What day did most signers of the Declaration of Independence actually sign the document?
Aug. 2, 1776 How many people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th? Two Which three of the first five presidents died on the Fourth of July? John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. Adams, the second president, and Jefferson, the third, died on the same day in 1826, the 50th anniversary. Which president was born on the Fourth of July? Calvin Coolidge, the 30th president, in 1872. What other countries celebrate the Fourth of July? Denmark, England, Norway, Portugal and Sweden. Denmark Danes and Norwegians celebrate American Independence Day because thousands emigrated to the U.S. in the early 1900s. Other European countries, like England, Portugal and Sweden, hold celebrations near American military bases and or spots frequented by American tourists to boost travel during early July. When did the Fourth of July become a legal federal holiday? 1938 Is there something written on the back of the Declaration of Independence? It might not be a treasure map as the movie claims in “National Treasure,” but there is apparently a message written upside down at the bottom of the signed document: “Original Declaration of Independence dated 4th July 1776.” It’s not known who wrote this and when it was written. Parchment was usually rolled up during the Revolutionary War years, it’s thought this statement served as a label. Learn why John Adams would think the country is celebrating Independence Day on the wrong date: Adams wrote that July 2, the date the Second Continental Congress voted in Philadelphia to declare independence from Britain, not July 4, would be the day patriots celebrated their freedom. “The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, (a new or distinctive era or a moment in time) in the History of America,” Adams wrote on July 3. “It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.” Related Holiday Post: Patriotic Pies For More Holiday Info: Click Here July 4th is a Wonderful, Patriotic Holiday in the USA – Enjoy!
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Petunias are a great Colorado summer flower. They are tolerant of heat so they require less water. However, we check ours every day to see if they need a drink. Wave petunias are especially nice because they create gorgeous cascades of color in hanging baskets and decorative pots. However, it’s important that these vigorous flowers get their space. Don’t over pack them…just a few plants go a long way in a container. You want to encourage them to trail over the sides which they will do if they aren’t “fighting” for root space and nutrition.  Planting Petunias
Care of Petunias
Container Plants When planting petunias in containers, be sure not to crowd your plants. Limit yourself to three per 12-inch pot. If they start to flag or grow leggy, cut them back and fertilize them. They should branch out with vigor. Cut flowers for bouquets frequently to encourage new growth and remove dead flower heads as soon as they appear.Every few days, give them a long, slow drink. Wetting the flowers and foliage can promote disease, so water either from below or close to the surface of the soil. In order to not waterlog the roots, make sure your container has very good drainage. Petunias are heavy feeders. Apply a slow release fertilizer at the time of planting. Follow up with a liquid fertilizer every week or two throughout the season. Source… Related Post Summer Activities: Summer Camping What a perfect way to show your patriotism…with patriotic pies. These are perfect for a patriotic holiday in the USA such as the 4th of July, 2020! They will, no doubt, be the hit of the party! Here are four favorites that will make your creative juices flow. Who knows, maybe you will tweak the recipes and create your own masterpiece! Old Glory Cherry & Blueberry Pie
Mini Patriotic Pies Flag-designed Masterpiece
Red Berry Pie Paired with Blueberry Pie – A Patriotic Slice of America
 Advice from a very successful Reverse Mortgage Specialist:
A friend recommended I read the book Younger Next Year by Crowley and Lodge. The book is about navigating the last 1/3 of your life in health, strength, and purpose. One of the lines in the book asks if you are preparing to live or preparing to die in your retirement years. "Are you preparing to live or preparing to die?" Having worked with senior homeowners for the last several years, I have met both. Those with vision and purpose for the last 1/3 of their lives, find ways to fund their goals and dreams. Those who aren’t willing to live a reduced or diminished life in retirement, live longer and happier lives. While others who accept that they can’t go here, or can’t do this or that live a life that seems to get smaller. They don’t go out, they do not have friends, and more importantly, they have no vision for the rest of their lives. In reality, they are existing and not living. They seem to be waiting for the end to come, and the sooner the better. Honestly, the first group is much more enjoyable to work with. They are proactive when it comes to their finances, and most other things in life. They are willing to learn about new opportunities and have decided to live their life to the fullest. Often times they fund their lifestyle in retirement with a reverse mortgage. So, which one are you? Are you preparing to live or to die in your retirement years? The choice is yours. Source: The Retirement Years Credit: Kevin A. Guttman, Reverse Mortgage Specialist
What is the origin of Father’s Day?
