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

June 12, 2026 a thought for today, It is not clever to play but to stop playing. Polish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “glimmer,” the month long daily challenge. This one is my church conference room at a time when it was unoccupied. 

The next assignment was “my choice” and is one of my series of “mirror images.” This is one I took when I was volunteering at Columbus Humane. I was drawn to this frightened looking kitten. I created the mirror image by coping the original, then doing a reversal and combining the two. 

The last upload was titled “vehicle” and the icon with the title was a bicycle. This bicycle wheel was my choice to share. 

Life today. I was feeling a little “rocky” yesterday. My BP was a little lower than it should have been and I was experiencing the effects that go with that. My blood sugar count on a finger sick wasn’t as “normal” as it should have been either. I did some research and diagnosed myself with dehydration. Along with those “tests” there is the high temperatures we are experiencing, my lack of taking in enough water and having more perspiration adding to that “diagnosis.” So I started drinking two full bottles of water. I am feeling much better today, had I not been I would be visiting a doctor today. 

I like quietly progressive days. With the weekly bulletin done and placed, I have a day “off.” I am playing catch up on some other things as they come to mind. Sue wanted to take care of some banking things. She still isn’t up to driving, so we took a ride to the bank in my car. 

Before we went to the bank I had done some research on things that entered my mind as I was coming awake this morning along with my routine email, text, facebook and news checkups as well as two texts to answer. I got a basic start on the letter with a beginning start on some photo work for the day. 

Along with all of that, before our outing, I finished putting together my tiny, new “desk.” It’s a perfect fit for the place I had in mind. Now it is all dressed with my laptop, now.  I have an “auxiliary office” for if and when needed. Bobbi had to give it all a good sniffling since it came close to infringing a bit on one of her more comfortable spots, besides it was something new and had a different and interesting  “scent” to it.

We actually had a bit of a downpour during the night and I believe I heard some sleet among the rain drops. I was a little concerned for my six new miniature rose bushes in my “rose garden” (actually two window boxes on the back porch railing). There wasn’t much I could do for them in the middle of the night and rain and in my night gown. I checked this morning, they seem to have survived and appear none the worse for ware. 

The word today is affect/tion.  Let grace and goodness be the principal loadstone of thy affections. For love which hath ends, will have an end; whereas that which is founded on true virtue, will always continue. John Dryden. Virtue and taste are nearly the same, for virtue is little more than active taste, and the most delicate affections of each combine in real love. Ann Radcliffe. I saw that all things I feared, and which feared me, had nothing good or bad in them save insofar as the mind was affected by them. Baruch Spinoza. No profit grows where is no pleasure ta'en; In brief, sir, study what you most affect. William Shakespeare. I am certain of nothing but the holiness of the heart's affections and the truth of imagination. What the imagination seizes as beauty must be truth - whether it existed before or not. John Keats. With affection beaming out of one eye, and calculation shining out of the other. Charles Dickens. Deceivers are the most dangerous members of society. They trifle with the best affections of our nature, and violate the most sacred obligations. George Crabbe. Conversation should be pleasant without scurrility, witty without affectation, free without indecency, learned without conceitedness, novel without falsehood. William Shakespeare. Poverty cannot deprive us of many consolations. It cannot rob us of the affection we have for each other, or degrade us in our own opinion, of in that of any person, whose opinion we ought to value. Ann Radcliffe. Talk not of wasted affection; affection never was wasted. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The affections are like lightning; You cannot tell where they will strike till they have fallen. Jean Baptiste Lacoraire. In the education of children there is nothing like alluring the interest and affection, otherwise you only make so many asses laden with books. Michel de Montaigne. 

