Happy National Wisconsin Day!

If you’re planning a trip to Wisconsin, here’s some “don’t miss” attractions according to Trip Advisor!

Taliesin Preservation – Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center

Taliesin, the home, studio and estate of Frank Lloyd Wright, is located in the Driftless Region of southwestern Wisconsin near Spring Green. It is the name of Wright’s house as well as the 800-acre estate that includes buildings from all decades of Wright’s career. Its many wings and terraces reach out around the ridge of the hill, embracing the site and standing as “brow.” Taliesin was the residence of Wright and the valley was his inspiration and life-long laboratory for architectural designs and innovation. Taliesin represents the most complete embodiment of Wright’s philosophy of Organic Architecture. The Taliesin residence is the heart of a series of buildings that Wright designed for himself and his family members on the estate.

Noah’s Ark Water Park

Located on 70 sprawling acres in the heart of Wisconsin Dells, the Waterpark Capital of the World, Noah’s Ark is recognized as both the Largest Water Park in America, and one of the best places to visit in Wisconsin Dells with kids. Noah’s Ark isn’t just big on thrills, we’re also committed to providing the safest, cleanest, and most unforgettable waterpark experience for the entire family. In fact, we’ve received the Top Award for Aquatic Safety every year since 1995!

House on the Rock

Located in the beautiful hills of Wisconsin, the House On The Rock is not just a house. It is a magical and whimsical location filled with artistic displays and fascinating oddities. The attraction is famous for its architecture that juts out over the amazing landscape, providing breathtaking views of the surrounding area. The House On The Rock was created by Alex Jordan Jr. in 1945, and it has evolved over the years into a massive complex featuring unique galleries and imaginative creations.

Pabst Mansion

Featuring 37 rooms, 12 baths and 14 fireplaces, sea captain and beer baron Captain Frederick Pabst’s beautiful home was built in the Flemish Renaissance style on Milwaukee’s historic Grand Avenue. During docent-led tours visitors will see the first through third floors and learn about the Pabst Mansion and family. New tours are offered including a fine arts tour, happy hour tour, family-friendly tour and mimosa tour.

Witches Gulch

Step into Witches Gulch, a slot canyon that will capture your imagination and leave you in awe. This secluded treasure offers an exclusive glimpse into the raw power and delicate artistry of nature. Over thousands of years, the forces of wind and water have sculpted this breathtaking passage from the bed of an ancient lake, creating a natural wonder that feels almost otherworldly. As you venture into Witches Gulch, you’ll be greeted by towering sandstone cliffs draped in lush moss. The trail leads you through a narrow, winding passageway with stunning views at every turn. This short, captivating hike immerses you in serene beauty, making it a memorable adventure for nature enthusiasts and curious explorers alike.

SOURCE: TRIPADVISOR.COM

What Shall We Bake Today?

Today’s recipe is a little complicated, but oh-so-worth it!! Oreo Cheesecake!

Ingredients

Crust:

Baking spray with flour

28 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreo)

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

1/4 tsp. kosher salt

Cheesecake:

3 (8-oz. each) packages cream cheese, at room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp. kosher salt

3 large eggs, at room temperature

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

16 chocolate sandwich cookies (such as Oreo) chopped (about 2 cups), plus more for garnish

Sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Directions

Prepare pan:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Wrap the exterior of a 9-inch springform pan with aluminum foil (see Note). Lightly coat pan with baking spray, and line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Lightly coat parchment paper with baking spray, and set aside.

Prepare Crust:

Put cookies in a Ziploc bag and using a rolling pin, crush the cookies.

Add butter to cookie crumbs:

Add melted butter and salt; mix with crumbs.

Press Crust into pan, and bake:

Spoon crumb mixture into prepared pan. Press firmly into bottom and about 1 1/2 to 2 inches up sides of pan. Bake in preheated oven until set and fragrant, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.

Meanwhile, prepare the Cheesecake:

Beat cream cheese, sugar, and salt with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, light, and fluffy, stopping to scrape down sides of bowl as needed, 2 to 3 minutes.

Add eggs and vanilla:

With mixer on low speed, add eggs, one at a time, beating until just combined after each addition. Beat in vanilla until combined.

