June 24, 2026 a thought for the day, Fear God, and next to God, him that has no fear of God. Polish Proverb.

Photos in my life yesterday

My first upload was “my choice”. It is one of my “partials”. This is the first rose bud in my miniature rose bush garden (window box). 

The next challenge was “glimmer”. This “glimmer” is a small leaf among its
larger family. 

The last assignment was “upside down”. Two of the miniature carnations from my most current bouquet have begun to drop their heads. I think maybe Bobbi has bumped them in his excitement to examine the vase full of color. 

Life today. I had an early evening meeting at church last night. It went well and we were out of there in good time. 

The bulletin and newsletter are ready for printing tomorrow so the morning was free for my “personal” daily projects. I had most of that to a point of upload when I got home from food pantry. I did get the dish washer cleared for reloading hoping I could get to clearing frig but I ran out of time for that before I needed to get ready to leave for church.

Food pantry was a little on the slow side today. It was also slow yesterday. The computers or the wifi is/was acting up so it slowed us down for a bit. We seem to be getting practice with setting up and resetting up on the computers and accessories lately. However, everything got done in good time and no one had to wait to be signed it. 

After I left from there, I stopped for a fish sandwich before heading home. Now I can get this letter finished and do the uploads. 

The weather is cooler than we normally have for the middle of June. So I haven’t had as much trouble with dehydration as was the case on those hotter day. I learned a lesson during that period. One that I have known, just haven’t practiced as I should. I need to drink more fluids in a day than I am in the habit of doing. I have been trying to do that in the last few days. It seems to be working. 

The word to ponder  today is “again”. Wit makes its own welcome, and levels all distinctions. No dignity, no learning, no force of character, can make any stand against good wit. Ralph Waldo Emerson. When a true genius appears in this world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him. Jonathan Swift. Wit makes its own welcome, and levels all distinctions. No dignity, no learning, no force of character, can make any stand against good wit. Ralph Waldo Emerson. ...the safest course is to do nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death. Voltaire. Do not throw the arrow which will return against you. Kurdish Proverb. Don't waste yourself in rejection, nor bark against the bad, but chant the beauty of the good. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It may be that you will not meet again in life. Jean Paul Richter. Let us have a care not to disclose our hearts to those who shut up theirs against us. Francis Beaumont. Believe nothing against another but on good authority; and never report what may hurt another, unless it be a greater hurt to some other to conceal it. William Penn. Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. Truth is generally the best vindication against slander. Abraham Lincoln. If I have lost confidence in myself, I have the universe against me. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Science arose from poetry--when times change the two can meet again on a higher level as friends. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. While I see many hoof marks going in, I see none coming out. It is easier to get into the enemy's toils than out again. Aesop. The superior man...does not set his mind either for anything, or against anything; what is right he will follow. Confucius. The irrationality of a thing is no argument against its existence, rather a condition of it. Friedrich Nietzsche.

Article summary. Since I am a novice artist in my photography pursuits, I wonder what I might find in this article. I wonder if my observations and photos may be some sort of link to science or vice versa. It would confirm that art is valuable in our scholarly world. Not only my own view but the view of everyone when they look at nature (science) and find “art”. One pulls us to the other, I don’t think that is by chance. Maybe a higher purpose and power? The title is Art and science illuminate the same subtle proportions in tree branches. Mitchell Newberry, Research Assistant Professor of Biology, University of New Mexico. At theconversation.com/us. It starts with the author asking if in science and art can we see the same shapes. He mentioned a particular picture to demonstrate, an abstract by an artist named Mondrian. The 1911 art piece is called “Gray Tree”. The author said he was trying to use it in a physics class to liken it to “fractal geometry”. The author studies mathematical biology where he and his “colleagues” research “treelike structures such as veins and arteries, lungs and leaves”which in effect help in the biology that eventually “helps cure cardiovascular diseases and cancer” where at some point can “design materials that can heal themselves”. The article talks about “the science of branching” so I looked it up it is the biological process by which cells and tissues expand their surface area by forming branching, tree-like networks. It shows the “vast diversity of living systems” which in turn shows “clear, general principles, ideally with few exceptions” in turn making “metabolism and respiration as efficient as possible”. As the author moved on, he mentioned that the “mathematical inspiration” in art pieces including architecture in times when “math and physics thrived” entered into his research. In their study particularly of trees the author and his peers found that some of the art work of “medieval Islamic architects” with so “infinitely nonrepeating tiling patterns” led to how mathematics might have entered the picture of this kind of study in the 20th century. The earlier mentioned art piece called the “Grey Tree” captures the intricate “natural variation in branch diameters”. Which can apply to branching by it’s  “real-world applications in medicine and technology”. As the article was coming to an end it is suggested that art and math “explore the world” and can show that “the art and science of trees show how humans are finely attuned to what’s important to trees”.

