O Beautiful Forever Stamps: Celebrating America's Beauty

Have you ever looked at a stamp and wondered about the picture on it? The O Beautiful Forever Stamps (U.S. #5298, 2018 50¢ O Beautiful) are special stamps that show some of the most beautiful places in America. How did these stamps come to be and why they are important?

The idea for the O Beautiful Forever Stamps came from a famous song called "America the Beautiful." This song, written by Katharine Lee Bates in 1893, and the lyrics talk about the amazing natural beauty of the United States. The United States Postal Service wanted to make stamps that celebrated these beautiful places mentioned in the song.

Making these stamps was a big project. The USPS worked with photographers and artists to find the best pictures of American landscapes. They wanted to show different types of scenery from all over the country. Here are the ten places they chose for the stamps:

1. Baldwin Peninsula in Kotzebue, Alaska
2. Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Arizona and Utah
3. Yosemite National Park in California
4. Wheat fields in Palouse, Washington
5. Fire Island National Seashore in New York
6. Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii
7. Grand Tetons in Wyoming
8. Shenandoah National Park in Virginia
9. Mount Rainier in Washington
10. The Grand Canyon in Arizona

Each of these places is very special and shows the beauty of America in a different way.

The O Beautiful Forever Stamps were introduced to the public on July 4, 2018, on America's Independence Day. The ceremony to show the stamps was held in Colorado Springs, a place with its own beautiful scenery that inspired the song "America the Beautiful."

Katharine Lee Bates was a 33-year-old English professor from Wellesley College. In 1893, she was inspired by the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the wheat fields of the Great Plains, and, most of all, Pikes Peak and decided to write a poem about the unrivaled beauty of her country. The poem was published two years later and eventually, it was set to music.

People loved the stamps! They thought the pictures were beautiful and enjoyed seeing America's landscapes in this special way. The stamps became very popular with people who collect stamps and those who love nature.

The O Beautiful Forever Stamps do more than just help send letters. They show the world how beautiful America is. Every time someone uses one of these stamps, it shares a little piece of America’s beauty. These stamps also remind us to take care of these natural places. They help us appreciate and protect our environment so that future generations can enjoy it too. Also, the stamps inspire people to learn more about these beautiful places. Someone may see a stamp with Yosemite National Park and decide they want to visit it one day. The stamps help us feel proud of our country and its natural wonders.

The O Beautiful Forever Stamps are not just pieces of paper. They are little works of art that celebrate the incredible beauty of America. From mountains to beaches, and from parks to canyons, these stamps show us the wonderful places that make our country special. Next time you see one of these stamps, remember the amazing landscapes they represent and the pride they bring to our nation.

References:
https://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2018/pr18_050.htm
https://www.mysticstamp.com/5298-2018-first-class-forever-stamp-o-beautiful/

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

Well, it is that holiday season again so I thought I’d update you about our 2023 year. 

Early in the year, we were in Florida and cruised for a week on the MSC Divina in January. It was good to visit with our friend Guglielmo, the hotel director on the ship. 

February was a quiet month. We attended regular meetings of the Cresthaven Stamp Club and the Tropical Postcard Club. 

In March, our niece, Deanna invited us to spend the week in Orlando to watch her daughter,  Kaeli in a college softball tournament. We had a wonderful time and the weather was perfect. I had forgotten how much I missed softball games. 

March meant that it was warming up in Florida so we did our last-minute things to get the house ready to close it up for the summer. 

On the first weekend in April, we headed back to South Carolina. A broken water pipe welcomed us home but it was repaired quickly on that Monday. We spent a lot of time preparing the camper for an upcoming camping trip.  At the end of the month, we went camping in the Smokies and enjoyed our trip. We missed the mountains while we were in Florida. 

Don had hand surgery in May and so was unable to do much for a couple of weeks while he healed from the surgery. It corrected his Dupuytren’s Contracture of his pinky finger on his left hand. It went really well and he is now able to use his hand much better. I finally talked Don into buying a riding lawn mower and we bought a zero-turn John Deere mower. 

