Goodbye, Penny! On November 12, 2025, the US Mint stamped its last penny. They won’t make any more new ones, but there are lots of old ones still around. I wonder, how many can you find in your house?

My Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/11/12/penny-discontinued-shortages-us-mint/87214531007/
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​                                                                                                                                      Part 1: The End of the Story: 
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It all started with the Department of Government Efficiency. Think Doge. In January of 2025, they said that 4.5 billion pennies were stamped in 2023, and they cost taxpayers over $179 million. That’s a lot of pennies!

I couldn’t do the math, and Google couldn’t either. So I checked the US Mint’s 2024 Annual Report. They said each penny made in 2024 cost 3.69 cents to make. Ridiculous! To pay four pennies to make one? That’s non-cents! LOL!
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President Donald Trump looked over both reports and then signed an executive order in February 2025. It ordered the US Mint to quit making pennies. They stopped…ten months later. 


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It’s only been a week, but the end of the penny is already affecting businesses like McDonalds. When you use cash, they’ll ask if you could round up to the nearest nickel. Then they don’t need pennies to make change. Why? Thousands of stores can’t get them!

Note—if you use credit cards, no problem. Banks can give you change electronically.
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Some businesses even round down. Losing a few pennies won’t hurt the bottom line in the short term, but over a year it can. Think dollars. Hundreds, even thousands! 


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So what can business do? Ask Congress for help. Businesses have legal issues that are much bigger than mere pennies. Did you know 10 states and some localities already have laws that won’t let business round to the nearest nickel? Ouch!

You’d think government would have addressed this, but you’d be wrong. So what can you do? Use your credit card…it’s an easy button. If you prefer cash, use it. Just round up and be generous to businesses during this time of change. It won’t last forever.

                                                                                                         Part 2: My Top Ten Quotes

​Have you heard some great lines about pennies? I picked ten famous people who had something to say about them.  
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My Source Link: www.azquotes.com/quotes/topics/pennies.html


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​1. "One penny may seem to you a very insignificant thing,
​but it is the small seed from which fortunes spring."

By Orison Swett Marden (1848-1924)
​
American inspiration author & founder of Success magazine



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2. "A penny saved is a penny earned."
And 
"Watch the pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves."

By Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

American writer, scientist, inventor, statesman,
diplomat, printer, and publisher

PS... J. Paul Getty, founder of the Getty Oil Company, said something similar…
"If you look after the pennies, the dollars will look after themselves." 


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​3. "Human beings have the remarkable ability to turn
nothing into something. They can turn weeds into
gardens and pennies into fortunes."

 By Jim Rohn (1930-2009)
​
American entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker

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4. "Be careful who you call your friends. I’d rather have
four quarters than one hundred pennies."

By Al Capone (1899-1947)

American gangster and businessman



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6. "Pennies do not come from heaven.
They have to be earned here on earth."

By Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013)

British stateswoman, leader of the Conservative Party,
​and Prime Minister

8. "If teardrops were pennies and heartaches were gold,
I'd have all the treasures my pockets could hold."

By Dolly Parton (1946)

American singer, songwriter, actress,
​philanthropist, and businesswoman

​10. "Whatever your dream is, every extra penny
you have needs to be going to that."

By Will Smith (1968)

American actor, rapper, and film producer




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                                                      Part 3: My Top Ten Songs
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​Can you think of any song titles with pennies? I picked the top ten from an online source.
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​​My Source Link: https://www.ranker.com/list/the- best-songs-about-pennys/reference


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​1. “Penny Lane,” was recorded by the Beatles, a 1960s English band from Liverpool. Think John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr.
 
It was released in February 1967. “Penny Lane” became a top five hit in Europe, and it reached the top of the US Billboard Hot 100.


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2. “Penny Arcade” was sung by Roy Orbison, a famous American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.
​
Orbison recorded “Penny Arcade” in 1969. He took it to #1 in Australia and New Zealand, to the Top 30 in the UK, and to #133 in the US. 


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​3. “A Penny for Your Thoughts” was recorded by Willie Nelson, an American singer, guitarist, songwriter, actor, and activist.

He released it in February of 1976. 

4. “Penny Lover” was sung by Lionel Richie, an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and TV personality.

​It was the fifth and final release from Ritchie’s 1983 multi-platinum album, Can’t Slow Down. “Penny Lover” was also a top ten hit on the US Billboard Hot 100. It hung out at #8 for two weeks in December 1984.



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​6. “Throw a Penny” was performed by the Bee Gees, a trio of brothers. Their first names, Barry, Robbin, and Maurice.
​
You’ll find “Throw a Penny” on their 1974 album, Mr. Natural. 

8. “Pretty Penny” was recorded by Stone Temple Pilots, an American rock band from San Diego, California.

It came from their 1994 album Purple, but it was released as a 1995 promo single. 

​9. “Penny Hardaway” was recorded by Ghostface Killah and the Cool Kids.
​
They released it on their album When Fish Ride Bicycles back on July 12, 2011. 


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10. “The Penny Arcade in California” was recorded by the Neutral Milk Hotel.

It came from their 1998 album, The Aeroplane Over the Sea. Would you believe they actually renamed the song when they were touring?

If you’re my age, do you remember January in second grade? That’s when I learned cursive. It was thrilling! But by the time I was teaching second grade, cursive was gone. The era of teaching to the Ohio Fourth Grade Proficiency Test had begun.
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So what’s so special about cursive? Take a stroll down cursive’s timeline to see how it developed and why it might be coming back.
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                                                          My Sources: Who Invented Cursive? - Word Smarts
                                            Why Cursive Writing and Penmanship Is Important - Word Smarts


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  Part 1: In the Beginning, There was the Roman Empire
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Rome became an empire in 44BC (Before Christ). That’s when Julius Caesar decided to promote himself to emporer, but Rome had already been powerful for 600 years. This illustration features Roman chariot races in a coliseum. Think stadiums with horses and gladiators. 
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Roman scribes modeled their writing after the Etruscans of Ancient Italy. That’s Tuscany, western Umbria, and northern Lazio in modern Italy. If you want to learn more about the Etruscans, check out Wikipedia’s maps and alphabets. Funny, their alphabet only has capital letters.

                                Links: Etruscan civilization - Wikipedia   &    Etruscan alphabet - Wikipedia
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​Check out some real Roman writing! Did you notice it’s all in caps; without one single lower-case letter? It reminds me of the Etruscan alphabet.

Tomorrow: Meet Charlemagne. He came up with a new version too

                       Part 2: Fastforward to Charlemagne and the Middle Ages

​Charlemagne, the King of the Franks and the Holy Roman Emperor, enters the cursive story sometime around 768 AD. He remains on the scene until 814 AD. AD means After the Death of Jesus Christ.
​
Charlemagne wanted an English monk to standardize handwriting. Over the years the monks created the first standard form of cursive. Its name, Carolingian script or miniscule.

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Look below, and you’ll see an older example. Carolingian has lower-case letters. There’s separation between each word and even punctuation, but letters aren’t connected yet. Later versions of cursive will be based on Carolingian. 
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During the Middle Ages, parchment grew more expensive, so writers pushed letters and words close together.  Then in the 1400’s the printing press was created, and typeface grew dark and heavy.

By the time the Renaissance came along, people added twists and curls to their writing, making it difficult to read. As a result, people returned to Carolingian. 
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By the 1300s Italian humanism appeared. Did you notice the print is light and elegant? Its name, italic. 

The italics we read in books today looks like this… humanism arose from the study of ancient Greece and Rome, and it spread across western Europe. Interesting, the two fonts look a lot alike.
 

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 Part 3: Cursive Comes to the New World
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When the English came to America, they brought their culture too. Their books and their handwriting. The first and most successful one written especially for the colonies, The New England Primer. Many children learned to read and write from its pages, especially in the northeast.

​This is one of its pages. The verses focus on the role of parents, the wages of sin, and on salvation. Many passages come straight out of the King James Bible. 

I can imagine children placing velum, a thin sheet of paper on top, then tracing over the letters and words. That’s how they learned to write, and it’s also why New England had so many literate citizens. Boys, especially.

