October 14, 2026 a thought for today, Truth is stronger than the mighty. Welsh Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge yesterday was “m is for...”. I used a map from one of my bibles for this upload. 

The next assignment was “my choice” and one of my series “black and white”. This is one from my neighborhood. I like how we see things we may have missed in color images of the same things. 

The last upload was “nuts”. I happened to have this can of peanuts on the counter. It was waiting for the perfect moment.

Life today. It has been one of the productive days. As I was putting together the things that I need to take with me for “printing day” I noticed that I had laminated and cut two of the placards at the wrong size. I was planning and looking forward to getting them up tomorrow when I am at the church. They will complete the placards on all of the gallery wall photos. So I re-lamented and cut them to the correct size. Now I am ready to print. Other than the back slide on the placards the rest of my agenda went along at a good pace. 

There were some xrays taken at my appointment yesterday so I have been waiting today to here the results.....none yet. Everything else on the “examination list” looked good. 

It has been quiet around the house all day so I have had a chance to “play” with some of my projects. I am trying to make some new cards that we use for our food pantry clients. I have the business cards and the laminating material. I am wanting to put a border on them. The business card printer template that I use doesn’t like the size of the border I have chosen so I have spent some time figuring another way to get the border I want. I think I have found one with a way that I can control the size. The “computer” day is about done so I will try it out on another day. 

The word to ponder to day is employ.  There are some that only employ words for the purpose of disguising their thoughts. Voltaire. Never fear the want of business. A man who qualifies himself well for his calling, never fails of employment. Thomas Jefferson. Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to get leisure. Benjamin Franklin. Employment is the surest antidote to sorrow. Ann Radcliffe. If a man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it. Socrates. Most are engaged in business the greater part of their lives, because the soul abhors a vacuum and they have not discovered any continuous employment for man's nobler faculties. Henry David Thoreau. He only employs his passion who can make no use of his reason. Cicero. Most men would feel insulted if it were proposed to employ them in throwing stones over a wall, and then in throwing them back, merely that they might earn their wages. But many are no more worthily employed now. Henry David Thoreau. One loses all the time which he might employ to better purpose. Jean-Jacques Rousseau. The celebrated Galen said that employment was nature's physician. It is indeed so important to happiness that indolence is justly considered the parent of misery. C. C. Colton. My soul is more at rest from the tempter when I am busily employed. Francis Asbury. Insults are the arguments employed by those who are in the wrong. Jean-Jacques Rousseau. They are not only idle who do nothing, but they are idle also who might be better employed. Socrates. The value of moments, when cast up, is immense, if well employed; if thrown away, their loss is irrecoverable. Lord Chesterfield.

Article summary. I may have misjudged what this article will cover but decided to be brave and check it out. The title is Why you shouldn’t want to always be happy. Frank T. McAndrew Cornelia H. Dudley Professor of Psychology, Knox College. At theconversation.com. It begins by telling how there have been studies on human happiness since the 1990s. The studies contained information on creating meaning in “one’s life” leading to a more satisfying life. It went on to say that up to that time it was felt “to improve happiness could be a futile attempt” and that “we may actually be programmed to be dissatisfied most of the time”.  It goes on to say the since happiness is not just one thing so having “to much happiness” over one thing may make it difficult to be “happy” about another. An example is in a happy and satisfying marriage there is happiness that takes a lot of time a consideration, meaning possibly less time for other types of friendships. The friendships are also important to a full life so there needs to be a balance. Happiness is also measured by the way we “process the experience of happiness”. Things in our life change as we grow and experience so happiness can be measured differently. It says there are religions that show the thinking of past and future looks at happiness as demonstrated with the Garden of Eden and then the happiness in Heaven, as in weighing a beginning happiness and an ending one. As a teacher the author gave the students a “test”. Think about grades from the past three years then what they expect to get this year. She determined the “expected grades are (were) far higher than one would reasonably expect”. We remember pleasant things from the past sometimes that since they are past not so much good things. Then it is reasoned that “we focus on the pleasant stuff and tend to forget the day-to-day unpleasantness”. After some of this testing and findings the author/teacher tells her student to their chagrin that probably as happy “are right now – it’s probably about how happy they will be 20 years from now”. Tests have shown that for most lottery winners it does”not significantly affect an individual’s long-term level of happiness”. The article says that dreams of the future keep us “motivated” and memories of past “reassure” us that we can have more dreams of happiness. In ending the article it says happiness is a “delightful visitor” that doesn’t “overstay” its welcome, just appreciate it while its here. 

