Light up the grill! It’s time to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This document was actually written by a committee of five with Thomas Jefferson as the main author. Families across America will celebrate with family and friends the signing of America’s independence on July 4, 1776. On that famous day, the […]
Every year in the early spring, I am mesmerized by the the live eagle cams on the Internet. I have some favorite pairs of eagles that I watch lay their eggs, hatch, and raise their brood of 1 to 3 eggs. Eagles build their nests, working together, several months prior to mating. Bald Eagles typically […]
The annual Groundhog Day celebration occurred on February 2 of this year just as it does every year at Gobbler’s Knob, Pennsylvania. Folks gather and celebrate each year to see if Punxsutawney Phil will see his shadow and predict six more weeks of winter, or if he will return to his hole without seeing his […]
Valentine’s Day is a holiday that reminds us to be thoughtful to the people that we love. Traditionally, we give a heart shaped box of candy, flowers, or some other gift that expresses our love and devotion. How did February 14th become Valentine’s Day? Even though the origins of this holiday are shrouded in mystery, […]
Have you ever seen an ibis? If you do, it is said to bring good luck, especially if you wear one of the bird’s feathers. Perhaps, this is just what we need for the New Year. Don’t you agree that Americans could use some good luck? My beautiful granddaughter was amazed the other day as […]
Are you ready to sing the traditional New Year’s Eve song, “Auld Lang Syne,” as you bid farewell to 2020? This has been a year that we may all be happy to wave good-bye to and look forward to a fresh, new start in 2021. As we turn to face the new year just around […]
Have you ever thought about how a fat, bearded man in a bright red suit became the bearer of toys for all good little boys and girls at Christmas? Why does he fly through the night sky in a sleigh pulled by eight reindeer on Christmas Eve? Who was Saint Nicholas, anyway? Was he a […]
How did a parasitic plant with poisonous, white berries become the sacred symbol to steal a kiss under during the Christmas and New Year season? When all the trees are laid bare by the freezing temperatures of winter, the mistletoe will bloom, and yield its berries while staying green all winter. It can be found […]
Traditionally, the term “snow birds” refers to people who go South for the winter to escape the freezing temperatures and blowing snow of the northern states. However, there are snow birds, the feathery kind, that travel to warmer climates for the winter months. We refer to this phenomenon as migration. The American goldfinch is a […]
The Rockefeller Christmas Tree is traditionally a Norway Spruce that is donated for display at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, New York. The tree is cut and delivered in mid-November and the lighting ceremony occurs the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. Interestingly enough, the tree cannot be more than 100 ft. tall because of the narrow streets around […]
Pumpkin spice, originally known as pumpkin pie spice, contains ground cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and sometimes allspice. It is similar to the British and Commonwealth mixed spice. It is used in all kinds of edible products and drinks especially during the fall and winter months. It is a common ingredient in pumpkin pie recipes. If […]
With the arrival of fall, come pumpkins, scarecrows, bats and other spooky Halloween decorations. How did America incorporate this holiday into its seasonal celebrations? Scarecrows actually were used 3,000 years ago to ward off crows who were consuming the farmers’ corn. During medieval times, children would run through the fields throwing stones at the crows […]
In 1998, Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corporation donated to the Smithsonian Institution a 5-foot contraption which was once America’s most advanced donut maker, “Ring King Jr”. It was Krispy Kreme’s 60th anniversary. However, the Dutch are credited with bringing the now popular breakfast treat to New York under the name of “oylykoeks,” or “oily cakes”. These […]
It all began when the Aztec Indians and Mayans used chicle, the coagulated milky latex from the sapodilla tree, for chewing gum. Sapodilla, a tropical American fruit tree, is indigenous to the Yucatan and regions of South America. Chicle is harvested by making cuts in the tree, and allowing the chicle to flow into a […]
The cocoa tree is native to the Amazon Basin and was domesticated in Mexico. Cocoa trees grow exclusively in hot, rainy climates. The cocoa tree produces seeds that when crushed and fermented, cocoa solids and cocoa butter can be extracted. Chocolate was originally produced by mixing the cocoa powder (ground seeds) with the cocoa butter […]
Turtles are much beloved by so many around the world. Sea turtles have been living on planet earth for approximately 110 million years since the days of the dinosaurs, and nearly became extinct because of poachers stealing their eggs, and eating the meat of these beautiful mariners of the sea. Three of the seven species […]