Penmanship was a sign of education and wealth, but it also showed your gender. Everyone added flourishes to their writing. Ladies used curves and bows while men favored straight lines. 


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​Do you recognize this document? It’s the Declaration of Independence. 
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I thought it was written by Thomas Jefferson, but it turns out Timothy Matlack, a calligrapher, copied Jefferson’s words onto that original Declaration. The name of that early cursive, Copperplate.

Do you recognize this man? His name is Platt Rogers Spencer; I’d never heard of him either. Platt was an abolitionist. He lived during the 1800’s, and he worked to free slaves before the Civil War. But that’s not why he’s in this post…

In the mid 1850’s he came up with a new form of writing. Its original name, chirythmography. I don’t think I can pronounce it. In Greek it means timed handwriting. Would you believe Platt actually used a metronome to help writers match their pen strokes to a beat?
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BTW, a metronome is used in music to help you play at a steady pace. Not too fast. Not too slow. Funny, I never pictured it as a handwriting tool.

Chirythmography is too fancy for me. I prefer its ordinary name, Spencerian script. It’s much easier to pronounce! Spencer wanted to make penmanship available to everyone, and it worked! Look below…

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Do you recognize this logo? Platt penned it, and it’s been Coke’s logo ever since. His writing style caught on. Many schools and businesses adopted it. Why? Because good penmanship meant opportunities…for jobs and promotions.
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                                                            Part 4: The Twentieth Century and a New Millenia
                                                                     

The late 1800s brought change. Spencerian was too slow for clerks and telegraph operators who had to turn Morse code into cursive. 

​Austin Palmer had a new idea, and a how-to book. He also taught writers to use their arm muscles to write faster. It worked!

The Palmer Method became super successful for business and personal writing. If your great grandparents wrote letters during the early 1900s, their handwriting would have looked like this.

​Do you recognize Zaner-Bloser from your schooldays? I printed in it. In 2nd grade I learned cursive, and in 3rd grade I HAD to use it…on spelling tests and everything else! Imagine spelling a word right but mixing up a cursive stroke. URGH!
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Elmer W. Bloser, a classmate and friend of Zaner, bought part of the company in 1891. Five years later they renamed it, Zaner & Bloser, and in 1921 it became simply Zaner-Bloser. As of 1972 ownership of Zaner-Bloser was sold to Highlights for Children. They still own it, and children still learn their letters from them.


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So what happened to all those kids born in the late 80s like mine? All three of them print. The only thing they write in cursive is a signature. Why?

My two sources claim it’s because of keyboards and touchscreens. That’s partly true: we take tests online. But from my perch as a 2nd grade teacher, it’s testing. From 3rd grade up, tests dominate the curriculum. If it’s not on that test, teachers don’t teach it. They might want to, but penmanship isn’t tested.

In Europe, kids are still taught penmanship, and it’s coming back here in the states. Would you believe in 2024 California became the 22nd state to require that cursive be taught again? Why? Research is beginning to show that there are benefits to cursive, like increasing memory. People who take notes on paper remember things longer. 

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​My two original sources:
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1.https://wordsmarts.com/cursive-penmanship/?lctg=c4d2fe5b-125d-41db-a63c-ea78909f2d82
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2. https://wordsmarts.com/history-cursive-writing/?lctg=a98ce4ad-51ba-48fd-ac39-1bd7f46aac1d

If you’d like to learn more, check out this link. It lists twelve benefits your child will miss if they don’t learn cursive. Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/the-death-of-cursive-writing-will-have-serious-consequences-for-your-grandkids/ss-AA1OTN8q?ocid=winp2fp

Do you recognize this landform? It’s the continent of Africa, and this is a political map from 2021. Did you know Africa is the 2nd largest and 2nd most populated continent?  Only Asia is bigger. 
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 Before she left, she had some prep work to do. There were shots to take, for yellow fever, typhoid, and tetanus. And her clothes went to a special place called Insect Shield. Would you believe they soaked them in insect repellent, then let them air dry so she wouldn’t have to worry about bug bites?


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                                    Part 1: The Inspiration for Sandra’s Trip
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​My interest in Africa started when I read the book The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith. The series is enjoyable to read. I love the descriptions of Botswana in the books, and the main character, Mma Precious Ramotswe, a traditionally built lady, as she calls herself, not your typical detective.
                   
Precious enjoys drinking rooibos tea, a habit I adopted after reading the books. I also watched a documentary on PBS about a hot-air balloon ride over the Serengeti. I knew I had to fly someday over an African park and witness the animal migrations.


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​It became popular internationally in the 2000s, coincidentally when the book came out, and later it became a TV series. If you’re curious what it tastes like, Wikipedia said it has an earthy flavor and aroma to yerba mate or tobacco. In the UK, it’s known as bush tea, red tea, or redbush tea. Would you believe you can find rooibos tea on Amazon?      
 
 
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                                                        Part 2: Sandra Goes on Safari—Her Photos & Words

​My dream came true this year when I went on a safari in Kenya and Tanzania. I took a hot-air balloon ride over the Masai Mara and saw hundreds of different creatures.   
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​Seeing animals in their natural habitat, interacting with each other--
zebras with wildebeest, impalas, gazelles….

A leopard hanging in a tree…

​Lions by the side of the road…

​Giraffes munching on acacia leaves…

Cheetahs with their cubs—was incredible. TOTAL MAGIC!

(Rinda) I’m so glad Sandra didn’t forget the elephants, especially the baby!
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​Do you see it in the first photo? There must be something that alerted the adults.
They encircled the baby to protect it. That’s what elephants do when they sense danger.
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Part 3: Sandra Meets the People of Africa—Her Photos and Words
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​I also loved the people I met—their warmth, pride in their countries, and friendliness. I want to return and explore other parts of this vast continent. My memories of Africa have stayed deep in my heart. This photo came from a Masai village in Amboseli Park.

These kids are dressed for school. All children, even in public school wear uniforms. They’re on a field trip at the end of the year to the National Museum of Kenya in Nairobi. Buses brought them from villages outside of Nairobi.
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                                                                   They were very well-behaved children. 



                                                                              Part 4: Africa by the Numbers

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​(Rinda) Africa takes up about 20% of the land on earth. It’s home to 18% of the world’s population. In 2021 that was approximately 1.4 billion people. Africans are the youngest people on earth. In 2012 their median age was 19.7. Worldwide, it’s 30.4. (Median means the number in the middle.)

Africa, as of 2021 is made up of 54 nations. There are also 8 cities and some islands that belong to non-African countries. Would you believe Malta and Sicily are geographically part of the African continent, but both belong to the European Union? Algeria is Africa’s largest country, and Nigeria has the most people.

                                                                                       Source: Africa - Wikipedia


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                                                                                A Map of African Languages
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​(Rinda) Would you believe Africa has between 1,250 and 2,100 languages, depending on how you count the dialects? Some say it could be over 3,000!

There are 7 distinct families of African languages. They’re spread across the continent. Nigeria has the most people and over 500 languages.

                                                                  Learn more at: Languages of Africa - Wikipedia

Can you imagine how one creature, one animal has the power to shape an entire ecosystem? I knew the blue whale was the largest animal that ever lived…Even bigger than the dinosaurs, but I never imagined it could affect our oceans.

When I read an article about blue whales from Animals Around the World, I knew I had to write about them.
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Their link: https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/why-a-single-blue-whale-can-reshape-an-entire-ecosystem-3-333179/


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1. How Big is a Blue Whale?
​
- A blue whale is 100 feet long, or 6 feet longer than a basketball court.
- It weighs 200 tons. That’s as heavy as the engine pulling a train.
- Their tongue weighs about 2.7 tons. Can you imagine a whale with an elephant-sized tongue?

i -  Their hearts weigh as much as a car. Ours, only 10 ounces. That’s the size of a grocery store can.
- Blue whales pump 220 pounds of blood through their body. That’s what some football players weigh.

- Their arteries are so big grown-ups could swim through them. 
- When a blue whale eats, goes to the bathroom, or decays after death, 
it changes the ocean around them.


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                              ​2. How Much Do They Eat?
​

- One blue whale can eat up to 4 tons of krill in 24 hours.