Since this is one of those ‘busy’ days of this time of month I will dig in the freezer for dinner. 

Photos in my life today

The first challenge is “sunglasses”. I had a bit of a real challenge with this one trying to get the black frames show up on a black back ground. I also decided to put a bit of color in the image with one of the drooping mini carnation heads. 

The next assignment was “glimmer”. For this one I used the sun tea I was making while I worked on these uploads. 

The last upload was “my choice”, another of my “partials”. This is a
pineapple statuette with some “finery” adorning it.

Joy 

the bonus is an abstract generated from a image of a city snow scene, I changed the colors in Photoshop. It is uploaded to Fine Art America for inclusion on many house hold products and clothing

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)

 June 22, 2026 a thought for today, What you give to a good friend is not lost. Polish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “farmers field”. I had to visit my photo archive for this one. I don’t travel into the country side very often anymore. This was along the route to Mt. Sterling Ohio.

The next assignment was “glimmer”. I chose to use a tree seedling
trying its best to survive between bricks and other weeds. 

The last upload for yesterday was “national selfie day”. That is the part of me that is (me and) my shadow.

Life today. So far this Monday has been productive. I worked on two pages of the July newsletter. The minister had sent me her message for the bulletin so I was able to get it finished and sent out for review. I had a Sunday School photo to format and upload today too. The kids have not been able to come to church for a while so it was good to have a message to put up today. I moved on to this letter and shot three if the photos I need for today. 

I have had a bit of temporary hold to putting the gallery photo up at my church. My help have had other obligations that need attention. Another of the draw backs have been the heat of the day. We don’t have air conditioning at church and with my having a bit of dehydration happening it hasn’t been perfect timing. Hopefully we will be able to get back to it soon. 

This is that week of the month that has an “agenda” attached to each day. It is hard to squeeze last minute things into any part of it. 

In the last couple of days I have learned two new things that have escaped my attention before. When I pulled up one of the web page I use on a regular basis today it came up with about a 150 percent larger than usual. It was interruptive so I did some research to see if I could correct it. I found that I can adjust a web page size by holding down the ctrl key and the plus or minus sign keys. 

The other thing is about facetime. I haven’t been able to set it up from my own tablet, I haven’t really taken the time to do it. My great granddaughter had a graduation party over the week end. I was unable to attend. But I wanted to just reach out and touch her at the party for just a few minutes. I tried setting up facetime with my daughter who was at the party. I couldn’t get it to work. I had her daughter’s (my grand daughter) page on my available list. So I was able to get through that way. Later I kept trying to set it up to reach my daughter. I found it was an easy fix. I apparently didn’t have her information typed into the right place in my tablet. It was in my phone but not the tablet that I use for facetime. I got it to work. Now I can facetime more family when things are going on and I can’t be there. 

The word today is affair.  In great affairs men show themselves as they wish to be seen; in small things they show themselves as they are. Nicholas Chamfort. Do not measure your loss by itself; if you do, it will seem intolerable; but if you will take all human affairs into account you will find that some comfort is to be derived from them. Saint Basil. The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. Plato. In all the affairs of life, social as well as political, courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest to the grateful and appreciating heart. Henry Clay. Everyone loves justice in the affairs of another. Italian Proverb. Fate rules the affairs of mankind with no recognizable order. Seneca. Truth is the summit of being; justice is the application of it to affairs. Ralph Waldo Emerson. I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move. Robert Louis Stevenson. My grand affair appears settled, for America is certain of her independence, humanity has gained her cause, and liberty will never be without a place of refuge. Marquis de Lafayette. There is a tide in the affairs of men. William Shakespeare. Good courage in a bad affair is half of the evil overcome. Plautus. Affairs that depend on many rarely succeed. Francesco Guicciardini. Every man, however wise, needs the advice of some sagacious friend in the affairs of life. Plautus. He who can preserve gentleness amid pains, and peace amid worry multitude of affairs, is almost perfect. Saint Francis de Sales. I have sent that ye may know our affairs. Ephesians 6:21.