Photos in my life today

The first assignment for today is “n is for...”. One of my friends was in one of the fall sales rooms at church and saw this one and thought I may want to use it for a photo. She was right. 

The next challenge is another of the “my choice” and one of my series of “black and white”. It is a small part of one of the rooms I am in most of the day. 

The last upload is “harvest”. I had one left in a series I took of one of
McDonalds set ups at the drive through areas. 

Spaghetti sounds good for dinner tonight.

Joy 

I unloaded this one to Fine Art of America

Want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector (and take a look at flickr.com search for rectorjoyce)

 October 12, 2026 a thought for today, Anger is the mother of treachery. Welsh Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge was “k is for...”. Keys will work for this one. 

My next assignment was “thankful for...”. This was a no brainier for me.....it is
Bobbi.

The last upload was “gate”. This gate has been in that spot for twenty years. I guess it is soet of an icon in the neighborhood.

Live today. The day started out a little rocky. I have been having a health issue that needs some attention for a while now. I have my regular six month check up in a month so I was trying to hold out. But after some considerate thought and suggestions by family I decided to see if I could get in to the doctor a bit sooner. Luckily I could. My doctor is booked up solid for a month so I elected to see one of the others in her group. I have an appointment tomorrow. I will update as time goes by. 

I got the bulletin done the first thing this morning. The information I needed to complete it was here in good time. 

After that I was able to get on to the rest of my lists. I got the photos selected and sent through Photoshop for darkroom-style work. They are ready for their next upload. 

I took a break and got the dishwasher uploaded and started.  I have also managed a few minutes on each of my back burner projects. 

All in all the day has moved on without any problems. Now I will close out the letter and do all the uploads before making some supper.

The word to ponder today is effect.  Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose that you resolved to effect. William Shakespeare. I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago. Edgar Allan Poe. Money, which represents the prose of life, and which is hardly spoken of in parlors without an apology, is, in its effects and laws, as beautiful as roses. Ralph Waldo Emerson. A companion's words of persuasion are effective. Homer. Indeed, what is there that does not appear marvelous when it comes to our knowledge for the first time? How many things, too, are looked upon as quite impossible until they have been actually effected? Pliny the Elder. No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear. Edmund Burke. He that loveth a book will never want a faithful friend, a wholesome counsellor, a cheerful companion, an effectual comforter. Dr. Isaac Barrow. I approach these questions unwillingly, as they are sore subjects, but no cure can be effected without touching upon and handling them. Titus Livius. The cause is hidden. The effect is visible to all. Ovid. Thoughts are but dreams till their effects be tried. William Shakespeare. We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects. Herman Melville. Life is a perpetual instruction in cause and effect. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Reason and free inquiry are the only effectual agents against error. Thomas Jefferson. 

Article summary. This article came up under another section on happiness so I decided to have a look to see how the “hope, anger and courage” was on the same wave link. The title is Hope, anger and courage – or why are conservatives so miserable? Richard Paul Hamilton. Senior Lecturer Philosophy and Bio-Ethics, University of Notre Dame Australia. At theconvesation.com. The opening sentences talks about some of the odd things happening in our society that maynmake people “happy”. They are “promises” that if you do this or buy that you will be healthy and happy. It goes on to say that if poverty were to be “overcome” with “positive thinking” what would we think of people who live under those conditions. Would our thinking be possibly that they were “weaklings”? There needs to be compassion in those and other kinds of unpredictable and sad uncontrollable happenings in life. The article touches on the subject that the “political” portions of our societies “seldom reflect” on this aspect of life. Some people believe that the negative outlook on the unfortunate people who suffer such conditions are called victims. In the 1970s there was a condition coined called “victim blaming”. In this victim blaming situation we come up against a fact that people tend to assume that the “victims somehow brought their fate upon themselves”. Interestingly it was shown during this period that women were more apt to be “blamed” than men. It seems that since we are “powerless” to deal with their problems we allow ourselves tonot feel guilty when faced with seeing their conditions. The article mentioned that St. Augustine was quoted as saying “Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are”. The article says these are “virtues” more than feelings. The article ends by relating that “every time we deny the suffering of others, some part of ourselves dies” and that we should “replace an ethic of blame with an ethic of compassion and mutual responsibility”.  This is where the happiness become “genuine”.

Photos in my my today

The first challenge for today is “l is for...”. The lamp and it shadow worked perfectly for this one.