- 4 tons of krill equal the weight of one hippo.
- It also equals 40 million teeny tiny creatures.
- Each one, 1-2 centimeters long.

- Eating all that krill keeps their population in check.
- That leaves room for other kinds of krill and
plankton to live too.

- Blue whales feed on thick patches of krill.
- A single blue whale can set the trophic levels lower in the ocean.
- The plants and animals at the lowest trophic levels are also at the bottom of the food chain. 

- These 2 animals can equal each other…
- 40 million krill equal one 4-ton hippo.

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                                                                  ​3. How Do Blue Whales Affect the Ocean?

Do you remember how one blue whale eats about 49 million krill? That’s about 4 tons a day! That gives them the power to keep krill populations in check. It also allows diversity within plankton communities too. 

​This map shows where blue whales live and influence ocean life. They don’t live in the white spaces, and they don’t control krill populations there either. 


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                                                                                                                ​​4. Do Blue Whales Fight Climate Change?
​

Yes, they can! Blue whales live more than 90 years. During that time, they accumulate tons of carbon inside their bodies; 33 tons of carbon dioxide to be precise. When a whale dies and sinks to the bottom of the ocean, it’s called a whale fall. Those tons of carbon are stored away inside their bodies for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years.
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The blue whale population is now in decline, meaning they’re pulling less carbon out of the environment. One blue whale can capture the same amount of carbon dioxide as thousands of trees, and now there are fewer blue whales to do that.


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       ​5. Can a Dead Whale Create an Oasis Under the Sea?

Yes! A blue whale stimulates the ocean long beyond its lifetime. As its carcass reaches the ocean floor, the seabed grows rich in resources that can last ocean creatures for 75 years, or the turn of the next century. One blue whale carcass can deposit 2,000 years’ worth of carbon. That’s the year 4025.
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There are 400 species that can colonize a whale fall. Some of those organisms are found nowhere else on earth. That new community will become a hotspot for biodiversity for decades. It will also serve as a steppingstone for the spread of those species across the plains of our deepest oceans. 


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                                               ​​6. Did You Know When Blue Whales Move, It Changes the Ocean?
​

When a blue whale eats, each lunge they make moves over 70 tons of water. The turbulence extends down hundreds of meters. That movement mixes and distributes nutrients, oxygen, and heat through the layers of water. It also affects the chemistry and circulation patterns, and blue whales can temporarily change the temperature and microbes in the water.

Would you believe as blue whales dive and surface, they create pressure waves that keep seafloor sediments in shallow water? It also pulls up buried nutrients for ocean communities. Those disturbances are multiplied across a whale’s migration route. One whale can influence ecosystems across thousands of miles of ocean. 

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​                                                           

​Absolutely! When a blue whale swims into an area full of krill, they change the way they swarm. Krill take defensive measures like migrating vertically, changing when they reproduce, and where they live. Why wouldn’t they? One blue whale eats 4 tons of krill in 24 hours; that’s the weight of one hippo.

When blue whales often swim through an area, the krill population is more stable and diverse. They also feed other ocean animals like seabirds and small fish.

                 8. How Loud Are Blue Whales?
​

They are the    loudest creature on Earth. As the Earth’s largest animal, it makes sense they have a HUGE voice. It’s 188 decibels loud, or as loud as a rocket ship when it blasts off.

Their voice is deep because of its low frequency. Its long wavelength lets it travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of miles across the ocean.

Would you believe the call of one blue whale can change how schools of fish swim? That it can trigger defensive responses in prey, or that it can change migration patterns for zooplankton. Blue whales have ONE powerful voice!


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9. Do Migration Routes Affect Ocean Habitats?
​

Absolutely! Blue Whales travel up to 10,000 miles each year between their feeding and breeding grounds. Their routes are biological highways that connect ocean ecosystems. As whales swim between both points, they carry with them nutrients, microorganisms, even parasites.

Seabirds, sharks, and other smaller fish know when whales will arrive. They gather, waiting to share in the feast. Some parasites complete their entire life cycle aboard a whale during one of those journeys. It’s hard to believe that just one blue whale can strengthen an ecosystem. They prevent isolation and promote genetic exchange between distant communities.


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                                                                                                                            10. Do Blue Whales Affect Ocean Evolution?
​

​Absolutely! Krill have changed and evolved how they swarm, migrate vertically, and reproduce based on the presence or absence of blue whales. There are distinct differences between the two krill populations.

The whale’s baleen digestive system also favors certain krill species and sizes over others in the evolutionary fight to survive. That in turn favors some krill-eating seabirds and fish too. It’s hard to believe one blue whale can drive marine evolution across thousands of ocean habitats.
 
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                         11. What if Blue Whales Disappeared?
​

Ocean habitats would suffer. In the Southern Ocean, it’s already happened. Commercial whaling removed about 99% of the blue whales. You can still see the results today.
​
Without whales feeding on them, the krill populations have changed. They’ve grown larger and denser. They’ve stopped changing physically; there’s no need to escape a predator.

There’s also a reduction in nutrients. Without whale poop, there’s less iron in the ocean, almost 40% less. Without their deaths, other creatures aren’t born. They become rarer and more isolated. There are millions of tons of carbon that whales no longer remove and store away. We need blue whales to keep the oceans healthy and thriving. 


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12. Is There Still Time to Save Them?
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                                                                                                     13. Is One Blue Whale Irreplaceable?
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​The conclusion to the article—YES! A blue whale is so much more than its incredible size. Just one whale influences the ocean by the way they eat, migrate, poop, communicate, and even die. All those things enhance biodiversity, stabilize food webs, and connect distant ecosystems.

Blue whales are one BIG animal in the ocean, but they’re key to its health. With the decline in their population, protecting blue whales is more crucial today for the whales, for the health of our oceans, and for their fellow creatures.
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My source link: https://www.animalsaroundtheglobe.com/why-a-single-blue-whale-can-reshape-an-entire-ecosystem-3-333179/

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​Sometimes your mind just stalls out. Not from lack of effort, but from running in too many directions without pause. Creative energy isn’t infinite—it depletes, especially when life demands too much and gives too little space in return. The good news? You can restart it. Like a muscle, creativity responds to movement, rhythm, and shifts in perspective—especially when you step outside the loop you’re stuck in.



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     Tip #2: Use Movement to Clear Mental Clutter

There’s a strange relief that comes when your feet are moving and your mind trails behind them. A walk clears static you didn’t know you were carrying. It's not just exercise—it's a way of thinking without trying. The repetition of footsteps untangles thoughts quietly in the background. That rhythmic forward motion often acts like a reset switch on problem-solving. Not every idea is born at a desk. Some of your best breakthroughs might be waiting just outside your door, pacing alongside your shadow.



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You don’t need a giant breakthrough. Simple ways to stay creative include sticky notes, sketchpads, lists of bad ideas, or mind maps that go nowhere. These aren’t productivity hacks. They’re frictionless ways to loosen mental bottlenecks. Let your tools be dumb. Let your output be pointless. Eventually, something catches. You’ll be surprised by how often a diagram or scattered phrase gives shape to something previously invisible. Small tools work because they lower the stakes. They allow you to experiment without overthinking, and that freedom lets deeper thought patterns start to move again.


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​   Tip #4: Pursue New Professional Pathways

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​Sometimes creativity doesn’t just slow—it stalls completely, stuck in work that no longer lights you up. That’s when a bigger change can spark something deeper. If you’ve always felt drawn to technology, pursuing an online computer science degree gives you a way to explore programming, IT, and real-world tech applications with fresh eyes. You don’t have to quit everything to start—online programs make it easier to study while keeping your current job. The shift might be the very thing that brings energy and creativity back into your work and your thinking.


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                                                                                                                     Tip #5: Engage with Hands-On Expression

​You don’t need to “be an artist.” You need space to move your thoughts with your hands. Using art to slow down works best when you stop expecting results. Try a pen, some markers, maybe clay. Let it be terrible. The process is the payoff. The reflection comes later. Making something visual or tactile gives your brain a different channel. You’re not analyzing or solving—you’re observing, releasing, shaping. That act alone can return you to center, especially during periods of mental fog. It doesn’t have to look good. It just has to move something that’s been sitting still for too long.