Article summary. I know next to nothing about the El Niňo so when I saw this title I thought I would educate myself and pass on a bit of what I learn. The title is: El Niño is back, and ocean temperatures are already near record highs – that can spell disaster for fish and corals. Dillon Amaya, Climate Research Scientist, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. At theconversation.com/us. It begins by saying that in the fall of 2026 there is “a 2-in-3 chance of a strong-to-very strong El Niño.” An Ed. Nino affects weather, climate and ocean temperatures across the planet.” It goes on to say that during this phenomenon a“stretch” of 6,000 miles ocean waters warm for “months on end”. The article says this reorganizes “wind, rainfall and temperature patterns all over the planet”. This event “impacts” land and sea. It affects air currents making things wetter or drier than things would be normally, causing more storms and hurricanes. In the sea it affects the “ecosystems” as in fishing, the coral reefs and sea grasses. There is a “heat wave” included in the process making “local bays and coves” hotter than what is usual for from a few days to weeks. Marine organisms that are use to a certain temperature are greatly disturbed. The article relates that “billions” of dollars are lost during these “marine heat waves”. The article says in these events “the entire planet takes notice”. The affects of the whether conditions are different depending on where you live anywhere on the planet. This year appears to be bringing a very strong El Niňo. The article says on the good side of things forecast can predict the “marine heat waves” three to six months in advance which can at least allow for being prepared.    

I would like to have a pizzarea pizza tonight but my acid reflux bummer is giving me second thoughts.....maybe I will make a homemade one on a tortilla shell. 

Photos in my life today

My first upload for today is the 12th “glimmer”. It is an image of my new auxiliary computer station. I have a new tiny “desk” dressed with my laptop. Now I have a quiet corner to work on my computer activity if and when I need a change.

The next assignment is another of “my choice” and another of my series of “mirror images”. This one is a miniature village I set up with three garden gnomes and their house. I made two copies of the same image, reversed one and put the two together.  

The last challenge for the day is “transport”. I had several images I could choose from and picked this one of a school bus that “transports” students to and from school. 

Joy 

the bonus image is my upload to Fine Art America today. This red rose is on tee shirts and household goods on my web page at Fine Art America

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

 June 10, 2026, a thought for the day, Proverbs are not vain words. Polish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first challenge was “glimmer.” Yesterday I used the image of Bobbi taking a nap in a new apparently favorite spot. 

The next assignment was “my choice.” I used one of my series of “mirror image” for this one. It is a view from my front porch. I took the original view and copied it then flipped it horizontally. I blended the two together to get this “artful” image. 

The last upload was titled “stop.” Instead of using one of the several stop sign images I have I used one of the stop lights in its red position. 

Life today. It has been a beautiful day albeit busy in this Rector household. There was a PT person here for Sue as well as a “shower” person. To top off the day of visits the air conditioner technician was here for the annual maintenance. Lowell was here to be on hand for any problems that may come up with the AC. So I put him to work while he was here. I had a pull down doorway/room divider blind I wanted put up and two pushup Venetian blinds rehung. Done and done.  

While all of the activity was going on, I got a picture mounted and framed to a 16x20. On this one I did as my first landscape of that size. It is one of the more “artful” images I have done recently. It is a “mirror image” style. 

I was also able to get the letter started and some of the photo work done. Ohhh, and a small update on the bulletin. 

I think Tami and Andy and I may be able to make it to church on Friday to hang some more photos. 

Well, spring is here in full now. I turned the AC on two days ago. The outside temps are going up and may reach 90 degrees by the end of the week. But then it is supposed to stay in the high 70s for a few days. Seeing the “summer” sun feels pretty good too. 