Coffee! Is it really good for you? Actually, there are good effects and some bad effects from drinking coffee. If you drink coffee in moderation, it is safe to drink three to four cups a day. Coffee is a drink processed from the roasted beans of the coffea arabica bush. Coffee will increase mental alertness, […]
Aren’t wild animals the most fascinating species on the face of the planet? They are studied and admired by so many, yet remain so mysterious. Take for example, the cheetah. They have been clocked at 50-80 mph. In fact, a cheetah can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3 seconds. No other land animal […]
Peacocks are amazing birds! When the the males strut their stuff, their tail feathers fan out into brilliant, iridescent colors of blues and greens that shine and shimmer in the sunlight. This is caused by microscopic structures on their feathers that appear like crystals. A peacock’s 6-foot train encompasses 60% of its body and is […]
An adult, male giraffe can be as tall as 19 feet, and its legs are as tall as a 6-foot man’s height. Giraffes are remarkable mammals in so many ways. They spend most of their lives standing up, even sleeping and giving birth while standing. They can run short distances up to 35 mph which […]
Originating from The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis, we learn that a flock of owls is called a parliament. There are 200 species of owls, and they are nocturnal meaning that they are active at night. Late one evening at dusk, I unknowingly disturbed an owl who apparently was hunting in a nearby tree. […]
Did you know that a frog never has to drink because it soaks up water through its skin? In Egypt, the little frog has long been the symbol of life and fertility. The Egyptian goddess Heget is a frog goddess who represents fertility. Frogs come in all different colors and combinations of colors. The presence […]
The Yellowstone bison may seem docile, but look out! They can travel 30 to 35 mph and are very agile. You do not want to encounter a 2,000 lb. bull or even a 1,000 lb. female. Stay a distance of at least 25 yards when taking pictures of a bison. Yellowstone is the only place […]
As we begin to think about schools reopening in the fall, the news media is filled with pundits assessing the effects of the mass closure of schools in March of this year. There is much discussion as to whether or not to keep schools closed or reopen schools within certain limitations and regulations in August. […]
Just exactly what is a modern day farmer? What agrarian skills are necessary to be a successful farmer in today’s world of agriculture? Actually a farmer needs many skills that you may not have thought of attaching to his job description. For example, he needs to be a problem solver. A farmer must know how […]
Recently CNN reported that more than 360 of Botswana’s 130,000 African elephants have fallen to a mysterious illness. The Okavango Delta where the carcasses were found is home to about 10% of Botswana’s African elephant population. About 70% were found dead around watering holes while others were found as though they had fallen flat on […]
The mere mention of this tiny arthropod will get a exclamatory response every time. An omnivore is an animal or insect that eats both plants and animals. Anyone who knows anything about fire ants knows that they will eat leaves from plants, as well as attack small animals with ferocious, painful bites. Where did this […]
So you want a potbellied pig for a pet? You’re kidding me, right? Why on earth would anyone want a pig for a pet? Well……let’s look into this matter a little further and find out. First of all, pigs are really intelligent. No, I’m not kidding! They are among the most intelligent animals on planet […]
A relative of the pipefish family, seahorses will intertwine their prehensile tails and float together for hours. When they mate, they engage in a ritualistic dance that lasts for days. These tiny ballerinas of the sea are mesmerizing to watch. The scientific name of the seahorse is Hippocampus from the Greek word “hippo” meaning “horse” […]
Have you ever given any thought of going on a safari to Africa? How about putting that on your bucket list? What an exciting adventure that would be to experience Africa firsthand. It would be a once-in-a-lifetime-trip! I wish I had put it on my bucket list when I was younger. Now, I can only […]
Did you know that there are actually more than 70 million fathers in the United States? Father’s Day was first celebrated on June 19, 2010. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson issued the first presidential proclamation honoring fathers, designating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day. In 1972, it became an official nationwide holiday, […]
Did you hear that small, quick hum? Hummers move really fast. Look quick or you might miss it. These busy, aggressive birds dart quickly first in one direction and then in another. They chase each other from feeder to feeder, and guard their chosen territory ferociously from perceived intruders. Most migrant hummingbirds arrive in March […]
