Good 54º cloudy morning...
"Red sky in the morning............ sailors take warning"......
Yesterday stayed clear and sunny most of the day and then the clouds started moving in. We topped at 91º.
Picture of the Day ... mailman must like this one!
Interesting about Washington Monument....
The Washington Monument is an obelisk on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., built to commemorate George Washington, once commander-in-chief of the Continental Army and the first President of the United States. Located almost due east of the Reflecting Pool and the Lincoln Memorial, the monument, made of marble, granite, and bluestone gneiss, is both the world's tallest predominantly stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk, standing 554 feet 711⁄32 inches tall according to the National Geodetic Survey (measured 2013–14) or 555 feet 51⁄8 inches tall according to the National Park Service(measured 1884). It is the tallest monumental column in the world if all are measured above their pedestrian entrances. It was the tallest structure in the world from 1884 to 1889, when it was overtaken by the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
Construction of the monument began in 1848 and was halted from 1854 to 1877 due to a lack of funds, a struggle for control over the Washington National Monument Society, and the intervention of the American Civil War. Although the stone structure was completed in 1884, internal ironwork, the knoll, and other finishing touches were not completed until 1888. A difference in shading of the marble, visible approximately 150 feet or 27% up, shows where construction was halted and later resumed with marble from a different source. The original design was by Robert Mills, but he did not include his proposed colonnade due to a lack of funds, proceeding only with a bare obelisk. The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1848; the first stone was laid atop the unfinished stump on August 7, 1880; the capstone was set on December 6, 1884; the completed monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885; and officially opened October 9, 1888.
The Washington Monument is a hollow Egyptian style stone obelisk with a 500-foot tall column and a 55-foot tall pyramidion. Its walls are 15 feet thick at its base and 11⁄2 feet thick at their top. The marblepyramidion has thin walls only 7 inches thick supported by six arches, two between opposite walls that cross at the center of the pyramidion and four smaller corner arches. The top of the pyramidion is a large marble capstone with a small aluminum pyramid at its apex with inscriptions on all four sides. The lowest 150 feet of the walls, constructed during the first phase 1848–1854, are composed of a pile of bluestone gneiss rubble stones (not finished stones) held together by a large amount of mortar with a facade of semi-finished marble stones about 11⁄4 feet thick. The upper 350 feet of the walls, constructed during the second phase 1880–1884, are composed of finished marble surface stones, half of which project into the walls, partially backed by finished granite stones.
The interior is occupied by iron stairs that spiral up the walls, with an elevator in the center, each supported by four iron columns, which do not support the stone structure. The stairs contain fifty sections, most on the north and south walls, with many long landings stretching between them along the east and west walls. These landings allowed many inscribed memorial stones of various materials and sizes to be easily viewed while the stairs were accessible (until 1976), plus one memorial stone between stairs that is difficult to view. The pyramidion has eight observation windows, two per side, and eight red aircraft warning lights, two per side. Two aluminum lightning rods connected via the elevator support columns to ground water protect the monument. The monument's present foundation is 37 feet thick, consisting of half of its original bluestone gneiss rubble encased in concrete. At the northeast corner of the foundation, 21 feet below ground, is the marble cornerstone, including a zinc case filled with memorabilia. Fifty American flags fly 24 hours a day on a large circle of flag poles centered on the monument. In 2001, a temporary screening facility was added to the entrance to prevent a terrorist attack. In 2011, an earthquake slightly damaged the monument, mostly the pyramidion.
On July 4, 1848, the Freemasons, an organization to which Washington belonged, laid the cornerstone (symbolically, not physically).
Two years later, on a torrid July 4, 1850, George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of George Washington and grandson of Martha Washington, dedicated a stone from the people of the District of Columbia to the Monument at a ceremony that President Zachary Taylor attended five days before he died from food poisoning.
The Monument was dedicated on February 21, 1885. Over 800 people were present on the monument grounds to hear speeches during a frigid day by Ohio Senator John Sherman, the Rev. Henderson Suter, William Wilson Corcoran (of the Washington National Monument Society) read by Dr. James C. Welling because Corcoran was unable to attend, Freemason Myron M. Parker, Col. Thomas Lincoln Casey of the Army Corps of Engineers, and President Chester A. Arthur. President Arthur proclaimed:
In 1955 I was in Washington DC with my parents and Daddy and I climbed the stairs to the top of the monument.
^My photos I took from the top of the monument with my Brownie camera
This crab salad is the easiest and best recipe. It is the perfect base to make crab dip, crab macaroni salad, and crab salad sandwiches!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Serves: 8
- 24 oz. crab meat (or imitation crab meat) 1 1/2 lbs
- 2 stalks celery, finely chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2/3 c. Best Foods Mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
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Break imitation crab meat into small pieces with hands (you can coarsely chop with a knife if you would rather). Place in a medium-sized bowl and toss with celery (I like it finely chopped so there is a little crunch but not too much) and salt & pepper.
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Stir in mayonnaise and lemon and continue stirring until well coated.
For crab dip...
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Chop the crab into smaller pieces and prepare as directed above. Serve with chips, club crackers, or Ritz crackers.
For Crab Macaroni Salad:
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Add 2-3 c. of cooked macaroni noodles. Stir until well mixed
For Crab Salad Sandwiches/Sliders:
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Place crab salad on Hawaiian-style rolls and serve!
Special birthday today, great friend... Lynda Castro (LASD ret) is celebrating. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYNDA!! xo
^Lynda with hubby Rick (LASD ret)
Historically this date.......
1888 – The first successful adding machine in the United States is patented by William Seward Burroughs.
1959 – President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs an executive order proclaiming Hawaii the 50th state of the union. Hawaii's admission is currently commemorated by Hawaii Admission Day
1979 – Soviet dancer Alexander Godunov defects to the United States.
1992 – Ruby Ridge Standoff in Idaho
And births this date include....
1936 – Wilt Chamberlain, American basketball player (d. 1999)
All I know. Happy Hump Day. Ciao.
xo Sue Mom Bobo
On August 21st, National Senior Citizens Day recognizes the achievements of the more mature representatives of our nation. The day provides an opportunity to show our appreciation for their dedication, accomplishments, and services they give throughout their lives.
According to the 2017 census, 47 million seniors live in the United States. By 2060, that number will nearly double. Their wealth of knowledge, skill, and experience offer so much to the next generation. As technologies advance, these are the people who’ve experienced each step of change. Not only have they contributed to it, but they understand first hand the benefits and the drawbacks. They know life without the advancements that exist today.
"By the time you’re eighty years old you’ve learned everything. You only have to remember it." ~ George Burns
Our senior citizens are pioneers of science, medicine, psychology, civil rights and so much more. Their valuable contributions to our communities create better places to live. They deserve the respect and dignity their achievements earn them. The encourages supporting senior citizen to live their lives to the fullest and as independently as possible.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Spend time with the senior citizens you know. Let them know they are appreciated and loved. It may also be a good day to volunteer at a retirement home. Share your smile with those who may not otherwise get a visitor today.
If you are a senior citizen, check for special discounts and promotions that may be offered at stores and restaurants in your area.
NATIONAL SENIOR CITIZENS DAY HISTORY
On August 19, 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5847 declaring August 21st as National Senior Citizens Day.