The word for today is advice.  Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example. Francois de La Rochefoucauld. When we ask for advice, we are usually looking for an accomplice. Marquis de la Grange. It is always a silly thing to give advice, but to give good advice is fatal. Oscar Wilde. Write down the advice of him who loves you, though you like it not at present. English Proverb. In giving advice, seek to help, not please, your friend. Solon. Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties. Aesop, There is one piece of advice, in a life of study, which I think no one will object to; and that is, every now and then to be completely idle - to do nothing at all. Sydney Smith. "Careful with fire" is good advice we know. "Careful with words is ten times doubly so. William Carleton. I give myself, sometimes, admirable advice, but I am incapable of taking it. Mary Montagu. Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15. Whatever advice you give, be brief. Horace. Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. Samuel Taylor Coleridge. We give advice, but we cannot give the wisdom to profit by it. Francois de La Rochefoucauld. No enemy is worse than bad advice. Sophocles. The one thing people are the most liberal with, is their advice. Francois de La Rochefoucauld. One can advise comfortably from a safe port. Soren Kierkegaard. Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable. Francis Bacon. To accept good advice is but to increase one's own ability. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Advice is judged by results, not by intentions. Marcus Tullius Cicero. We may give advice, but we cannot give conduct. Benjamin Franklin.

Article summary. The reverse of the action in this article title, learning to bully, in the title is also true. This should be common sense to most people. I was interested in seeing what the article said. It can be helpful in our actions around young people now. It can also help us to see why some young people as well as some adults act towards others. Could it be they don’t know any better from whatever they have experienced in their own lives? We can understand better and maybe help them overcome it in their connection to others in someway. Perhaps in our own subtle actions and speech in the here and now will help. The article title is Kids learn to bully from adults’ threats, manipulation and criticism – a child psychologist explains how parents can model better tactics. Angela J. Narayan, Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Denver. At theconversation.com. It starts by mentioning how kids sometime talk to each other like you aren’t invited, if you won’t do this I won’t do that. It goes on the say some adults think this kind of talk is a norm in their early lives and is harmless. As the article moves on, it mentions that kids may be hearing the grown-ups in disagreements and begin to mimic their attitudes. The parents may say do this or the parent will do that. The author mentions as we may have seen kids imitate. It is also stated that the person being bullied is hurt but so it the one doing the bullying. Both the bullied and the bully themselves may suffer “depression when they are teens.” Another fact that was pointed out is that a bully is “more likely to engage in aggressive and rule breaking behavior.” The article makes these statements and follows by saying parents can change the direction in the chance of these behaviors in the “ways they handle their own conflicts to demonstrate for children.” It suggests children like hugs and affection, they want to “play” and enjoy family. They don’t want stressful and “scary” or boring activities like chores and “tedious” schoolwork. Parents can be “polite” in speaking to the children rather than “nagging or pleading.” The actions of the parents towards each other may not by “physical force,” it may be manipulation and threats. It can be one parent telling the child something the other parent does “wrong.” The article suggests that parents should be resentful with each other especially where and when the children may over hear and see. 

I think it will be something from the freezer for dinner tonight. 

Photos in my life today

The first assignment for today is “glimmer” (it is the monthly theme for June). This one is my son hanging the blind/room divider I wanted.

The next challenge is another “my choice” and another of my series of “mirror images.” This is my sister Sue. 

The last upload for today is “macro.” I used one of the roses from on
of the last bouquets I have had. It has dried up and, I think, shows there is beauty in the ages too. 

Joy

I have used this image in another group and decided to use it at Find Art America after I had added a strong sepia filter

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

 June 8, 2026, a thought for today, Silence goes better with shrewdness than with a kind heart. Polish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge was “glimmer.” It is the peace and gratitude of Holy Communion. 

The next assignment was “from the ground up.” I laid the phone with the camera on on the ground under one of my evergreen trees. I had the timer set to 10 seconds. I took the same shot three times for this one.

The last upload was “half empty/half full.” My iced tea was sitting beside me. It was half empty, perfect and convenient for the shot.

Life today. It has been an interesting day. I started the bulletin and then found out that the visiting pastor is ill and won’t be able to be here. Now I am waiting to see if we have someone to fill in. I have the back section done but need the whole order of worship to finish. I can get most of it but need the scriptures and sermon title. So I am moving on with other things on my agenda while I wait to see where I go from here with the bulletin. 

I have the photos for today lined up, cataloged, and keywords attached, just the uploads to do. 

