January 2022

Signs and Stickers

Published on January 31, 2022January 31, 2022 by Kathy Cherry3 Comments

National parks all have iconic signs such as these two examples below from Yellowstone National and Yosemite National Park.

It came to my attention recently that my national park needed a sign. To explain, I created a fictional national park as the setting in my children’s book, Turtle Tube: An Erutuf National Park Novel, called Erutuf National Park. I have a map of the national park, but no sign.

I really love the idea of creating this sign as a visual for children. In particular, I like the idea of creating it to use as stickers. Stickers are the rage right now covering water bottles, laptops, and more. So, I started the process of working with a designer (as I am definitely not an artist).

Here are the first few draft designs:

We went back and forth with ideas and came up with this final design:

I love it! And I’m having it made into stickers! Yay!

Just thought I’d share a bit of author life and work today. Thanks for reading! 🙂

Library Shelfie Day

Published on January 26, 2022January 25, 2022 by Kathy CherryLeave a comment

Happy Library Shelfie Day! Yes, it’s a thing!

The New York Public Library created Library Shelfie Day back in 2014 and it’s celebrated on the fourth Wednesday of January each day. On this day, go and enjoy many photos on social media and blogs of books on shelves. Look for the #LibraryShelfieDay. Escape the news and work deadlines and check out some fun book photos!

And maybe you’ll even find a new book to check out and read! 🙂

Happy National Handwriting Day

Published on January 23, 2022January 20, 2022 by Kathy CherryLeave a comment

Happy National Handwriting Day!

It is observed today on January 23 which celebrates the birthday of John Hancock. As you probably know, he’s the first man to sign the Declaration of Independence. His autograph became so famous that we now commonly use ‘John Hancock’ as another term for ‘signature.’

To celebrate this fun day, write a letter to someone; start a journal; try out calligraphy; or buy yourself a fancy pen to use.

Winnie the Pooh Day

Published on January 18, 2022January 11, 2022 by Kathy CherryLeave a comment

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart, I’ll stay there forever.” ~ Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh Day was created to celebrate the creator’s birthday, A.A. Milne. Milne was born on this day in 1882 in London, England. Milne brought this adorable, honey-loving, bear to life in his writings in a collection of books first published in 1926.

Milne’s lovable Pooh Bear is a fictional bear inspired by a black bear named Winnie who lived at the London Zoo during World War I. The author’s son, Christopher Robin, would visit the bear often at the zoo and named his own teddy bear after her. Milne created other characters in these books, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, and Roo, after his son’s other stuffed animals.

I loved Winne the Pooh as a young girl and love seeing my own children enjoy these lovable characters.

To celebrate this fun day, go and enjoy a Winne the Pooh book, enjoy some honey, snuggle one of your stuffed animals, host a picnic, draw your house in the woods, or even bounce around the room a bit.

“A hug is always the right size.” ~ Winnie the Pooh

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Published on January 14, 2022January 14, 2022 by Kathy CherryLeave a comment

“The time is always right to do what is right.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday celebrates and honors Martin Luther King, Jr. in America. Today, we take a moment to reflect back on his great life and achievements.

National Park Service sites will have free admission for everyone on Monday, January 17, 2022, as the first fee free day of the year in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.

The National Park Service offers opportunities across the country to honor this important person.

In Georgia, there is the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Park. In this location, you can walk through his neighborhood of Atlanta where he had his birthplace, home, church, and burial site.

In Alabama, there’s the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. Here you can retrace the steps of the 1965 Voting Rights March led by Dr. King on this 45-mile long trail.

In Alabama, there is also the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. At this national monument, you can visit places where Dr. King and his fellow activists coordinated for civil rights.

In Washington DC, there’s the Lincoln Memorial. Here you can stand where Dr. King gave his famous “I have a Dream” speech.

Also in Washington DC, you can visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. The memorial honors Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy and the struggle for freedom, equality, and justice.

Take time on this Monday to honor and celebrate this great man. Educate yourself and act.

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Muir Woods National Monument

Published on January 9, 2022January 6, 2022 by Kathy Cherry1 Comment

Happy 114th anniversary to Muir Woods National Monument!

On January 9, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt created the Muir Woods National Monument in California named after conservationist John Muir. Muir Woods became the 7th National Monument and was the first one created from land donated by a private individual.

Did you know that the first movement to save Muir Woods was organized by women? Check out this link for a short video about it.

Muir Woods is a great place to see some amazing redwood trees, check out the history here, and take in a few hikes. I highly recommend that you check out Muir Woods National Monument if you’re in the Northern California area!

Cheer to 114 years!

A Calendar

Published on January 4, 2022January 4, 2022 by Kathy CherryLeave a comment

Merriam-Webster defines the word calendar as “a system for fixing the beginning, length, and divisions of the civil year and arranging days and longer divisions of time (such as weeks and months) in a definite order”. It sounds so clinical and boring. A calendar represents more than that.

If we look at the calendar from last year, it’s filled with more than numbers and systems. It’s filled with memories, goals, adventures, and events.

As we enter this new year, the 2022 calendar highlights the 150th anniversary of our first national park, Yellowstone National Park. My calendar also features a milestone birthday on it (although I keep telling everyone that I’m celebrating 36 again 🙂 ) and also shows the 1st anniversary of my children’s book. It’s exciting to look ahead at the upcoming days, weeks, and months.

A new calendar makes way for new memories, goals, adventures, and events. Cheers to this calendar and what will come for us all.

Happy New Calendar!