Mount Vesuvius, located in southern Italy, is considered the most dangerous volcano in the world. Famous for its violent eruption in 79 A.D., it buried the entire city of Pompeii. Since then, it has erupted dozens of times, and in 1631, it killed 3,000 people. Volcanoes are insidious because they will lie dormant for years, […]
Wildfires occur unexpectantly everywhere in the world. They can happen anywhere and at anytime. Wildfires are “unplanned fires” that burn in a natural area such as “forests, grasslands, or prairies.” Some are man-made, but most occur naturally from lightning strikes. I was involved in one of the Mesa Verde wildfires and watched as a gigantic […]
A poem “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns, states,’The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry….’ No matter how carefully we plan, something could go terribly wrong with our plans. For example, in the famous novel written by John Steinbeck entitled Of Mice and Men, the two main characters, George and Lennie have […]
At the time of this writing, Hurricane Arthur is churning out in the Atlantic Ocean threatening the East Coast of the United States and containing sustained winds of 50 mph. He’s a little early since Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November. Sixteen hurricanes are already named for the 2020 hurricane season. The […]
Our American flag has a proud history, and has survived many battles and wars since its official inception in 1777. The Continental Congress passed a resolution that read: ‘Resolved that the flag be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be 13 stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation.’ In […]
America’s new normal includes social distancing, taking one’s temperature before entering certain places, and wearing a mask. This new normal is the result of a virus that causes respiratory distress and is highly contagious. The CDC recommends that we wear a mask when in public places in order to reduce the chance of contracting the […]
Why are so many backyards filled with the sound of clucking chickens? As of 2018, there were 23.7 billion chickens worldwide. There are more chickens than any other domesticated bird or fowl in the entire world. On the plus side, chickens are energetic, sociable critters that keep themselves entertained by pecking for bugs, underground insects […]
Service dogs are considered “working dogs,” not “pets”. There are 80 million such dogs living in households within the United States. These dogs are trained to help and be companions for people with disabilities. A service dog helps disabled people lead more independent lives. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service dog […]
Being a wine connoisseur is not simply a matter of drinking and enjoying the taste of fine wines. There is much more to discerning the flavors and characteristics of wine than meets the eye. A true wine connoisseur will have a deep understanding on the subject of wine. A connoisseur’s knowledge of wine goes beyond […]
What little boy has not desired a treehouse for himself and his friends? What a wonderful, bonding activity for a father and son to work on together, i.e. building a little clubhouse in a backyard tree. Some people even have the funds to build a more elaborate treehouse for grownups. First, select a tree that […]
Lightning is an electrostatic charge and is deceivingly beautiful in a nightime sky. A bolt of lightning is 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit which is 3 times hotter than the surface of the sun. There are approximately 3,000,000 strikes per day around the world. The electrical energy emitted from a single lightning bolt can power an 100 […]
Did you know this bear fact? Bears barely breathe when they are hibernating. They take one breath every 45 seconds. How does a mammal that large take in so little air, and still survive? How interesting! Let’s investigate this natural phenomena a little further. When bears hibernate, they do not eat or drink, urinate or […]
What causes these beautiful butterflies of the sky to migrate? What is the trigger? How do these majestic insects know to lift their wings to the wind and travel collectively thousands of miles to the south to lay their eggs and reproduce their species? Millions of monarchs migrate from Canada and the U. S. to […]
So, the weather alert loudly rings out a warning on your cellphone. You look at it, and lay your phone back down as you have done many times before. Perhaps you have never experienced a tornado or a severe thunderstorm carrying high winds and pounding rains. Then count yourself lucky! Many people have, and some […]
In December, 2019, a new coronavirus made its presence known by infecting humans in Wuhan, China. On January 30, 2020, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared the virus to be a “nationwide health emergency.” During what is now being called the Covid-19 Pandemic, heroes have emerged as they always do during a […]
