National Bison Day

National Bison Day is celebrated every year on the first Saturday of November. It honors the American bison, also known as the buffalo, which is an important symbol of the United States. Bison once roamed across most of North America, but their numbers dropped sharply in the 1800s because of overhunting and loss of land. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population has grown again. The bison was named the national mammal of the United States in 2016, showing how important it is to America’s history and culture.

On National Bison Day, people celebrate by visiting national parks, learning about bison history, and supporting conservation programs. Many Native American tribes hold ceremonies or events to honor the bison’s role in their culture and traditions. The day reminds everyone to protect wildlife and the environment so future generations can enjoy them too. The bison stands for strength, resilience, and the spirit of the American frontier.

The 1981 18-cent Wildlife of America: Bison (#1883) stamp was part of a special series that celebrated North America’s wild animals. Issued on June 13, 1981, this stamp shows a strong and powerful bison standing on the open plains. The bison was chosen because it is one of the most famous symbols of the American West and represents the country’s natural beauty and history. The artwork captures the animal’s thick fur and massive size, reminding people of how these creatures once roamed the Great Plains in huge herds.

This stamp was part of the “Wildlife of America” set, which featured different animals from across the continent. Collectors and nature lovers enjoyed the series because it helped teach people about the importance of protecting wildlife. The bison on the stamp also reminds Americans of conservation efforts that helped bring the species back from near extinction. Even today, the bison continues to stand for strength, freedom, and the beauty of the natural world.

References:
First Day Cover from the author’s collection
https://nationaltoday.com/national-bison-day/
U.S. Department of the Interior. “National Bison Day.” doi.gov
National Park Service. “Celebrate National Bison Day.” nps.gov
National Bison Association. “National Bison Day.” bisoncentral.com
Smithsonian National Postal Museum. “Wildlife of America Issue.” postalmuseum.si.edu
Mystic Stamp Company. “1981 18¢ Bison, Wildlife of America.” mysticstamp.com
United States Postal Service. “Wildlife of America Stamps.” usps.com

Return to FL

We left South Carolina at 4:45 am Friday, 10/17/25, and arrived in FL by 3 pm. We stopped about 3 times for the rest area and ate lunch at McDonald's. We took down the hurricane shutters, and Bob and Donna helped us raise the living room and bedroom awning. When we arrived, the AC was not working, and I texted Lucas (neighbor who works on our HVAC system) to see if he could put us on his list for Monday. He said he was able to come right over, so he found a broken wire on the condenser (maybe from the lawn company?) and had to add refrigerant to the unit. Now it works beautifully!

On Saturday, we went grocery shopping, and in the evening, we went to the car show. Donna and Bob had entered their trucks in the show, and Donna won a trophy for the best decorated.

On Sunday, I dusted and vacuumed. Don cut the candlestick bush that had overgrown. We put out the patio furniture and put away the hurricane shutters. Then Don moved the hose reel next to the laundry room door, and it is much easier to use the hose now.

Monday, we trimmed the bushes under the bedroom window and the Golden Dewdrop bush in the front yard. I’m glad we finished before it got too hot. We went to Home Depot and I bought 2 plants: a milkweed and an impatiens.

Tuesday morning, I went shopping with Donna.. We went to Rorabecks (I bought a beautiful tomato plant and a lantana flower). For lunch, Don and I went to Flanigans because we had a 20% off coupon for our meal. It was good to see our server, Jeff, again.

Wednesday morning, I did a load of laundry before Don woke up. After breakfast, we went to the beach. It was a beautiful morning, and there was hardly anyone there at 9:30. We got in the water for about an hour, and we were the only ones in the water the whole time.

On Thursday, one of Donna’s new kittens came to visit us. It was a little orange and white kitten that I call Nosey because it seemed very curious. We sat on the swing, and he explored the back patio. And when we moved to the front screened room, he followed us there. He spent the morning in our screened room, and I asked Donna where I should take him when I went in for lunch, so she came and got him. A few minutes later, he wandered back to our door, and I let him in. He spent the rest of the afternoon taking a nap in the screened room. A guy knocked on our window, who said he was a contractor with the electric company. He needed access to our backyard because they are going to replace a utility pole in the back corner behind our shed. They can reach it from the other street, even though it is on the other side of our fence. We stressed that they better not tear up our yard or our irrigation system, and he said they wouldn’t. It should happen within the next 3 weeks.