Article summary. I wonder if this could relate to other societies and forms of communication. It brings to light just how many hidden treasurers we may throw away. The title is How the loss of Native American languages affects our understanding of the natural world. Rosalyn R. LaPier, Associate Professor of Environmental Studies, University of Montana. At theconverarion.com/us. I never dreamed of such a thing, a whole language “ceasing to exist”. I ask myself, aren’t languages a part of history and isn’t history forever? This article began talking about the Native American people of Alaska. They began by saying between 1870s and 1930s the language and culture of these people were “suppressed”. Action was taken to stop this from happening with the “Native American Languages Act was passed in 1990". This act protected and preserved indigenous languages. As the article went on it says the language is on ‘the verge of extinction”. It continued to relate that “languages carry deep cultural knowledge and insights” and losing them would be a loss to “our understanding to the world”. Along with languages comes knowledge “about ecosystems, conservation methods, plant life, animal behavior and many other aspects of the natural world”. Moving on it mentions the same sort of historical and cultural habits of the Hawaiian people. Some of their habits faded with time but now the “old” language is important to find a way to protect certain parts of nature as it is today. Translations of the language can be difficult due to changes in the culture as it moves on in time. In one happening mentioned in the article a word used by one culture had a different meaning in another culture. The example used was the word “herb”. In English is means something connected with food, in Native American it meant a “a tool that doctors use.” The article says that in Native American communities of the United States there is a process in place to “save these cultural insights and revitalize their languages”. There is a school where students learn “the environmental knowledge embedded in the language”. The students “learn about indigenous knowledge of plants” by working with a learn is by doing and observing the natural world”. As I do in some of these articles I research something that connects to the topic. In this case I was thinking of how the Native American language may have saved uncountable lives during World War II in the form of “code talkers” using an unbreakable military code. Here’s something on that topic: The speed of these languages was highly critical; a code talker could encode, transmit, and decode a three-line message in just 20 seconds, whereas the mechanical encryption machines of the era took upwards of 30 minutes to process the exact same message.

I need to check the freezer for food I have prepare ahead to have on hand whenever I want it. I have forgotten much of what is in there.

Photos in my life today

The first upload for today is “glimmer”. This part of a 5-year-old birthday party. The whirligig danced in the wind. 

My next assignment was “my choice” and one of my series of “partial”. It is a one half of a miniature sunflower that was in my bouquet for this week. 

My last challenge for today is “j is for...”. I used a set of some of the candles
that I have on hand for this one.

Joy

the bonus image for today is a digital abstract that I generated from and image of yellow tape and orange barrels. I uploaded it to a Fine Art America contest. It is on some of the items on my page

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)

 June 20, 2026 a thought for the day, Gratitude has gone to heaven and has taken the ladder. Polish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge for yesterday was “glimmer”. This image is a flower that was shot in color and turned to a monochrome with painterly affect by a filter I chose to use. 

The next assignment was “my choice” and is another of my series of “texture
overlay”. I snapped this image on one of my photo excursions along the downtown river front. I like the lone evergreen along the gravel border. 

The last upload was “kitchen”. It is a small corner of my kitchen with m toaster, air fryer and mixer taking center stage. 

Life today. Saturdays still go by too fast. For me they have whizzed by in a heart beat since I was in elementary school (we didn’t have preschool way back then). It just seems ingrained to be a day to float along enjoying the quiet and no deadlines or “obligations” except to love life and day dream off and on. There is a graduation party today. I was invited. It seems age slows our ability to comfortably be part of the activities of young lives. The health issues of the past couple of weeks have added a bit of a sting to being outside for too long. 

Of course I had the grocery pick up .... it is no problem, it is all picked out for me according to my order choices. Before I went there today I stopped at CVS. I am out of my diabetes test strips. I saw on the CVS web site that they carried them with a price of $21.99. Once there I found it, took it to the register. It rang up a $95. I said whoa, no way. The clerk took it to the manager, again it rang a $95. I said I’ll try elsewhere. So I went across the street to Walgreen who had listed it as unavailable for pick up at that store, but I gave it a try anyway. It was there in the twice as many strips as the one a CVS for the price of $35.  