Why do some people prefer canines as pets more than felines, and vice versa? Research has shown that dogs are far more popular than cats. Also, it is notable that children prefer dogs over cats. In the U. S., it is estimated that a whopping 60.2 million households own dogs while cat owners number 47.1 […]
Beware! Warmer weather has awakened the reptile family. I just saw a yellow-bellied water snake slithering through my yard, and sliding under my deck. Fortunately, it is non-venomous, but will still bite, if provoked. Note to self: “Stay alert in the days to come because snakes are mating, and they are feeling feisty.” Snakes mate […]
Whales are mysterious, as well as some of the most interesting mammals on planet earth. Because of their immense size and power, they are difficult to study. However, the Internet can tell us a lot about these mammoth creatures of the sea. It is interesting to note that the closest living relative to the whale […]
What really happened at Area 51? Does anyone really know? Area 51 is actually a U. S. Air Force facility located in the state of Nevada. People stormed this area back in 2019 expecting to see aliens. Approximately 2 million people responded to the planned event entitled “Storm Area 51, They Can’t Stop All of […]
Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 by Congress preserving federal land in the western United States. The park is located in parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho for the “…benefit and enjoyment of the people.” This congressional act began a worldwide effort in creating national parks. President Wilson realized the importance of protecting these […]
Is there any sound more beautiful than the melodious mixture of bird songs in early spring? When I stepped onto my deck early this morning, I admit that the mating songs of the various species of birds caught me by surprise. No matter what’s going on with our human species, the birds continue to raise […]
It’s time to get those rods out and reels oiled, but how does one decide whether to fish saltwater or freshwater? Perhaps, it is smart to consider the catch. Do you prefer fish from the ocean or from freshwater lakes and rivers? Think about what kind of fish you will be catching, and if you […]
Would you like to have some fun that can involve the entire family? Try this outdoor activity of geocaching! This treasure hunting adventure includes finding small caches left by others in which participants must use coordinates to find the locations of these hidden treasures. People all over the world are involved in treasure hunting while […]
This year, Easter will fall on April 12th, which is the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. This holiday is unlike most other holidays in that each year, it is celebrated on a different date. In 2021, it will be celebrated on April 4th. For Christians, this holiday celebrates the […]
Have you ever thought about adding lighthouses to your bucket list?A lighthouse is a tall tower or building that emits light through the use of lamps and lenses that provide safe guidance for pilots on the sea or inland waterways. These beacons of light mark dangerous coastlines, and guide the pilots into the harbor safely. […]
Did you know that there is a massive amount of garbage floating in the Pacific Ocean, and it is three times bigger than the country of France? The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is actually the compilation of two garbage heaps, the Western and Eastern Pacific Garbage Patches. The Western garbage heap has formed east of […]
Bowling, originally called tenpins, is an extremely old game dating back to 3200 B.C. Evidence was discovered in an Egyptian grave in the 1930’s by a British anthropologist when he discovered what he thought might be toys in a child’s grave that resembled balls and pins. However, this game may have started even earlier in […]
Do you know the difference between annuals and perennials? What about a biennial? Annual plants have a life cycle of just one year. They grow and bloom, shed seeds, and die. Therefore, they need to be replanted each year. However, they do bloom for a lengthy period of time from spring through the fall. Their […]
Are you tired of the plunging temperatures and scraping ice and snow off of your windshield every morning? Maybe you have been dreaming of crystal, blue water lapping at the warm sand between your toes, or relaxing on the beach with a cold drink and a good book. If so, have you ever considered living […]
If asked, most people will answer that the largest state in the Union is Texas. However, Alaska is actually about two times larger than Texas. True, a lot of the northern territory is extremely cold and nearly uninhabitable, except for the caribou, bears, and other tundra animals such as the Arctic fox and musk ox. […]
Are you a dog lover or a cat person? If you love dogs, then maybe a dachshund is just what you need. Dachshunds are frequently referred to as “wiener” dogs because of their long, slender build. This breed dates back to the 15th century. For decades, Germans bred this breed of dog, and it is […]