The second upload is “my chocie” and one of my series of “black and white”. This is my current store bought bouquet. 

The last assignment for today is “faceless portrait”. As I was waiting for my
groceries I was able to capture this one.

Fried rice for dinner sounds good.

Joy

this is one of my latest uploads to Fine Art America

 want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector (and take a look at flickr.com search for rectorjoyce)

October 10, 2026 a thought for today, Adversity brings knowledge, and knowledge wisdom. Welsh Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “I is for....”. I used an igloo jug I found in the fall sale setup as my upload for this image. 

The second challenge was “my choice” and one of my series of “still life”. This
one is a bit different than my past still life’s. I used a Photoshop background and place my still life shot in it as the focal point. 

The last upload was “simple”. This small weed growing by the side of my house seemed to call my name for this image. 

Life today. It’s a typical Saturday. I started the day in the usual way, email checks and answers, checking news headings, facebook friends and answers, my yesterdays upload and checks for comments. Then I got the letter started with some fact checks on parts of it. 

I took a break to go pick up the groceries. That was uneventful. I stopped for lunch on the way home and drove by the church to see how the fall sale might be going. The parking lot was about a half full so things must be going well for the sale. 

I had planned to make Salisbury steak for dinner but I some how got behind on my “schedule” so I guess it will be left over dried beef and have the Salisbury tomorrow night. I still have a couple of the groceries to put away.

Before I left for the store I worked on a couple of the “back burner check list” things and spent more time on them than I meant to. I finished the placards for the gallery wall at church. That took some time but it involves research that interests me so it is more fun than work. 

I have some extra things I want to tend to in the morning before church so I will leave a little earlier than usual. 

The word to ponder today is educate. It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle. Where any one body of educated men, of whatever denomination, are condemned indiscriminately, there must be a deficiency of information, or...of something else. Jane Austen. It is simplicity that makes the uneducated more effective than the educated when addressing popular audiences. Aristotle. Only the educated are free. Epictetus. Children should be educated and instructed in the principles of freedom. John Adams. Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all. Aristotle. You can never be overdressed or overeducated. Oscar Wilde. I pay the schoolmaster, but 'tis the schoolboys that educate my son. Ralph Waldo Emerson. You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation. Brigham Young. Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy, so they know the value of things, not the price. Victor Hugo. It is defeat which educates us. Ralph Waldo Emerson. If your plan is for one year plant rice. If your plan is for ten years plant trees. If your plan is for one hundred years educate children. Confucius. How we educate the mind will change with the times; how we cultivate the heart is and will remain timeless. Basil Moreau. We speak of educating our children. Do we know that our children also educate us? Lydia Sigourney. Count it one of the highest virtues upon earth to educate faithfully the children of others, which so few, and scarcely any, do by their own. Martin Luther. The critic has to educate the public; the artist has to educate the critic. Oscar Wilde. Heaven and earth, advantages and obstacles, conspire to educate genius. Henry Fuseli. Education makes a people easy to lead but difficult to drive easy to govern, but impossible to enslave. Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux. The foundation of every state is the education of its youth. Diogenes. Education is the best provision for old age. Aristotle.

Article summary. I was wondering what these authors think about animals as connected to humans so I am taking a look. The title is 3 ways our view of animals shapes our connection to them. Catherine Amiot, Professor, Psychology, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM). Brock Bastian, Professor, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne. At theconversation.com. They start by mentioning that both people and other animals as well do suffer from diseases. Research has shown that people “can identify with other animals, and that we do so in three different ways”. They feel that this research can “affect our interactions with animals and each other”. The first one they brought up was “solidarity with animals”, a psychological bond and a feeling of well-being for animals. This brings more positive attitudes toward the animals. This can carry over to a “tendency to project human thoughts and feelings onto non-human animals, ‘anthropomorphism’”. Then the article moves to the fact that there are two groups to be concerned with in the “needs and plight” of animals...pet owners and vegetarians. The second way people interact with animals begins with saying that all animals, including humans, have much in common with each other. They say as far as in intelligence and sensory abilities there are beliefs that these senses in animals are close to those in humans. These feelings predict higher considerations for animals and the ones we may eat and those in captivity. The third point they bring up is the “pride” of an animal . Persons who are proud to “be an animal” recognize the value of being “an animal”. When people feel that “labeling” (being an animal) they may “have negative connotations such as dehumanizing”. Another outlook to the animal kingdom can bring to mind “the use of animals for human purposes, such as experimentation”. Some see animals as territorial and have a the “stereotype that humans have of other animals”. Animals can feel empathy and can “denote a great sense of responsibility and altruism (unselfish concern for others). These relationships are “not just for human-animal relations but also for our relations with fellow humans”.