                                                             Tip #6: Create Distance to Gain Perspective

​Problem-solving isn’t always about staring harder. Taking a step back mentally allows insights to surface sideways. Let the pressure drop for a minute. Change the scenery. Pretend it’s someone else’s problem. These shifts open up angles that brute force can’t. Psychological distance reshuffles mental associations, turning stuck ideas into movable ones. When you detach, even briefly, your subconscious does work your conscious mind can’t. It’s not about giving up—it’s about letting the solution come through the side door while your ego takes a break.

                              Tip #7: Make Time for Drifting

​You’re not lazy—you’re building space. Letting your mind wander is how new connections form without effort. Don’t fill every pause with scrolling. Just stare out the window sometimes. Doodle. Breathe. Let yourself be bored long enough for something unusual to slip through. That quiet space where nothing is demanded often becomes the birthplace of something unexpectedly clear. It’s not distraction—it’s incubation. And it only works when you stop forcing it and let your attention soften.
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                                                                                                                                           Part 8: A Conclusion

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​Creativity isn’t a single switch. It’s a circuit with multiple wires: movement, curiosity, quiet, reflection, structure, space. You can learn how to rebuild it, even after long periods of burnout or doubt. The key isn’t inspiration—it’s rhythm. You don’t need to wait for something big to spark again. Just start where you are. Small shifts, repeated often, lead to very real change. And if you treat creativity as something to be fed, rather than forced, you’ll find it begins to show up more often—and stay longer when it does.


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Discover the magic of storytelling with Rinda Beach, a passionate children's author, teacher, and speaker! Explore her books, blog, and author visit opportunities to inspire creativity and learning today!

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                                                                                                                                   Meet Guest Blogger, Kent Elliot                         

​​I am a retired architect with a passion for dogs, DIY, and universal design. After my stroke that left me with mobility issues, I thought I’d need to move out of my home and into an assisted living community. But, using my experience as an architect and with a little creativity, I was able to successfully remodel my family home instead. The relief I felt has inspired me to help others do the same. I created At Home Aging to share what I’ve learned and I’m currently working on a book, Aging in Place One Project at a Time: DIY Home Modifications That Don’t Require a Professional
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Can you imagine meeting King Charles wearing a second-hand dress? That’s exactly what Caroline Jones did earlier this year. Her dress cost £8.50 (£ is the symbol for pounds in British money). I used an internet link and converted it to dollars. That day it equaled $11.49.

Caroline’s invitation came as recognition for her charity work for Cancer Research UK. Every day she finds a thrift store outfit, takes a picture, and puts it on her Instagram feed. Then it goes on sale at her local Cancer Research UK shop.
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Copy and paste in my Source link: https://www.msn.com/en-au/lifestyle/other/i- wore-an-8-50-dress-to-meet-the-king/ar-AA1IpLVy
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​Her Instagram Feed: https://www.instagram.com/knickers_models_own

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Part 1—The Story: Caroline’s story started when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mary volunteered regularly at her local Cancer Research UK shop. When she was going through chemo, she asked her daughter to cover her shift. That’s when Caroline started doing the shop’s window displays. 

When her mother died, Carolyn did her first social media campaign in January 2015. How? She shared a year of photos of herself wearing thrift shop bargains. She came up with a name for her charity and then set up a JustGiving page. Her target, £1,000.

This year Caroline is repeating her campaign using her preloved outfits, and I have a feeling it’s already more successful. Afterall, it caught the attention of England’s King and Queen,

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​Are you ready for some bargain basement deals? Try your local thrift store! Think of it as a treasure hunt. When I looked at the original article, Caroline Jones had 11 tips to get you started…



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​​                   #1. Don’t be afraid to clash.

​OOH! I have trouble with this one, but I like Caroline’s suggestion. Pick a basic color and build from there using accessories and make-up. Use them to give your foundation a twist.
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One of her favorite designs, to pull a triple floral using your dress, bag, and earrings. She said if the dress pattern is too ditzy, go for a bigger one in your accessories. The trick, to balance the outfit so that you’re happy with it. If you aren’t, keep adjusting until you are.


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 Now Caroline’s talking my language! I love to use jewelry in my outfits. Caroline said she spends 70% of her time thinking about it. Not me. I keep trying things on until I’m happy. When you’re not feeling your best, keep accessorizing until you are. When I dress happy, I feel happy. 



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No, Caroline didn’t pick this image. I did; it’s from a 1913 ad.  I doubt Caroline gets her underwear from the thrift shop, and I won’t get mine pre-loved either. Wherever you get yours, she said to make sure they’re comfortable and give you good coverage. To quote her, “definitely spend some time on your underwear. It’s something we should all be doing. It makes you feel really good,” and who doesn’t love feeling good?!
 
 
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                                                                                                                                                4. Don’t get hung up on sizing. ​

​​Caroline doesn’t even look at it. She focuses on the cut of the cloth and how it looks. She tries on whatever appeals to her, whether it’s a men’s shirt or a maternity dress. PS—when she posted that dress on Instagram, people wanted to know where to find it. It looked that good on her!


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​                           5. Go for bold color. ​

​Remember the rainbow! Caroline loves color and rarely wears black. Why? It makes her unhappy. Check her Instagram account, and you’ll see color everywhere. Caroline starts an outfit with navies, grays and earth tones. Then she layers in those bright colors.
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Me, I love black. I only buy pieces when they catch my eye and convince me I’ve got to have them. Then I mix in elements from the store or my closet, until I’m happy with who’s in the mirror.


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I wonder if Caroline buys hers at a thrift shop. I’m not sure I would. She recommended 2 brands…Falke tights…with extra fabric to help them stay up, and they’re on Amazon too. YAY! The other, Heist Studios, in the UK. Sorry. And her tip that I’d never heard before, put moisturizer on your hands and legs first. It prevents snags. I’m dying to try it out!
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Caroline also likes ankle socks that match the color of her eye shadow or jewelry. She’s been known to pick up souvenir socks and fishnet pop socks. Fishnet pop socks, who knew?! Caroline says at 56, she’s allowed to play with color and messaging. Me, I think fun is priceless at any age.


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​                                                            7. Be playful. ​

​And yes, Caroline’s worn a Snoopy T-shirt on her Instagram page, but you’ll also find her in bowties, tiaras, pillbox hats, and fancy dresses. Thrift shops are a great place to play with your clothes. Where else would you find a cape? But if you think you need one, keep the lines under it simple and neat.
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                                                                                                                        ​8. Embrace the skirt. ​ 

​Caroline loves them, but she also knows a lot of ladies don’t. They’re afraid if they tuck in the top, their hips will look bigger, and no one wants that! Caroline says it’s all about the drape of the fabric, getting the proportions right for you, and drawing the eye up. In this photo, I’m drawn to the hat first, then the shoes. I see the skirt last. Caroline uses jewelry and make-up to get the same effect.
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PS—I think I should try the same strategy with pants.

If you’re experiencing temperature changes from the weather or menopause, light layers are wonderful! I found these two shots of Caroline on Instagram. Jackets are great! When you’re hot, you pull them off, and when you’re cold, put them back on again.
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And don’t forget, they look great draped over pants and skirts.


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                                                                          ​10. It’s all about proportions. ​

If you have curves, you might look away from a bias-cut dress. They’re cut diagonally and run across your body. If you have broad shoulders, spaghetti straps and halter necks might not be a good choice.

So what works? Nice wide straps, cap sleeves and boat necks. You’ll look better in them and feel better too.

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​I haven’t looked for a long time…I love leggings.

Caroline’s suggestions, first measure the zipper length with your hand. Caroline likes a long one, like the length of her hand. She wears anything from stonewashed to dark shades. She loves the cut of wide-leg button-fly Levi 501 ‘54s. Would you believe they’re based on a pair of jeans made back in 1954? And now, they’re back!
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Whether you pick wide-leg or boot cut, take a look in the mirror to see if you like the way you look.
After reading and sharing these tips, take a chance and walk through your local thrift shop. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a treasure! Me too!

