glued the Penguin onto a slightly larger piece of cardboard.

All you need for this project is Elmer’s Glue, Glitter Glue, Cardboard, Scissors, Pencil and Markers.

*3D Penguin Project (100 Day of School).*

It was a fun little project we all enjoyed working on.

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By JM Perez

History Inspire Life Lessons People

Happy Martin Luther King’s Day

By JM PerezJanuary 20, 20141 min read588 views

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.