August 31, 2019 thought for the day: If you lay upon roses when young, you'll lie upon thorns when old.  Romanian Proverb

This has not been a good day. Hopefully it will end better than it started. It all started when I couldn’t get the back door unlocked to let the dogs out for their morning pee. (They were crossing their legs....at least in my mind they were). I got Bob, my son, up and he was able to get it open. I was getting dressed so that I could take them out the front door and around to the back but Bob came down just in time. The next “headache” came when I thought the microwave was going to catch fire. I was making chocolate cookies for the twins and me and needed to soften a stick of butter. About three seconds after I turned it on it popped and smelled hot. I tried twice. The second time I gave up. I put the butter in the oven that I was preheating for the cookies (a dumb senior moment move). I didn’t count on how much time that would take so, the third “happening.” The butter dripped itself on the new oven floor. The fourth blooper: I dropped the egg for the cookies on the floor and, of course, it broke.

The August 20 photo of the day was “Messy.” I chose to shoot one of my messy pantry shelves although that isn’t by far the messiest place I could find had I had the time to roam.

With all of those minor happenings I just mentioned,  I still had my “not working” car window on my mind while trying to figure out how I wanted to take care of that. Also, on my mind was the neighbor’s new privacy fence. I was hoping they were going to leave just a bit of a space that we could “talk over the back fence and allow our pet dogs time to be neighborly over the fence with each other. Apparently that is out of the question. They are making it complete coverage. Not to mention the fact that they asked me if they could move a portion of a fence on my property that was in the way of their last post. What could I say? It was ironic that as I was looking for quotes for the letter today I came across this one:  Events will take their course,...(see below).

Sue picked up the twins yesterday so they were here over night. They have had a cough for several weeks that is bothering Sue. She wants to have them checked out. So she and Missie are taking them to a Care Center to have them checked out. Then they will be spending the night with Missie. Sue thinks she is getting whatever it is they have too.

I haven’t gotten much done today. I ordered the curtain hooks I was searching from Amazon since I couldn’t find them at two places where I looked here. So I can’t do them today. I also want to pick up another pillow insert for the pouf pillow I have been crocheting every night for three months. I already have three in it but it still needs another. So I can’t finish that today either.

The word is attitude.  There are souls in this world which have the gift of finding joy everywhere and of leaving it behind them when they go, Jean Paul.  Events will take their course, it is no good of being angry at them; he is happiest who wisely turns them to the best account, Euripides. A man's manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Never elated when someone's oppressed, never dejected when another one's blessed, Alexander Pope. Don't introduce me to that man! I want to go on hating him, and I can't hate a man whom I know, Charles Lamb.  A stumble may prevent a fall, Thomas Fuller. People do not seem to realize that their opinion of the world is also a confession of character, Ralph Waldo Emerson. The faultfinder will find faults even in paradise, Henry David Thoreau. One more, The mind is its own place, and in itself, can make heaven of Hell, and a hell of Heaven, John Milton. 

Something new at least to me was this story of a hammock in the middle of a near to me Metro Park. Some of the trees are marked warning that this and that tree may not be strong enough to hold a hammock that you choose to enjoy for the moment. While enjoying the soft movement of the sling like bed you can listen to music or read or just enjoy the scenery including the staring through the bottom branches of a tree with small glimpses of the heaven above. Listening to the birds and other rustle of natures sounds can be mesmerizing. A couple of senior naturalists came up with this idea of a “hammock nook.” One of the naturalists donated three hammocks for people to use as the idea had a chance to take direction. It looks like it is growing in interest to people who frequent the parks.

Fatmumslim.com/au’s theme today is “in my hand.”  I was able to find a perfect one with the now infamous chocolate cookies....Sonja, one of grand nieces, was eating one as she “worked” on her electronic tablet. This is the end of this month’s theme, food. So I have also completed my monthly montage of photos for this challenge.

This is one of those evenings when everyone is on their own for dinner. I am having boxed chicken stuffing with canned chicken gravy and slices of extra sharp cheese. The recipes for this meal are: buy a box of Stove Top Chicken Stuffing, a can of Campbell’s Chicken gravy, a bar of Cracker Barrel Extra Sharp Cheese and Kroger White Sandwich bread and have at it. An easy supper.