Life finds a way…that’s a quote from the movie, Jurassic Park.The scientists from Colossal want to bring back extinct animals like the dire wolf. Someone from Animal Planet wrote a cautionary post so fascinating I had to write about it too.

                 The Link: https://www.rindabeach.com/blog/game-of-thrones-are-dire-wolves-back
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I just found a post from Animals Around the Globe that makes that quote even more true. Here are 13 creatures that now exist because somehow, life found a way.

                                                That link: 13 Creatures That Did Not Exist 100 Years Ago
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                                                                                               #1. The Coywolf
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Would you believe it’s a cross between a coyote and a wolf? It’s one of North America’s most successful hybrids. This one was spotted in West Virginia near the Virginia border.

In the early 1900s wolves in the east were hunted to death, so coyotes moved in, mated with wolves, and created a new species, the coywolf. It’s about 60% coyote, 30% wolf, and 10% dog. Looking at the picture, a coywolf is bigger than a coyote but smaller than a wolf. That means they thrive in forests and in urban areas too. Some hybrids can’t have babies, but coywolves can. Their population already numbers in the millions. 


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​                                                                     #2. The London Underground Mosquito
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​I’d never heard of mosquitoes in the subway, but they’re definitely in London. They were born when the Underground was built in the late 1800s, and they were recognized as a species in the 1990s.

Underground mosquitoes can breed year-round. They don’t hibernate like their above-ground cousins. The ones underground prefer mammal blood, especially human. They can reproduce without it but can’t mate with their cousins above-ground. 



                                                                                              #3. The Grolar Bear
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It’s not a typo. Some say it was a match made by climate change. As the Arctic has grown warmer, polar bears and grizzlies met and created a new species…the grolar bear. It’s also known as a pizzly…This one came from the Osnabrück Zoo in Germany.

The first wild grolar was shot by a hunter in Canada in 2006, although my source thought Native Americans already knew about it. Grolars are a combination of both bears. They’re middle sized with humped shoulders like a grizzly, but they have the creamy fur and extended neck of a polar bear. Their fur isn’t pure white; it’s spotted with grizzly brown patches.   
 


​                                                                                                    #4. Glofish

​Meet the first genetically modified animals to be sold as pets. They hit stores in 2003. A few common kinds—zebrafish, tetras, and tiger barbs. Their colors—red, green, orange, blue, and purple. Put them under ultraviolet lights, and their color is spectacular.

Would you believe glofish didn’t begin as pets? Scientists at the National University of Singapore designed them to monitor the environment. They took genes from bioluminescent jellyfish and sea anemones and put them into zebrafish. There are some arguments over how they were created, but it also shows how technology can create new life. 



                                                                                                #5. Ligers and Tigons
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Ligers and Tigons, oh my! They’re magnificent and man-made. Ligers have lion fathers and tiger mothers, and Tigons have tiger fathers and lion mothers. 

But neither animal could exist in the wild—they’re from different parts of the world, plus they often have health problems. Add in that it’s difficult for them to reproduce. Sometimes female ligers and tigons can have cubs, but males rarely can. No wonder they’re a controversial animal that only exists in zoos.

Fun fact—Ligers are known for their size. The world’s biggest cat, Hercules. He stands 11 feet tall on his hind legs and weighs over 900 pounds. He is ONE, BIG cat!



                                                                                                           #6. Beefalo

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​Can you guess this hybrid? It’s part cow and part buffalo, and it was dreamed up on purpose. Cattlemen have been trying since the 1880s, and they finally did it in the 1970s…3/8 buffalo and 5/8 cow. This one is supposed to be a bull, but where are the horns? My source showed one that was part Texas longhorn. That beefalo HAD HORNS!

Beefalo have some real advantages. Their meat has less fat, cholesterol, and calories, and it’s higher in protein. Beefalo have the hardiness of the buffalo, but they’re docile, make milk and baby calves like cows do. Beefalo love cold weather, and they’ll thrive on cheaper forage.
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I’ve never heard of beefalo meat, but I read The American Beefalo Association registers thousands of them every year. Maybe someday I’ll find it at the grocery store!
 


                                                                       #7. Savannah Cat 
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Here, kitty, kitty ! This one is only four months old, but it’s rather extraordinary. Part house cat. Part serval. That’s a medium sized wild African cat. The first one was born in 1986 when someone put a wild and tame cat together. I thought wild animals stayed wild at heart.
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Savannah cats have long legs, sharp ears, and a spotted coat. They have a house cat’s temperament and a wild cat’s energy and intelligence. They’re great at jumping and solving problems, yet they’re loyal like dogs. Would you believe the International Cat Association recognized them in 2001, or that they won championship status in 2012? 

Sounds like a normal breed, but it all started with a natural mutation.  Before selective breeding, the Belgians were big milk and meat producers. Then cattlemen discovered a mutation…it regulates muscle growth. It lets Belgians develop 20-30% more muscles than their nonmutated cousins.

That means Belgians are lean and mean. Their nickname, ‘bodybuilder cattle.’ Can you see it in this photo? The good news—their meat is less fatty, has more protein. The down side—most female Belgians need a Caesarean section to give birth. If you look up Belgians on Wikipedia, you’ll see a female. It looks like she has a huge patch on her side. It’s a scar from giving birth. Sad fact—the modern Belgian looks completely different from their nonmutated great grandparents a hundred years ago.
  


                                                                      #10. Africanized Honey Bees

When I read the title, I immediately thought of Dolly the sheep. She made news in 1996 when she became the first successful animal to be cloned or copied from an adult cell.

Evidently, I missed the other news. Dolly was the first mammal. The first animal ever cloned, a northern leopard frog in 1952. Carps, the fish came in the 1960s. After Dolly, cloning exploded, literally! Mice and cattle in 1998, goats in 1999, pigs 2000, rabbits 2002, horses 2003, dogs 2005, and last but not least ferrets in 2020.
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I thought of clones as copies, but they actually have a few tiny differences from the original animal. That’s because of the differences in where and how the two grew up. Cloning could preserve endangered species, create special research animals. It could even revive extinct species, but that made me think of dire wolves and Jurassic Park. YIKES!



                                                                  #12. Genetically Modified Lab Animals
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​No, the mice in the picture weren’t the first GMO animals, but they were the first to have foreign DNA added to their embryos back in 1974. By 1980, scientists came up with the opposite, ‘knockout mice.’ They disabled certain genes for research purposes. In 1988 someone patented the ‘OncoMouse.’ Poor Mouse, it was genetically designed to develop cancer, but it made history…the first animal ever patented.  

The possibilities are endless now, like the mice in the photo. Ultraviolet light makes them glow. Would you believe there are goats that make spider silk protein in their milk? The silk has medical uses for things like artificial ligaments, and it also makes airbags work better. Wow, great silk!

There’s more…pigs with immune systems to help transplant research, mosquitoes designed to resist malaria parasites., and the saddest…mice who will develop Alzheimer’s or muscular dystrophy. I’m sad for the mice, but grateful for future patients. My dad died from Alzheimer’s. It feels like we’re living in a brave new world.
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                                                                                          #13. Carolina Hamsters
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​This is a pet Syrian hamster, and it’s where the Carolina story begins…with the pets escaping or being released into the wild. They adapted, evolved, and were found in the southern Appalachian Mountains. That was in 2013. When scientists checked their DNA, it had already changed, 60-70 years ago. That means they’re the youngest mammal on the planet.

Our newest mammal has 3 different names: the Carolina, Eastern, or Appalachian hamster. It’s bigger than its pet ancestor. It has thicker fur and hibernates better. It’s more nocturnal and guarded. The Syrian hamsters had to change, to survive.

The Carolina hamster has done what most escaped pets can’t…it survived, without invading or destroying its neighborhood. Finding them showed scientist how quickly evolution occurs when a creature faces new problems. Syrian hamsters found a way to live, and thrive.

Catholics from the founding of our country on have faced discrimination. Think of the FBI targeting a Catholic Church that used a Latin service. Think Catholic presidents. I thought there was only one, JFK, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, but it turns out there was  a second…Joe Biden.

When I was growing up, it was common knowledge… don’t date Catholics. Why? If you married a Catholic, you’d be forced to raise your children that way too. BTW, I dated two.