Photos in my life today

The first challenge for today is “j is for...”. Except for the first letter of my name, J, other things that start with that leave some time for thought. I used a jar of jam for this one. 

The next assignment is “left heading toward right”. As I was waiting for my grocery pick up I caught a couple of shots like this one. 

The last upload is “the sky”. It was on the plain side today so I chose one
from my archives. 

I think it will be Salisbury steak patties for dinner. 

Joy 

uploaded to Fine Art America, “so it begins”

want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector (and take a look at flickr.com search for rectorjoyce)

 

 October 8, 2026 a thought for today, The advice of the aged will not mislead you. Welch Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

One of the challenges yesterday was “g is for...”. I used the bunch of grapes from my last grocery order for this image. 

The next assignment was “my choice” and one of my “still life”. This one is asingle carnation on a black background. Carnations seem to be a popular cut flower in my store bought bouquets. 

The last upload was “magic”. I used this playing card “hand” of a royal flush as magic. This is part of what was my son’s card deck for his “magic shows” to family and friends.

Life today. I went to the church for the printing a little earlier than usual today. I had one extra piece to copy and I wanted to put up at least three more placards. When all of that was done, I opened and turned on lights in all of the “fall sale” rooms so that I could get some photos for the newsletter as well as some for my photo club assignments. Some of the volunteers for the set up started arriving about the time that I had those done. 

Once I got home, it was back to the computer as is “the story of my life”, self inflicted for what I consider good mental health practice. I shifted from one project to the next to prevent boredom with the one I was working on, that method seems to help clearer focus on each. I got all the smaller projects on the “check list” done, now finishing on the larger ones. 

I did take one break to put the laundry it will be done shortly then along with folding the laundry,  I can start to close out the day before a small dinner.

The word to ponder today is easy. All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them. Galileo Galilei. All things are difficult before they are easy. Dr. Thomas Fuller. Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle. Phillips Brooks. What does reason demand of a man? A very easy thing--to live in accord with his nature. Seneca. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Sloth makes all things difficult, but industry, all things easy. He that rises late must trot all day, and shall scarce overtake his business at night, while laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him. Benjamin Franklin. The books that help you most are those which make you think that most. The hardest way of learning is that of easy reading; but a great book that comes from a great thinker is a ship of thought, deep freighted with truth and beauty. Theodore Parker. Trees, though they are cut and lopped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again. Pericles. When the stomach is full, it is easy to talk of fasting. Saint Jerome. It is easy to be brave from a safe distance. Aesop. The ingredients of health and long life, are great temperance, open air, easy labor, and little care. Sir Philip Sidney. 

Article summary. The words “care about” and “moral circle” in the title grabbed my attention. I thought I would take a look to see if I need to expand my attitude. The title is Who we care about is limited – but our research shows how humans can expand their ‘moral circle’. James Kirby, Associate Professor in Psychology, The University of Queensland. Charlie Crimston, Lecturer in Psychology, Australian National University. At theconversation.com. I understand that there has been a research study on a situation in life that may expand how people feel about each other. Article summary. During the time of pandemic and other “conflicts” how people may be able to “feel” how the others they meet are experiencing life’s struggles, how to “bridge the divide between “us” and “them” and wanting to help where they may be able to. It’s easy to connect with those around us who are “suffering” but seeing and feeling those of someone outside our “daily lives” is a different matter. Some of those may be folks we don’t particularly “like”. One of the researchers coined a term called “moral circle” to those people we may want to consider “worthy” of our concern. I was interested in how they mentioned “prioritizing” groups outside our family and “ingroup”.  The “groups” they named are what was interesting, “family/friends, ingroup, revered, stigmatized, out group, animals (high *sentience), environment, animals (low *sentience), plants, and villains”. During the studies they considered whether moral boundaries are “fixed” or can we change in an upward movement. Some of the studies showed that empathy and mindfulness may be considered but compassion is stronger in this instance. Compassion can move to a willingness to help even those we may not like. There was a study in **“compassion training”. The training consisted of listening to “audio exercises”, “compassionate breathing” and “imagery” exercises along with meditations. They would “express compassion” for someone they like then “expanded it to strangers and those not liked including animals and other things in our “natural environment”. After two weeks there was improvement and a moral increase carried on into more months. Moral concern had increased including the animal, plants and environmental considerations. In coming to an end it mentions we can “recognize” the rights of others including “creatures to live a life free of suffering”. Further, we may make better decisions, actions and “expand our moral sensibilities”.