Joy

PS (early next morning): the crappy day ended with me taking my sister, Sue, to the emergency room. The final diagnosis was pneumonia. It was a relief in lieu of her medical history of heart attacks. We went to the new Mt. Carmel West Emergency Room which is all that is left of that hospital since it moved to Grove City. It was closer and safer for all on the road since I am night blind. I couldn’t help but think of the days I spent working in that hospital during my nurses training days as I looked at the empty building across the path. The new emergency room was neat and comforting considering it’s setting of the skeleton of an empty former hospital and a few empty parking garages. These surroundings felt kind of erry in the darkness of night and a little sad but I still have the memories of my youth and that building.

August 29, 2019. Today’s thought for the day: Who gossips to you will gossip of you. Puerto Rican Proverb

This has been one of the busiest days in the last several. I got up a little early since I knew that I had to get to church to print the bulletin. First, I checked all the virtual visits and was then on my way.

On the way home, I stopped at Kroger. There were just a few things I needed right now but I got all the things I have been adding to a “need to get” list. I am thinking that since Bob is off on Monday for Labor day I may have him go to Walmart and Sams for the monthly things, maybe, this is in the thinking stage.

When I got home, I put the curtains on the rod that Lowell and Bob put up for me the other day. At least I have that set done. I need a couple of little adjustments to fit the way I want it to, a little higher so the top is above the rod and hemmed to be shorter.

August 27 the photo challenge was “Yuk!”, I don’t particularly like dried fruit of any kind but especially cranberries so this was a good fit. On August 28th I stopped at the grocery store but forgot to get a shot of the structure (store) so used the shot I captured of the “low price apples,”

We are running the irobot sweeper (roomba) now. My Shark sweeper is still in storage, probably until December. Sweet Pea leaves a lot of herself (in the way of fur) around the house, establishing her home, I guess. I started the laundry.

It is a little, just a tiny bit, easier to do the laundry since I have split it into two loads now instead of three. The legs are feeling the day .... my circular path around the church, up and down the steps, my tour at Kroger, climbing on the bed (it is directly under the window) to mount four panels of curtains and up and down the steps for the laundry. Does it sound like I am complaining? I guess I am, but, really, it feels good to get so much done.

I still want to get to making an ooey gooey pie and my photo of the day. Then, all that’s let for dinner is to heat the soup and make the corn bread.

The word is arise. Inasmuch as it is manifest from experience that if the Holy Bible, translated into the vulgar tongue, be indiscriminately allowed to every one, the rashness of men will cause more evil than good to arise from it . . .Pope Pius IV.  Thoughts without content are empty, intuitions without concepts are blind... The understanding can intuit nothing, the senses can think nothing. Only through their union can knowledge arise, Immanuel Kant. We must never despair; our situation has been compromising before, and it has changed for the better; so I trust it will again. If difficulties arise, we must put forth new exertion and proportion our efforts to the exigencies of the times, George Washington. The sweetest pleasure arises from difficulties overcome, Publilius Syrus.  Shame arises from the fear of men, conscience from the fear of God, Samuel Johnson.   

The article I am sharing with you today was really my cup of tea. It is about a couple who have eaten out for every meal almost every day of their twenty-four-year marriage.  I want to look at the article more in detail later but I noticed that they listed the places they have their meals on a regular basis. One of the stories is about their first Christmas here in Columbus. They ate at the Waffle House. That was one of the few places that was open on the holiday at that time. Other Christmases they ate at A Riverside Hospital Cafeteria, one of the few places that was open at that time also. When they don’t eat out, they have take out/bring home. Neither of them likes to cook. The extent of their meal preparation is microwave breakfast or a lunch of carrots or fruit. There were some attempts to cook but ended up in near disasters. Most of their choices of places to eat are based on Jennifer’s job. Many of the places they choose are based on the day of the week. Fridays are the night that they normally eat at home. Many time they choose places on their schedules and “whims.” Some times they have meals at relatives’ homes. There was one eatery that they spend Christmas’s but it went out of business. They try to be cost conscious so many times will share an order of food. They are also health conscious and watch fatty choices and consider vegetables and salads with dressings and sauces on the side. If the weather is bad, they will stay home and open a can of something to satisfy their hunger. Their oven and refrigerator go unused most of the time. They said in the article that feel that this method of eating has bonded their relationship.

The daily photo challenge (fatmumslim.com/au): is “this is delicious!” It is easy to figure what my choice was for this shot....the ooey gooey pie. I like to make the daily shot earlier in the day but this one was later so I was at the computer, post processing later than I usually am in the evening....it was after dinner was over, pets fed and the kitchen straightened.