Add sour cream and flour:

Add sour cream and flour; beat on medium-low speed until combined, 15 to 30 seconds.

Add cookies:

Fold in chopped cookies until evenly distributed.

Add batter to pan:

Pour batter into cooled crust, and spread into an even layer. Place springform pan in a large roasting pan, and pour hot water into roasting pan until it comes halfway up sides of springform pan.

Bake cheesecake:

Bake at 325°F until edges are set and top appears mostly dry but cheesecake still jiggles as a whole, 50 to 55 minutes.

Cool cheesecake in oven:

Turn off oven, and crack oven door open; allow Cheesecake to cool in oven 1 hour. Remove from oven, and let cool at room temperature on a wire rack 1 hour.

Refrigerate cheesecake:

Refrigerate, uncovered, until set, at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours. (Loosely cover with aluminum foil only when completely cool to prevent condensation buildup.) Run a small offset spatula around edges, and remove Cheesecake from pan.

Top with whipped cream, and garnish with additional chopped cookies.

ENJOY!

Birds That Mate for Life: Part 2

Just Birding lists these 8 birds as top picks for Birds That Mate for Life.

Albatross

When it comes to bird love, nobody does it like albatrosses. These birds may travel hundreds of miles across the oceans for long periods of time, but they always return to the same breeding spot and the same mate. How romantic is that? Considering the fact that they live up to 50 years and mate for life, that means they stay married longer than many humans. Plus, they prove that long distance relationships can work if you are dedicated.

Spending much of their time gliding in the wind over oceans near Antarctica, Australia, South Africa, South America, and the North Pacific, these large seabirds settle together in colonies on isolated islands when it’s time for amoré. Mostly white with dark wings and tails, webbed feet, wide wingspans, and long, hooked beaks, albatrosses are wise and take their time before marrying because they do not become sexually mature until five or ten years old. They actually need those years to master their elaborate courtship dance that involves a series of bowing, fencing and beak clattering. Albatross pairs take care of their single chicks for several months until they are ready to fledge out on their own.

Black Vulture

Black vultures prove you don’t have to be beautiful to enjoy a committed, long-term relationship. Looking dressed more for a funeral than a wedding, these scavenger birds feature all-black plumage with bumpy, featherless grayish-black heads, and short, hooked beaks. Found in open habitats and along roads from the southeastern United States to South America, black vultures are all about family life. They form bonds that last their whole lives (about 10 years).

Pairs hang out with each other all year-round instead of just during the breeding season. They take fidelity seriously, and there have been instances where males were observed attacking another male for the crime of adultery. Keeping strong family bonds are important to black vultures, and they often roost with large flocks of their relatives. However, they build their nests in tree hollows, caves, and abandoned buildings where both parents take care of their two chicks.

Geese

Male geese, or ganders, take their roles as providers and protectors seriously. They diligently root up plants for the female to eat. They are also devoted to guarding the female, especially when she is incubating eggs. They will fight an intruder and inflict injury if necessary. It is believed that one of the reasons ganders don’t cheat is because they have too much fear of leaving their mates vulnerable to predators.

Females build their nests with grasses, mosses, and other plant material along with down feathers nearby water and lay anywhere from two to nine eggs, depending on the breed. Goslings begin eating on their own within a day of hatching, but Mom and Dad both keep a close watch on them for several weeks until they are able to fly on their own.

Barn Owl

Barn owls have a short lifespan of only about 4 years, but they sure know how to make the best of that time. They don’t just mate for life. They love for life. Barn owls are said to be affectionate with their partners even outside of the breeding season. Some of the ways they do is this by mutual grooming, leaning on each other, and cheek-rubbing.

Distributed all over the world, except Antarctica, barn owls are beautiful birds with creamy white underparts and reddish-gold wings and tails. Their white, heart-shaped faces are not just for looks. They also have facial muscles that they use to communicate and convey emotions to one another. If a barn owl loses a mate, it may die of a broken heart by becoming catatonic and starving to death.

