Cornerstone

On July 31, 1792, the cornerstone of the first building to be used solely as a U.S. Government building was set. It was the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia. Bearwiskers has been there. The mint is still open and has tours. It's a great tour, and if you get a chance, take it. Please send Bearwiskers any $20 Liberty gold coins you may have collecting dust.

E Pluribus Unum

E Pluribus Unum, One From Many or One From Many Parts, was approved for use on the Great Seal Of United States in 1782.
On July 30, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved a joint resolution declaring In God We Trust as the national motto of the United States.
One possible origin of In God We Trust is the final stanza of The Star Spangled Banner, which contains the phrase...."And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust'."
TY Wikipedia.

Safety Pin

On this day in 1796, Walter Hunt was born in upstate New York. So what? Well Walter has cost Bearwiskers a lot of money! Walter invented and built the first Safety Pin, and in 1834 he built the first American sewing machine which was the first eye pointed needle sewing machine. He later lost interest in patenting his sewing machine because he believed the invention would cause unemployment.

Walter also invented a forerunner of the Winchester repeating rifle, a successful flax spinner, knife sharpener, streetcar bell, hard coal burning stove, artificial stone, improved velocipedes and ice ploughs.

The eye pointed needle sewing machine was later re-invented / improved by Elias Howe of Spencer, Massachusetts and patented by Howe in 1846.

Rudy Vallee

On this day in 1933, the singing telegram was introduced. The first person to receive a singing telegram was singer pop star and crooner, Rudy Vallee for his 32nd birthday. Flappers loved Rudy and would mob him wherever he went. In 1929 Rudy made his first feature film, The Vagabond Lover for RKO Radio, and started hosting The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour, a very popular radio show at that time.
Rudy's rendition of "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries" and "As Time Goes By" were very popular.
Rudy was a Movie, Band and Singer, Broadway and TV star. Do you remember him in the 1960 Batman TV show as "Lord Marmaduke Fogg"?
Rudy was born in Westbrook, Maine and tried to enlist for World War 1 at the age of 15, and served in the Coast Guard in World War 11.
Bearwiskers says TY Rudy Vallee!

Molasses

Molasses is make from sugar cane or sugar beets. Sweet sorghum syrup is known in some parts of the United States as molasses but is not a true molasses.

In 1919, near Keany Square, Boston had a molasses disaster. Two million gallons of crude molasses burst from a tank and pushed it's way through the city. At least 21 people were killed and 150 people injured, and took a week to clean up. Boston residents claim that on hot days, the area still smells of molasses.

New York

In 1775, New York becomes the 11th state of the United States. The State Capitol is Albany and the state motto is Excelsior which means Ever Upward. Bearwiskers says I Love New York. When you visit New York, make time to go to the Victorian Doll Museum in North Chili, which has a thousand dolls from the mid 1880's to the present, doll houses and even a toy circus. Does anyone know the state song?

California

Death Valley, is 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in the nation. Mt. Whitney at 14,491 feet, is the highest point in the lower 48 states.
The state insect is the California Dogface Butterfly.
The state animal is the Grizzly Bear.
And...California grows 99.5% of all the dates grown in the United States!
California is beautiful, Bearwiskers says that you should visit the Golden State if you get a Chance, Eureka!

Chittenango

Chittenago, NY, is the home of L. Frank Baum, author of the "Wizard of Oz". It features a yellow brick inlaid sidewalks leading to Aunti Em's and other Oz-themed businesses. Chittenago is the location of an annual Munchkins parade. Did you know that L. Frank Baum wrote a total of 14 "OZ" books? All Oz fans should visit the Village Of Chittenango, NY, located in the Town of Sullivan, NY. if they get a chance.

National Vanilla Ice Cream Day

Celebrate, celebrate, have a bowl of vanilla ice cream. Bearwiskers loves vanilla ice cream on his birthday cake, yum yum.

President Thomas Jefferson loved ice cream and served it often, even being credited for the first American recipe for ice cream being written by Jefferson.

Is vanilla ice cream your favorite?

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Granny Doodle!

Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people that have the most birthdays, live the longest.

It takes a long time to become young.

(Pablo Picasso)

Happy Birthday Week

The largest birthday cake was made in 1989 for the 100th Birthday for the City of Payne, Alabama. The cake weighed 128,240 pounds and used 16,210 pounds of icing! Bearwiskers says Yum Yum.