Photos in my life today

My first challenge today is “h is for ....”. This hat is one of the items in our church’s annual fall sale. It is one of the items I captured in my personal photo excursion this morning into the rooms set up for this week ends fall sale. 

The next upload is also from my fall sale excursion, “dolls”. The expressions and bright colors on these two caught my attention.

My last assignment for today is another of  “my choice” and another of my
series of “still life”. This is three white blossoms from my current store bought bouquet in my black ceramic bowl. 

Creamed Beef on toast for dinner. 

Joy

* awareness

**(outside research on one method) reduce self-criticism, soothe the nervous system, and cultivate kindness toward yourself and others (hands gently over your heart, yourself in a soft hug, focus purely on the warmth)

my upload to Fine Art America, an abstract in nature edited with my in camera filters. The original was a lone leaf on my windshield

want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector (and take a look at flickr.com search for rectorjoyce)

 October 6, 2026 a thought for today, The tongue speaks, the conduct shows. Welsh Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “e is for....” envelopes. This month is alphabet month. I used envelopes as my image for this one. 

The next assignment was “my choice” and is one of my series of “still life”. I had a red light bulb packed away from some past project. As I was doing some down sizing I decided to throw it away but first wanted to get an photo of it. 

The last upload was “breast cancer awareness”. I used this quiet and simple pink loop to bring to memory a time fo awareness. 

Life today. Yesterday, Monday, Tami and Andy went with me to take Bobbi to the vet. She has been scratching and grooming her self way beyond what I think is normal. I considered food allergies or mites, wondering where she might have gotten those. She has never been outside. Anyway, I was able to get an appointment the same day. I was so concerned that I sent an email message Sunday evening, since they weren’t open, to let them know when they opened the office in the morning I would be calling for an appointment. I figured someone most likely checked their email when they opened the office. The vet took a quick look and said it’s fleas. He gave her a steroid, and antibiotic injection, and a flea treatment. She seems to be a happy kitty again today. 

Today has been a good Tuesday. Everything is ready for printing on Thursday. I have the envelops and extras all ready. I also have a few placards ready to be attached to the gallery photos while I am there on Thursday. 

I took some time to prune the plants in the window gardens getting them ready for a rest until next spring. I hope to bring the miniature rose window boxes into the house to put them under grow lights. Ones I had had in the past and left out all winter didn’t make to the next spring. I want to see if this idea will work. 

The weather is getting cooler as the days go by. The temperature is fluctuating. I need to think about when to move the roses.

The word to ponder today is earth. Light be the earth upon you, lightly rest. Euripides. Beauty is truth, truth beauty, --that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know. John Keats. I always consider the settlement of America with reverence and wonder, as the opening of a grand scene and design in providence, for the illumination of the ignorant and the emancipation of the slavish part of mankind all over the earth. John Adams. One may have a blazing hearth in one's soul and yet no one ever come to sit by it. Passersby see only a wisp of smoke from the chimney and continue on the way. Vincent Van Gogh. A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself. Josh Billings. If heaven made him, earth can find some use for him. Chinese Proverb. Justice is the greatest interest of man on earth. Daniel Webster. The materials of wealth are in the earth, in the seas, and in their natural and unaided productions. Daniel Webster. We fight not to enslave, but to set a country free, and to make room upon the earth for honest men to live in. Thomas Paine. God grant that not only the love of liberty but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth, so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say: "This is my country." Benjamin Franklin. Mountains are earth's undecaying monuments. Nathaniel Hawthorne. Equality may perhaps be a right, but no power on earth can ever turn it into a fact. Honore de Balzac. What is grace? It is the inspiration from on high: it is love; it is liberty. Grace is the spirit of law. This discovery of the spirit of law belongs to Saint Paul; and what he calls "grace" from a heavenly point of view, we, from an earthly point, call "rigtheousness." Victor Hugo. I exhort you also to take part in the great combat, which is the combat of life, and greater than every other earthly combat. Plato. Be such a man, and live such a life, that if every man were such as you, and every life a life like yours, this earth would be God's Paradise. Phillips Brooks. Commit a crime and the earth is made of glass. Ralph Waldo Emerson. The bad fortune of the good turns their faces up to heaven; the good fortune of the bad bows their heads down to the earth. Saadi. 