When a young, male barn owl is trying to woo a female, he seeks to impress her by offering her food, such as a dead mouse, from his beak while fluttering his wings open. (Doesn’t that just make you want to swoon?) Young lovers will also form new bonds by chasing one another in flight displays. After making a nest in an existing cavity, Mom incubates an average of five eggs while Dad goes out hunting for food to bring back to her. After the chicks have hatched, Dad will continue to bring the bacon home, and Mom will try to evenly distribute it to her chicks.

SOURCE: JUSTBIRDING.COM  DREW HAINES

Happy Birthday Bandit!

I found this article about Burt Reynolds (9 Things You Never Knew About Burt Reynolds) on the remindmagazine.com website.

1 He was almost a Pro Football Player

While growing up in West Palm Beach, Florida, he was extremely committed to football in high school and had plans to go to Miami, but since he was so into the ladies, he went to Florida State because the ratio of girls to boys was higher. After being offered a contract to play for the Baltimore Colts, his dreams of going pro were dashed when he succumbed to a knee injury. He at least starred in a few movies about his favorite sport.

2 He started out in Spaghetti Westerns

In the early 1960s, both Burt and Clint Eastwood were under contract at Universal, but they couldn’t get the movie roles they desired. So, they both went to Italy to do movies and got their start in Spaghetti Westerns. Eastwood struck gold with The Good, The Bad & the Ugly; meanwhile, Burt made what is considered one of the worst movies of the genre, Navajo Joe in 1966.

3 Late Night talk shows loved him

Burt soon became a fixture on late-night talk shows due to his funny and charming personality. It was one appearance on the Johnny Carson Show that Deliverance director John Boorman spotted him and wanted to cast him immediately for the film. Burt felt it was truly the first good movie he made, as he would often make fun of himself and his roles in the talk show circuit.

4 A famous photo shoot made him a sex symbol

The infamous Cosmopolitan photo shoot stemmed from once hosting the Johnny Carson Show and Cosmo editor Helen Gurley Brown was one of the guests. Making the point that Hugh Hefner had female centerfolds for years, she felt it was time for the ladies to have one and asked Burt to do the photo shoot. While he was a little concerned about how it would affect his career and being taken as a serious actor, he took the gamble anyway and it shot him to sex symbol status. However, Hollywood was not happy about it and the photo shoot is thought to have ruined his chances of getting an Oscar nomination for Deliverance.

5 He claimed bankruptcy several times

Living a very extravagant lifestyle with a private jet, helicopters, the Tampa Bay Bandits football team, a house in Hawaii, several houses in Florida, the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theater, and donations of money left and right, he spent every dime he made as he made it. It wasn’t until a few bad investment opportunities that he had to claim bankruptcy and sign his residual checks over for several years to pay off the bankruptcy. The crown jewel of his money though went to the Jupiter Ranch, a 144-acre ranch that he bought in Jupiter, Florida. He once held an opening for the sprawling estate in 1974. He invited the press and locals and 10,000 people showed up! Sadly, he once again had to claim bankruptcy in the ’90s and had to sell it.

6 Smokey and the Bandit tanked at first

Hal Needham was the stunt guy in Hollywood and, wanting to direct, he wrote the script for Smokey and the Bandit. Hal and Burt were best friends since he was Burt’s stuntman, although Burt did many of his own stunts. Hal got him to sign on for the film. While the film tanked at both NYC and LA premieres, Burt said they released it wrong. Being known for his Southern charm, he said it had to be released in the South, and so it was. It went on to be the 2nd biggest movie in 1977, behind a little movie called Star Wars.

7 A stunt gone wrong left him badly injured

While filming City Heat with Clint Eastwood, he got injured doing one of the stunts, which led to a hairline fracture in his jaw that turned into TMJ syndrome. With it being incredibly hard for him to eat, he lost a ton of weight, and at the time he was rumored to have AIDS. Due to the tremendous amount of pain he was in, he became a pain pill addict and almost died from trying to quit them cold turkey once. He sadly struggled with this addiction for many years.

8 He had many loves

When Burt and Loni Anderson finally married in 1988, he bought her wedding ring in every gem possible so she could never say it didn’t match her dress. The pair were together since 1982 and shared an adopted son, Quinton, but later went through a very messy divorce after splitting in 1993. It was in 2015 that Burt came out saying that he let the real love of his life, Sally Field, get away.