We are having another one of my per-prepared and frozen dinners....Lima Bean soup with corn bread for dinner. And if I have time in a little bit I am making an ooey gooey caramel pie (thanks to O’Charley’s for the idea). For the Lima Bean soup, I start with getting a package of pre cut diced ham pieces and dry lima beans (usually prefer baby limas but will use either). I soak the beans over night. In a large stock pot I add the ham, the soaked limas then some stock and spices. I use Swanson’s chicken stock, enough to cover the beans, actually over top of the beans. Then I add a cam of Campbells tomato soup, a squirt of French’s yellow mustard or powdered mustard, onion powder, Mrs. Dash table blend and quick dash of Knorr’s Chicken bouillon, a little pepper (no salt). A touch of  Zenfandel white wine couldn’t hurt a thing. I usually make a one egg (jumbo egg) dumpling. One egg, stirred, a squirt of water, a squirt of olive oil and flour add a little at a time until the dough is formed and thoroughly mixed. Drops of the dough are dropped into the simmering soup. Oh, you may need to add a little water if the soup seems too thick. Cook until the dumplings are cooked through. I serve the soup with Ritz crackers and Jiffy corn bread (follow package directions). For the pie: 2 cans of Eagle Brand or Carnation sweetened condensed milk. Put the unopened cans on their side and with the labels removed in a large pan of boiling water.  Let them hard simmer for about two and a half to three hours. After they cool open and pour the caramel into a store bought (or home made gram cracker crust). Top with a little chopped nuts and mini chocolate chips then with cool whip or whipped cream.  There you have it.

Joy

August 26, 2019     Thought for the day::  Here you do, here you pay. Portugese Proverb 

This has been another day at home. It has been rather dreary outside but we had needed the rain for a long time now. This may not even be enough to help the drying grass much. At least I don’t have to go out and water the plants I got and placed this spring. They are still holding their own, except for the grass seed we have tried to start several times over the summer.

The regular Monday morning task has been done. That is the church bulletin is done and ready for the minister’s information and proof reading.

On August 25, the photo of the day theme was “cooking”. I was making a pot of sloppy joe. After some other shot so give me a decent selection I chose the pot of sloppy joe.

Since Bob had the day off, Lowell took him to get the cable he needed to complete his new ham radio antenna. For several years we have had one on top of the roof and one at the side of the house. They were a little unsightly. In the remodeling process Bob ended up getting a new form for his antenna, a 30 foot extending flag pole. His antenna is mounted on top and he is so proud that he can add up to

two flags on the pole too.  When they got back I asked them to get one of my traverse rods mounted. They got that done in about fifteen minutes. That would have taken me at least an hour, moving the furniture, drilling the holes and completing the mount.

That is about the most activity we had here today except that Sue was working in the kitchen going over the dark grout in the kitchen tile. We decided we want a light gray to match the tile rather than the black that was used.

Now I will get to work on my bills and my photo challenge.

The word is appreciation.  .  We are very much what others think of us. The reception our observations meet with gives us courage to proceed, or damps our efforts,William Hazlitt.  The very spring and root of honesty and virtue lie in good education, Plutarch. We must never undervalue any person. The workman loves not that his work should be despised in his presence. Now God is present everywhere, and every person is His work, Saint Francis de Sales.  What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal, Albert Pike.  The true aim of every one who aspires to be a teacher should be, not to impart his own opinions, but to kindle minds, Frederick William Robertson.  The greatest gift is a portion of thyself, Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Successful is the person who has lived well, laughed often and loved much, who has gained the respect of children, who leaves the world better than they found it, who has never lacked appreciation for the earth's beauty, who never fails to look for the best in others or give the best of themselves, Ralph Waldo Emerson

Several of our family members and friends have some sort of connection to the Columbus College of Art and Design so this article caught my eye. It is about how much of the art we see in places around the city are creations of former and present students of the college of learning. This article is a missive celebrating the 140 year anniversary of the college and for this article use some of the work of the alumni or staff in some local  galleries. The article goes into detail in naming some of the artists and the places their work is being displayed for this celebration. The article goes on to cover some of the school’s history and movement forward in its growth. In a highlight of one of the graduates it was shared that this painter and weaver who graduated in 2018 is a native of Nepal. I see from this addition that students may come from all around the world. The article also points out that the school recognizes that it is part of the community and finds many of its students close by. All of this adds a creative and richness that the community at large can enjoy and contemplate. In closing, the article mentions that it may be easier to build an entrepreneurial art space here than in larger, well know municipalities.

