To celebrate Independence Day, July 4 2021.
Pike's Peak, Colorado
I wish "America the Beautiful" were our National Anthem. With all respect to Francis Scott Key, the words of Katherine Lee Bates better express what we celebrate about our country. Here are a few of her words and a few of our archived pictures from places we have been fortunate to visit in our travels:
Oh Beautiful for spacious skies
Colorado Front Range
For Amber Waves of Grain
Palouse Country, Washington State
For Purple Mountain Majesty
Mt. Rainier, Washington
Above the Fruited Plain
(why have I never taken a picture of a fruited plain?)
...
And Crown Thy Good With Brotherhood,
Oregon - Central Pacific Coast
From Sea to Shining Sea
Atlantic Ocean - from Acadia National Park, Maine
We are grateful. Happy Fourth of July!
Linking this week to the following: Thank you to the hosts.
MOSAIC MONDAY; NATURE NOTES; THROUGH MY LENS; TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS; OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY; MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; SIGNS SIGNS; THANKFUL THURSDAY; SKYWATCH FRIDAY; and FRIDAY BLISS;
Good job! Very creative. :) I'd have the sea covered with all my travel photos. I don't see as many majestic purple mountains.
Posted by: Sharon Wagner | July 16, 2021 at 07:08 AM
Nice! I hope you had a lovely 4th of July.
Amalia
xo
Posted by: handmade by amalia | July 13, 2021 at 06:56 AM
So beautiful, Sallie! Pikes peak has a brand new visitor center and has a new feature honoring Katherine Bates who wrote this poem! I can't wait to visit the mountain to see it.
Posted by: Pat | July 12, 2021 at 07:43 AM
Gorgeous photos! You picked some great examples to illustrate the song.
Posted by: Lisa | Handmade in Israel | July 12, 2021 at 07:38 AM
Greetings and Salutations! I love America the Beautiful too. I hope you had a wonderful fourth of July. We were at IHOP eating brunch with a friend of ours and our son. We were remembering how on black and white TV we had a few channels to watch but that at some point it turned off. Yes, I said off. We had a sign, a sound, and music played. Odd how that isn't done anymore. We recognized America was beautiful everyday. Even in class. We saluted the flag daily and taps was played. I think, those days are gone forever. In my heart America will always be beautiful!
Posted by: JM Illinois U.S.A. | July 10, 2021 at 01:40 PM
I am hoping that our countrymen will be more kind and tolerant as this is really what I hope our country represents...
Posted by: Michelle Banks | July 10, 2021 at 11:37 AM
Wonderful photographs to go along with the words to the song. You captured so well the natural beauty of our country. There are times when the only thing that keeps me going is nature's beauty especially during the tumultuous times we recently had four years of. I hope you had a happy Independence Day.
Posted by: Carver | July 10, 2021 at 06:04 AM
America is really beautiful. Breathtaking views Sallie!
Posted by: Riitta k | July 09, 2021 at 09:03 AM
You have some wonderful photos, my friend!!
I agree with you about the song. And, I'm pretty sure any open space with vegetation would do for a fruited plain :)
It's great to see your link at 'My Corner of the World' this week!
Posted by: My Corner of the World | July 09, 2021 at 01:58 AM
Hope you had a nice celebration.
Posted by: Diane Bohlen | July 09, 2021 at 01:38 AM
Your country have so much beautiful landscapes. For the moment, in a warm Sweden I would very much love to visit those windy beaches :)
Love the mountains too. :)
Posted by: NatureFootstep | July 08, 2021 at 10:36 PM
I'd be all over that idea. I love America the Beautiful. The Star Spangled Banner just seems militaristic especially in international settings like the Olympics.
Posted by: Alan Bates | July 08, 2021 at 06:18 PM
I agree with you so much about the national anthem! Gorgeous photos!! I can't wait to hit the road again.
-Soma
Posted by: soma @ InkTorrents.com | July 08, 2021 at 04:10 PM
I agree! I love the song, America the Beautiful. Besides, our current national anthem is not the easiest to sing. lol Thanks for linking up!
Posted by: Michelle Keltner | July 08, 2021 at 03:56 PM
Beautiful.
Posted by: Jim, Sydney, Australia | July 08, 2021 at 02:52 PM
I so agree with you. Beautifully done!
Posted by: Peter B. | July 08, 2021 at 02:44 PM
What a lovely post. I do miss the years we lived in Colorado, and thank you for your second comment on my post. You are so precious.
Posted by: Yvonne | July 08, 2021 at 08:21 AM
Hello,
Beautiful post. The song and photos are perfect together.
America is beautiful! Take care, have a happy day and week ahead.
Posted by: Eileen | July 07, 2021 at 02:14 AM
It is a beautiful anthem and lovely pictures too :)
Posted by: Sami | July 07, 2021 at 02:00 AM
Beautiful the ranges, and mountains. It looks superb Sallie.