A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never her age.

(Robert Frost)

American Hero

Alvin York, the World War 1 hero was born in Pall Mall, Tennessee. Alvin York was the highest decorated American soldier in World War 1, among honors presented to him were the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, World War 1 Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, French Legion d'honneur, French Croix de guerre with Palm, the Italian Croce di Guerra and many others. The Sergeant Alvin C. York Historic Park, located in Pall Mall, TN, is a great place to visit and see the history of this American Hero.
The Gary Cooper won the Oscar for Best Actor in the 1941 movie hit , Sergeant York.

Present

Since there is no time like the present, Bearwiskers thought it was time to present the present...and he does funny things when does are present!

Stuffed!

What did the teddy bear say when he was offered a second helping?
No thanks, I'm already stuffed!

"Who's been eating my porridge?" Squeakes Baby Bear.
"And who's been eating my porridge?" Asked Momma Bear.
"Burp!" said Father Bear
TY to The Teddy Baron

And speaking of stuffed - Angel Bear fixed her famous gourmet waffles today. Yum Yum, They were delicious!
TY Angel Bear

Happy Birthday Disneyland

On July 17, 1955, Disneyland opens in Anaheim, California. TY Walt Disney. Have you ever been to Disneyland or Disney World? If you ever get a chance you should go. It's a great place for kids of all ages. Make sure you stay at one of the Disney hotels. Bearwiskers says you will have a great time.

Eye See You

I can't take my eyes off of you. Chewing gum while peeling onions will keep you from crying. I only have eyes for you. The pupil of the eye expands as much as 45 precent when a person looks at somthing pleasing. The light in your eyes. The eye can distinguish 500 shades of gray. Sailors once thought that wearing a gold earring would improve their eyesight, wow, is that where that started! The bluest eyes in Texas. It is impossible to sneeze without closing your eyes.

Gummy Worms

July 15 is National Gummy Worm Day. Gummy (or gummi) worms were created by the German company Trolli in 1981. They were first created as a way for kids to shock their parents.
Speaking of worms - have you ever seen someone do the worm dance? "The Worm" dance was born in the 1920's, but was popularized by the 1980's break dancing craze. Most dancers have abandoned the worm, but it still can be seen at the open bar weddings. Let's vote - Worm or Twist?

Cool, Teddy, Cool

How do teddy bears keep their houses cool in the summer?
They use bear conditioning!

Why is a polar bear cheap to have as a pet?
They live on ice!

A big teddy bear hug and TY to The Teddy Baron, who are great teddy bear people in Rickreall, OR. Check em' out.

What Time Is It?

In most watch commercials , the time on the watch is 10:10, because then the arms frame the brand name and make it look like the watch is smiling. Largest clock in the world - the Colgate Clock, in Jersey City, New Jersey. The clock is 50 feet in diameter, weighs 2,200 pounds, and the minute hand is 23 feet long.

Angel Falls

The higest waterfall in the world is Angel Falls in Venezuela with a total drop of 3,212 feet. The falls were discovered in the 1030's! Angel Falls was named after James Angel, an American adventure who crashed his plane near the falls 2 years after they were discovered. The Empire State Building is 1,250 feet high.

Babe Ruth

July 11, 1914 Babe Ruth becomes a major leaguer with the Boston Red Sox. He earns $2,900 in his rookie year and six years later he earns $125,000 a year (about $1,250,000 in today's money) when he signs with the New York Yankees. The "Babe" was born George Herman Ruth Jr. and was nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat". Babe was born in "Pigtown", a rough neighborhood of Baltimore, Maryland. "Babe" was the first sports superstar and baseball's greatest hitter.
The Pigtown Festival will be held this year on September 11, and for a great time, if you are in the area you should attend, and don't miss the Running of the Pigs!

Wyoming

Wyoming became the 44th state today in 1890. Yellowstone became the first National Park in 1872 and Devils Tower became the first National Monument in 1906. You might remember Devils Tower in the movie "Close encounters of the third kind", one of Teddy favorite movies. Most states have state symbols, a bird , flower and song, so does Wyoming, and they also have a state dinosaur, the Triceratops! Seven states have dinosaurs as state symbols, can you name them? Hint- the New Jersey dinosaur is the Hadrosaur.

