Personal Challenge 2018 - Week 32

I have two blog posts today. If you're here to see my Crafters of Faith card, it's the blog post following this one so you can either keep scrolling or you can simple go HERE.


This is the 32nd week of my personal 50-week States of the Union Challenge. Each week I research one of the 50 United States (in the order they attained statehood). I share tidbits of information about the state here on my blog and I create a card that is inspired by something about that state.

This week's state (the 32nd one to attain statehood) is...

Minnesota

Date of Statehood: May 11, 1858

Minnesota is the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”…and 90,000 miles of shoreline.

There are 69,200 miles of rivers and streams in Minnesota. That's enough to circle the equator 2 3/4 times!

With more miles of bike trails than any other state, Minnesota is a cyclist’s paradise. 

Minnesota has over 3 times more white-tailed deer than college students.

The mighty Mississippi has humble roots: It begins in Lake Itasca, a small body of water in Northern Minnesota that’s less than two square miles in area.

In 1889, the  Minneapolis Public Library became the first library to separate children's books from the rest of its books.

Minneapolis’ famed skyway system connecting 52 blocks (nearly five miles) of downtown makes it possible to live, eat, work and shop without going outside.

Then-Vice President Theodore Roosevelt gave his now-famous “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick” speech at the 1901 Minnesota State Fair. 

With 4.3 miles of total store front footage, the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota is the biggest mall in the country.  To put that in perspective, it is the size of 78 football fields.

In 1876, notorious outlaw Jesse James and his gang were thwarted from robbing a bank in Northfield, Minnesota. Several members of his posse were captured and killed, and in subsequent years the group slowly dissolved before Robert Ford finally assassinated Jesse James in 1882. Each September, the town celebrates the historic event in a five-day celebration called The Defeat of Jesse James Days.

Minnesota has one recreational boat per every six people; that's 909,528 boats, more than the population of South Dakota (and North Dakota).

In 1922, Ralph Samuelson, of Lake City, developed and perfected the world’s first successful design for water skis on the Mississippi River. Lake City has been calling itself the birthplace of water skiing ever since.

The first automatic pop-up toaster was marketed in June 1926 by McGraw Electric Co in Minneapolis under the name Toastmaster. The retail price was $13.50.

Hormel Company of Austin marketed the first canned ham in 1926. Hormel introduced Spam in 1937.

Candy maker Frank C. Mars of Minnesota introduced the Milky Way candy bar in 1923. Mars marketed the Snickers bar in 1930 and introduced the 5 cent Three Musketeers bar in 1937. The original 3 Musketeers bar contained 3 bars in one wrapper. Each with different flavor nougat.

Minnesota produces more turkeys each year than there are people in California.

Minnesota has an official state muffin: blueberry. The bill was introduced at the request of a third-grade class from South Terrace Elementary School in Carlton, Minn. A class in Massachusetts (who lobbied for their own state muffin to be the corn muffin) inspired the children and the bill passed in 1988. The school children picked blueberry because wheat is an important crop in southern Minnesota and wild blueberries are common in the northern part of the state.  

When Minnesotans refer to mosquitos as their “unofficial state bird,” they’re only being half-sarcastic. The state is home to more than 50 different mosquito species—meaning you should pack plenty of bug spray before going camping or canoeing in one of its many state parks. 

Minnesota has some interesting laws...

It is against the law to stand around any building without a good reason to be there.

Unless people have a permit, they can't start or land aircraft in city parks. This also includes air balloons, parachutes, and hang gliders.

All men driving motorcycles must wear shirts.

All bathtubs must not have feet. 

In St. Cloud - It's illegal to eat hamburgers on Sundays.

In Minneapolis, there is a law prohibiting use of alleys for through pedestrian traffic. No shortcuts in this city!

Another interesting law in Minneapolis involves no red cars on Lake Street. However, as expected, this law is no longer enforced.

I decided to go with this bit of Minnesota information for my card's inspiration... Minnesota harvests 18,900,000 pounds of fish per year; that's enough to fill the beds of 10,384 Ford F-150 Pickups.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!


Supplies Used

Stamps: My Favorite Things Alameda Somethings Fishy and Crafter's Companion Popcorn Bear Fishing Popcorn stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copic Markers

Papers: Recollections Black and 110# White and SU Cucumber Crush CS and DP from the Recollections Home Basics Paper Pad

Embellishments: CC Designs Enamel Dots