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)

 September 30, 2026 a thought for today, Virtue is the mother of all happiness. Welsh Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The fist challenge was “something unexpected”. It is just a puddle of water with a reflection. We can’t always know what will be in those reflections.

The next assignment was “my choice” and “a tough of color”. It was one of
the blossoms from a recent store bought. The bloom was ready to call it a day. 

The last upload was titled “morning”. I took it as I was “opening the house” for the morning. That is mostly opening window shades. This particular morning I opened the door to “feel” the temperature. 

Life today. I started this letter before I left for food pantry this morning. When I got home, about an hour ago, I pulled up the four photos for the day. I have them touched up, keyworded and filed to the portfolio calendar page. 

I was able to sneak in most of the “check list” of “back burner” things between the other chores. I have two of them left to do. I think I will be able to get them done after the uploads and before dinner time.

I am ready to print tomorrow. I have two bulletins and a sermon to print and distribute. I am hoping to get a couple of more placards attached to the gallery photos while I am at church. 

The word to ponder today is done.  We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way. Jane Austen. The important work of moving the world forward does not wait to be done by perfect men. George Eliot. A strong conviction that something must be done is the parent of many bad measures. Daniel Webster. 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. What may be done at any time will be done at no time. Scottish Proverb. Measure not the work until the day's out and the labor done. Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Make up your mind to act decidedly and take the consequences. No good is ever done in this world by hesitation. Thomas H. Huxley. Determine never to be idle...It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. Thomas Jefferson. Well done is better than well said. Benjamin Franklin. Whatever you do, do it to the purpose; do it thoroughly, not superficially. Go to the bottom of things. Any thing half done, or half known, is in my mind, neither done nor known at all. Nay, worse, for it often misleads. Lord Chesterfield. Common sense is the knack of seeing things as they are, and doing things as they ought to be done. C. E. Stowe. Once harm has been done, even a fool understands it. Homer. Things that are done, it is needless to speak about...things that are past, it is needless to blame. Confucius. Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; take honour from me and my life is done. William Shakespeare. If we say a little it is easy to add, but having said too much it is hard to withdraw and never can it be done so quickly as to hinder the harm of our success. Saint Francis de Sales. However often you may have done them a favour, if you once refuse they forget everything except your refusal. Pliny the Younger. 

Article summary. I have heard on tv about personal diaries and reflection journals and how Journaling is a comforting way to “process emotions”. I have read this kind of description of writing in many instances and how it is a healthy path to an over all well-being. I wanted to take a look at this author’s thoughts on the subject. I find writing useful in many aspects of my own life. The title is  Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges. Emily Ronay Johnston, Assistant Teaching Professor of Global Arts, Media and Writing Studies, University of California, Merced. At theconversation.com. It started by mentioning that writing “changes the brain” allowing for a shift that “reflects resilience”. It describes resilience as “an ongoing process of personal growth through life’s challenges”. They say “relentless self-improvement” is a way to resilience. In describing how it works in part in that it “externalizes” emotional upset which “fosters” emotional safety. It relates to a “book on a shelf” while putting memories (and planning) into writing leading to “activating the brain’s visual and motor systems.” One major point the author makes is that when you write it allows for combining short term memories into long term ones that then allows us to “re-frame painful experiences and manage their emotions”. As it helps in managing emotions in terms that lets us go from experiencing an emotion in memory to better responding in the thinking and managing of that memory. Writing can make feelings more manageable by seeing them in a different form. I like the statement in the article that writing is a form of thinking and by that can reshape the outcome of a thought. The article suggests that writing by hand rather than typing allows for more careful thought. Writing every day, with just notes or longer it allows us to plan by seeing a direction. Writing makes us think before reacting or speaking. It also suggests to write a letter that never gets mailed, allowing for venting. The practice of writing lets us “consider alternative perspectives”.

Photos in my life today

My first challenge today is “a favorite thing”. In my life now there are many things I “favor”. At the top of the list is Bobbi, sleeping or awake, playful or getting in to “trouble”. 

My next assignment is another of “my choice” and another of my series of a “touch of color”. It looks like some are getting ready for “harvest” or holloween.

The last upload is my sister having one of her “yummy” burritos. Naturally
the upload title was “yummy”. 