Favorite Doughnut

In 1872 the doughnut cutter was patented by John Blondel of Thomaston, Me.

Bearwiskers loves doughnuts! My favorite at this time is the Daylight Donuts, lemon filled. Yum yum.

In 1954 Tommy and Lucille Day started their business, Daylight Doughnuts, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sometimes selling from the trunk of their car. Now they have over 1000 locations worldwide! TY Tommy and Lucille and Daylight Doughnuts for a great doughnut. What's your favorite doughnut?

Vanilla Ice Cream

Yum yum. America's best selling ice cream is vanilla. Teddy loves ice cream, frozen custard, frozen yogurt, sorbet and gelato. Charles Minches of St. Louis, Missouri is one of many people credited with serving the first ice cream cone on July 23, 1904, and later that year at the world's fair in St. Louis. What's your favorite ice cream?

CafePress

New bear uploaded to CafePress.com today.

2 of Angel's Bears Packages Released

2 New Packages of Angel's Bears tubes were released today at CILM
Angel's Bears Package 95

Angel's Bears Package 96

Bonza Bottler Day

Happy Bonza Bottler Day. Bonza Bottler Day is any day that the date and month have the same number. Bonza Bottler Day is a "just because" kind of holiday started by Elaine Fremont, a day to cut loose, celebrate just for the joy of it, play. Bonza Bottler Day was first celebrated in Greenville, South Carolina and even has its own mascot (a dancing groundhog) and websites. TY Elaine Fremont.

Spoonerism

Switching letters is called spoonerism or marrowsky. For example, saying jag of Flapan, instead of flag of Japan or saying a well boiled icicle instead of a well oiled bicycle. And.....speaking of bats, they always turn left when exiting a cave.

Christmas in July

Are you hot? Want something to do? Are you down under? Australia is celebrating Christmas in July. Have a traditional Christmas dinner, put out Christmas decorations, candles, streamers, get out your hats and whistles. Build a snowman in the snow fields - it's winter down under. Attend the Newcastle & Lake Macquarie Christmas in July fund raiser Ball, a great charity to help the visually impaired, and give Colleen Praniess a big teddy bear hug from Teddy for great hard work in this grand event.

Independence Day

The 4th of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776. Since 1785, Bristol, Rhode Island has held an Independence Day celebration, the longest continuous running observance in the United States. God Bless our troops and God Bless America.

While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home.

Idaho

Happy Birthday Idaho. Idaho became the 43rd state July 3, 1890. The Great Seal of Idaho was designed in 1890 by Emma Green. It is the only Great Seal in the 50 states to be designed by a woman. In Boise, residents may not fish from a giraffe's back, and it's against the law for anyone over the age of 88 to ride a motorcycle. They love teddy bears in Idaho. Do you know anyone who lives in Idaho?

My July Reading List

 Here is My July Reading List:

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
No Such Thing As A Good Blind Date by Shelly Fredman- Brandy Alexander Mystery Series
J Is for Judgement by Sue Grafton - Kinsey Millhone Series
The Search by Iris Johansen - Eve Duncan Series
Pop! Goes the Weasel by James Patterson - Alex Cross Series
Fat Chance by Rhonda Pollero - Finley Anderson Tanner Mystery
Carrot Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke - Hannah Swensen Series
Finger Lickin' Fifteen by Janet Evanovich - Stephanie Plum Series
This Pen for Hire by Laura Levine - Jaine Austen Series
Until Proven Guilty by J.A.Jance - JP Beaumont Mysteries

What's new reading this month............
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
This Pen for Hire by Laura Levine - Jaine Austen Series
Until Proven Guilty by J.A.Jance - JP Beaumont Mysteries

In June, I read the first of the Brandy Alexander Mystery Series.
I have to find out what's going to happen next!

Goldfish

Ever have a goldfish as a pet? The goldfish was one of the first fish to be domesticated and is a member of the carp family. Goldfish can grow up to 23 inches, weigh 10 pounds and live 4o years! Most house pet goldfish live 8 years. You can teach your goldfish tricks because they have a memory span of up to 3 months. The most common name of house pet goldfish is "Jaws".

Soccer

Most soccer players run 7 miles a game! Soccer is the most popular sport on the planet. Have you ever played soccer?