My tiny “desk” was delivered this morning, it needs put together. I may attempt that either later today or tomorrow. It’s a pretty little thing, now I have to see how functional it is.

We are supposed to have a tech here on Thursday for the air conditioner. I was hesitant to turn it on until then but the temperature is going up pretty quickly so I gave in an hour or so ago and turned it on. I think I had a minor case of dehydration on Sunday from the heat. I didn’t want to feel that way again if I could help it. 

Sue seems to be improving. I was beyond concerned about her for several weeks. I think I can relax a little on that score for now. I hope she continues to be able to be more mobile and conversational. 

The word for today is advance.  Fortune can, for her pleasure, fools advance, And toss them on the wheels of Chance. Juvenal. All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance. Edward Gibbon. Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority. Thomas H. Huxley. To predict the behavior of ordinary people in advance, you only have to assume that they will always try to escape a disagreeable situation with the smallest possible expenditure of intelligence. Friedrich Nietzsche. If a man does not make new acquaintances as he advances through life, he will soon find himself alone. A man should keep his friendships in constant repair. Samuel Johnson.  If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. Henry David Thoreau. Knowledge is a comfortable and necessary retreat and shelter for us in advanced age, and if we do not plant it while young, it will give us no shade when we grow old. Lord Chesterfield. Be not the slave of your own past. Plunge into the sublime seas, dive deep and swim far, so you will come back with self-respect, with new power, with an advanced experience that will explain and overlook the old. Ralph Waldo Emerson. 'Tis hard if all is false that I advance A fools must now and then be right, by chance. William Cowper. He that embarks on the voyage of life will always wish to advance rather by the impulse of the wind than the strokes of the oar; and many folder in their passage; while they lie waiting for the gale. Samuel Johnson. As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed. Vincent Van Gogh. Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority. Thomas Huxley. He who could foresee affairs three days in advance would be rich for thousands of years. Thomas Carlyle. 

Article summary. I really like the subject material I can find on this “academic/journalistic” news website called The Conversation it is “widely considered a highly credible and trustworthy source for news and analysis. It operates on a unique academic-journalistic model rather than traditional reporting”. As I begin my search for something interesting, educational and trusworhty to share I go to this site to find something that is touching to many lives. Anyway, this is the one I chose for today. I think most of us are concerned about time along with time changes each year. The title is Why we will probably never have a perfect clock. Daniel Brown, Lecturer in Astronomy, Nottingham Trent University. At theconveration.com. It opens by mentioning something most of us have an opinion about, the time change that happens twice a year. There are pros and cons for and against. I like the sentence that says “historically.  The sun has helped us tell time.” It says we always have had to make corrections in our measurements of time on a clock. It starts with how time on a measuring device was counted has changed throughout history. One of the observations of the movement of the sun allowed humans to create the first sundials which tracked the movement by shadows. This kind of measurement made the “time” different around the world since the sun was at its peak at the “geographical locations.” As time went on time was important and upper most in “navigation” systems in particular railroad. It had to be established and recorded so that people and goods could travel and arrive according to time measurement. Time zones had to be established. There was the “unifying of time” for “common trading and political regions” and reasons.  So the movement of the sun related to how clocks were set. To start that system the “only a single instance in time was needed to be marked: the middle of the day”. As measurement of time passed the different systems each came to need adjustments. In time clocks were set by “visual cues, signals via telegraph and later broadcasting of time signals via radio.” The article went on the relate that in realizing the “complexity” of getting the “correct time from the sun’s position, the definition of time based on atomic clocks (International Atomic Time - IAT) seemed perfect”. It was based on the science of electronic atoms as they allow the “avoidance” of “relying on the sun’s variable position.” There is a but, since 1972 there was what is known as “the leap second,” it accounts for “irregularities” in the slowing of Earth’s rotation. This “leap second” affect happens in June and December and needs time adjustments then. So in short the “leap second” and its meaning finally show “relying purely on atomic clocks isn’t sustainable.” We still “rely on the sky.” The ending paragraph mentions a few things we will always have to consider, one is our need to consider our daily living in respect to day and night as it relates to the sun. Second, think of “time as relative.” If someday we live on Mars we will have to “create a time that accounts for the days and years being different.”