I had salmon patties and mac and cheese last night for dinner and found that I have enough for dinner again tonight. 

Joy

my Fine Art America upload was old books where I had used the in camera filer

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)

 September 28, 2026 a thought for today, Fear is greater than danger. Swedish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge yesterday was “on my bedside table”. It’s just a lamp and a television control and my glasses case (so the cat can’t play with them while I am sleeping). 

The next assignment was “textures in nature”. This is the morning glory fine
beginning to take on a autumn look with all of that texture in the fines and the chainlink fence. 

The last upload was “relax”. That is me taking a break and relaxing for a few minutes. 

Life today. It is been a hodgepodge day. I have gotten off one thing to look at another then back to the first in more than one project today. I did get the bulletin done. I put that at the top of the to-do list as I always do for a Monday. One good thing from yesterday, I have finally figured out what the problem was with my virtual visits on my tablet, I solved it and got to speak/see some of family yesterday.

Finding the photo for my uploads was a bit of work today. I had more difficulty in choosing and deciding what to use to meet the challenges and assignments. 

The weather has been cool but pleasingly pleasant for the last few days. I am trying to enjoy it before winter gets here and the snow and cold that will come with it. 

My desk chair faces a window that allows me to take a break from typing to enjoy the weather and maybe some of watching some of the neighbors and one out enjoying the work he likes to do in his yard. But today someone has parked in the neighbors drive right outside my window so the view is restricted to just a car right now and has been for the last couple of hours. 

The word to ponder today is divine.  A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Do not judge men by mere appearances; for the light laughter that bubbles on the lip often mantles over the depths of sadness, and the serious look may be the sober veil that covers a divine peace and joy. Edward Chapin. So divinely is the world organized that every one of us, in our place and time, is in balance with everything else. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Man...is a tame or civilized animal; never the less, he requires proper instruction and a fortunate nature, and then of all animals he becomes the most divine and most civilized; but if he be insufficiently or ill- educated he is the most savage of earthly creatures. Plato. Speech is human, silence is divine, yet also brutish and dead: therefore we must learn both arts. Thomas Carlyle. Words learned by rote a parrot may rehearse; but talking is not always to converse, not more distinct from harmony divine, the constant creaking of a country sign. William Cowper. To the poet, to the philosopher, to the saint, all things are friendly and sacred, all events profitable, all days holy, all men divine. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Whatever that be which thinks, understands, wills, and acts. it is something celestial and divine. Cicero. I believe that the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I don't mean by humility, doubt of his power. But really great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not of them, but through them. And they see something divine in every other man and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful. John Ruskin. Remember even when alone, that the divine is everywhere. Confucius. There is a divine depth in silence. We meet God alone. Frederick William Robertson.

Article summary. I have been “exercising” with what I call “brain games” for a good while now. I am hoping they are holding off any dementia symptoms that may try to enter my life. So when I saw this title, even though I thought it may be for young people, I decided to have a look at this it looks like it may be in a effort to help in way other than the memory issue.  The title is 5 digital games that teach civics through play, Karen "Kat" Schrier, Associate Professor and Director of Games and Emerging Media, Marist College. At theconversation.com. The author says that she sees harassment and disinformation a problem right now in some games but along with that there is a good side too in a community setting. She feels people of all age are “participating in civic life without even realizing it – through play” in allowing for “debates and political discussions”. In explaining that comment she says playing certain games can encourage “skills related to civics and pubic life”. She names some of the games, one is Fornite. In this game in which she feels people develop their thinking processes through building shelters, finding protection and adapting o weather conditions, all of this is problem solving. She feels this game touches on race and politics. She goes on to mention Minecraft. I’ve heard the name of this game in overheard conversations. Some of the things she says that came up in players of this game were the ability to use tools, building projects, gathering food, even survival modes and “maintaining health”. Some players have touched on “civic-related stories”. There have been fictional elections and voter fraud issues. It improves communication skills and has even been played by “real-world politicians”. Another game mentioned in this article is “Animal Crossing: New Horizons”. As explained in this article one can learn about design and clothe as one clothes their avatars. They learn to express identity and “understand the needs of neighbors”. “Among Us” is a game where people, in this game find imposters and deal with them. Another game named in the article was Plague, Inc: The Cure. In this one players help solve civic problems. When playing these games with others it should be considered that everyone can “participate equally” which involves “computers or smart phones, internet access and spare time to play”. These games allow people to “experiment in a digital world”. With this in mind people can learn about productive and destructive “policies that might be adopted in the physical world”. In ending the article the author said “digital games provide opportunities to learn, grow, explore and change – not just individually, but in terms of humanity and society as well.” It’s different in the reasoning of my type of game playing but sounds like it could be interesting.