My photo of the day challenge (fatmumslim.com.au) is “on my fork”. I used french toast as my subject to fit the required theme. It was killing two birds with one stone....my breakfast and the photo of the day,

I took one of the prepared ahead meals out of the freezer for dinner tonight, spaghetti and meat balls. When I pre-prepared the meal for later use: the meat balls were formed with a pound of lean ground beef and a pound of  ground country sausage. Then mixed with onion powder (many in my family don’t like chopped onion which I could have used), about a half cup or so of catsup, a squirt of yellow mustard, a dash of pepper (no salt), two jumbo eggs (I prefer this size in general). Then I add bread crumbs to the mixture until the meat is easily formed. I mix it all with my hands. I form the balls and put them on a parchment lined baking sheet. I bake them in the over (so they keep their shape) for about twenty minutes at 350 degrees. Then add to the sauce to continue cooking for an hour of so. To make the sauce I use a large can of crushed tomatoes, a can of tomato sauce and a can of tomato paste, a can of beef stock and a touch of Knorr’s beef bouillon.. To that I add a shake of powdered onion, powdered garlic, a splash of Worcestershire sauce, a tablespoon (or to taste) bottled Italian seasoning, a tablespoon of vinegar and a tablespoon of sugar. I serve all of this over cooked spaghetti or homemade egg noodles. Bon Appetit!

Joy

August 24, 2019 thought for the day: You can't heal stubbornness. Polish Proverb

I ended up getting a new keyboard. The old one works but certain keys stick or slow me down so the decision was made. This one is a bit smaller and some keys like, the home, del, end, pg up and pg down keys are in a different position. That slows me down a little, but not for long.

As for the car window.... I have a gum and tape kind of fix. I have taken a piece of card stock and folded it four times over and stuck it between the window and the rubber strip around the bottom. For now that is holding in the window in place. At some point I will take it to Tuffy and ask them to put the window back on track, if necessary position it so that it stays up. Since the windows are electronic that part of the fix would be to expensive for me.

My photo a day challenge for the 22nd was Savoury....my choice was my fast food lunch for that day...and the 23rd was my breakfast, "In My Cup."..

The neighbors are putting up a privacy fence between our yard and theirs. I am a little sad about that. I like to see her garden and her bird feeders when I go out with the dogs. I also like for Sugar and Sweet Pea (my two best friends) to be able to “talk” to Piper, the neighbor’s blind bull dog.

The girls (the twin great nieces) have been here over the weekend. They went back to school this week. They both seem happy with their teachers. There is a big difference in things for them this new school season though, they have separated for the first time in their lives. It had to happen eventually. We’ll see how that goes.

Bob will be off on Monday for his birthday so I am going to take advantage of that and have him help me get my traverse rods up.

The word is appearance. Appearances are a glimpse of the unseen, Anaxagoras.  Know, first, who you are, and then adorn yourself accordingly, Epictetus,  The world is governed more by appearance than realities so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it, Daniel Webster.  It is not once nor twice but times without number that the same ideas make their appearance in the world, Aristotle. Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast, Jane Austen. Why do people respect the package rather than the  man? Michel de Montaigne.  Don't judge men's wealth or godliness by their Sunday appearance, Benjamin Franklin. Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance, Saint Augustine. We take less pains to be happy, than to appear so, Francois de La Rochefoucauld. One more,  An emperor in his nightcap will not meet with half the respect of an emperor with a crown,
Oliver Goldsmith.

The article I found to use today was from a couple of days ago.  The news wasn’t that exciting today except for the “bad” stuff. This one is about something new the Columbus Polices are trying.  A new group that will be  using dogs as therapy tools is being formed. One of the ideas mentioned is to use them in cases of child abuse and sexual assault. It could comfort the children when they had to talk about one of the worst times in their lives.

I keep observing how people are learning just what our animal population can do for us, how valuable they can be. They help in most of our health problems in one way or another. However, I am not so sure having a policing community to be the ones to do this. It takes the men/women from solving/handling crime in my opinion. Though the article says the officers used for this groups are not involved in the other types of assignments. Apparently there is a unit on the department called a “wellness” unit. Other groups would be much more suited to this endeavor and one I agree could be helpful. Although I saw in the article that they can relive officers in other types of incidences.