9 He HATED Boogie Nights

While always hungry for an Academy Award, he didn’t receive his first award until it came in the form of an Emmy with his hit TV show Evening Shade in the early ’90s. When Boogie Nights came along, he was adamant he didn’t want to do it and was often yelling at the director about how much he didn’t want to. It wasn’t until Nights director Paul Thomas Anderson said to him, “You act this way in the film, and it will win you an Academy Award” that he agreed. He was nominated for his only Academy Award as porn producer Jack Horner but lost out to Robin Williams. He still despised doing the role.

SOURCE: REMINDMAGAZINE.COM  KAREN RUUD

Know-It-All Tuesdays: Valentine’s Edition

In the Victorian era, mean-spirited Valentine’s Day cards were called “___ Valentines.”

From where was the oldest-known Valentine’s Day message sent?

Who invented the first Valentine’s Day candy box?

On average, how many marriage proposals are there on every Valentine’s Day?

What brain chemical is known as the “cuddle” or “love hormone”?

How many people typically buy Valentines for their pets?

What state produces most of America’s red roses?

Women purchase what percentage of all Valentines sold?

What major invention was patented on Valentine’s Day?

What is the Guinness World Record for the longest marriage ever recorded?

What do yellow roses symbolize?

What insanely popular website debuted on Valentine’s Day in 2005?

Why did women and girls eat bizarre foods on Valentine’s Day in medieval times?

What fruit was once known as a “love apple” for its alleged aphrodisiac properties?

So, how did you do?

Answers:

Vinegar

Prison

Richard Cadbury

220,000

Oxytocin

9 million

California

85 percent

The telephone

86 years, 290 days

Friendship

YouTube

To dream about their future spouses

Tomatoes

Until next month…stay sharp!

My Cousin Vinny

Today is Joe Pesci’s birthday (born in 1943) so I brought an article from discoverwalks.com detailing 10 little known facts about Joe!

Joe Took Acting And Music Classes When He Was Young 

Joe Pesci was born on 9th February 1943 in Newark, but he was raised in Belleville, both in New Jersey. His parents were Angelo Pesci who worked multiple blue-collar jobs including driving a forklift and bartending, and Maria (Mesce) Pesci who was a barber. They were both Italians, the family was catholic and Joe had two siblings. From as young as 5 years old, the boy was enrolled in dancing, music, and acting classes. He immediately started acting on New York stage productions and when he was 10 years old, he was a regular on a TV variety show called Startime Kids that was airing on New York’s WNBC. His co-host was Connie Francis, who went on to become a successful actress and singer. 

As A Teenager He Changed His Focus From Acting To Music 

Joe went to Belleville High School. As a teenager, he lost interest in acting and decided to explore his musical talent. He co-founded a successful rock band, The Four Seasons, with Bob Gaudio, Frankie Valli, and Tommy DeVito. After graduation from high school, the young Joe took up various jobs, including cutting people’s hair just like his mum did. He also worked as a waiter and singer at night clubs still molding his talent.  He released an album titled ‘Little Joe Sure Can Sing!’ under the name Joe Ritchie in 1968. Thirty years later, in 1998, he released his second album Vincent LaGuardia Gambini (his character in the movie ‘My Cousin Vinny’) Sings Just for You. His third album, Pesci… Still Singing, was released in 2019. This time the silent period was 21 years. 

He Was Part Of A Comedy Duo 

He is very hard-working and proactive, still working as a waiter. He tried standup comedy, teaming up with Frank Vincent, and together the duo did insult comedy which was quite popular then. The two developed a bond and they performed as “Vincent and Pesci” from 1970 to 1976. 

Joe’s Rib Was Broken While Acting

In 1976, Joe landed his first role in the film, Death Collector, a low-budgeted crime movie. When Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro saw Pesci’s acting skills therein, they were incredibly impressed.  In 1979, the actor/director duo cast Pesci for a role as Joey LaMotta in their upcoming project, The Raging Bull. As they were filming, De Niro accidentally broke Joe’s rib when he hit him with a bit of strength. Doors opened wide for the actor after this and he got offered several other roles. Fast forward to 1995, in another project (The Casino) with both Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro, Joe broke the same rib he had broken 15 years before. He was hit with a baseball bat in his last scene. 

