September 30, 2019 thought for the day:  If you dig a pit for me, you dig one for yourself. Creole Proverb

It’s been a good Monday. I spent more time on the bulletin than I normally do. The minister sent me the information for the bulletin earlier than I usually get it. That made it easier to get it done so early. The problem was that I finished the back section and then lost the whole thing (file) in trying too safe with a different name. Then I had to start all over again. I had something (one of those numbers problems we all have from time to time) on my mind that kept me from fully focusing on what I was doing.

Once I got finished with the bulletin, I watered the plants. I still haven’t figured out how to use the irrigation system to the best advantage yet. I am hoping that it keeps me from over watering and from splashing water in places it doesn’t belong and/or will do damage to furniture and floors.

BTW, the photo of the day for September 28 was, “words”. There are a couple of ways I thought of to show this, written words, words on the computer screen or from hard copies like book pages and magazines. I used a copy of the e-book I am reading.

After I got all of the above done, I cleaned out the frig and loaded the dish washer.

The word is being. Five enemies of peace inhabit with us - avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride; if these were to be banished, we should infallibly enjoy perpetual peace, Petrarch.  We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities, Ralph Waldo Emerson.  While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart, Francis of Assisi. The thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings, Henry Ward Beecher. Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some, Charles Dickens. Forty is the old age of youth; fifty the youth of old age, Victor Hugobeing.  Every man alone is sincere. At the entrance of a  second person, hypocrisy begins, Ralph Waldo Emerson

The theme photo for the 29th was the word "joy". I could have used my signature or a photo of a wooden "statue" I have or the written word. I chose to make an image of a song from my church hymnal. 

Insects can be as interesting as any other living thing. Some are beautiful and some make wonderful sounds during the spring and summer. Maybe that is why the title of this article grabbed my attention. Swarms of dragonflies in Ohio a source of awe, mystery,  By Jim McCormac / For The Dispatch. It appears that in September dragonflies of undetermined numbers visited Ohio and our neighbor states. They landed everywhere. Their wings were beautiful when they flew by in search of smaller creatures than themselves. They are more colorful than most other insects. The author of this article posted a question on his blog and had over 200 comments from over half the counties in Ohio. The movement habits of the dragonfly are not completely documented thought it is known they head for warmer places. The article mentioned an interesting point for me, that the ones who move to warmer places may not be the same ones that come back the next season. The interest for me is that the newly born know where to go. I learned that some “swarms” can reach one million and the pass by quickly, so quickly that if a person  wasn’t looking up they would miss them completely.

Today’s photo is “inspiration” . . . there are a lot of things that give me “inspiration,” having so much to choose from can be challenging. I love hearing the wind chimes and watching them sway with the breeze. They make me day dream, dreams can be inspiring.

I don’t know if we are going to each be on our own for dinner or if I will heat some of the beef stew I made Saturday to freeze for a later meal.

Joy

This is the end of this month’s theme’s so I have a copy of my composite for the month

September 27, 2019 thought for the day:  No one else can represent your conscience. Native American Proverb

This is one of those times when it become important to pay last respects. My last living cousin from my father’s sister’s family passed away this week. He was probably the most truly Christian person I have ever know. It was the kind of faith and belief I admire, living the message and way more than just spouting the massage and the way.

The service was in Delaware Ohio, we took a scenic way of getting there one we have traveled many time. So many housing projects, apartments and businesses have grown up over time, it was hard to find recognizable signs. So we got a little lost. We did get there, maybe five minutes after the services started.

I didn’t get much done before it was time to leave. Sue drove. Thank goodness she did. If it had been me driving we may have been even more lost.

September 26th photo challenge was “Z”. With no Zebra’s readily available I was limited. I chose zipper.

We had planned to stop at McDonalds on the way to get a bit of breakfast but we were running late. After the service we stopped for lunch. We didn’t go to the cemetery since once we got back to Columbus it would be time for Sue to pick up the twins for their sleep over.