Photos in my life today 

The first upload for today is “flat lay”. This is a simple one, a couple of my miniture roses and a pruning tool. This bushes didn’t to too well this season. They need pruned all the way back now. 

The next challenge is “my choice” and one of my series of “touch of color”. This is one of the art pieces at the park down the street. 

The last assignment is “fountain”. This is another image from the metro park not far from my house. I visit there for many of my photos. 

I did some “off my list” playing on the computer this morning besides the bulletin so dinner will be a quicky of left over potato soup and fist sticks.

Joy 

One of the photos for the gallery wall. Dandelion Buffball - Dandelion Buffball-a delicate window into themes of faith, divine design, and the spreading of God's love, a breath of the Creator’s  masterpiece of heavenly architecture, every tiny, feathery seed perfectly forming a sphere that echoes the intricate precision of the Creator’s hand, soft light filtering through the fragile white canopy quiet, pure, and breathtakingly detailed, the geometric wonder holds a powerful spiritual truth,  trust, and the quiet beauty of God's renewing grace

ant 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)

 September 26, 2026 a thought for today, In calm water every ship has a good captain. Swedish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “in my bathroom”. Well, it what it is, a tub, a bowl, another accessory. This one is a standard for this neck of the woods. 

The next assignment was “my choice” and one of my series of an “in camera
filter”. This was a pink rose with babies breath that I shot some time ago. I was able to pull it up and use a filter on it  to get this effect. 

The last upload was “peace in nature” . This is part of a scene in the metro park near my home. 

Life today. Yesterday was the day for finishing the newsletter. I have a pardner who helps with that. Dorothy was my partner for years but has recently moved to another city. Now I have a new helper. She missed coming yesterday so I went ahead and finished on my own. It took longer and I didn’t have the chance for a “bonding” chat. I think she may have forgotten. 

Today was grocery pick-up day. The weather today is better than last week when I had to move the groceries from the car to the house between rain drops. They are all put away now. 

Before I left for the groceries I got the dish washer loaded and started after I cleared out the frig. I also got a bit of plant watering done on the indoor house plants. 

Since I got all the groceries up, I was able to get some work done on the Christmas calendar, the placards and my book. 

All that is left to do before I make some potato soup is finishing this letter and uploading the photos that I got filed and ready. 

This is a perfect autumn day. Yesterday was nearly as nice for the OSU football game. 

The word to ponder today is distress. If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is Godlike. Horace Mann. The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress. Confucius. The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. Thomas Paine. Small minds are much distressed by little things. Great minds see them all but are not upset by them. Francois de La Rochefoucauld. Let him who expects one class of society to prosper into highest degree, while the other is in distress, try whether one side of his face can smile while the other is pinched. Thomas Fuller. The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection. Thomas Paine. Let your heart feel for the afflictions and distress of everyone, and let your hand give in proportion to your purse. George Washington. Beauty in distress is much the most affecting beauty. Edmund Burke. Fortitude is a great help in distress. Plautus. In all my perplexities and distresses, the Bible has never failed to give me light and strength. Robert E. Lee. There is no distress so complete but that even in the most critical moments the inexplicable sunrise of hope is seen in its depths. Victor Hugo. A mere trifle consoles us, for a mere trifle distresses us. Blaise Pascal. The rich, by unfair combinations, contribute frequently to prolong a season of distress among the poor. Thomas Malthus. When people fall in deep distress, their native sense departs. Sophocles.

