More First Day Covers

My posts focusing on Stamp Collecting have generated more positive response than I anticipated. In my last post, I described the especially interesting (to me) part of stamp collecting known as First Day Covers. I scanned a few more ... take a look below ... be sure to click on images for a better view.

Recognition for one of my favorite parts 
of the US Government
Saluting the Library of Congres
April 21, 1982

Most of my followers are Seniors 😊
Don't mess with my Social Security!
50th Anniversary Social Security Act
1933 - 1985

History of Transportation is one of my interests.
Bread Wagon 1880s
Transportation Series of 1887 FDCs
Issued November 22, 1986

Sports!
Winter Sports Games
Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1988
Hoping my blog friends in Alberta see this.

Monarch Butterfly
(One of my favorite Butterflies)
First Day of Issue May 17 2010

Hummingbird
(One of my favorite critters.)
The art goes beyond the stamp itself!

For those of us who enjoy writing
old school style.
Quill & Inkwell
February 14, 2011

In my earliest memories of politics this man was President.
I had a lot of respect for him.
This FDC In Memoriam Dwight D. Eisenhower
1890 - 1969

I'm guessing there are hundreds of stamps featuring
the United States Flag.
This 6 cent stamp was issued May 30, 1969

Honoring our partnership with our great neighbor 
 Canada - 50th Anniversary Migratory Bird Treaty - 1906

It's a good thing we bought Alaska when we did!
100th Anniversary Purchase of Alaska
1867 - 1967

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

Update May 31 for Saturday's Critters

In Big Bear Valley, California, there is an Eagle Nest Cam, operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley (FOBBV). This year, the mother Eagle, named Jackie, laid the first of 3 eggs on January 22. On March 2, the first “pip” on one of the 3 eggs appeared. Pipping is the crack in the shell as a bird begins to hatch. By the morning of March 4, two fluffy chicks shared the nest with mom, and Shadow, the dad. The 3^rd egg hatched on March 8th. A significant snowstorm occurred around March 13. The storm brought over 2 feet of snow to the area. One of the eaglets unfortunately succumbed to the storm and died around that time.

For the remaining two eaglets, FOBBV chat indicated that a “fledge watch” was started on May 13 ... about 10 weeks after hatch and the earliest expected date for the birds to take flight. The fledge watch is a wide window … May 13 to approximately June 10. Early this morning, May 31, both birds are still in the nest and appear to be read to fly away any day now. The eaglets are named Sunny & Gizmo. See link to YouTube below.

I did not discover the FOBBV nest cam until May 10^th when the nest made the ABC Evening News and David Muir advised of the webcam. Since May 10, I’ve spent hours watching the stream and it has been a complete fascination.

Here are a few screen shots moments of interest ... all photos credit Friends of Big Bear Valley ...

March 5

March 13

March 25

May 19

May 26

Thanks for stopping by John's Island!

Sharing links:

 Michelle's Thankful Thursday

and

Saturday's Critters

Stamps - First Day Covers

In my Friday, February 7, 2025, I mentioned my stamp collection and received positive comments leading me to believe it might be an interesting thing to include in more posts. Here’s a little background on stamps:

On average, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issues approximately 25 to 30 new stamp subjects each year. This figure refers to distinct stamp subjects or themes, such as commemorative issues honoring historical events, cultural icons, or natural landmarks. Each subject may be released in various formats or denominations, leading to a higher total number of individual stamp designs annually. For instance, in 2023, the USPS issued 132 different stamps, including 80 commemoratives and 42 definitives. In stamp collecting and postal terminology, a definitive stamp is a regular-issue postage stamp intended for everyday use over an extended period. An example is the American Flag.

In 2025, the USPS plans to continue this tradition with a variety of new stamp releases. These include stamps commemorating the 250th anniversaries of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, as well as stamps featuring cultural icons and natural wonders.

To me the most interesting part of stamp collection is/are First Day Covers. When the Post Office issues a new stamp, people like to put the new stamp on an envelope and get it postmarked on the first day of issue. The envelopes have usually been created to celebrate the occasion with special art work and/or images. One of my favorite FDCs is shown below. I found the art work delightful. If you are into stamp collecting please let me know in the comments.

Click on the image for a better view.

The First Day Cover for the Celebrate stamp issued 
on March 25, 2011. This particular one was
postmarked in Cleveland, Ohio
And, yes, I do like the art work! 😊

Thanks for stopping by John's Island!

Total Solar Eclipse

Today is the day.

The yellow line is the path of totality.
Credit to New York Times for the map above
and the one below.

The New York Times

How to watch with NASA

Thanks for stopping by.

Comments will return on the next post.

For Critter Friends

 

A Post for My Critter Friends

Have you discovered the trove of treasures within YouTube?

In my journey of exploration through the digital expanse of YouTube, I've stumbled upon content that not only educates but deeply moves the heart. One such gem is a video series featuring a compassionate individual who visits dog kennels, stepping into the spaces of unwanted and abandoned dogs. With a gentle presence and open heart, he sits among these animals, offering them moments of comfort and affection.

After watching the video below, I decided I had to share it with my Saturday’s Critters friends.