I leisurely, with spans of resting my legs, put the groceries away between periods at the computer for attention to letter and photos, and some searches for word meaning and other bits of minutia to add to my knowledge list as I rolled along in the day. There were a few moments to grab a hug from, not so much from as to, Bobbi, she yawns and puts up with it with no struggling in an attempt to get loose from my snuggle. 

The TV is on softly in the background with shows of remodeling along with some cooking, now and then catching my attention. 

The word today is acquire.  The second half of a man's life is made up of nothing but the habits he has acquired during the first half. Fyodor Dostoevsky. Mediocre men often have the most acquired knowledge. Claude Bernard. Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting a particular way... you become just by performing just actions, temperate by performing temperate actions, brave by performing brave actions. Aristotle. The knowledge of the world is only to be acquired in the world, and not in a closet. Lord Chesterfield. Work and acquire, and thou hast chained the wheel of Chance. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. George Sand. We should every night call ourselves to an account; What infirmity have I mastered today? What passions opposed? What temptation resisted? What virtue acquired? Our vices will abort of themselves if they be brought every day to the shrift. Seneca. With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my bended arm for a pillow - I have still joy in the midst of these things. Riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud. Confucius. To reach something good it is very useful to have gone astray, and thus acquire experience. Saint Teresa Of Avila. Bodily exercise, when compulsory, does no harm to the body; but knowledge which is acquired under compulsion obtains no hold on the mind. Plato. Not by age but by capacity is wisdom acquired. Titus Maccius Plautus. One can acquire everything in solitude - except character. Marie Henri Beyle.  Blood is inherited and virtue is acquired. Venezuelan Proverb. Learning is acquired by reading books, but the much more necessary learning, the knowledge of the world, is only to be acquired by reading men, and studying all the various facets of them. Lord Chesterfield. A good decision is based on knowledge, and not on numbers. Plato. Acquire new knowledge whilst thinking over the old, and you may become a teacher of others. Confucius.

Article summary. Here I am with cats again, no surprise. I wanted to see a version of what life with them may have been in the middle ages. The title is Cats in the middle ages: what medieval manuscripts teach us about our ancestors’ pets. Madeleine S. Killacky, PhD Candidate, Medieval Literature, Bangor University. At theconversation.com/us. Some in that time in history believed cats were connected to the “supernatural” but further study showed that they were “surprisingly playful”. It was mentioned that in that time people “identified by the animals they kept”. Some of the pets were pet monkeys. Further it said that not to mention the attention and affection pets experienced in that time they also “signified high status” to the point of having portraits made including their pets. As the article went on is told of how history has shown that in the middle ages cats were seen in the presence of feasts or sitting by a fire place with a dog friend. Some pictures depict in one case cheese was specifically bought for the “manor” cat while even more amounts of money were spent on “accessories”. In 1387 there was a case where a collar was embroidered with pearls and a gold buckle for a preferred pet. In poems of the times cats were written about in a way that showed “strong emotional attachments” of the writer toward their cat companion. There is evidence that cats appeared in the cloisters as there are symbols of such in medieval manuscripts. There are nuns shown with cats and cat like doodles in the margins of Books of Hours. Along with those comfortable proofs in history there are also signs of some folks not considering cats as companions and helpful presences as the others folks did. Those thoughts led to cats being killed in large numbers. Still there is evidence of “playful images we see of them in monasteries”. As the article ended “artwork makes clear, our medieval ancestors’ relationships with these animals were not too different from our own.”

It’s going to be fish and biscuits for dinner. 

Photo in my life today

My first upload for today is another “glimmer”. One of my day lilies was on show today showing bright orange and yellow colors. 

The next challenge is “making a splash”. I drove by the park after I picked up the groceries to get this shot. 

The last assignment for today is “made from wood”. I took this shot a couple of days ago on my way to church. I noticed that new wood had been added to replace some that had seen their best day.