Article summary. I try not to delve to deeply into politics and religious subjects. They are very personal and strong subjects to most people. I haven’t read the article yet, only scanned it. It doesn’t seem to be to deep into Christianity itself, just some research on finding faith based material that has disappeared from biblical times and how it is progressing. The title is Why people keep looking for Noah’s Ark in a natural rock formation in Turkey: A scholar of early Christianity explains. Eric Vanden Eykel. Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Ferrum College. At theconversation.com. There is a research group in Turkey who were looking into a the east of the country where there is a “boat-shaped geological formation” that some be in it the remains of Noah’s Ark. The formation in question is called Durupinar and for around 70 years has been felt to be the Ark. The research in Turkey had been joined with a US based Christian organizaiton called Noah’s Ark Scans. This formation is “composed of sedimentary material rich in iron oxides”. Some of the “preliminary findings” are “potentially consistent with a ship like structure”. One consideration being made is that the formation may be man made not geological. In 1959 a boat like shape was seen in aerial photos. Due to it’s location, Mount Ararat, which, according to the article in reading Genesis and about the flood  is about the place where Noah’s Ark would have “come to rest”. Some wonder if the formation is the “petrified remains of the ark, preserved in the landscape over time”. The following year there was an expedition of the site. It is reported that a survey showed that it “revealed no sign that the object was man made” and concluded that it is a natural geological formation, not the remains of the Ark. So the “case was closed” until another expedition began in the 1970s. In this exception “radar and other scans showed evidence of walls, decks, petrified wood” and more material that would be found in old wooden ships. In that expedition they found stones near the “boat” that it is believed would have hung form the boat to steady it. Again those “findings” were questioned in 1998 and felt it to be “a completely natural rock formation”. There is still small  research projects in the works but at the moment are “still preliminary and inconclusive”.  Further in the article a biblical scholar relates more about the story of the flood from the book of Genesis and the “covenant with all of humankind and every living creature”. It is felt that “behind the biblical story there is tangible evidence just waiting to be found”. The article ended with something like, how people make sense of catastrophe and starting over may not be found in a “boat-shaped formation in eastern Turkey”.

Photos in my life today 

My first assignment is “f is for...”. I used one of the several overhead fan in the house. This one is in my living room. 

The next upload is another of “my choice” and another of my series of “sill life”. This is one of the carnations in my current store bought bouquet.

The last challenge is “Oktoberfest”. This one had to be something I had
around the house to that would depict this annual celebration day. I have a can of beer that I have on hand for a couple of recipes and my favorite evening snack, pretzel twists. 

Fried rice sounds good for dinner. 

Joy

this image is on the galley wall at church. An image of he pulpit in sepia color with this placard: Pulpit in Sepia-timeless glow of sepia the pulpit stands as testament to enduring faith, stripping away modern distractions leaving feelings deeply rooted in sacred history, podium of deep textures and grain, mimicking life weathered by the seasons held together by divine grace, sepia wash deepens the shadows within its hand-carved panels, an altar of revelation and a beacon of hope 

want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector (and take a look at flickr.com search for rectorjoyce)

 October 4, 2026 a thought for today, Old age will not come alone. Welsh Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “travel inspiration”. The open high way with a huge amount of sky are an inspiration.

The next assignment was “low horizon” so this one also has a lot of
high showing. 

The last upload was “rocks”. This one doesn’t need an explanation, its merely a collection of rock. The different shapes and postions do make an interesting subject. 

Life today. During today’s service the word “sin” was brought up, it was mentioned that an omission of information can be a sin too.  Then during another part of the service another sin came to mind. It is an internal sin called envy. It is the tenth commandment and is one of the seven deadly sins also said to be a “root of evil”.  Lying is an external sin possibly affecting other people. 

As I was coming home I got an invitation to lunch at Cracker Barrel with Lowell, Rebecca and Louanna. It was really crowded there today. I don’t go there often but I don’t recall it ever being that crowded.

So with my usual “schedule”, the Sunday schedule today is a little different today than most other Sunday’s. I will be putting the photo on the list for tomorrow, they will be a day late. Tomorrow list will be done to so it will be a catch up day on those. 

I made my virtual call to two of my great grand children but once again I could not hear them but they could hear me.....I guess it is back to the drawing board. The battery on the tablet that I use was very low. I plugged it in but I don’t think it was plugged in long enough to work properly. 