Father’s Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, William Jackson Smart, was a Civil War veteran and a single parent who raised six children. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis’ Mother’s Day at Central Methodist Episcopal Church in 1909, Sonora told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June. Source… For more holiday ideas, Click Here  Ever wondered what Cheyenne Mountain is all about? Where did it gets its name? What’s its history? What do you know about Cheyenne Mountain? What are those towers on top? Is NORAD still in Cheyenne Mountain? Just some of the answers to the questions above: Where did Cheyenne Mountain get its name? Named for the Cheyenne people. Native Americans found that Cheyenne Mtn was a good wood source for teepee poles. It was also visited by the Arapaho people. They sought spiritual inspiration from the mountain’s waterfalls. The Mountain was also used by the Ute Tribe to safely cross from the plains and benefit from its steep slopes and hidden valleys. Its history – what do you know about Cheyenne Mountain? Cheyenne Mountain is a triple-peaked mountain. The mountain serves as host for military, communications, recreational, and residential purposes. It was designed to withstand bombing and the fallout from a nuclear attack. The underground operations center for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) was built in the 1960s during the Cold War to monitor the potential intrusion to North American airspace Soviet missile launches and military aircraft. Homesteading activity began in 1867. The mountain was the site of resorts and retreats beginning in the 1880s. Spencer Penrose, who built and widely promoted The Broadmoor in 1918, bought several properties on the mountain. Penrose built the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Highway, Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, a lodge on one of the mountain peaks, and a retreat at Emerald Valley. The site of the lodge recently became the wilderness Cloud Camp. Emerald Valley is now the site of The Broadmoor’s Ranch at Emerald Valley. Land on The Mountain once owned by The Broadmoor is now the site of numerous luxury homes. The two parks on and at the base of Cheyenne Mountain are Cheyenne Mountain State Park and North Cheyenne Cañon Park. What are those towers on top? You cannot miss the noticeable tower feature on the top of one of Cheyenne Mountain’s peaks. Those features are an antenna farm with transmitters for cellular phones, radio, television, and law enforcement transmitters. They are not related to the military installation in the mountain. They are obviously hidden from public view. During the 1950s, an antenna farm was built on the middle peak of the mountain when Bert Swisher deeded ten acres to Bud Edmonds and several backers and Swisher signed a non-compete agreement. Edmonds, John Browne, and Buck Ingersoll agreed to replace the trails to the area with a real road, which was opened in 1960 by the Cheyenne Propagation Company. Currently there are 700 cell phone, television, radio, and law enforcement transmitters on the antenna farm. The Cheyenne Mountain radio repeater site, 145.160, covers south central and southeast Colorado along the Interstate 25 corridor from Monument to the New Mexico border. Since 2002, it has been operated by Cheyenne Propagation Company. Is NORAD still in the Cheyenne Mountain? NORAD used to offer public tours, but due to security concerns they were suspended after 9-11. Most of the center’s operations moved to Peterson Air Force Base in 2006,. Then in April 2015, the Pentagon reported that some operations would be moving back. Find out more about Cheyenne Mountain: Cheyenne Mtn Jeep Tours – Click Here! Information on Cheyenne Mtn Road – Click Here! More information on Cheyenne Mtn (Parks) – Click Here! Did you know that the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve has the tallest dunes in North America? The Sand Dunes of Colorado can reach as high as 750 Feet! The sand dunes constantly shift with the wind, water and time sculpting its appearance and beauty. The dunes are in the shadow of the Sangre de Cristo (“Blood of Christ”) Mountains. The Dunes stretch across 30 square miles with an average elevation of 7,500 feet.  Interesting Facts About the Sand Dunes in Colorado: 1) Members of the Ladies P.E.O. sponsored a bill to Congress asking for national monument status for the Great Sand Dunes. The bill was signed into law in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover. 2) In 2000-2004 the Sand Dunes in Colorado was expanded into a national park and preserve. 3) About 300,000 people visit the Great Sand Dunes every year because of the oddly beautiful combination of desert dunes and high mountain peaks, the spring-time flow of Medano Creek, and dark, quiet nights in the Dunes wilderness. 