Joy

this bonus image was my upload of the abstract of torn paper strip to a Fine Art America contest today also showing a couple of the things the design in show on at my page, there are also sleeveless shirt for ladies and men

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)

 June 18, 2026 a thought for today, A liar can go round the world but cannot come back. Polish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge for yesterday was “glimmer” series. As I was coming out of the kitchen into the dining room I saw these forms and lines. I grabbed my camera to capture the magic moment of sun and shadow. 

The next assignment was a “my choice” one of my series of “texture overlays”. This one is of one of my images at church with a texture overlay.

The last upload was “traffic lights”. I had this one in my archives. I wasn’t out and about today so I used this one. 

Life today. The visit last night was fun. My great grandsons are growing so fast, their time at this age is only a moment in time. The next time I see them the things that gave them pleasure last night, playing with bouncing balloons, will be just a passing memory, many other pleasures of the moment will have taken their place. I will miss some of those quickly moving moments of laughter and early beginnings of life.

Today started out like any other Thursday, the first wifi checks, facebook, news headlines, email, then off to church for the printing and placing. While I was there, I did one thing to further gain ground on a constant concern of mine, my gallery wall, and my hopes for it’s meaning and final outcome. I got one more picture hung all by my lonesome. I don’t have the knack and patience for precise measuring and spacing that should be a major application in this process. At least I feel I am making progress in getting it completed one step at a time.  I took a quick measure today and found that I am about half way to filling that wall. After that I don’t know if I will be up to doing another wall and/or just replacing images at intervals so they don’t get boring. I am hoping for at least another smaller wall space.

I have learned that my “health” concerns, dehydration, is not the only contributing factor to my symptoms, a high measure of stress is adding to it. There doesn’t seem to be too much I can do about the stress part accept to try to ignore it and move on which is hard for a worry wart like me. Maybe I could just hide somewhere, just kidding (maybe). 

The temperatures are pleasant for a few days. This is the kind of spring/summer I like. It is the kind that is nice to sit on the porch swing enjoying the soft breeze and the sound of birds and wind chimes.

The word for today is accomplish. He who labors diligently need never despair; for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor. Menander. Who begins too much accomplishes little. German Proverb. Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake. Victor Hugo. I myself do nothing. The Holy Spirit accomplishes all through me. William Blake. None of us will ever accomplish anything excellent or commanding except when he listens to this whisper which is heard by him alone. Ralph Waldo Emerson. The character inherent in the American people has done all that has been accomplished; and it would have done somewhat more, if the government had not sometimes got in its way. Henry David Thoreau. A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles. William Hazlitt. Love many things, for therein lies the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well. Vincent Van Gogh. A hero is born among a hundred, a wise man is found among a thousand, but an accomplished one might not be found even among a hundred thousand men. Plato. That which neither weapon nor flame could accomplish will be achieved by a sweet speaking tongue in council. Nostradamus. Yet habit - strange thing! what cannot habit accomplish? Herman Melville. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished. Confucius. 

Article summary. When I am in search of something of interest to read, learn from and share I look for and try to think of some of the people I hope are or will be reading this missive. I think a lot of people are interested in s’mores. They have been in most peoples lives at happy time, camping, sleep overs, maybe just pick-me-ups. The title is A brief history of the s'more, America’s favorite campfire snack. Jeffrey Miller Associate Professor of Hospitality Management, Colorado State University. At theconversation.com/us. I like the way the opening explained that the ingredients in a s’more are of three parts seemingly “primeval  tradition” coming from “products of the Industrial Revolution”. The first ingredient they describe is the marshmallow. It’s named after a plant by the name “marsh mallow” found in Northern Africa. For thousands of years it was cooked and used to cure sore throats. Making the marshmallow from the sap of the plant was “time consuming”. Much later the marshmallows we are familiar with are made using machines. They are used in recipes and as sweet treats on their own like “penny candy”. They are no longer made with the sap of the plant they are made with “corn syrup, cornstarch and gelatin”. The next ingredient in the s’more is chocolate. This is another “ancient food” coming from at least 3,000 years ago. In the 1500s it was used to treat “ailments” in Mexico. Like the marshmallow’s relationship to the Industrial Revolution so chocolate had a touch with the time. At that time it was made to be “cheap enough and palatable” for more people to enjoy it. Those from the time of 3,000 years ago found the chocolate to be “dark, grainy and tended to be somewhat bitter”. In 1875 it was a candlemaker who invented a process to make the chocolate more palatable.  He mixed it with milk and sugar  . . .  the chocolate bean comes from a Theobroma cacao tree. Now a bit about the last ingredient of the s’more, the graham cracker. I was interested in reading that a Presbyterian minister with the last name Graham invented the graham cracker. Early on it was made with whole wheat flour. Mr. Graham was interested in the health food “movement” in the 19th century. At about the time of the invention of the graham cracker it was used in Kellogg’s “famous flaked cereal line”.  The article mentions that it is uncertain how it became to be used in the familiar s’more as we know it. It goes on to say that the “first mention of this treat is in a 1927 edition of the Girl Scout manual”. There it was “dubbed ‘Some More’”. In 1938 the term s’more was mentioned in a “guide called “Recreational Programs for Summer Camp”. The article goes on to say that some people think the s’more we know today came from a version of a moon pie from the 1910s. Now we can find versions of the s’more in other ways like candy. 