When the group was being formed there was a surprising number of sergeants and other officers who applied for the available positions. Along with the sheriff’s office and the Columbus police division there will be eight therapy dogs available for this group. The dogs were donated. Three had been trained by Pilot Dogs but didn’t meet those particular requirements. Other dogs were donated from a breeder and one from the Franklin County Dog Shelter. Other funds needed to outfit the group are through donations. At first they will be used for interviews where their presence may be an aid. They will also attend community events.

My photo challenge (fatmumslim.com) for today is ”my food on a stick”.  I cheated a little....the food on the stick wasn’t on “my” stick. I happened to come up on this shot when I was looking for my subject.

It’s going to be left over night for dinner.

Joy

August 21, 2019   thought for the day: If you climb up a tree, you must climb down the same tree. African Proverb

I got the church’s bulletin and  newsletter uploaded to the proof reader and to the other people who need it in advance.

The rest of the time I had before I got ready to go to church to volunteer for food pantry was spent working on my key board. Two evenings ago I spilled a little bit of iced tea on it. I thought I had caught it in time to keep the damage to a minimum. But the next day the key board stopped working. I borrowed the one I had donated to the church some time ago to use until I could figure out what was going on and the solution. I began taking each key out and cleaning out the space it occupied. I can’t believe the amount of crumbs and dog hair there was in there. By the time I was ready to leave for church it was working.

Food pantry was pretty busy today. It seemed folk came in bunches. So we had some downtime. That is the hardest time for me. I would rather be busy than bored, except that it does give we volunteers time to bond with each other.

Yesterday’s photo challenge was “sweet”. That one is pretty easy for me....easier than it should be for a diabetic.

I was a little disappointed when I got home and started using the key board. It’s not working as smoothly as it should be. I may end up having to get a new one after all. Another disappointment today is that the window on the back drivers side of my car is stuck. It won’t go up or down. I’ll have to give it some time while my mind processes the paths to take.

Now it’s time to work on my photo for today.... title:  “a red food”. Maybe making and photographing the taco salad for dinner will be a good choice. That will kill two birds with one stone....dinner and my challenge.

The word is approval. How quick come the reasons for approving what we like, Jane Austen.  Virtue is increased by the smile of approval; and the love of renown is the greatest incentive to honourable acts, Marcus Tullius Cicero. There is nothing more shocking than to see assertion and approval dashing ahead of cognition and perception, Marcus Tullius Cicero.  It is not he who begins well who is perfect. It is he who ends well who is approved in God's sight, Saint Basil. If the measures which have been pursued are approved by the majority, it is the duty of the minority to acquiesce and conform, Thomas Jefferson.  If I am fool, it is, at least, a doubting one; and I envy no one the certainty of his self-approved wisdom, Lord Byron. One more,  Shut your eyes so the heart may become your eye, and with that vision look upon another world. If you can step away from your need for self-approval, all that you do, top to bottom, will be approved, Rumi.   

We all seem interested in the Columbus zoo so when there is a nice, happy article in the paper and not much else of note that day I choose the zoo story. Today I read that we have three new tiger cubs that hadn’t been expected. Apparently it was a big surprise because the father had a vasectomy and the mom is his daughter. All, mom and babies,  at this time seem to be healthy. We don’t know yet whether they are boys or girls. Not only did the father have a vasectomy, he had been euthanized  a few month ago due to problems in his aging process. It is not unusual for the daughter of a lion to later become the mother of his future cubs since female cubs stay with their pride of lions. I learned from the article that there has so far never been proof that their inbreeding causes problems. The cubs won’t be on few to the public.

My fatmumslim.com.au photo challenge for today is “a red food” in keeping with the theme for the month “food”. As an after thought, as I was looking at some of the other member’s shots I liked the cherries, red peppers and a few others better but my fit the challenge name (smile).

As I mentioned earlier I  made taco salad for dinner tonight. My personal recipe for taco salsa is: a pound of ground beef (browned), a can of tomato sauce, about a cup of tomato ketchup, dashes of several Mrs. Dash spices (onion (my family don’t like chopped onion, I do but...), garlic, tomato, table blend), a dash black pepper, (no salt since the other spices take care of that), a squirt of Worcestershire sauce, a touch of Knorr’s beef bouillon, and a touch of sugar all mixed together and simmered. All this served over Dorito chips and topped with choices of tomato, onion, black beans, corn, lettuce, grated extra sharp cheese and dollops of sour cream.