Article summary. This was a quick pick. I saw the words happiness and the meaning of life and wanted to examine more closely. The title is Happiness and meaning in life: The sweet spot where they meet. Thaddeus Metz, Distinguished Research Professor of Philosophy, University of Johannesburg. At theconversation.com. It began by telling how doing things that make us happy don’t always make it more meaningful. The author mentioned that some philosophers call it “hypothetical” thought experiments, imagining a life spent in a virtual reality machine”, thinking about doing pleasant or interesting things but it turns out it’s more a life of “rolling a rock up hill”. On the other had when we do something “meaningful” it doesn’t necessarily make us “happier”. Then the author mentions people like Nelson Mandela who was in prison for 27 years trying in his way to make a point about apartheid and other “heros” who have giving up comfort and safety for others. These instances “are cases of happy meaninglessness and unhappy meaningfulness, respectively”. The author says to think of happiness as a series of pleasant experiences that add meaningfulness.  He mentions that many of the world’s religions believe there are ways to make these go together. According to the article these ways include the idea of “a spiritual realm that includes a soul.” He thinks we should be working toward “both happiness and meaningfulness” in our actions. One way would be to do something in a day that is meaningful then in another part of the day something that is happiness alone. However he suggests we try to combine the two sensations at the same time, one being a reaction of “esteem and admiration” the other “by nature” tends to be pleasant. He suggests gardening as one way of doing that. Other ways he suggests are writing, taking care of a pet, or conversing with children about their world, or encouraging a group of people to work together. All of those leading to a ways to “spend a good amount of time living in the “sweet spot” where they (meaningfulness and happiness) meet.”

Photos in my life today

The first upload for today is “a corner of my room”. This is one of the corners I am closest to for most of the day. It is right behind my desk chair. 

The next assignment is “fall leaves”. The leaves haven’t been changing so much yet but I found a couple whose leaves were beginning to turn color. 

The last challenge was “childhood”. This is an image from many years ago.  It
is my first born. She was enjoying a walk with tennis shoes. 

Potato soup sounds good for dinner. 

Joy

this bonus image is another of the in camera filter images I uploaded to Fine Art America

ant 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)

 September 24, 2026 a thought for today, Where sin drives, shame sits in the back seat. Swedish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “open door”. This is one of the doors to our food pantry. I had to catch ir when there were no people coming and going since I don’t use people in most of my photos. 

The second assignment was “my choice” and is one of my “in camera filters”.
The original image was a store that has been closed and abandoned. I used one of the six new filers in the camera for this one. 

The last upload was “autumn”. This has become a typical arrangement at McDonalds for the last few years. It is perfect for the season. 

Life today. Wow what a day. I got up early to get uploads from yesterday done before I left for printing. Printing went very well considering I had four separate data sheets to print, cut, fold, post and distribute. It was all done in about two hours. While I was there, I “fixed” one of the picture hanging hooks, it was a bit loose. I also managed to get another placard attached to one of the photos. 

When I left the church I stopped at Kroger, dropped off the mail then picked up some meds and a couple of other items. Naturally that led to a stop for a bit refreshments, Wendy’s was too busy so McDonalds was the choice. 

Back to the computer when I got home along with starting the laundry. I also snuck in a couple of things from the check list including my book, the placards, and a touch on the “down sizing” on-going project.

The weather is more and more fall like with cooler temps and other small almost imperceptible (at this point) changes in nature. 

The word to ponder today is display. Whoever desires to found a state and give it laws, must start with assuming that all men are bad and ever ready to display their vicious nature, whenever they may find occasion for it. Niccolo Machiavelli. To be thrown upon one's own resources, is to be cast into the very lap of fortune; for our faculties then undergo a development and display an energy of which they were previously unsusceptible. Benjamin Franklin. If He had not known with certainty that He would be Master over sin and that out of evil would evolve the noblest display of His own glory, He would not have permitted it to enter the world. Charles Spurgeon. To all my friends without distinction I am ready to display my opulence: come one, come all; and whosoever likes to take a share is welcome to the wealth that lies within my soul. Antisthenes. If the giving of the Law, while it was yet unbroken, was attended with such a display of awe-inspiring power, what will that day be when the Lord shall, with flaming fire, take vengeance on those who have willfully broken that Law? Charles Spurgeon. God welcomes genuine service, and that is the service of a soul that offers the bare and simple sacrifice of truth; but from false service, the mere display of material wealth, He turns away. Philo. The northern wind his wings did broad display. Edmund Spense. Whoever interrupts the conversation of others to make a display of his fund of knowledge, makes notorious his own stock of ignorance. Saadi. The universe displays no proof of an all-directing mind. Auguste Comte. Display is as false as it is costly. Benjamin Franklin. There is no arena in which vanity displays itself under such a variety of forms as in conversation. Blaise Pascal.