4) Camping, hiking, and photography opportunities are plentiful in the area. “Visitors must walk across the wide and shallow Medano Creek to reach the dunes in spring and summer months. The creek typically has a peak flow from late May to early June in most years. From July through April, the creek is usually no more than a few inches deep, if there is any water at all. Hiking is permitted throughout the dunes with the warning that the sand surface temperature may reach 150 °F (66 °C) in summer. Sandboarding and sandsledding are popular activities, both done on specially designed equipment which can be rented just outside the park entrance or in Alamosa.” Source… The Great Sand Dunes of Colorado is a “Must See” Attraction! Make Father’s Day special this year by encouraging your kids or grand kids to make him something themselves! These Fathers Day crafts for kids are fun and easy-to-make. Father’s Day was not celebrated in the US, outside Catholic traditions, until the 20th century. As a civic celebration in the US, it was inaugurated in the early 20th century to complement Mother’s Day by celebrating fathers and male parenting. It celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make to their children’s lives. Its origins may lie in a memorial service held for a large group of men, many of them fathers, who were killed in a mining accident in Monongah, West Virginia in 1907. Father’s Day in the United States is on the third Sunday of June. 1) This is such a cute, easy-to-make Father’s Day card from a small child or baby.  2) Not sure what to give dad? You might like printable Father’s Day coupons. You can fill them in with a free car wash, lawn mowing, breakfast of his choice, two “you decide” blank coupons, and even one that says, “King for a Day.” Here is another source for printable Father's Day coupons - Father's Day Coupons  3) Have your kids make this thumbprint grapes Father’s Day card for their dads! All you need is paint and a marker. At the top of the card it says “Love You Bunches, Dad” or “Love You a Bunch, Dad!”  Fathers Day Crafts for Kids…For more ideas, Click Here Did you know there are hot springs destinations in Colorado? For hundreds of years Coloradans have flocked to the relaxing and healing waters that are distinct to natural hot springs. Due to the heat and minerals found in these hot springs all over Colorado, they are said to have healing properties which leave you feeling rejuvenated! Hot spring pools are, without a doubt, extremely relaxing and beautiful. Why should we make a trip to an Earth’s natural spa? The main benefits of hot spring pools are:
With all these therapeutic benefits, how could you not want to make your way to a hot spring? We created a list of some of the most popular hot springs to visit in Colorado. We hope you’ll go check them out! (For more Hot Springs Destinations in Colorado, Click Here) Click on each title to go to their website. 1. Avalanche Ranch      Yes, parents stuff can be a boomer burden! Many baby boomers and those in the over 50 group are facing the inevitable in life. They have aging parents or their parents have already passed away. Besides coping with the emotional burden, there is also the matter of the financial aspect of a death and also dealing with your parents stuff. It can certainly be overwhelming!  Top 4 suggestions for action to take now and later: 1. Start Now – If parents are alive and willing, ask if they would like help in deciding what they want done with their belongings when they die. They might also want to start giving things away to family and friends while they are still alive. 2. Savor Memories – One way to remember a loved one is to make shadow boxes containing mementos of their hobbies and activities. They take up much less room and provide pleasant memories of a loved one. They can also be made for other members of the family. They make nice mementos for grand children and nieces and nephews. 3. Don’t Wait Too Late – You will be surprised to know that your aging parent (s) would actually welcome help in culling out possessions. It is a good time for them to reflect back on their life. It is also an excellent way to find out more about their life that you maybe didn’t even know! Communicate with your parents early! 4. Dealing with Siblings – Keep in mind when working with siblings in this situation that there are differences in how things should be done. Some adult children just want to “get it done” without giving much time or thought to the process. There are also those that want to touch each item and reminisce to great lengths. Come up with a plan on how you are going to deal with your parent’s possessions that will be workable for all to handle. Professional organizer, Claudia Smith, advocates a simple rule of thumb. “We spend our first 40 years in life collecting things and the second 40 years getting rid of things.” How to Deal with Your Parents Stuff!
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