He Played Golf Every Morning While Filming ‘Home Alone’ 

In 1990, Pesci played one of the dim-witted burglars in the Christmas comedy film, Home Alone. He was delighted that there was a golf course near the set, and the producers allowed him time to play golf before filming started. With so many children on the set, adult cast members used the word “fridge” instead of bad language. Anyone who said terrible words would deposit change into their personal swear jar. Joe filled up his jar on the first day. Although most of the stunt scenes had doubles, Joe did some of the stunts on his own. Some were quite painful because he suffered severe burns when he was set on fire and had to treat some painful burns. 

Joe Has Acted With De Niro In Amazing Films 

Joe Pesci and Robert De Niro work very well together. They are mostly in Mafia and Mob movies. Most of these famous films were directed by Martin Scorsese and in some, the two don’t appear together.  These films included Casino, Goodfellas, The Good Shepherd, A Bronx Tale, Raging Bull, Once Upon A Time In America, and The Irishman. The actor announced his retirement from acting to focus on music in 1999. He has however come out of retirement several times after that to act in films, some of which did very well at the box office. 

This Actor Has Been Married And Divorced Three Times 

Joe has been in three marriages but they all ended in divorce. He was also engaged at some point but the relationship ended before they said I do. He has two daughters, one from his first marriage and the other from his third marriage. 

He Gained Weight For A Role That He Didn’t Act 

Pesci sued a production company, Fiore Films, the makers of the movie Gotti. They had promised him a role in the film and he had gained 14 kilograms (30 lbs) in readiness. He sued them for $3 million, which was the payment he had been promised. The case was settled out of court and the terms were not disclosed.

Joe Was Almost Arrested For Attempted Murder  

After her divorce from Joe, actress Claudia Haro got engaged to Garret Warren, an ex-stuntman. In May of 2000, Garret was shot at the front door of his house in Westlake Village in California. Luckily, he survived but he wears an eye patch since he lost his right eye.  A witness claimed to have seen Joe Pesci paying the hitman but after thorough investigations, evidence pointed to Claudia. She had hired a hitman to kill Garret, which earned her 12 years and 4 months in prison. 

He Won An Oscar That He Was Not Expecting   

When Joe Pesci’s name was called out as the winner of the Best Supporting Actor award for the film Goodfellas at the 1991 Oscars, he was excited but also mostly surprised. He made his way to the stage, received the award, and gave the shortest acceptance speech in history. 

He said, “It’s my privilege. Thank you!” Then he walked off the stage. It was one of the shortest acceptance speeches in Oscar history. When asked why his speech was so short, he confessed that he didn’t think he would win, so he hadn’t prepared a speech. 

SOURCE: DISCOVERWALKS.COM

Happy National Iowa Day!

If you’re planning a trip to Iowa, Trip Advisor says these places are among the MUST SEE places in Iowa!

Maquoketa Caves State Park

Unfortunately, all modern facilities in the park, including the shower building have closed for the season they will reopen MAY 2026. Frost free hydrants remain on in the campground. Pit toilet is available at the youth group parking lot.

Field of Dreams Movie Site

Is this Heaven? No, it’s Iowa. A place of fertile soil, traditional values and simple pleasure. And, in Dyersville, Iowa, at the century-old Lansing family farm with its quaint, and oh-so-recognizable house, baseball still ranks as a favorite pastime for all ages. What better place to carve a baseball diamond from a corn field and to make a movie about pursuing one’s dream, no matter how much effort it takes? From tours of the inside of the iconic Field of Dreams Farm House, to our retail store, to our concessions stand, there certainly is plenty to do at the place dreams come true!

National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium

Part aquarium, part museum, part science center, the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium inspires stewardship by creating educational experiences where history and rivers come alive! Our 14-acre campus on the banks of the Mississippi River features two separate two-story buildings and an expansive outdoor plaza. The Museum & Aquarium is home to over 200 species of animals and thousands of historic artifacts.