Creamed chicken on toast sounds good for dinner. 

Photos in my life today

The first upload for today is “my choice.” It is on of my “mirror images.” This is one of the peach colored roses from my last bouquet generated to a mirror image.

The next challenge was “glimmer.” This one is the latest bouquet from the grocery store. I like the red, white and blue. 

The last assignment is “world ocean day.” It was taken one of the last times I
was near the ocean, seems like a hundred years ago. But my vet tech granddaughter was a toddler here.

Joy

the bonus image today is Sugar one of my best furry friends for 15 years, looking out the window as shoppers walked by. It is uploaded to my Fine Art America site and is a design on several items

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

 June 6, 2026, a thought for today, The smile on a hungry man's face is a lie. Polish Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge was “glimmer.” This is that balloon my daughter and son-in-law gave me for mothers day. It is slowly losing air but still “travels” around the room on air currents. Bobbi has had days of fun trying to snatch the string and pulling it down. She has lost the string before the balloon gets within her reach. 

The next assignment was “my choice.” It is one of my series of “still life,” a
partially wrapper chocolate bar. 

The last upload is “mother.” This is a sketch of my mother about 108 years ago. This is a sketch  my sister drew from a photo.

Life today. This has been a busy week with people in and out helping Sue get better from a disability she has been experiencing. She’s is coping fairly well but will need a doctor’s care for a while. Today there are no visits but there is an exercise instruction sheet she is supposed to do daily.  

I had the grocery pick up this morning. It looks like that will be the only outside chore for today. There’s not a lot that I have scheduled on the computer to day. I have this letter and my daily photos to tend too.  

I have been thinking I need to make space in the house that I can escape to for quiet solitude where I can maintain focus and remove myself from interruptions. My bed room doesn’t have a door attached so I am putting up a pull down type closure. I have ordered a tiny little desk that should fit perfectly in the only unoccupied space in the room. There will be room for my laptop, keyboard and mouse. I will have to remember to put files I am working on in the cloud so I can work on them on both the desk top and the lap top.  

We had one fairly heavy rain fall with more coming later in the evening. It doesn’t seem to have cooled the air much though. The thermometer is reading 85 degrees. I am putting off turning on the AC. It hasn’t been checked for the season yet. A technician is supposed to be here next week. Hopefully we can wait until then. 

The word today is action. An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory. Friedrich Engels. 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 undertaking of a new action brings new strength. Evenius. We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them. Abigail Adams. It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. Charlotte Bronte. The ancestor of every action is a thought. Ralph Waldo Emerson.  In the highest civilization, the book is still the highest delight. He who has once known its satisfactions is provided with a resource against calamity. Ralph Waldo Emerson. The only cure for grief is action. George Henry Lewes. A good name, like good will, is got by many actions and lost by one. Lord Jeffery. Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in. Napoleon Bonaparte. Think not those faithful who praise all thy words and actions; but those who kindly reprove thy faults. Socrates. Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind. Leonardo da Vinci. I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts. John Locke. One act of beneficence, one act of real usefulness, is worth all the abstract sentiment in the world. Sentiment is a disgrace, instead of an ornament, unless it lead us to good actions. Ann Radcliffe. The people may be made to follow a path of action, but they may not be made to understand it. Confucius. Knowledge must come through action; you can have no test which is not fanciful, save by trial. Sophocles. You cannot have a proud and chivalrous spirit if your conduct is mean and paltry; for whatever a man's actions are, such must be his spirit. Demosthenes. 