Joy

August 19, 2019–thought for the day:  Running away makes you guilty. Polish Proverb

Typical Monday. I spent time working on the back of my church bulletin and got it finished. Then got the church newsletter up to date. It is ready to print unless I hear from other members who want something in. I am glad to be this far along with both of them. We are having a minister that we haven’t had in some time. If I remember she has a full bulletin ready when she sent it to me to put in our format so I didn’t bother with the inside. I will wait until I hear from her. I sent a request for the information this morning. The back story about my involvement with these two missives is that we lost our secretary several years ago. I volunteered as a member of the church to fill in until a new secretary was hired.....I am still happily doing the bulletin and newsletter as well as other secretarial tasks.


The FMS photo challenge for yesterday was A Drink....and the day before that it was “2 thing”, something I found in the kitchen, an egg and a cucumber, imaginative??  Welllll....





The twins (my grandniece)  were back for another night and morning with us. Their mom said they could stay another day since they had a meet-the-teacher meeting tonight and started school Wednesday.

I had the windows opened until the heat from the outside was getting noticeable and turned the AC on. I took a break, before I got a bit of lunch, to water the front garden. The ground in my yard is so uneven it’s difficult to walk in a straight line as if that’s always possible at my age anyway. The uneven ground makes it even more of a challenge.

Sugar, one of my two dogs (a dachshund)  has been giving me a worry. She hasn’t been eating like she has most of her life. She only did something this a few months ago when she was diagnosed with pancreatitis. I laid in bed this morning worrying about her. During those musings I decided maybe I would try something other than the canned dog food that she usually gets. I gave her tuna this morning and she ate! What a relief.

My word today is alter. I've dreamt in my life dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they've gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the colour of my mind, Emily Bronte.  We have less reason to be surprised or offended when we find others differ from us in opinion, because we very often differ from ourselves: how often we alter our minds, we do not always remark; because the change is sometimes made imperceptibly... ”, Samuel Johnson.  It is bad advice that cannot be altered, Publilius Syrus.  The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind, William Blake.  It is the disposition of the thought that altered the nature of the thing, John Lyly. One more, Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly, Francis Bacon.

I found an article today in Columbusunderground.com about how to get ready for “lifestyle creep.”   When friends were chatting, a subject came up about money and it’s importance to each of us as we move on in life. During the chat one of the topics was a quote from a man who worked in consumer education for an insurance company. One point was that when salaries go up it seems spending can go up too.  Another thought brought up in this chat about an article one had read was that you tend to be more aware of being broke than of how to spend when money is available. That makes it common sense that keeping a written budget can be a guide to spending and how to plan for vacations and other luxuries not to mention necessities. Setting up and keeping a savings account must be a part of the budget. Something that came up in the article that I hadn’t considered was that living gets more expensive as we get older with medical and health expenses more in the picture. So we need to consider that point. I didn’t learn how to handle money when I was growing up. I leaned as I aged and as life taught and demanded.

My FMS (fatmumslim.com.au) photo of today challenge title is: “a white food.” How about this one, white bread and Swiss cheese. I am not particularly pleased with this shot. It fit the topic. But I think there could have been some more imagination in setting it up. I was not focused and was in a hurry....to much of that happens in my life.....must slow down and smell the roses.

I pulled out the tuna casserole that I made and froze two Sunday’s ago for dinner tonight. So, here’s my personal recipe for tuna casserole:  First make a white sauce: 2 T butter melted with about 2 T flour to a paste, add 1 cup of milk, add more milk slowly to the consistency of cream. Then add a 15 oz. packet of tuna, next add about 8 oz. of extra sharp (I use Cracker Barrel) cheese chopped up or shredded to quicken the melting. Boil homemade noodles (or a package of good homemade egg noodles) (for homemade noodles: two to three eggs beaten, a splash of water, a dash of olive oil; add flour gradually until the dough is easy to handle and not too sticky. Flour lightly and roll through a noodle making machine or roll out like pie dough on floured surface then roll like for a pin wheel cookie, then cut to desired width. Drop into boiling water and cook until tender, drain and add the sauce. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Joy

August 16, 2019 and the thought for the day: You cannot hang everything on a single peg. Russian Proverb

I took Sweet Pea, my mini Australian Shepherd/Corgi mix, to the vet for her annual shots/checkup.....the bill nearly floored me....I can’t imagine how a senior citizen is going to be able to have a pet companion at these prices.