I haven’t had Welsh Rarebit for a while I think I will make it tonight. 

Photos in my life today 

My first challenge today is another of this months “glimmer” assignments. Bobbi knocked over the lamp in chasing a fly. She and the fly both landed on the lamp. The lamp was ok but not the shade. I had to purchase a new shade. I found I had ordered one that wasn’t the same length as the old one. I like the look of this one better so I am using it as my glimmer today. 

The next upload is “my choice” and yet another of my “texture overlay” images. This one I took a while back when I was on a photo excursion along the downtown river bank. This is a lonely little evergreen I found there between the gravel and the gentle movement of the river water. 

The last upload is “closed”. This is a set of doors on my mother-in-laws church. 

Joy

the bonus image is my upload to a contest at Fine Art America .... Bobbi watching me around the corner of the refrigerator

want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector

 June 16, 2026 a thought for today, Only the shoe knows of the hole in the stocking. Polish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday 

My first challenge was “my choice”. It is one of my series of “texture overlay” images. This is a carnation from one of my grocery store bouquets. I added an image of one of my collection of textures over the original image, reduced to opacity and reduced it more in the center of the flower. 

The next assignment was “glimmer”. I saw Bobbi longingly looking out the
open door and wanted to capture that moment. She would like to explore the out-of-doors but she can’t know the danger that lurks for her there.  

The last upload was titled “mail”. This is some of the mail that has collected by Sue’s “desk” area. 

Life today. The last two days have been just as I like. I got the bulletin done and sent out to readers for a final copy. As well as all of my “personal” daily computer/photo agenda. I also managed get two new photos printed and two mounted, matted and framed. Then I baked a “birthday cake” for Sue. My cooking and baking have come along way down from as good as they use to be. 

Today I finished some minor updates on the bulletin. I got all of the photos done early and the letter mostly finished before getting ready to leave for church and food pantry.

There is a PT person coming today for Sue so I left pantry as soon as we were finished to be here to let her in. I added a visit on my schedule to see two of my great grandchildren that I see very rarely since they live out of state. I was counting on just their mother, Sue and myself to spend quality time with them. They are moving even further away and at my age and that distance this may be my last “one on one” type time with us together. But that plan got changed before I knew it and rearranged. Apparently  tomorrow there will be a group of us instead. 

Today pantry was busy. We had more than twenty-five families in the hour and a half we are open. It wasn’t so hot today so I wasn’t too worried about my “hypothermia” events recurring. The temperature is a pleasant 75 degrees and is supposed to stay at that for the next couple of days.

Sue’s visitor just arrived so I got home in plenty of time. I am getting ready to do my daily uploads, tidying things up and getting a dinner ready for myself. 

The word is ability. I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestioned ability of a man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. Henry David Thoreau. That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but that our ability to perform it has improved. Ralph Waldo Emerson. I cannot expect to perform the task with equal ability and success. Martin Van Buren. Every quotation contributes something to the stability or enlargement of the language. Samuel Johnson. Readiness of speech is often inability to hold the tongue. Jean Baptiste Rousseau. The more I study the world, the more I am convinced of the inability of brute force to create anything durable. Napoleon Bonaparte. Happiness is not the absence of problems, but the ability to deal with them. Charles de Montesquieu. My son, observe the postage stamp! Its usefulness depends upon its ability to stick to one thing until it gets there. Josh Billings. Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not. Thomas Henry Huxley. Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment. Baltasar Gracian. Change is the only constant in life. Ones ability to adapt to those changes will determine your success in life. Benjamin Franklin. Adapt yourself to the things among which your lot has been cast and love sincerely the fellow creatures with whom destiny has ordained that you shall live. Marcus Aurelius. Those who can’t change their minds can’t change anything. George Bernard Shaw. It is not genius so much as ability that carries one through the battles of life. William Edmondstoune Aytoun. Ability without honor is useless. Marcus Tullius Cicero.