But there’s a new first for US Catholics…a Catholic Pope from the US. The discrimination came from the Church itself. For decades, they feared too much American control of society, religion, and even politics, if an American was Pope. Read on, here’s a little background on the newest Pope, Leo XIV. 
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My sources:
Biography of Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost - Vatican News
Pope Leo XIV - Wikipedia
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​Part 1 – The First US Pope – A Brief Biography: See the man in the middle? That’s our new pope, the Bishop of Rome, Robert Francis Provost. He was born in September 1955, near Chicago Illinois. He’s not a coastal elite. He’s a man from the heartland who’s only four years older than me. His parents had French, Italian, and Spanish roots. Mine had German, French, and English ones. He had 2 older brothers. I had a younger brother and sister. All of those things make him relatable to people like me. 

See the house? It’s tiny, but that’s where young Robert grew up. I wonder if his neighbors ever dreamed that they lived beside a future pope. I imagine not.

‘Bob’ grew up in Dolton, Illinois. It’s on Chicago’s South Side. As a kid he was part of the parish of St. Mary of the Assumption. That’s where he went to school, sang in the choir, and served as an altar boy. Would you believe he dreamed of becoming a priest? He even played Mass at home with his older brothers. Wow!

His first step, moving to Michigan for high school. It's where he studied at the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers. For college he moved to Pennsylvania to study at Villanova, an Augustinian University. His first degree was in math, but he also studied philosophy.

Later in 1977, he moved to Missouri to become a novice/novitiate in the Order of Saint Augustine. Four years later he made his solemn vows. Think of it like graduation, but Bob wasn’t a priest. Not yet. The next school meant another move, back to Chicago for his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union. By 1982, his superiors sent him to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. By mid-June, he was officially ordained as a priest. Congratulations, Father Prevost!
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This is South America. That’s where Father Prevost moved next. He was a missionary in Chulucanas, Peru from 1985-1986.  Peru is on the western central coast of South America. It’s in olive green.  Prevost returned to Illinois in 1987 to finish his doctorate.

In 1988 Prevost flew back to Peru. This time he went to Trujillo to serve the Augustinians as a missionary. He also took on ten different roles over eleven years. In 1999 he returned to Chicago where he served in five different jobs. He stayed put until 2013.

In 2014 Pope Francis sent Prevost to Peru again. This time to Chiclayo. Within a month Prevost was ordained as a Titular Bishop of Sufar.  He picked an episcopal motto, ‘in the one Christ we are one.’ Less than a year later Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of   Chiclayo. As bishop, Provost served in six other positions from 2015-2023 too, until the Pope found him a new job. Did you know Prevost also has dual citizenship? From Peru and the US.
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Becoming a Cardinal! In 2023 the Pope called Provost to Rome. His job, to recommend new bishops to Pope Francis, who’d have to approve them of course. His last job was Cardinal. From 2023-2025, he served in fifteen other roles as well.

Pope Francis died on April 21, and Provost was elected on May 8. From what I’ve seen and heard, I believe our new pope will talk the talk and walk the walk as a servant of Christ. Robert will grow and change as he adjusts to his new job, as Pope Leo XIV, just like everyone else who gets a promotion.



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​Charley was born in September1737, in Annapolis, Maryland. He was the only son and heir to a wealthy family who suffered discrimination because they were Catholics. At age ten he and his cousin John were sent to study secretly at Bohemia Manor in Cecil County. At age twelve the cousins were sent to study publicly at St. Omers, a Jesuit school in France. He wouldn’t return home for sixteen years, until he was 26. In between Charley studied the classics in Paris; then law at the Inner Temple in London. This portrait was painted before he came home in 1765.
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When Charley returned, he found himself the owner of 10,000 acres. The property’s name, Carrollton, became part of his name too. Why? To make himself different from all the other Charles Carrolls in the family. Within three years Charley married. He had seven children, but he only watched three grow up.

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Politically Motivated! As a Catholic, Charley couldn’t run for office or serve as a lawyer, but he knew how to write. He entered politics in 1773 when he wrote some letters as ‘First Citizen’ for the Maryland Gazette. He became known as a citizen patriot. A year later his fellow citizens elected him to the 2nd Maryland Convention, and that ended the ban on Catholics in politics.

Charley’s next assignment, traveling to Canada with Samuel Chase, Ben Franklin, and his cousin John. Their job, to get Canadians to join us in fighting the British. They said no thanks. Charley and Chase returned home. They convinced hesitant Maryland delegates to vote for independence, and Charley became a delegate to the 2nd Continental Congress. He was the only Catholic to sign the Declaration.
Here’s his signature…
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Charley didn’t stop there. He helped write Maryland’s first state Constitution and Declaration of Rights. It was adopted in 1776. He went on to serve in the state Senate from 1776-1800. (Wikipedia said he started in 1781.)

Charley continued to serve in the Continental Congress until 1778. He left when his term ended so he could spend more time with family and join in state government. In 1789 Charley became one of Maryland’s first two US Senators. He left at the end of 1792 because he had to choose where to serve. Maryland made a law that its representatives could only serve one government—state or national. Charley chose Maryland, of course. 
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I’m not sure when this painting was done. The internet tour guide for Charley’s Annapolis house said it was painted for his granddaughters. They married English aristocrats and wanted a painting to remember him.
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Charley left the Maryland Senate in 1800. That’s the year Thomas Jefferson was elected President, and his party too. They swept to victory in Maryland and across the country. 

But don’t worry! Charley didn’t wither away. He invested in banks, canals, turnpikes, bridges and water companies. AND, he helped build the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Think B&O! Charley never wasted money—he used it to grow more.

Charley spent his final years on Lombard Street in Baltimore. It’s now the Carroll Mansion and museum. He also built St. Mary’s Catholic Church on his land in Annapolis. It became the city’s first official Catholic Church.

On July 4, 1826, Charley became the last living signer when both Thomas Jefferson and John Adams died on the same day. Charley lived another six years, dying in November 1832. The country gave him a National Day of Mourning. He’s buried at his country home, Doughoregan Manor.

My Sources:
Charles Carroll of Carrollton – The Signer | Charles Carroll House
Charles Carroll of Carrollton - Wikipedia
 

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​Part 3 – The First Catholic Bishop – A Brief Biography: See the older man? At 71, he’s watched America grow from a colony into a country. John Carroll is a minor character in my middle grade novel… he’s Charley Carroll’s cousin. His claim to fame, he became the first Catholic Bishop in the US. Here’s his story…
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John was born in January 1735, in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He was the third son of a wealthy Catholic family. His oldest brother died as a baby. Daniel was born second and became the family heir. He played a part in writing the Constitution. John was the youngest, but two years older than Charley Carroll. The cousins studied at Bohemia Manor; a grammar school run by Jesuit priests.
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A year later John and Charley traveled to St. Omer’s College in France. John stayed for six years. When he turned 18, he joined the Jesuits, the Society of Jesus. Within two years John began studying philosophy and theology at Liege, another Jesuit school. He joined the priesthood at 34. His first job, teaching his two favorite subjects at Liege and St. Omer’s. John’s path reminds me of Pope Leo’s.

Father John’s life changed when Pope Clement XIV disbanded the Jesuits in 1773. With his job gone, John left Europe for Maryland. There was no church, but Catholics could still worship at home. So John traveled through Maryland and Virginia serving as a Jesuit missionary.
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In the spring of 1776 Charley invited Father John on a trip to Canada. Why? The Continental Congress hoped the Jesuit priest could convince French Canadian Catholics to join the fight for independence. He didn’t change their minds. Charley stayed for the Battle of Quebec, and John traveled home with Ben Franklin. John said it was a fortunate experience. It was… Years later Ben recommended John as the first American Bishop.


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After the war Father Carroll met with five other Jesuits. They wanted to keep working as missionaries and hold onto their homes too. They asked the pope for someone, like a bishop, but without the title and all the power. The pope agreed. In 1784 he picked Father John as the Superior of the Missions in the United States.

John moved to Baltimore. He championed schools, Catholic or not. He also championed freedom of religion and played a role in shaping the first amendment, the one about religious freedom. He was lucky. His brother Daniel could pass John’s ideas onto the delegates writing the Constitution.