The word to ponder today is duty. The reward of one duty is the power to fulfill another. George Eliot. How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking, always by doing. Try to do your duty, and you'll know right away what you amount to. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty. Jean Jacques Rousseau. There is no duty we so much underrate as the duty of being happy. Robert Louis Stevenson. There is no such thing as luck. It's a fancy name for being always at our duty, and so sure to be ready when good time comes. Edward Bulwer-Lytton. Duty then is the sublimest word in the English language. What then is your duty? What the day demands. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The preservation of health is a duty. Few seem conscious that there is such a thing as physical morality. Herbert Spencer. There is no such thing as luck. It's a fancy name for being always at our duty, and so sure to be ready when good time comes. Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton. He who is false to present duty breaks a thread in the loom, and will find the flaw when he may have forgotten its cause. Henry Ward Beecher. We have an intuitive sense of our duty. Jonathan Swift. Men must be either the slaves of duty, or the slaves of force. Joseph Joubert. Every duty is a charge, but the charge of oneself is the root of all others. Mencius. Put thou thy trust in God; In duty's path go on; Fix on His word thy steadfast eye;So shall thy work be done. Martin Luther. 

Article summary. I am a believer of looking at the right and wrong of all that life presents us. So I thought I would take a look at this article if for no other reason than seeing comparisons.  The title is From tattoos to plastic bottles, here’s how society assigns moral values to everyday things. Aya Aboelenien, Associate Professor of Marketing, HEC Montréal. Zeynep Arsel. Professor, Management, University of Bath and Concordia University Chair in Consumption, Markets, and Society, Concordia University. It opens by saying how there are “moral” concerns about all kinds of things like plastic, cell phones, even food and the debates on these items change over time. Some research shows that objects themselves can not only carry moral weight, but that these judgments can change over time. Tattoos were on this list. The opinion on the morality of tattoos has changed over the years. For me personally I am probably in the “olden days” over this one. They use to be a mark of “identity”, social and spiritual protection. In the 19th century there was a change involving moral meaning and negative ones. Since that time they have “fluctuated” with moral or immoral beliefs. At times they were considered forms and signs of bravery at other time they were associated with criminality and gangs. Then the article mentioned foods that invole time changes and other things that hold a good or bad attitude and then change in time. Sometimes a major part of society counts on a thing being agreeable when something is moral or immoral. At other times there is one group of society have a feeling an object its good morally with another group goes the other way. Some times an item in question of being moral or not may then be subjected to regulations or policies. In some cases brands of products can be controlled by “supporting social moments by promoting eco-friendly products”. That way can result in “debates and negotiations”. The article moved into the subject of AI and how it will affect “environmental, cognitive and other ethical issues”. The article says this will affect the moral judgment of objects rather than it’s “inherent or immutable moral value”. 

It will be a light supper since we went to Cracker Barrel for lunch. 

Photos in my life today 

My first assignment is “d is for....”. I used some dimes for this image. It was a quick and handy item to
choose. 

The next challenges is “countryside bridge”. This isn’t really country side but an area like that in a state park. 

The last upload today is “bedtime”. It was really get up time but I though that
was close enough. My nightgown made the point too. 

Joy

one of the images on the gallery wall - Single Red Apple-between light and darkness, truth and isolation, represents the weight of the first temptation in the Garden of Eden, deep red mirrors the color of redeeming blood and ultimate grace,  the apple’s flawless design—a testament to divine craftsmanship, powerful biblical archetype

want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector (and take a look at flickr.com search for rectorjoyce)

 October 2, 2026 a thought for today, One does not ring a bell for the deaf. Welsh  Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “a is for...”. I used an old photo I have in the archives of my sisters car after an accident, a is for accident. No one was injured. 

The next assignment was “my choice” and one of my “in camera filters”. It is not quite as pronounced as I was trying for but passable. 

The last upload was “work”. This was taken a few years ago before I was retired. It was taken on my way to work. It could have been taken most any time with road work a constant thing. 

Life today. I made a bit of a change to my “regular” routine for most Fridays, I changed my curbside grocery pick up from Saturday to today. There is a memorial service at church tomorrow at a time I am normally tied up. A thing I did not know when I made the change was that we were supposed to have some strong rains today. I have a little problem getting the groceries into the house by myself when it is pouring down rain. As it turned out the rain had taken a break during the time of pick up and of getting from the car to the house. 

I had the letter started and part of todays photos picked when I left for the store. Usually Fridays are a relaxed kind of productive day, the change made it a little more “scheduled”. 

I left the groceries to be put away for a little while so that I could get back to my back burner/downsizing list sooner. Some of the things on the list are “fun”. It helps break up the “must be done now” things. 