The YouTube channel belongs to Rocky.

More critter fascination at Saturday's Critters

Thankful Thursday is a good place for Rocky!

Alpenglow

A dear friend posted, on Facebook, the tapestry below describing new words to refer to certain kinds of unusual light.

Art by Grant Snider

Her post struck me because, at the moment I read her post, I happened to look out my window to the Olympic Mountains in the distance. "Alpenglow:  rosy light on mountain peaks at dawn or dusk." It was like a bingo moment ... alpenglow was on perfect display. This kind of thing encourages me to think more positively about social media. 😊 What a coincidence!

February 15th shortly after sunrise

And a sunset a few days later caused me to wonder what name we should apply to the glow in the sky. What are your suggestions?

February 19th  

I found 30 descriptive words in "How to Describe a Sunset in Writing" here.

The Chief Invites You

To Glacier National Park, 1929.

The Invitation sent out by
Chief Two Guns White Calf
for Season June 15th - Sept. 15th, 1929

The Chief extends his invitation in this booklet, published 1929, by the Great Northern Railroad.

I hope you can click on the images to see the large view ... which I hope you will be able to read. The Chief would not appreciate my sending out an invitation with print too small to read.

At least you should be able to enjoy the images. And, NO, I don't care if you copy them! 😊

The booklet was mailed from St Paul, Minnesota, in 1929, when postage for the booklet was 1 cent. Unfortunately, the postmark is smudged, so the exact date can't be determined.

I would sure like to know if Ella Schilling visited Glacier.

What is your guess?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

UPDATE: In my original post, above, I should have mentioned that the Chief’s Invitation is to visit both Glacier AND Waterton Lakes. Glacier is a National Park in the USA and Waterton Lakes is a National Park in Canada. They are adjacent and separated only by the International Border between Canada and the USA. The Glacier portion is in the state of Montana, and the Waterton Lakes portion is in the Province of Alberta.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Linking up with these sharing parties ... thanks to the hosts ...

Michelle's Thankful Thursday

Eileen's Saturday's Critters

Visit Yellowstone 140 Years Ago

Through Yellowstone National Park

Published 1883

> Click on images for larger view <

Can you imagine travel 140 years ago?

Oregon Coast

Cannon Beach, Oregon

I spent most of last week at The Stephanie Inn in Cannon Beach, Oregon. From Seattle, it's about a 4 hour drive south. Reservations must be made well in advance, so we didn't know what kind of weather we would encounter. As it turned out, an "atmospheric river" blessed us with more rain and wind than we expected. Although walks on the beach were limited, it was still a fascinating time to be on the ocean's edge.

The Stephanie Inn is located very close to Haystack Rock.  Haystack is a 235 ft-tall (72 m) sea stack. It is the third-tallest such intertidal structure in the world. A popular tourist destination on the Oregon Coast, the monolithic rock is adjacent to the beach and accessible by foot at low tide. The Haystack Rock tide pools are home to many intertidal animals, including starfish, sea anemone, crabs, chitons, limpets, and sea slugs. The rock is also a nesting site for many sea birds, including terns and puffins.

My walks on the beach leave me with so many questions and concerns about how our human activities are affecting our environment. The image below illustrates my concerns. Every wave brings a new deposit of flotsam and jetsam to the beach. 

Flotsam and jetsam are terms that describe two types of marine debris associated with vessels. Flotsam is defined as debris in the water that was not deliberately thrown overboard, often as a result from a shipwreck or accident. Jetsam describes debris that was deliberately thrown overboard by a crew of a ship in distress, most often to lighten the ship's load. The word flotsam derives from the French word flotter, to float. Jetsam is a shortened word for jettison.

In the image above, notice all the little bits of plastic. On one walk, I collected a handful of these bits of debris, brought them inside, cleaned them up, and staged them for the picture below. I've often heard that beach walkers like to keep an eye out for a bottle with a message in it. At first, I was amused to find the mini liquor bottle, even though, no message was inside. In truth, it's a sad comment on human behavior. Amongst all the bits on the sand there are also some from nature like the tiny plant parts and driftwood.

My favorite visitor was the gull below. Is it a HE or a SHE? 😊 When you try to look it up, you'll find this:  It can be difficult to tell the difference between male and female seagulls. In most species, they have similar physical characteristics and plumage. Keep reading and you'll find details that lead me to believe it is a SHE. If you think otherwise, please let me know why you think so!

See more critters at Saturday's Critters.

How about some roasted marshmallows while watching the waves roll in? Yes, the Inn provides a couple of sticks and marshmallows.

Closing thought ...

Dinner in the Diner 100 Years Ago

Chairman's Special - Western Trip - October, 1923

Heaven's Peak from Granite Park
Glacier National Park

Dinner Menu - Friday, October 12, 1923
Great Northern Railway
Chairman's Special - Western Trip
> Grape Sherbet <

History Lesson:  Louis W. Hill was Chairman of the Board of the Great Northern Railway in 1923. One of Louis’ greatest legacies was his enthusiastic promotion of tourism and the national park system. He maintained an interest in the American Indian tribes of Montana and became a collector of Blackfoot material, now housed in the Science Museum of Minnesota.