Problems within the church led Maryland priests to ask for a bishop. They even had a say on who it would be. Would you believe John got 24 out of 25 votes? In November 1789, Pope Pius VI made John the first American Bishop.
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​See John become a bishop at Lulworth Castle, England in August 1790. John arrived home in December and made St. Peter’s in Baltimore his home church. A year later he held a synod, a meeting of 22 priests from five countries. His biggest concern—training new priests. That was the reason St. Mary’s College and Seminary was established in 1791.

Not everything came easily. In 1798, Bishop John won an important lawsuit, the Fromm Case. Evidently a few Catholics were questioning his authority. The decision said, “The Bishop of Baltimore has the sole episcopal authority of the Catholic Church in the US.” It’s good to get moral support when others are questioning your judgement.

When John suggested a Catholic priest as a minister to the Indians, Washington not only agreed. He got Congress to hire and pay a small yearly salary for one. After his death, February 22 was set aside as a day to celebrate Washington’s life. Bishop John sent word to his clergymen that Catholics could participate too.

​See Bishop John build a cathedral. John laid the cornerstone in July 1806 after he paid $20,000 for the land. John wanted his church just right—B.H. Latrobe drew seven designs before John finally approved one. 
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Remember the painting of John? It’s from 1808. That’s when he became the Archbishop of Baltimore. John’s bishops lived in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Bardstown. Archbishop John was a beloved figure. Would you believe he was asked to lay the cornerstone for Washington’s Monument in Baltimore in the fall of 1815? He said no; he knew his end was near.

On November 22, he received the last sacraments. His funeral Mass was held at St. Peter’s, his home church. Archbishop John was laid to rest at St. Mary’s Seminary. Nine years later in 1824 his cathedral crypt was ready to receive him. My guess, Charley Carroll came to say goodbye to his cousin. They’d come a long way from grammar school at Bohemia Manor.
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My Sources:
John Carroll | Catholic Answers Encyclopedia
Baltimore-cornerstone - John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore) - Wikipedia

Have you heard of Game of Thrones? I have, but I’ve never watched it. Two or three weeks ago, it came to my attention for a new reason . . . because someone brought back Dire Wolves. I’d never heard of them either, but the incredible part – Dire Wolves have been extinct for over 10,000 years.
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To see and hear that something that’s extinct is alive again made me flash back to Jurassic Park. The movie where scientists made T Rex and Velociraptor live again. YIKES!

Part 1 – Picturing a Dire Wolf: I couldn’t find a picture to match my imagination. I thought I’d be staring into its eyes as it stood on four legs looking at me. Something that big has an enormous appetite, and wolves eat meat.

Now take a look at the second image, on the graph. It helps me picture their true size. Dire wolves would have been about a meter or 40 inches tall. My height is 65 inches, so that wolf would have stood about hip high.

But, when I look at his length, the dire wolf was about 2 meters long. That’s 80 inches of wolf standing on his hind legs. He would have towered 15 inches above my head. Now check out his teeth . . . YIKES!
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                                      This link from Animal Planet explains why dire wolves are still extinct.
                                                       No, Geneticists Did Not Bring The Dire Wolf Back
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                                                                      Part 2 – Are Dire Wolves Back, or Not?:
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 Colossal or Colossal Bioscience is the company at the heart of this debate. They say they brought the dire wolf back after being extinct for over 10,000 years. I took a screenshot from their website, and this is their logo. If you’d like to read about them, here’s their link: De-extinction Projects, Facts & Statistics | Colossal     


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​This IS NOT a dire wolf. It’s a gray one. They look a lot alike. That’s because they share a common ancestor that lived over 6 million years ago. Think of your 6 million times great grandparents. It was that long ago.
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Colossal used ancient DNA samples from dire wolves, then altered some gray wolf DNA, but some experts say not so fast. They say the pups aren’t really dire wolves. They’re really gray ones with some modified and superficial traits.
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Remember this image from part 1? It’s our friend, the dire wolf. Let’s compare some of his traits to a gray wolf. 

Animal Planet reported that the modern dire wolf story began when Colossal extracted DNA from a 13,000-year-old tooth and a 72,000-year-old skull. They used the DNA as a guide to help them bring back the dire wolf. Then they took blood from a gray wolf, edited its DNA using the ancient genetic information, and transferred the updated DNA to a dog egg. That egg was then implanted into a female dog who gave birth to dire wolf pups for the first time in 10,000 years.

That sounds like the right recipe, especially since gray wolves and dire wolves have DNA that’s 99.5% the same. That’s a lot, but would you believe it leaves out millions of DNA differences between the two kinds of wolves? Then consider Colossal only edited 20 of those millions of genetic differences, and 5 edits gave them white coats, like the ones in Game of Thrones. That still leaves millions of bits of DNA that were never edited. Colossal’s pups sound like they’re more related to their gray wolf cousins than their extinct ones.


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 Part 3 – The Implications of De-Extinction: When Colossal introduced their dire wolf pups, they advanced genetic engineering but fell short of de-extinction. My source from Animal Planet said it raised questions about the implications.                     ​
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​This chart shows how we classify the animal world according to what they look like on the inside, outside, and how those sides work together. Animal Planet’s first concern, that this was too subjective, and not rigorous enough.

They thought evolutionary relationships between dire wolves and gray ones over time should have had more emphasis. That DNA sequencing of traits should have been studied then applied.
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For me the debate between the two views shows how hard it is to define a species, let alone bring an extinct one back to life. My question, how do you know you’re interpreting the DNA correctly, then putting it together properly? 

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​Another concern from Animal Planet was about protecting our endangered animals. If companies like Colossal invest in de-extinction, there are less resources for animals who aren’t extinct yet, but could be.
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Reintroduced species like the wolves at Yellowstone must be considered. They vanished from the national park but are found in other places. There’s only so much money for conservation. Spending it on de-extinction won’t save animals in danger today.

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Animal Planet shared another reason for caution using the example of the Pyrenean Ibex. It was cloned and brought back from de-extinction. The scientists thought they’d chosen the right set of genes, but the baby Ibex died soon after birth.

If it had survived, where would it live? How about the dire wolves? Many animals are struggling to survive as habitats shrink. Adding de-extincted animals to those habitats would put more living creatures at risk.

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​Animal Planet’s final concern, that a commercial or entertainment interest might push a project too far, too fast, and end badly.

Think Jurassic Park and bringing the dinosaurs back. Remember the ending with kids hiding from a T Rex and a herd of Velociraptors? They pushed the science too far, underestimated dinosaur intelligence, and overestimated ours.
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The dire wolf has the same potential thanks to Game of Thrones. Science and entertainment have different interests, different requirements. Thank goodness, those pups are genetically enhanced gray wolves, with only a few dire wolf traits.
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It’s heartwarming to bring back an extinct animal, but it’s also scary. Even scientists don’t know what they don’t know. Think Pyrenean Ibex or Jurassic Park. I hope scientists working on de-extinction will take careful steps as they continue their research.

I was born in 1959, and so many things I grew up with, that were made here in the USA are gone. The factories who made them, gone. Moved to another country. Employing other people to make them.  The link below has 18 things that left our shores. 
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#1. Rawlings Baseballs: They’re THE supplier for Major League Baseball. Born in 1887 in St. Louis, Missouri. Their founders, George and Alfred Rawlings.
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In 1969 Rawlings moved their factory from Missouri to Puerto Rico, then Haiti. Now they’re in Costa Rica. I guess baseballs are no longer as American as apple pie. 


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#2. Gerber Baby Food: Oh, my! I grew up eating Gerber. My kids did too.
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Gerber was born in 1927 in Michigan, that state up north. They merged with a Swiss pharmaceutical company, Novartis, in 1994. Nestle bought them out in 2007, but my link said Gerber is no longer made in the USA.

CORRECTION: Yes, it is. Bonus source #1 said Gerber’s still made in Ohio and Florida. In Canada and Europe too, but source #2 said you’ll find Gerber around the world. In Mexico too. 
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​#3. Etch A Sketch:. I had one growing up, and so did my husband. Etch A Sketch was born in Bryan, Ohio. The company, Ohio Art, moved its factory to Shelnzhen, China in 2000. It’s a pity . . . something created by Buckeyes is now made in China.