The word is becoming. If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader, John Quincy Adams. We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves, Gautama Buddha.  What we speak becomes the house we live in, Hafez. When Satan cannot get a great sin in he will let a little one in, like the thief who goes and finds shutters all coated with iron and bolted inside. At last he sees a little window in a chamber. He cannot get in, so he puts a little boy in, that he may go round and open the back door. So the devil has always his little sins to carry about with him to go and open back doors for him, and we let one in and say, 'O, it is only a little one.' Yes, but how that little one becomes the ruin of the entire man! Charles Spurgeon. When you meet someone better than yourself, turn your thoughts to becoming his equal. When you meet someone not as good as you are, look within and examine your own self, Confucius. 

The news was a little sketchy today but this article looked interesting. Most people like to look at the stars once in a while. This one is about the Milky Way. We need a dark sky to be able to see it’s full beauty. The article said that with the first quarter moonlight this September won’t bother the view. The crescent moon will be present .The bright central hub of the grand Milky Way is best seen in the tropics. Also mentioned was that the stars of Sagittarius form the tea kettle and it can look like the Milky Way is steam coming from the spout. The Milky Way passes in back of the brighter stare of the Northern Cross. As motion continues the Milky Way seems to split but it only appears that was because of the clouds and dust of background stars.

The photo challenge for today was not quite the challenge that yesterday’s was but I wasn’t to imaginative. The challenge was “words”.

It’s that night of the week that is on the relaxed side of the coin. PIZZA!

Joy

September 25, 2019; thought for the day  The best fighting is often against yourself. Moroccan Proverb

We have our first literary club meeting today after the summer hiatus. I need some of my paperwork for the club still in storage from the house remodeling project. I will be making due with a couple of things I had stored on the computer.

I was able to finish the bulletin, I think. There was one normally standard part missing from the instructions I was given. But there is a refreshing part that could replace that portion of the bulletin.....just found out I overlooked the item in question, the scripture text, it was there all the while.

My September 24th photo challenge was the letter X, I used the X in an exit sign. I used some post processing with Photoshop to enhance the photo.

I left for a bit to go to my literary club meeting. We had quite a group today. We have four new members. We need some fresh faces and it looks like we are going to get some. We will have some new ideas.

It was so chilly this morning that I not only put on a sweat shirt I turned on the furnace for the first time. I left it on for about an hour to warm the house a bit. Now that it is well past noon the air temps have come up considerably. That’s the way of things here in Ohio, it adds a bit of spice to life, sometimes welcome sometimes not so much.

The word is barrier. Oh God, how do the world and heavens confine themselves, when our hearts tremble in their own barriers, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  Between the humble and contrite heart and the majesty of Heaven there are no barriers; the only password is prayer, Hosea Ballou.  Happy season of virtuous youth, when shame is still an impassable barrier, and the sacred air-cities of hope have not shrunk into the mean clay hamlets of reality; and man, by his nature, is yet infinite and free, Thomas Carlyle.  History shows how feeble are barriers of paper, John Lothrop Motley. Gold loves to make its way through guards, and breaks through barriers of stone more easily than the lightning's bolt, Horace. Come, blessed barrier between day and day, Dear mother of fresh thoughts and joyous health! William Wordsworth. The ocean of the body crashes against the ocean of the heart. Between them is a barrier they cannot cross, Rumi. One more, The vision of the eye is limited; the vision of the heart transcends all barriers of time and space, Ali ibn Abi Talib. 

Robots can be amazing and lessen our labors. Buuut, It would be horrendous if somehow they take the place of all human thought and desire. The article today was about how the Ohio State University’s Artificially Intelligent Manufacturing Systems (AIMS) is exploring this kind of precessing the manufacturing field. It sound exciting and financially expedient in time.  According to the article people don’t need to be afraid of robotics. They can be a benefit to the workforce and the world in general. The lab in this article is being supported by donations and industry sponsorships. This all got started with a study on improving the quality of products. That was the basic steps into other studies concerning the field of manufacturing. One of the early tests was automated machinery welding two plates together. A quote from the article is “...a place where academia and industry can almost learn to speak the same language...” It is hoped that it will be a time and place to study human and robotics together.

The photo challenge for today was the letter Y. After several searches for something yellow I chose the hard boiled eggs I used for the tuna salad I made earlier today. It fit the Y with yellow and with yolk.

I think we will have vegetable soup (from the freezer with the recipe in an earlier blog) and tuna sandwiches, I made the tuna salad earlier to have some to take to the literary meeting this afternoon,  for dinner.