In June, we went on a road trip heading to Minnesota. We drove through Missouri and were able to visit my friend Cindy at Laumiere Park. We also stopped in Springfield, IL to visit the Lincoln Presidential Library as well as the Lincoln home before he became President. Next, we went to Peoria, IL, and went to the Caterpillar Visitor Center. Those big tractors were amazing to see! Then we spent a few days around Moline, IL, and Davenport, IA to learn more about John Deere machinery. We even took a tour of the John Deere Plant in Davenport. At the end of the month, we ended up in Rochester, MN for the Zombie Knitpocalypse knitting retreat. 

On the way home, we stopped in Elkhart, IN to visit the RV Hall of Fame that we had visited years ago. We still enjoy seeing how RVs have changed throughout the years. Next, we stopped at the Museum of the Air Force in Dayton, OH. Our original plan was to head north to Cuyahoga National Park but due to the Canadian wildfires, the air quality was too dangerous so we headed home. 

July was quiet for us. This was the first July in years that I hadn’t had to teach a Furman course. We don’t usually go far from home because of the crowds and the heat. 

In August, we went on a  cruise to the British Isles and Iceland on the Holland America Nieuw Statendam. We flew to Copenhagen and we were on the ship for a month. It was an amazing trip and I loved the cool temperatures. I’m so glad we got to see Iceland because they were having problems with earthquakes and volcanoes after we left. It seemed to take a long time to get over jet lag! 

In September, we started to prepare for our trip to Florida for the winter. We finished up with scheduled doctors and dentist appointments. At the end of September, we went to the Blue Ridge Parkway for the Spartanburg Knitting Guild knitting retreat. 

In the middle of October, we headed to Florida so we could help with the Fall Stamp Show and the Fall Postcard Show. Then we flew to Valencia, where we boarded the MSC Magnifica for a cruise to the Mediterranean and a transatlantic cruise to Miami for a month. Our wonderful neighbor, Bob, took us to the airport in October and picked us up at the port in Miami in November. 

It felt good to be back on land and back to a normal routine. Don was thrilled to be back with his postal collection and I loved sitting on my front porch knitting. 

December had us putting up Christmas decorations. I am still using the tabletop tree that my dad and Marge used for years. One year, I knit Christmas ornaments to put on it. We also put up the same outside lights that they used. It brings back such wonderful memories of our Christmases together.  On each side of the tree, I hung up stockings that my mother knit for us the year we got married. 

I hope this year has been for you and your family. May the new year bring you lots of happiness and good health. 

Happy 4th of July

Today is the 4th of July in the United States. We celebrate Independence Day every year. Our town had a Fireworks Spectacular on Saturday which included a concert and fireworks. I hope you have a safe and happy holiday.

Happy Memorial Day!

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. It is a federal holiday to honor and mourn those who died while serving in the US Armed Forces. It is observed on the last Monday of May every year.

Many people visit cemeteries and memorials on this day. Many volunteers place American flags on the graves of military personnel in national cemeteries.

The first time this holiday was observed was on May 30, 1868, but it was called Decoration Day. It later became known as Memorial Day when Congress designated the last Monday in May as a federal holiday.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day! Thank you to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect us.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentines Day!

Please take time to tell your loved ones (friends and family) how much they mean to you!

National Compliment Day

Today is National Compliment Day.

Giving someone a compliment can brighten their day and make them happy. I believe people have gotten out of the habit of complimenting others.

You might tell family members hat you like something that they do. Too often it is easy to overlook family members and take them for granted. We don’t always notice the good things they do. We sometimes joke with them and it is easy to insult them or ridicule them when we think we are just being funny. These comments can actually be more hurtful than we think.

You don’t have to know someone in order to compliment them. You might pass a stranger in the store and like something they are wearing. It is alright to tell them that.

It would be good to have students brainstorm compliments that they can give. Maybe if they think of them as a group, it would be easier for them to do them. Ask students to give at least 3 compliments that day and report the next day how it went. Have them tell who they complimented and how the person reacted. As students get more comfortable with this, they may start doing it on their own.

Do you do something like this in your class? Please share.

National Pie Day

January 23 is National Pie Day! This day was created by a teacher in Colorado in 1975. He loved pies so much that he declared his birthday as the day to celebrate pies. He even wanted birthday pies instead of birthday cakes. In 1986, the American Pie Council began sponsoring this day.