One of the things on my back burner/downsizing list is shredding old paper work including receipt and tax papers from five or more years ago. My point in bringing this up is that I am using some of the shredded slips of paper in my Christmas paper quilling project for this year. I am trying to have a bit of a jump on getting ready. I work slowly so that I can enjoy what I am doing as I get them finished without that “deadline” feeling. I do the paper quilling in the evening while I am in the lounge chair. 

The word to ponder today is down. How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live. David Thoreau. It is a mistake to regard age as a downhill grade toward dissolution. The reverse is true. As one grows older, one climbs with surprising strides. George Sand. Worries go down better with soup than without. Jewish Proverb. Be courteous, be obliging, but don't give yourself over to be melted down for the benefit of the tallow trade. George Eliot. Cease to ask what the morrow will bring forth. And set down as gain each day that Fortune grants. Horace. Sit down before fact as a little child, be prepared to give up every preconceived notion... or you shall learn nothing. Thomas H. Huxley. We sleep, but the loom of life never stops, and the pattern which was weaving when the sun went down is weaving when it comes up in the morning. Henry Ward Beecher. A true philosopher is like an elephant; he never puts the second foot down until the first one is solidly in place. Fontenelle. The road up and the road down is one and the same. Heraclitus. Even when laws have been written down, they ought not always to remain unaltered. Aristotle. Happiness is as a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but which if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you. Nathaniel Hawthorne. Love is like a tree, it grows of its own accord, it puts down deep roots into our whole being. Victor Hugo. Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined. Patrick Henry.  The way by which you may get money almost without exception leads downward. Henry David Thoreau.  The surest method against scandal is to live it down by perseverance in well doing. Boerhaave.  The brave workman... must replace the grace or elegance forfeited, by the merit of the work done. Ralph Waldo Emerson.    

Article summary. I am one of those people who don’t deal with change easily so making choices is important. I also would like to consider the act of making a choice with another person, thereby having one more point of view. I am alone so making choices is a big sticking point in my life even ones that are not “messy”. The title is Making good choices when life gets messy – practical wisdom relies on human judgment, not rules, Tim Hulsey, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Tennessee. At theconversation.com. I realized once I really paid attention that I may have summarized this article before, if so maybe a second time will ingrain it for my own use more strongly. I will finish it maybe with new insight. It opens with the author telling about having a student who had started a “cheating ring” and got caught. With tears he related that his mother was raising him alone and he didn’t’ want to “crush” her by being “dismissed from the university”. She called his mother with him in the office, she gave him the phone, apparently his mother “chewed him out”. The teacher felt that was more punishment than she could have given herself. She further said that calling his mother ended being “practical wisdom” thereby making a good decision with no “clear rules” on how to do it. So she went on to mention some “rules” about making those decisions, taking the right action at the right time. Apparently there is a name for this kind of thinking, phronesis.  This is Greek meaning something that is practical action, beyond a rule book and a link to ethics. I gather that using this technique helps make better decisions. My problem is I am a “this moment in time” kind of person and one who “reacts to an action” at the time of the “action”. Maybe my answer should be just don’t “react”. That is what I would have to learn. I did some research on this point “react to an action” and found that that is an instinct and a trigger. It should be “responding” to the action with deliberation and being proactive. In other words practice not “reacting” to things, think first. This would be relying on past experience, quick reflection, and developing a habit of recall, which would be knowing when to hold back. I am learning with age and experience that many times it is best to keep my mouth shut and let what will be ...be. After the fact and in an effort to build on wisdom in many occasions it might be worth revisiting what ever the situation and discussing a different way of having seen it.

Photos in my life today 

The first assignment for today is “b is for....”. I was unloading groceries and found these bananas. I felt they would make a good choice for this upload.

The next challenge is another of the “my choice” and another of the “in camera filters”. I’m not sure I like this filter, it is a bit strong. 

The last upload is “fold”. It was an easy on to set up but took a while looking
for something folded, clothing, papers, origami????

DoorDash and pizza sounds good for dinner. 

Joy 

it is another image from the gallery wall, Pink Flowers on Faded Background-soft pink blossoms of delicate petals capturing gentle, warmth of light, a softly faded, minimalist background focuses the flowers, distractions of the world fade away, visual reminder of God's design and tender care,  they reflect a quiet sanctuary of faith, a sense of renewal and hope

want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector (and take a look at flickr.com search for rectorjoyce)