Fenelon Place Elevator Co.

Historic cable car. Also known as the Fourth Street Elevator, this funicular railway has been called “the world’s steepest, shortest scenic railway.” Great view of downtown Dubuque, the Mississippi River and 3 states. Buses should go to the bottom of the bluff. Please use 4th and Bluff Streets for GPS. Narrow streets with parking on both sides at the top of the bluff.

Pappajohn Sculpture Park

Open to visitors since September 2009, the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park features artwork by 22 of the world’s most celebrated artists. The 4.4 Acre park, located within a major crossroads of the urban grid, creates a pedestrian friendly entranceway to downtown Des Moines. This accessible setting, coupled with the skilled landscape design and caliber of the art, makes it unlike any other sculpture park in the United States. The Pappajohns’ contribution of 28 works for the park is the most significant donation of artwork ever made to the Des Moines Art Center.

SOURCE: TRIPADVISOR.COM

What Shall We Bake Today?

In keeping with our Valentine themed offerings this month, I present Red Velvet Brownies!

Ingredients

Brownies:

Cooking spray

1 (4-oz.) bittersweet chocolate baking bar, chopped

3/4 cup (6 oz.) salted butter

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

4 large eggs

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. table salt

1 (1-oz.) bottle red liquid food coloring

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup (4 oz.) salted butter, softened

6 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Prepare the oven and baking pan:

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Lightly grease bottom and sides of a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray; line bottom and sides with parchment paper, allowing 2 to 3 inches to extend over sides; lightly grease (with cooking spray) parchment.

Melt chocolate:

Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwavable bowl on HIGH until melted and smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in sugar; add eggs, 1 at a time, whisking just until blended after each addition.

Make batter:

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Gently stir flour mixture, food coloring, and vanilla into chocolate mixture, stirring just until well incorporated.

Bake Brownies:

Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely, about 2 hours.

While Brownies cool, prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting:

Beat cream cheese and softened butter in bowl of a heavy-duty stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment on medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low, and gradually beat in powdered sugar until blended. Beat in vanilla. Increase speed to medium-high, and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 to 2 minutes.

Frost brownies:

Using a piping bag fitted with a large star tip, pipe frosting on top of brownies or spread frosting over brownies. Cut brownies into squares.

ENJOY!

Arizona State Motto

Arizona uses ‘Ditat Deus’ as its official motto. A state motto is a phrase chosen to represent important values or ideas. Arizona’s motto has remained the same since territorial days in 1863. The motto appears on Arizona’s state seal. You see it on government documents, official letterhead, and state buildings. The seal shows mountains, a reservoir, irrigated fields, and a miner with the motto above. Arizona law recognizes this as the official state motto. The phrase survived all the changes to the seal design over the years. It stayed constant while other elements of the seal were added or removed.

The English translation is God Enriches. The Latin word ‘ditat’ means ‘enriches’ or ‘makes rich.’ The word ‘Deus’ means ‘God.’ Put them together and you get a simple two-word phrase. Some scholars think the phrase comes from Genesis 14:23 in the Vulgate Bible. Abraham refuses help from the king of Sodom and relies on God’s blessings instead. The exact Latin words don’t appear in scripture, but the concept matches. The broader meaning points to Arizona’s natural wealth. Copper mines, agriculture in the desert, and natural resources like the Grand Canyon all fit the idea. Many residents see the motto as recognition of blessings that made Arizona prosperous despite harsh conditions.

Richard Cunningham McCormick created ‘Ditat Deus’ in 1863 for the Arizona territorial seal. President Abraham Lincoln had appointed McCormick as Secretary of Arizona Territory that same year. McCormick was a writer and journalist who brought a printing press with him when he moved west.

The motto appeared on the territorial seal from the very beginning. The seal showed miners, mountains, and mining tools along with the Latin phrase. Critics made fun of the first design and said it looked like a baking soda label. The seal changed many times over the years, with elements added and removed, but the motto stayed the same.

Arizona became the 48th state on February 14, 1912. The territorial motto became the official state motto that year. The phrase had already been in use for 49 years by the time Arizona gained statehood.