Article summary. I think it “neat” to see pretty flowers and other nature’s beauties in cracks and crevices. It is encouraging that a tiny little bit of nature will find a way to exist. The title is The amazing flowers growing in pavement cracks and why you shouldn’t pass them by, Nienke Beets, PhD Candidate, Botany and Science Communication, Leiden University. At theconversation.com. In the spring we see flowers and maybe something we call weeds start to grow in lawns, playgrounds, fields and even cracks in the pavement. We may feel “frustrated” where some are growing. We may wonder why they are growing where we don’t necessarily want them.  The “simple answer is that they are wild”. The article reminds us that for millions of years seed have been blown or carried to varieties of places ro germinate as long as natural conditions as in weather are right. Plants have evolved and “learned” to adapt to wherever they came to be. There are the plants that even have adapted to growing on walls. Once it is pollinated and is in on wall it finds a crevice, a perfect place to grow. Though the wall may not sound like a fertile place “over time the wind and rain cause dirt and nutrients to get trapped in the pores” for some plants that’s all it takes. In established lawns clovers that are drought resistant can maintain soil moisture and fertilize the soil. Their roots are” home to a bacteria that give the plant nitrogen that spreads to other plants. Wallflowers are food for insects and benefit the soil. Plants in these kinds of conditions can aerated the soil and “boost water regulation” providing “unseen services to your own ecosystem”. Many of the wallflowers have other beneficial services like medicines and are offered as gifts to bring the pleasure of feelings and beauty. So the ending sentence was “the next time you see flowers growing through the pavement, why don’t you stop to take a look instead of just passing by these resilient and beautiful wild flowers.”

Photos in my life today

My first challenge is “favorite tool”. This is the “tool” I use every day, several times every day. I is the back side of my Samsung phone and camera. 

My next assignment is another of “my choice” and another of my series of “in camera filters”. This one is an image I took earlier of one of my bouquets with lilies. I used the in camera oil paint filter on this one. 

My last upload today is “craving”. I remember taking this image when this
great grandson is an infant and eager for his “smash cake”.

Dinner will be from the freezer or left overs again tonight, it’s been a long day. 

Joy

this is one of my Fine Art America contest entries. Is a half wall of as brick fireplace and mantel with a vase of iris flowers at one of my grandson’s home a few years ago.

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)

 September 22, 2026 a thought for today, A pen often reaches further than a sword. Swedish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge was “a view from my couch”. This is the one most viewed since the tv sits in that line of sight. 

The next upload was “my choice” and is one of my series of “touch of color” . This is pretty clear that it is one of the infamous orange cones protecting us from something “dangerous”. 

The last assignment was “dirt”. This is more weeds in the dirt with some on the large rock in the image. 

Life today. This is another busy day in the books. I was expecting my cleaning ladies but the time they usually come came and went, I figured I had the wrong day marked on the calendar. They showed up about a half hour later than is usual. So they were finishing about the time that I had to get ready to leave for food pantry. One unusual happened while they were here, Bobbi came out of hiding. She even stayed out until the sweeper seemed to becoming a little closer. She has never come out when someone comes in the house.

I had a good start on this letter before the cleaning ladies got here. While they were working, I got the photos for today started and all the “extras” for printing on Thursday done. 

Food pantry was at the tops in number today. We had quite a crowd waiting for the first hour or so. The computers were running smoothly so checking them in was pretty quick. 

I touched on my “check list”, that was about all I had time for today. 