Article summary. I like words and writing and Journaling so I thought this would be a neat article to read, learn from and share. The title is  Writing for well being: How it could be a new way to teach the essay and resist AI. Lindsey McMaster. Instructor, English Studies and Academic Writing, Nipissing University. At theconversation.com/us. The opening paragraph further grabbed my interest in saying that in this author’s opinion and possible studies, writing can get rid of stress and further show that it can “boost your mental and physical health if you focus on expressing your emotions and digging for insight”. It went on to say looking at the positive in our lives and writing them down can help in short and long term well being. Journaling is a way to start, it allows for venting and to “reshape your thinking and boost positivity”. The author started with a way to begin your adventure into Journaling. First write down three good things about your day, things you had a role in “bringing about”, it helps in feeling happy and less likely to be depressed. As you move more into the Journaling write “about your best possible self”. Next, be “creative”, make something about your day a comical happening. Writing can help a person “reflect”and “speculate” on the “positive effects” of an experience. Poetry came into the discussion of this article saying that poems can help in self knowledge. Some students mentioned in the article that they taped poems to their mirrors and then expand on the poem by writing an essay explaining the meaning of the poem. Using AI for essay purposes allows students to get away from the “tedious recital” of writing but personal writing is “light” to a “personalized path to growth” and “speak directly to your own humanity”. 

I think creamed chicken on biscuits for dinner. 

Photos in my life today

My first assignment today is one of this month’s “glimmer” series. It is a mirror that Sue mounted several years ago on the front porch. It reflects some of the things we see in peace as we enjoy a time on the porch swing. 

The next challenge is another of “my choice” and another of my series of “texture overlay”. This one is a view of my street through the “shadow” texture that surrounds it in the created image. 

The last upload today is “butterfly”. I had the same assignment in one of my
other photo groups this week. I used one of the origami butterflies I made that day. This is a different color and has a filter added to give it a bit of a different look.

Joy

the bonus image for today is another that I uploaded to Fine Art America, a close up of one of my day lilies for it to be added to the items available on my page Fine Art American page 

Want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector

 June 14, 2026, a thought for the day, There is no corn without weeds. Polish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “dark”. I took this one before bed time. It is from my room in the dark. 

The next assignment was “insect”. This one was caught on my back
porch. 

The last upload was “glimmer”. It is over the fence as I enjoy the sign of solitude under the seasonal umbrella. 

Life today. I had a good start on this letter before I left for church. I think I am still dealing with my BP going a little lower than it should and the heat of the day being a bit of a problem. But we had fans in the church which helped. I needed the church family visit and the sermon was awesome. I’m glad I decided to go instead of not trying as I had been thinking I would do. 

Mike gave the message today. As usual it was beyond “run of the mill”. I heard two of our younger followers, a member and her sister, compliment him on his description of our final home...heaven. They each said they had never heard heaven described like that before. They seemed impressed.  I told them his messages are all that outstanding. 

I also got a welcome complement on the beginnings of my gallery wall of photos.

Sue had forgotten to tell me she was out of Zero Pepsi when I ordered the groceries so I stopped on the way home to get her some. I made the stop at the Certified station so I wouldn’t have to be out of the car (AC) that long making more than one stop. I needed gas too. 

I got some of the photos I needed at church and some for the newsletter that I will need for this months issue. Before I left this morning, I made an origami butterfly. One of the assignments was “butterfly or bee”. I didn’t have an image of either of those. The one I made is the simplest origami butter fly I could find since origami is sadly not part of my forte. 

The rest of the day is for rest, refresh, and restore.