Article summary. It seems loss of memory raises it’s ugly head as we get older. This title popped up and grabbed my attention. The title is Remember: a bad memory is actually good for you. Robert Nash, Lecturer in Psychology, Aston University. At theconversation.com. It starts by touching on what many of us have experienced such as not remembering where our keys are or a computer password. The author mentions how our “memory flaws” being that they are “frustrating and inconvenient” that being their the biggest qualities. She goes on to mention that memory is not a “recording device” that records the moments step by step. This is explained as it “serves” only the gist of an event. There was a “study” in one area of memory. Students were asked to “remember” a set of high school grades.  About a fifth of the grades were “misremembered.” Higher grades were more clearly remembered than failing grades and further they “were far more likely to recall their grades as being better than they had been, than to recall them as worse than they had been.” An explanation of that in the article was it showed that “misremembering” may happen so we experience feeling good about ourselves or to “protect our belief in fairness and justice.” There was another test where a man won a lot of money. Some people who were interviewed thought of the man as a deserving hard worker. On the other side some thought of him as a lazy man. When they reported how they felt about his win the “hard worker” side believed he was deserving and the others undeserving. It shows that there is “weight” from the critical feed back about someone, “our unhappy memories lose their sting long before our happy memories.” These results show that  over time the result can be that “memory gives us a distorted” kind of “memory.” Most people asked said they would not want a change in how we remember.  This idea bringing to light that there is “value” on the “authenticity of our personal memories, both good and bad.” In ending the article it is mentioned that we should be aware that things can be “authentic, objective, unapologetic, and unadulterated” and that memories go a long way in “maintaining our self-esteem, satisfaction, and well-being.” So in considering the memories of our friends and family “we shouldn’t be too critical.”

Maybe sloppy joe for dinner. 

Photos in my life today

My first upload today is “glimmer.” It is a peaceful view of an elementary school near my home. 

The next challenge is “r is for...” I chose a photo of a very large rock in one of my neighbor’s front yards. They decorate during holidays like Halloween and Christmas and others. 

That last upload is “dog.” This is an image from my archives. I was taking photos of pet in the humane society for their web page. This is one of the images. 

Joy

the bonus photo today is one of my uploads to a contest in my Fine Art America group, Bobbi, peeking out the window. It will be on cups, tee shirts, other house hold projects

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

 June 4, 2026, a thought for today There is many a good head under an old hat. Norwegian Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge was “glimmer”. This one is of my great grandson focused on the tool he had in his hand.  The “glimmer” idea is an image that brings of happiness, joy, peace and gratitude. This image fits all points. 

The second assignment is “look up”. This is an evergreen pointing toward the
sky along with one of my wind chimes also hanging above my head. 

The last image upload was “my choice” and one of my series of “still life”, grapes and a bottle of home made seasoning. 

Life today. Yesterday Tami, Andy and Gideon went with me to church to hang some more photos. The gallery is beginning to look like a “gallery” albeit a small one but still a gallery. I was glad to show Gideon some of the church. Tami seemed glad to show him some of the spaces she remembered from her childhood too.

This has been another of those “busy” days. The first thing on the list afer all of the internet checks, email, news, etc., was to make a quick shove sheet for the bulletin explaining the gallery I am starting at church. Then it was off to start the rest of the day. I got one more photo hung before I left. 

When I left and dropped off some mail I stopped at McDonalds for a sausage McMuffin for Sue.

I got a little done on this letter before I left to pick up Sue’s prescription at Walgreen. Then home to be there in time for the visiting nurse’s visit. 

I got my photos of the day done on breaks between each of those. As I was setting up in my makeshift “studio” for still life photos I noticed a buzzing sound. I had wondered why Bobbi had been hanging out at my feet. I looked around to try to find the sound .....it was a bee. I have no idea how it got in the house. Anyway I got a fly swatter to swat the bee. I got it. Bobbi may have had I left her alone but she may have gotten stung in the process.   