The twins (my grandnieces) have been here for a couple of days now and will be one more. They will be starting back to school next week. So we will be going back to the one night a week with them. All summer long we have had them about three or four days/nights in a row.

I worked on Nancy’s journal for a while this morning. Nancy passed on a few months ago. I considered her my best friend at this time in my life. I think we have a “best friend” in daycare, kindergarten, high school, college, neighborhood, and on until Senior Citizen, not necessarily the same one on this long journey and in this “veil of tears.”  She kept a journal most of her life for the benefit of her children. It was all hand written. Her daughter offered a view of it to visitors at her funeral. I am spending time typing it page by page. I want to use it in the church newsletter I maintain and to give to her family. At some point maybe I can share some of her beautiful and wise thoughts with you.

I belong to a photo group called FMS (fatmumslim.com/au) where photographers from all over the world who belongs to this same group follow a given challenge from the owner of the website. There is a theme of the month such as “food,” then each day there is a particular food or food-related item. Today’s challenge was “ingredients” after several shots my choice was macaroni and cheese. It is interesting to see what some of my peer upload in that 24-hour period (especially watching the uploads the facebook where we show our efforts. Some I watch some come up in the morning that are uploaded from where it is night time.) I also watch backgrounds to get a hint of what else may lurk in the photo as a clue to the surroundings.

I got some plants watered in the front part of my city garden and left the other side for this afternoon. I worked on starting a couple of pilot holes for the drawer handles. Our house has been remodeled but still needs many finishing touches. I can handle about fifteen to twenty minutes on my feet before an hour recess before tackling something else. Later, I made some bacon for a BLT. When I did that last week when the twins were here, I discovered that I had better make extra so there was some for them too.

I got the last of the Venetian blinds in four of the lower level windows up yesterday. I am having a little bit of a brain block on attempting to put up the traverse rods in my room. I am going to have to suck it up and get to it brain block or not or it won’t get done. Maybeeee...tomorrow?

I want to see William, my newest great grand sons soon. I want Kim and Mick (grand son and granddaughter in law) and William to get use to the newness of it all, life and its wonders,  privately first. I wanted to put a couple of more smaller pieces on the mobile I have been crocheting for him, but I am going to tighten up the loose threads and have it ready to take to him the way it is.

The word to ponder today is anticipate.  To anticipate and prevent disasterous contingencies would be the part of wisdom and patriotism, George Washington.   At almost every step in life we meet with young men from whom we anticipate wonderful things, but of whom, after careful inquiry, we never hear another word. Life certain chintzes, calicoes, and ginghams, they show finely on their first newness, but cannot stand the sun and rain, and assume a very sober aspect after washing day, Nathaniel Hawthorne. Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil, Aristotle. Men spend their lives in anticipations,—in determining to be vastly happy at some period when they have time. But the present time has one advantage over every other—it is our own. Past opportunities are gone, future have not come. We may lay in a stock of pleasures, as we would lay in a stock of wine; but if we defer the tasting of them too long, we shall find that both are soured by age, Charles Caleb Colton. Our worst misfortunes never happen, and most miseries lie in anticipation, Honore de Balzac.  The present time has one advantage over every other -- it is our own, Charles Caleb Colton. One more, Expecting is the greatest impediment to living. In anticipation of tomorrow, it loses today, Seneca the Younger.

The article I latched on for today at Columbusunderground.com is how riders have taken advantage of the newest attempt to offer free bus passes, C-pass, to Downtown workers and how it has grown. It’s my understanding that these free rides cover business in an area of the downtown area. It helps users in a cost saving of parking fees as well as wear and tear on person vehicles or on legs when walking from business to business. It is also my understanding that interested downtown businesses join together as a group to keep this system working and growing. I think this is one of the signs that Columbus keeps up with the world, maybe in some ways and sometimes a leading edge.

My photo today from my Photo a Day  photography challenge in the https://fatmumslim.com group. Today’s “assignment” for this world wide group is ‘kitchen”. This is a shot of my remodeled kitchen.

Here it is Friday again. When I was among the working community, Friday night was a “let the stresses go” night. We ordered pizza so there were no dishes and little clean up. That habit has hung on. So I am about to order the pizza and not worry about working on one of my recipes.

Joy