The word today is absorb. A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is a visible labor and there is an invisible labor. Victor Hugo. One should absorb the color of life, but one should never remember its details. Details are always vulgar. Oscar Wilde. When I am attacked by gloomy thoughts, nothing helps me so much as running to my books. They quickly absorb me and banish the clouds from my mind. Michel de Montage. You despise books; you whose lives are absorbed in the vanities of ambition, the pursuit of pleasure or indolence; but remember that all the known world, excepting only savage nations, is governed by books. Voltaire. A man is not idle because he is absorbed in thought. There is visible labor and there is invisible labor. Victor Hugo. How small a portion of our life it is that we really enjoy! In youth we are looking forward to things that are to come; in old age we are looking backward to things that are gone past; in manhood, although we appear indeed to be more occupied in things that are present, yet even that is too often absorbed in vague determinations to be vastly happy on some future day when we have time. C. C. Colon. For every seeing soul, there are two absorbing facts - I, and the abyss. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Beg of God the removal of envy, that God may deliver you from externals, and bestow upon you an inward occupation, which will absorb you so that your attention is not drawn away. Rumi. One should absorb the color of life, but one should never remember its details. Details are always vulgar. Oscar Wilde. I easily sink into mere absorption of what other minds have done, and should like a whole life for that alone. George Eliot. Be vast enough to absorb everything without losing your purity. Friedrich Nietzsche. 

Article summary. When I pick these articles to read and review I pick them by the title alone. I haven’t read them clear through so sometimes I may get a surprise, but then isn’t that what learning is all about? I play what I call “brain games” as a daily exercise hoping it will slow down any old age brain problems as I go in that direction. This article caught my attention for both the reason I just mentioned but how it may relate to the games young people seem engaged with. The title is Brain training games remain unproven, but research shows what sorts of activities do benefit cognitive functioning. Ian McDonough, Associate Professor of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York. Michael Dulls, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Binghamton University, State University of New York. At theconversation.com/us. The article started out explaining that more than 4% of US adults over 65 show signs of dementia. It also says that some cognitive decline is normal as we age. I was surprised to see that they use the same term as I in mentioning “brain training”games. The authors say they are neuroscientists and focus on “brain health across the adult lifespan”. I noted the “across the adult life span” statement, to me would include older teens also. They have studied and noted that as brains normally change using forms of new learning show “a window into how people can sustain their brain health” and how it can include how brain games are part of it. The article goes on to tell how the games used for this purpose are “designed to help participants master one or more specific skills”. Some of the games show a letter and number that the user has to “identify” as odd or even/consonant or vowel. They increase in difficulty and time limit leading to attention and processing speed. There still seems to be some debate in the areas of brain growth that these actions may involve. To make this a little clearer they wonder if people may experience in certain of these games there is a better performance at work or school and how it may delay “cognitive decline”. There have been different studies on games and their results. People were tested in areas they were not familiar with like photography or quilting. Another group were tested on “active learning” as cooking, crossword puzzles, listening to music and movies. They each showed gains in memory and reasoning “relative to” the assigned less challenging activities as in showing an increased skill in remember a list of words or “solving abstract problems”.  Those brain scans showed the participants in the challenging activities “increased their neural efficiency” where their brains didn’t work as hard to solve a problem. The testing has shown that a specific task is not the answer. Some challenges showed that the answer was that something was new and there was a sense of effort. So, according to the article you may be “training your brain” with new and challenging activities as well as the brain games in the activities that are new to you and require an effort to complete. If you are using digital brain games choosing the kinds of games is the challenge. In ending the article “once you start feeling a sense of ease and familiarity, that’s a sign that it’s time to switch” to something more challenging, something that “feels just beyond your reach.” In my opinion and limited experience the “games” I have chosen and experience the efforts can increase as you progress and move to the higher level.

I haven’t made plain old hamburger for dinner for while, maybe that will be a way to do for tonight. 

Photography in my life today

The first upload is “glimmer”. It is a small part of the altar area of my church. 

The next challenge is “bee or butterfly” I made this origami butterfly before before I left for church. I am not good at origami but I didn’t have any images of either a bee or a butterfly. 

The last upload for today is “food”. I took this one at our donut fellowship hour. This is a friend’s chosen flavor.

Joy

this bonus image is of my fig tree with a filter added, it has been uploaded to Fine Art America to be added to household items, tee shirts and others

Want to shop? Visit: fineartamerica.com search for joy rector click on “view shop”  and redbubble.com search for jarector