The word to ponder today is disposition.  He who is of calm and happy nature will hardly feel the pressure of age, but to him who is of an opposite disposition youth and age are equally a burden. Plato. Peace is not an absence of war, it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, justice. Baruch Spinoza. Such seems to be the disposition of man, that whatever makes a distinction produces rivalry. Samuel Johnson. Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition to put moral chains upon their own appetites. Edmund Burke. In words are seen the state of mind and character and disposition of the speaker. Plutarch. Temperance is simply a disposition of the mind which binds the passion. Thomas Aquinas. That good disposition which boasts of being most tender is often stifled by the least urging of self-interest. Francois de La Rochefoucauld. A good disposition is a virtue in itself, and it is lasting; the burden of the years cannot depress it, and love that is founded on it endures to the end. Ovid. [F]alsehood of the tongue leads to that of the heart, and in time depraves all its good dispositions. Thomas Jefferson. Truth is one forever absolute, but opinion is truth filtered through the moods, the blood, the disposition of the spectator. Wendell Phillips. A patronizing disposition always has its meaner side. George Eliot. A disposition to dwell on the bright side...is like gold to its possessor. Lydia Sigourney. People of superior refinement and of active disposition identify happiness with honour; for this is roughly speaking, the end of political life. Aristotle.

Article summary. I am interested in anything that can calm the nerves and bring time for reflection while being useful at the same time. I think the gardening idea may pertain to house plant care also. The article title is The impulse to garden in hard times has deep roots. Jennifer Atkinson, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Studies, University of Washington. At theconversation.com. The article was written a while back and mentioned the stress of the pandemic to a time when “hard times” needed calming. They compared it to the time of World War II when the victory gardens were used for food and I would think helped as gardening can do to control stress. In the matter of calming and peaceful moments they mention how the way farmers live to produce food to them is most likely not a “leisure activity”. It continued in that line of saying then when cities grew and people came home from work in factories and offices they found it comforting to “putter around in one’s potato beds”. The author went on to mention some of the events of gardens and gardening in history. Some people looked at it as a “tiny” farm, black folks were not able to steer away from “subsistence” work in the Jim Crow-era (gardening was a vital tool for Black Americans to secure physical survival, economic independence, and community sanctuary), Alice Walker wrote about her mother flower gardening at night. The article said that Ms. Walker “understood that gardening wasn’t just another form of labor; it was an act of artistic expression”. In the “millennial-era” green space was limited so “marginalized” groups who then looked for space to grow fresh produce. I smiled to see that that was called “guerrilla gardening in vacant lots to revitalize their communities.” In 2011 there was a group of persons called “gangsta gardener”, the name was due to growing vegetables along sidewalks. When one was asked why he did that he said he wasn’t worried that they would steal his food “that’s why it’s on the street”. There was an upswing in gardening during the coronavirus pandemic, it gave the feel of “contact with something real” and the work at it “appealed to the whole body” and all of the human senses. The article related that “gardens are a reminder that there are limits to what can be done without physical presence”. The article ended by saying “No matter what we do, or how the conference call goes, the garden will carry on, with or without us.”

Photos in my life today

My first challenge today is “everyday beauty”. This is one of the hibiscus flower in one of the church’s small gardens. 

The next assignment is another “my choice”. This is one of my series of “in camera filters”. The software on the camera phone has been updated with several more and different filters to “play” with. The photos is the original with no additions or removals simply “adorned” with a more pronounced look. 

The upload is “leaves”. Fall has just begun so the leaves haven’t started change color yet.  I think these are just early in their “falling”. 

I think dinner will be something from the freezer.  It has been a busy day. 

Joy

I have this image hung on the gallery wall the placard will be attached later. Fully Opened White Carnation-white carnation on a textured background a profound visual metaphor for Christian faith, reflecting  divine love, purity, and the rugged journey of the believer, in Christian tradition, the carnation carries deep historical symbolism linked to the incarnation of Jesus Christ - white petals signify the sinless nature of Jesus, rough, layered, weathered texture background provides a powerful spiritual contrast as the rugged realities of earthly life—trials, suffering, brokenness, and the human experience

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)

 September 20, 2026 a thought for today, When money speaks the world keeps silent. Swedish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

There first challenge was “on my bed”. This is her bed too, actually, she is relaxing herself while she has the whole bed to herself. 

The next assignment was “beneath”. I thought the way the staircase was in the
fore ground with door behind it showed clearly that it was under the stairs. 

The last upload was “transportation”. As I was driving home I was looking for a city bus but I didn’t see any going in any direction. So as I passed this Enterprise I decided it would be a good fit. 

Life today. The day stated out a bit rocky with some of the old age ailments raising their ugly heads. The usual sciatica type symptoms, now an additional possibility, kidney stone. That is enough complaining for today. 