Today is Friday, and I’m sitting on the front porch enjoying this beautiful breeze. They say it will get cold next week, but I’m not sure what they consider cold.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Hummingbird Yarn

I want to make a hummingbird illusion pattern that I found on Ravelry, but I want my yarn to look like a hummingbird. Since I haven’t found any yarn I liked in that color, I’m going to try to dye the yarn myself. Here is the inspiration for the colors. 

Here are the steps I took.

Supplies:

• Mask
• Paper towels
• Soaking pan
• Citric Acid
• Dye Pot
• Measuring cup (1 qt)
• JacquaredDyes: Emerald, Turquoise, Sapphire Blue, Purple
• Paintbrushes
• Large wooden Spoon
• Tongs
• Reusable Zip Ties
• Rubber gloves.

1. Put a reusable zip tie on each skein of yarn to use as a handle while dyeing.

2. Soaked 4 skeins of yarn in 8 quarts of water with citric acid for 30 min.

3. Squeezed excess water out of the yarn and put the yarn on the side.

4. In a dye pot, I heated 5 quarts of water till a rolling boil and lowered the heat.

5. I added ⅛ tsp. Of Emerald dye to the water and stirred,

6. I slowly added the yarn until all the yarn was covered with the water.. After a minute, I rotated the yarn until all the dye was used up.

7. I pulled the yarn out by the zip ties and rearranged the yarn.

8. Spread the yarn out in the water so that all 4 skeins have a side showing.

9. I filled a cup with 1 cup of water, added ⅛ Turquoise and mixed thoroughly.

10. I poured approximately. ⅓ of a cup randomly over the yarn.

11. I waited about 1 min. until absorbed (I used my wooden spoon to make sure it was absorbed).

12. I pulled out each skein of yarn and turned in the zip tie. (I hung each zip tie on a wooden spoon laid across the top of the pot to hold the skein after turning so I could do the others.)

13. Spread the yarn back in the water and randomly spread ⅓ cup of dye around the yarn.

14. Wait 1 min. Until absorbed.

15. Turn the yarn again and spread the remaining dye.

Repeat steps 9-15 with Sapphire Blue.

Repeat steps 9-15 with Sapphire Blue.

I decided the colors weren’t rich enough, so I repeated steps 9-15 with turquoise, then sapphire blue, and finally purple one more time.

Lastly, I repeated steps 9-15 with the emerald as the final color.

I was happy with the results.

I heated the water to just below a rolling boil. Then I turned off the heat and let it sit until the water cooled.

After it cooled (a few hours), I rinsed the yarn and hung it to dry.

 

Aunt Het Festival 2025

It started out with the quilt show on Friday morning, held at the senior center. Seniors got in free if they showed their badge for the center. I met my friends Linda and Debbie there at 9, and it was fun talking about the quilts with them. We got to vote on our favorite, and the one with the most votes got the “Seniors' Choice” Award.

On Saturday, Debbie came over about 9, and we all walked to the festival downtown (2 blocks from our house). It was fun seeing the craft and food vendors. Plus, we talked with people we knew and hadn’t seen in a while. It is a great community festival and is in its 42nd year! We really enjoy the decorated pumpkin silent auction. Each pumpkin is decorated by school classes that are raising money for their PTA. Many of them were very creative! On the way home, we walked to the Mill to see the food court, and Debbie bought a coffee from Knowledge Brew. Then she bought lunch at Bucky’s BBQ to take home. It was still too early for us to eat, so we passed on the BBQ.

Original photos by Pat Hensley

Visit with Friends

I met Marlicia and Tahlia many years ago when we stood in line for Miss Babs Yarn at Maryland Sheep and Wool. I found out that they had a podcast called Pen, Hook, and Needles, and I started watching it. Since then, I joined their Patreon group and we meet on Zoom once a month. For years, I had hoped to get up to Front Royal to meet them in person again, and it finally happened.

On Sunday, we got to their house around 9:15 and had tea and cookies with them. Marlicia made these great three-ingredient peanut butter cookies! They gave me this huge Santa bag full of goodies, too. The,n when Marlicia learned that Saturday was my birthday, she gave me this beautiful skein of yarn. Plus, she gave me a box of wire blocking wires. I really appreciated their wonderful generosity!

After about an hour, we had to leave and head for home. I’m so glad we finally were able to visit them.

Original photos by Pat Hensley