The word today is achieve.  Our patience will achieve more than our force. Edmund Burke. Be not afraid of greatness: some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. William Shakespeare. Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm. Ralph Waldo Emerson. To achieve great things we must live as though we were never going to die. Marquis de Vauvenargues. With malice toward none, with charity for all, ...let us strive on to finish the work we are in, ...to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations. Abraham Lincoln. Nor is it always in the most distinguished achievements that men's virtues or vices may be best discovered: but very often an action of small note, a short saying, or a jest, shall distinguish a person's real character more than the greatest sieges, or the most important battle. Plutarch. Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. Thomas Edison. To accomplish a difficult task one must first make it easy. Ralph Waldo Emerson. What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality. Plutarch. Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment. Thomas Carlyle. It is easy to hate and it is difficult to love. This is how the whole scheme of things works. All good things are difficult to achieve; and bad things are very easy to get. Confucius. For what is the best choice for each individual is the highest it is possible for him to achieve. Aristotle. 

Article summary. I have mentioned before in some writings my way of thinking about the word “truth”. When I saw this article, I thought I would try to see another way of looking at it. We grow by reading as well as experience. The title is With so many people speaking ‘their truth’, how do we know what the truth really is? Jeremy Wyatt, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Waikato. Joseph Ulatowski, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, University of Waikato. At theconversation.com. It started by mentioning some famous people in whose “truth” in their lives was in the forefront of news. The slap at the academy awards was one, a question to a prince was another, a famous ski accident situation yet another. The article was categorizing the “their truth”. Then it begins to talk about “my truth” and “your truth” and how it has become titled “truth relativism”. I have to think and digest what the author says it being in the statement “a claim is made true or false by what they believe or how they feel, rather than by the way the world actually is”. To further that statement it was mentioned that relativism can be a “reasoned debate without any clear goal”. In testing this theory it brings up a situation where maintaining a water system becomes a matter of discussion. Here is where it has to be figured what is “true”, “your truth” or “my truth” , that is faced in the group who would make the ultimate decision of the exact needs for the needed process of maintenance. Some things in the world are true to all and are thought of with our “minds, language and culture”. An example in the article is, it would relate to something like someone describing lemons are more acidic that milk chocolate. That would be obvious to all.  In a “grey” areas of questions if we value the truth we should “engage with points of view that differ from yours”. In a little more research I came up with this: interpretation of facts hold meaning, a truth requires perspective and context to be understood correctly and truths involve a mixture of facts, choices, and personal understanding. I don’t think I got any more of an understanding from this article than I already knew. I do know there is only one complete and final truth, that is God’s truth. 

I have had two small meals today already so I think dinner will be more snack like. 

Photos in my life today 

The first upload is one of the “glimmer” series. This is my son in law and daughter helping me hang photos on my church gallery wall. They do best in measuring and keeping the photos placed and straight.

The next challenge is another “my choice” as well as another in my series of “still life”. An open book with a page marker and one touch something to draw the eye, a tiny cashew nut.

The last assignment is “mess”. This is only one of my drawers that need to be
straightened up.  

Joy

this bonus image is one of the street where I live. To get this particular view I stood in the middle of the street when I went to the curb to bring the trash can back to place. 

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

 June 2, 2026 a thought for today, You can't climb a mountain by a level road. Norwegian Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge was from one of my photo groups that is going to use a theme every day this month called “glimmer”. It is supposed to relate something we experience in the day that is joyful, happy, peaceful or show gratitude.  This one is my daughter’s purse as she dropped it in the chair on her way upstairs to see my ailing sister. It is telling me “my daughter is home.” 

The next assignment is “my choice” and is one of my series of “still life”.  It ismy spider plant on a stack of my books with an apple by the side all ready for me to enjoy a moment of peace. 

The last upload is “from a distance”. It the street in front of my home.  I stood in the middle to get the capture when went to pick up the trash can to bring it to the back yard. 