Posted by: Bob Bushell | July 07, 2021 at 01:31 AM
Lovely photos. The skies in the first two shots are amazing.
Posted by: craftygreenpoet | July 07, 2021 at 12:39 AM
A fantastic post, Sallie!
Beautiful visuals to accompany these beautiful thoughts.
Posted by: Veronica Lee | July 06, 2021 at 09:04 PM
I agree with you because this is my favorite song about America, too. Great pics tyo go along with the words, too.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. You are so sweet. Us "vintage" folk need to stick together--LOL! ;) Hope to see you or find you again with all the changes to Blogger. I'll try! :)
Posted by: Rita McGregor | July 06, 2021 at 05:01 PM
...I have alway wanted to do a post like this, How about orchards for fruited plain. Nice job!
Posted by: tomthebackroadstraveller | July 06, 2021 at 03:39 PM
Wow, very nice and perfectly illustrated. I love this! Hope you had a great 4th of July, Sallie.
Posted by: bill burke | July 06, 2021 at 02:50 PM
Well said, Sallie, and perfectly illustrated! Thanks for a patriotic post for Mosaic Monday!
Posted by: Angie | July 06, 2021 at 02:08 PM
A few years ago as we drove across Oklahoma we were listening to Ray Charles singing "America the Beautiful" and it was very inspiring, looking at the scenery while hearing his music. I love your illustrations with the same sentiment that I felt. We have a wonderful country.
My guess is that the words "fruited plain" refer to fertile land, with fruit used in a more general sense, like ideas that bear fruit. Or maybe just to orchards. But I could be wrong.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Posted by: mae | July 06, 2021 at 01:52 PM
An awesome post Sallie :) Beautiful photos to go with these beautiful words.
Posted by: DeniseinVA | July 06, 2021 at 01:50 PM
You have made a very good point for switching the song, Sallie. I loved all of the accompanying photos. Hope your holiday was a great one.
Posted by: Beatrice | July 06, 2021 at 12:01 PM
Sallie ~ gorgeous photos and America is soooo beautiful! Xo
as you are ^_^
Living in the moment,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Posted by: A ShutterBug Explores | July 06, 2021 at 11:46 AM
Love it! You sold me.
Posted by: colleen Looseleaf | July 05, 2021 at 07:49 PM
Love all the beautiful words and pictures, Sallie.
Posted by: Sharon | July 05, 2021 at 05:12 PM
I had to laugh at your lack of a fruited plain. What a great way to illustrate 'America the beautiful'
Posted by: Fun60 | July 05, 2021 at 03:52 PM
Beautiful photos from coast to coast.
I hope you had a Happy 4th.
Posted by: Dixie | July 05, 2021 at 02:08 PM
HI Sallie, how true her song says so much more as it mentions brotherhood and not ramparts. I have not been feeling very patriotic since the 2016 elections in this country, but I felt a tinge of awe and gratitude viewing your lovely shots. TC
Posted by: Sondra Walling | July 05, 2021 at 10:52 AM
Fantastisc captures, Sallie, I hope one day we can there travel too...
...happy MosaicMonday
Posted by: Heidrun | July 05, 2021 at 08:50 AM
You illustrated this beautiful song so well! Loved each image and caption! Happy 245th birthday USA!!
Posted by: ellen b. | July 05, 2021 at 07:29 AM
That was really nice Sallie, hope you had a fabulous July 4th! :)
Posted by: Rain Frances | July 05, 2021 at 05:42 AM
Happy 4th!
Posted by: Jennifer Jilks | July 05, 2021 at 05:26 AM
Happy Fourth of July to you and your family, Sally. A beautiful country, yes, you have ! I hope you don't suffer too much, with the extreme heat which affects your state. Here it's the opposite : rainy and cold ! Amitiés !
Posted by: Annie | July 04, 2021 at 11:07 PM
as student decades ago I did a project with poster boards using magazine photos to illustrate the words to the song
Posted by: Carol | July 04, 2021 at 03:08 PM
Beautiful post.
Posted by: Mary Jo Burns | July 04, 2021 at 03:00 PM
I agree with you Sallie, America the Beautiful is such an incredible song filled with wonder. You inspired me to find the Ray Charles version on YouTube. What a joy! Wishing you a very happy July 4th. And thank you for sharing the beauty of America over these many years during you travels!
Posted by: Penelope Notes | July 04, 2021 at 01:38 PM
Beautiful shots. Enjoy the rest of your Independence Day.
Posted by: Wiiliam Kendall | July 04, 2021 at 01:14 PM
They are all so beautiful Sallie! I love America the Beautiful too. I hope you have a wonderful 4th of July. :)
Posted by: Martha | July 04, 2021 at 12:57 PM