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Now Chucks are made in Indonesia, but I wondered about Converse, so I googled. If you buy anything with a Converse label, they’re made in China, Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Malaysia. Not in the USA.

Converse became part of Nike in 2003. They’re both American companies, in name only. Their headquarters are in the US, but their shoes are made somewhere else.

Bonus Sources: Where Are Converse Made? In The US? - The Men Hero
​Is Nike an American Company? - Shoe Effect


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 5. Steel Rebar: Have you heard of rebar? I hadn’t, so I googled it. Rebar is a special steel bar or mesh made from small steel wires. Its purpose—to strengthen and stabilize concrete and other materials. You’ll find it in platforms, walls, floors, and ceilings.

If you’re in construction, you use rebar. You can buy some kinds in the US, but you have to import the others. 

                                      Bonus Source: What Is Rebar and Why Is It Used? - Handyman's World
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​#6. Shirts: The major manufacturers have left the country. The last one, C.F. Hathaway shut down their factory in Maine in 2002 after 165 years of doing business. There are still small shirt makers in the US, but the big guys are all gone.



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#7. Mattel: It’s the largest toy company in the world, the stuff of my childhood. Mattel shuttered its last US factory in 2002. Now China makes about 65% of Mattel’s toys. That includes Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price, Polly Pocket, American Girl, and so many more.

Mattel’s headquarters are in California, and it has factories all over the world including China, Mexico, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Like everything else, production is cheaper overseas.

                                             Bonus Source: Where Are Mattel Toys Made? - AllAmerican.org


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​​ #8. Minivan Chassis: I know what a minivan is but had no idea about the chassis. It’s the bottom of a car, where the rubber meets the road. Think wheels and axles. I used Legos to teach my second graders about them, but I never used the word chassis. Car companies stopped making them here in 2003. 

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#9. Vending Machine Parts: The key parts of my favorite machine aren’t made in the USA anymore. Two of them – the bill and coin dispensers.

             Tomorrow: Four more products no longer made in the USA



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#10. Levi Jeans: If you’re American, you’ve probably worn Levis. They were an icon here for 150 years, until December of 2023. That’s when they moved their factories to Latin America and Asia.

What’s Latin America? I looked it up. It’s the parts of the Americas that once belonged to the Spanish, Portuguese, or French colonial empires. So, what’s that? Basically everything south of Mexico, including Central and South America. Plus, the islands of the Carribean.

Bonus Source: Latin America can also be defined as all those parts of the Americas that were once part of the Spanish, Portuguese or French colonial empires.
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​#11. Radio Flyer Wagons: Everyone I know, including my children grew up with a little red wagon. They were all made in the US until 2004. That’s when Radio Flyer closed its plant in Chicago and moved to China. 




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#12. Television: I grew up with TV. I went from black and white to color. From a small screen to the huge ones we have today. In the 60s TVs were made in the USA. Not anymore. The last American manufacturer, Five Rivers Electronic Innovations, closed in 2004. Now, TVs are made somewhere else.

So, who makes TVs? The AI list included South Korea, China, Vietnam, Poland, India, Mexico, Russia, and Indonesia. But I found A FEW made in the USA.

1. Silo Digital is in Chatsworth, California. It specializes in LED TVs, and it’s been the leading ‘manufacturing scene’ (whatever that means) in the USA for the last 10 years.

2. SunBrite TVs are based in Thousand Oaks California, but they have plants in North Carolina and Texas. Their specialty, TVs for outside places, but they have indoor ones too!

3. Element Electronics sounds like a hybrid to me. They have an assembly plant in South Carolina to make their Smart TVs, but their Android and Roku units are made in Asia.

4. Sharp Electronics Corporation, really? They started in Montvale, New Jersey in 1962, but they are a subsidiary of Sharp from Japan. My source said, ‘you really can’t get televisions that are more “Made in America” than Sharp!’ If that’s true, why didn’t my source list the plants in the US?

5. Toshiba is another Japanese subsidiary that has some assembly lines here in the states. They do carry the Made in the USA label, but they don’t name the states they’re in.

​6. Seura is an American brand found in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  

 Bonus Source: TVs Made In the USA: American Brands Complete List [2025]


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#13. Cell Phones: My original link said that in 2008, 1.2 billion cell phones were sold world-wide, and NOT ONE was made in the USA. So, where are they made? I googled, and here’s the Top Ten list:

1. China once made 80% of the world’s phones, but it dropped to 50% in 2023 when some companies left the country.

2. India is where business went. Phones are now their 5th largest export.

3. Vietnam was in 2nd place, until India passed them. Now it’s in 3rd place, and they make 10% of the world’s mobile phones.

4-10. These six countries make the remaining 20% of mobile phones. In order…the US, Japan, Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom. How did the US get into 4th place? Maybe other countries make the parts, and Americans assemble them, but that’s a guess.

    Bonus Source: The Top 10 Mobile Manufacturing Countries (Updated 2025) (US) - MobilityArena

                                       

                                                          The photo below is a welding kit. It has 4 key parts.

Top Right – Crucible. It’s used for melting metallic elements before they can be cast. Crucibles have to have a higher melting point than whatever’s inside.

​Top Row Left – Sand Mold. There are 3 pieces for each rail type and 3 different kinds of rails.

Bottom Left – Igniter. It has a wind resistant design, and it produces temperatures as high as 1500 Celsius. Water boils at 100. YIKES! You need 1 igniter for each weld. That’s where you melt 2 pieces of metal together.
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Bottom Right – Welding Portion. That’s the metals—aluminum and iron oxide powders, that are put into the crucible then melted together. 



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Put it altogether, and this is what rail thermite welding looks like. I hope welders use protective equipment to stay safe and keep their cool.

Bonus Sources:
Cast Manganese Steel Crossings: Applications and Benefits - MFG Shop
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Rail thermite welding | Railroad Thermite Welding | Welding Kit And Crucibles Available
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#15. Dell Computers: Dell’s last major plant in the US closed in 2010. Now they outsource their production to Asia. Why? To stay competitive, in other words to keep prices down. American workers in the 2000s made too much money. That made Dell computers expensive, so they sent their factories overseas where they could find cheaper workers.

#16. Canned Sardines: The little fish that are great on crackers, they aren’t canned in the US anymore. They’d been an American product from 1875 until April 2010. That’s when the last cannery, Stinson Seafood from Maine, shut down.

Where do canned sardines come from now? More than half are from Morocco, a country in Northern Africa. They produce more than 850,000 tons each year. That’s a lot of tuna!

                                  Bonus Source: Most of the world's canned sardines come from this country


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#17. Flatware: Oh, that’s silverware! My link said Sherrill Manufacturing, the last plant in the US, stopped production in 2010 because of economic troubles, and that they hoped to restart their business again.

Surprise! Flatware is still made here in the US, and I found four companies that do it. The first, Liberty Tabletop, and it’s made by Sherrill, in Sherrill, New York. Yes, they’re back in business again! Farmhouse Pottery is also in New York. Wallace Silversmiths are in Wallingford, Connecticut, and Knock Flatware is in Newton, Kansas. Three cheers for flatware made in the USA!
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                                  Bonus Source: The 4 Flatware Made in The USA 2024 (Complete List)


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#18. Incandescent Light Bulbs: Invented in the USA, but the last big factory closed in September 2010. Why? Congress passed a ban on them that began in 2014.

I googled if incandescents are made here, and it turns out it’s still a political thing. In 2023 the Biden administration put in a controversial regulation—They banned General Service Lamps too, AND incandescent light bulbs couldn’t be manufactured or sold here either. If a business refused to obey, they’d forfeit their stock. OUCH!

In January 2025 President Trump signed an executive order about energy efficiencey, AND the government is reevaluating light bulbs. So…the good old incandescents might be back, or not. But if they are, you might still need new lamps to use them.

BTW, this isn’t a complete list of products, but we’re in a period of change, so maybe, some will come home again.
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                                            Bonus Source: Are Incandescent Light Bulbs Coming Back?