Life today. So far it has been quietly productive day. Natalie came to give Bobbi her monthly pedicure. Before she got here I put a harness on Bobbi so that I can keep track of her until Natalie is able to come. She isn’t happy about being “confined” and rushes off when Nat is done and takes her harness off and lets her go. 

I got the bulletin done and sent out for proofing. Then I got started on this letter. I set up the photos I need for today. While I was finishing the bulletins I got the activity sheets that I sent to the kids each week done and the envelopes for the bulletins that need mailing. I want to get another photo mounted and framed before I get to cleaning out the frig.

Sue asked for a McDonalds cheese burger so I took a break to go get that. I needed a break anyway. I got her an extra one in case she wants it later.

Looking out the window is a delight but having a screen door open is a bit cool.

The word today is accomplish. I myself do nothing. The Holy Spirit accomplishes all through me. William Blake. It is said that if Noah's ark had had to be built by a company; they would not have laid the keel yet; and it may be so. What is many men's business is nobody's business. The greatest things are accomplished by individual men. Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Not snow, no, nor rain, nor heat, nor night keeps them from accomplishing their appointed courses with all speed. Herodotus. 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. I hope that I may always desire more than I can accomplish. Michelangelo Buonarroti. The man who gives up accomplishes nothing and is only a hindrance. The man who does not give up can move mountains. Ernest Hello. If one only wished to be happy, this could be easily accomplished; but we wish to be happier that other people, and this is always difficult, for we believe others to be happier than they are. Montesquieu. Death comes to all, but great achievements build a monument which shall endure until the sun grows cold. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Nothing whatever pertaining to godliness and real holiness can be accomplished without grace. Saint Augustine. Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment. Thomas Carlyle. Well done is better than well said. Benjamin Franklin. Give a boy address and accomplishments and you give him the mastery of palaces and fortunes where he goes. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Man is always more than he can know of himself; consequently, his accomplishments, time and again, will come as a surprise to him. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished. Laozi. In prayer, more is accomplished by listening than by talking. Jane Frances de Chantal.

Article summary. It’s the time of year for gardens. I thought I would be nice to read something of gardens of then and now. The title is Heaven on earth: the ancient roots of your backyard garden. Eva Anagnostou-Laoutides, Associate Professor in Ancient History, Australian Research Council Future Fellow, Macquarie University. At theconversation.com. It began by mentioning that beside the their color with life and beauty “gardens are also bound to their political and religious history”. There are “connections” between famous gardens like one of Versailles and the Garden of Eden. According to the article people today “try to re-create it – in our homes, in our cities, in our heads”. Kings in the biblical times felt they communicated with the gods in a royal garden. There were hanging gardens and King Solomon’s enclosed garden. The gardens of the Roman Empire “withered” by in the time c Charlemagne they were never forgot the “aura of the exotic garden that they were able to afford. Even the Vatican Garden of the middle ages was mentioned and related that it “evoked” political and religious dimensions in the garden. As the article was ending it mentioned that there the connection of gardens with politics is strong. Also mentioned is gardens surrounded ancient temples so worshipers were closer to god. Gardens  surround war memorials. The last sentence was the “next time you’re wandering around your own garden, reflect on the fact that you’re walking in the footsteps of the kings and queens of yesteryear, in your own slice of paradise.”

Maybe chicken salad for dinner. 

Photos in my life today

My first upload today is “glimmer II”. It is my cat and best furry friend Bobbi getting her monthly pedicure from my grand daughter, a seasoned vet tech. And Bobbi doesn’t care a whit that she is a vet tech. 

The next assignment is another of “my choice” and another of my series of “still life”. It is a set of bottles in my collection with a tiny carnation on lying in front of them for a bit of color and fun. 

The last upload is “empty”. This is a decorative box that one of my Christmas
gifts came in.  

Joy 

the bonus photo is an entry in a contest titled “I’ve Gone to Pieces” found in my Fine Art America site, a flower bouquet that has begun dropping it leaves, there are tee shirts coffee cups, blanket, puzzles, and more with this design

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