Written recipes for pies go back as far as ancient Roman times. They filled their pies with fruits, meats, and seafood. The oldest pie recipe uses goat cheese and honey. The Greeks their pies with meats, fruits, and honey. During the Middle Ages, pies were filled with meats and vegetables. The dough in pies kept the filling from drying and made it easier to transport. Usually, the dough was inedible and people just ate the filling. The PIlgrims and English settlers brought pies to America. Pumpkin pie and pecan pie were popular during the 17th century. Soon they started making pies with whatever ingredients they had.

My favorite pie is apple pie. My husband like pumpkin pie and pecan pie.

Here are some prompts to use with students:

• Do you like pies? Why or why not?
• What is your favorite pie and why?
• Create a new pie with your favorite filling.
• Draw a poster promoting National Pie Day.

What other prompts would you use? Please share.

Happy New Year

Yesterday was January 1, 2023. I hope this year brings you lots of joy and good health. May you be happy and healthy and surrounded by love! 

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. I have so much to be thankful for! Today I will spend the day with friends and family and reflect on all the blessings I have in my life. Whether it is Thanksgiving Day or not where you live, I hope you have time to do the same.

Veterans Day

In 1938, November 11th was made a legal holiday to celebrate Armistice Day. This was the day that WWI ended. In 1954, it was Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day. Veteran’s Day is a day that we honor all the men and women who served in the US Armed Forces.

So, tomorrow, when you see someone who is a veteran, please thank them for their service. They gave up years of their lives and sacrificed a lot to protect us.

Happy Halloween

Halloween is celebrated on October 31 in the United States. Many people carve pumpkins, wear costumes, have parties, and take children trick or treating. This day’s origin comes from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain which was a pagan celebration to welcome harvest at the end of the summer. People would light bonfires and wear costumes to scare off ghosts. Pope Gregory III declared November 1 as All Saints Day and the evening before was now as All Hallows Eve which later became Halloween.

However you celebrate this day (or don’t), I hope you have a safe and fun day!

Labor Day

The Labor Day Holiday is always the first Monday in September in the United States. It celebrates the contributions of American workers. It also usually symbolizes the end of summer.

I hope you have a safe and happy Labor Day holiday!

Moon Landing Day

On July 20, 1969, Man landed on the moon.

President Kennedy believed that man could go to the moon and return to earth since 1961. During that time, the United States and the Soviet Union were in the middle of a Cold War. The Soviet Union was far more advanced than the United States so it was important for the US to act quickly. In 1966, the US sent an unmanned mission to the moon. In 1967, three astronauts died on the launch pad. Apollo 7 was sent to the moon and back with a crew in 1968.

Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins were the crew of the Apollo 11 spaceflight. Armstrong and Aldren took the lunar module Eagle to the moon’s surface. On July 20, 2969, at 4:17 pm, Armstrong said, “The Eagle has landed.” At 10:56 pm, Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon. Armstrong was the first human to ever step on the moon. His famous quote that has been repeated many times is: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Aldrin followed Armstrong soon after that and they placed the American flag on the moon. They also spoke to President Nixon at that time. Along with the flag, they placed a plaque with it that states,
“Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon - July 1969 A.D. - We came in peace for all mankind."

The crew returned to Earth on July 24, 1969, and landed in the Pacific Ocean.

Class Activities:

• NASA has a page showing some pictures of that day
• Apollo 11 Moonwalk Montage.
• Imagine you are one of the astronauts, write a letter to your family and share how you are feeling, what you are doing, and what you are seeing.

Photo by NASA on Unsplash

Happy Independence Day!

Today is July 4th and we celebrate Independence Day in the US.

Whatever you are doing to celebrate, I hope you have a fun and safe day!

Summer Solstice

Yesterday, June 21 was the summer solstice. I think it is my favorite day of the year.  This day is when the sun reaches the highest position in the sky and is the longest period of daylight. I don’t like darkness so the more daylight, the better. 

I had a friend that used to throw a summer solstice party every year. She is gone now but I still miss her. 