The sermon was a message to think about with an added type of Baptist-like bump on the pulpit to make a point. I prefer a bit quieter point but it works for some I guess. The congregation was about the normal number of members present. We are still hoping for the youngsters to come back so we can do Sunday School again. They have been unable to attend for the last month or so. 

I had promised a friend who doesn’t get to church every week that I would call when there was a bit of information she would like to know. She doesn’t get our informative texts and emails. So I called her when I got home. I guess another member had already called. 

When I got home I got back to my daily check list, no heavy stuff since it is Sunday. I wanted to add something on my mind to the start of a book I am doing. I am calling the book “Observations of an Octogenarian”, it seemed a perfect title when a friend of mine suggested it. Then I got back to finishing this letter and setting up and filing the photos for the day. Now I have some uploads to do then a virtual visit with two great grandsons before dinner time. 

That will make it a full and pleasant day. 

The word to ponder today is discussion. I know of no country in which there is so little independence of mind and real freedom of discussion as in America. Alexis de Tocqueville. The aim of argument, or of discussion, should not be victory, but progress. Joseph Joubert. For we both alike know that into the discussion of human affairs the question of justice enters only where the pressure of necessity is equal, and that the powerful exact when they can, and the weak grant what they must. Thucydides. Whoever in discussion adduces authority uses not intellect but memory. Leonardo da Vinci. Avoid any specific discussion of public policy at public meetings. Quintus Tullius Cicero. We live in this world in order always to learn industriously and to enlighten each other by means of discussion and to strive vigorously to promote the progress of science and the fine arts.  Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. I think that in the discussion of natural problems we ought to begin not with the Scriptures, but with experiments, and demonstrations. Galileo Galilei. Let us hold our discussion together in our own persons, making trial of the truth and of ourselves. Protagoras. Bigotry is the disease of ignorance, of morbid minds; enthusiasm of the free and buoyant. Education and free discussion are the antidotes of both. Thomas Jefferson. On the face of it, it must be a bad cause which will not bear discussion. Truth seeks light instead of shunning it. Horace Mann. Philosophical discussions habitually make men happy and joyful not frowning and sad. Michel de Montaigne. 

Article summary. I make, capture and generate images but I don’t like to “manipulate”. I like the truth and to show what is not what could be. I may “clean up images”, take out wires and trash on the ground. So I wanted to see what the article was saying. The title is I create manipulated images and videos – but quality may not matter much. Christye Sisson, Professor of Photographic Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology. At theconversation.com. It started by saying how some groups are “worried” because of what can happen with “fake”videos that may distort the truth which manipulating an original can do. What she is talking about here is how in some current cases things like that are done to “twist public opinion”. She and her group have tested image manipulations to see just how that really affects things. She hopes it will help people “track” the truth. They have found that is has to do with how people can “confirm their belief” and  the technology that is used. As the article moved on and more study was done, the author said she was surprised that many people seemed to believe what they were looking at when she, the author, could “easily identify as altered”. As she studied it a little further if the “fake” image “supports” what the people already believe they will accept it, fake or not. She asked her son if he thought people believed what they see on online. She said he said “You can’t trust anything on the internet”. She contemplated that “he has grown up digesting imagery at a pace unmatched in human history”. I felt bad that as she pointed out that as we grew up and saw the transition of film to digital the trust in what we are seeing tends to be questioned or “broken”. I’d like to mention here that I don’t believe it was “from film to digital” exclusively, film could be “manipulated” in the darkroom. In her son’s generation and beyond it seems the “trust” was never there in the firs place. Which goes to my opening point “I like the truth and to show what is not what could be”. It use to be “seeing is believing”. It doesn’t seem to be true anymore. She hopes that the future generations will believe it when there is “proof that it is real”. She suggest  learn “where an image came from and in what context”. In my case I am “physically” describing my images.

I think I will have fried rice for dinner. 

Photos in my life today

My first challenge today is “in my pocket”. The only was I could think how to get it quickly was to take it using the mirror. 

The next assignment is “apple”. This is from the archives I don’t have apples on hand today. There is one in the frig but it is half eaten. 

The last upload is “apple”. Of the four photo clubs I belong to for daily assignments, each of they usually have something different from each other. Today there were two with the same assignment. 

Joy

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)