Many cultures have festivals and rituals on the summer solstice. The US sees this day as the beginning of summer. 

Photo by Angelo Pantazis on Unsplash

National American Eagle Day

June 20 is National American Eagle Day. The Bald Eagle is the United States’ national symbol and this day is to raise awareness about the eagle and its natural habitat.

The bald eagle was in danger of becoming extinct in the 1950s due to loss of habitat, hunting, and use of pesticides. It was added to the endangered species list in 1967. In 1995, it was taken off the list and moved to the list of threatened species. As of 2007, it is no longer considered threatened and is doing well.

Bald eagles are birds of prey and live near large bodies of water.

Photo by Mathew Schwartz on Unsplash

Flag Day

Flag Day is celebrated on June 14 and celebrates the history of the American Flag.

Here are some interesting facts about the American Flag.

• The celebration of the flag was invented by a teacher. In 1885, a 19-year-old teacher named Bernard J. CiGrand asked his class to write an essay on the symbolism of our flag. He spent the following half-century trying to make Flag Day a national holiday.
• The original flag had 13 stars and 13 stripes.
• Betsy Ross sewed the first American flag.
• There have been 27 versions of the American Flag.
• Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence and blue represents vigilance, perseverance, and justice.
• The designer of the American flag was Francis Hopkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence as a delegate from New Jersey.
• The current flag was designed by a teenager. In 1958, then-17-year-old Robert G. Heft of Lancaster, Ohio submitted the design in a contest. President Dwight Eisenhower chose Robert's design from over 1,500 other submissions.
• The current flag is the only one to have lasted more than 50 years.
• Flag Day was established by the Proclamation of President Woodrow Wilson on May 30th, 1916.
• The final star, for Hawaii, was added in 1960.
• The flag is normally flown from sunrise to sunset.
• The flag should not be flown at night without a light on it.
• The first time the flag was flown after being adopted was on Aug. 3, 1777, in Rome, New York.
• There are six American flags on the moon. Five are standing, but Neil Armstrong's fell over.
• The flag should not be flown in the rain or inclement weather.
• After a tragedy or death, the flag is flown at half staff for 30 days. It's called "half staff" on land, and "half-mast" on a ship.
• When your flag is old and has seen better days, it is time to retire it. Old flags should be burned or buried.
• If you like to study flags, then you are a Vexillologist!
• An American flag should never touch the floor or the ground.
• When displayed on a wall or window the blue field should be in the upper left corner.
• The military folds the flag with 13 folds, each with symbolic meaning.
• 50 flags fly 24 hours a day around the Washington monument.
• 95% of U.S. flags are made in the U.S.A.
• The U.S. flag always flies at the top of a staff above any other flag.

Photo by Cristina Glebova on Unsplash

Memorial Day

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. It is a Federal holiday and is always celebrated on the last Monday in May.

Originally it was called Decoration Day to remember those who died in the US military. President Johnson first named Waterloo, NY as the birthplace of Memorial Day because the city held an official event celebrating this day in 1866. When James Garfield, soon to be President, placed flowers on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery, it became the first official observation of Memorial Day. Almost 5000 people decorated graves at Arlington Cemetery in 1868 for its first Memorial Day ceremony. All of the northern states recognized this day by 1890 and the south did the same after World War I because it honored Americans who died in any war and not just the Civil War.

Memorial Day used to be celebrated every May 30 until 1971 when it was changed to the last Monday in May and was considered a Federal holiday.

Have a safe and fun Memorial Day!

Photo by Justin Casey on Unsplash

12 Days of Christmas

This is one of my favorite Christmas songs. I loved hearing it whenever it is on the radio or I hear Christmas carolers singing it.

Recently I found that someone had a great activity involving this song and I encourage you to check it out.
12 Days of Christmas - Guided Math Activity in Google Sheets

Once you make a copy and go through the activity, you will there are clear instructions, help, and even answers so students can self-check their work.

What a fun activity this is!

Thanksgiving 2021

Today is Thanksgiving Day in the US. It is time to give thanks for all the blessings in our lives. I want to thank you for taking the time to visit here and reading my content. If you have commented, I appreciate our conversation! I hope you have a safe and happy holiday!