Joy

September 23, 2019 thought for the day Love truth even if it harms you, and hate lies even if they serve you. Moroccan Proverb

It is staying darker longer in the mornings now, I haven’t had cause to notice that as much as when I was working and had to leave the house just after 7:00. Now I wake up when Bob is getting ready to leave for work. I usually lounge in bed for a while though.

I started the day as usual for a Monday after the virtual visits, working on the bulletin. After I got the back page done, I realized the minister we are having this week has never preached for us before. I don’t have any contact information for him. I contacted Tom and he sent me an email address and a text address. I sent the email but the text messages kept coming back. I hope he reads his email.

Yesterday’s photo theme for the day was “V,” my choice....vine.

I had an appointment for a mamogram at just before noon. I leaned something from the visit (I love learning something new every day)...my former doctor said we didn’t need mamograms after age 75. The tech I had  today said the older we get the more important it is to get one every year. Sue went along with me, I feel more comfortable having someone with me as a sort of advocate when I may forget something I was told or just for the security of it. It moved along well so we were in and out within half an hour. I decided to return home by way of Sullivant Avenue instead of Broad Street to miss some of the orange barrels. But...hey....they were just as bad on Sullivant. Oh well, I hope it means we are getting some much needed updates.

I don’t have much on the agenda for the rest of the day. I need to make some chicken for Sugar’s special diet but that won’t take long. And, of course, I have to find, shoot and post process the photo of the day. I haven’t worked on Nancy’s journal for a while so I should spend some time on that too.

I am beginning to keep the windows open a little longer now. The air temps are cooling off. We seem to be beginning to get some much needed rain which is cooling things off. I love that about spring and autumn, keeping the windows open, I mean. The smell of the fresh air and the sounds of the seasons. At night I love the near distant sounds of train whistles. Where my house is located we can also hear the rush of cars on a freeway. The best sounds are the wind chimes and the calls of insects of the season. As part of my enjoyment of the seasons and life going by, I like to take a glance out the window and watch the occasional jogger go by or someone walking their dog or pushing a stroller. And now in this season I see the kids walking to the school that is a few blocks away.

The word today is balanced.  There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy, Chanakya.    The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man, Euripides. The music masters familiarize children's minds with rhythms and melodies, thus making them more civilized, more balanced, better adjusted in themselves, and more capable in whatever they say or do, for rhythm and harmony are essential to the whole of life, Plato.  O to be self-balanced for contingencies, to confront night, storms, hunger, ridicule, accidents, rebuffs, as the trees and animals do, Walt Whitman. Life and death are balanced as it were on the edge of a razor, Homer. One more,  The books are balanced in heaven, not here, Josh Billings.


More newness in Columbus. It’s nice to see Columbus grow and to see all the interesting architecture that someone comes up with. I couldn’t find  much good stuff in news today so here’s one from a couple of days ago. For some reason I have an interest in the improvements that are going on in the Franklinton area of our city. According to this article the is a high rise structure being constructed at the beginning of last spring is going on to the second phase which is adding 304 units to the initial 230 apartments. The feature drawing the most attention is a 12 story tower with views of the Scioto River and downtown. It is another of the mixed use buildings I have been reading about being used and established in Columbus. There will be office space, 180 apartments, a four story section (as well as the “tower”) and a three story parking garage.

My photo challenge for today is W, I used window. I probably haven’t mentioned before that taking these photos each day is like keeping a photo journal of sorts. Many of my “shots” are not the “quality” for a contest entry but more in the order of snap shot. I find one, a snap shot, as interesting as the other, an art piece, even though one captures memories and the other the attraction of lines, space, form and color. Anyway, here’s my photo:

I am pulling some saved potato soup (recipe in an earlier blog)  from the freezer for dinner along with the infamous fried bologna sandwiches.

Joy

September 21, 2019 thought for the day:  Pay what you owe and you will know what you are worth. Mexican Proverb

It has been a beautiful day. I slept until the sun woke me, or, maybe the sound of the twins upstairs as they began stirring.

I opened all the blinds and curtains, tended to the dogs and checked the virtual visits before I took off for Kroger. I needed to make the trip because we were out of dog food and we have a pot luck at church tomorrow. I needed to decide and get whatever I wanted to take. I didn’t want to take the time to cook so I got ready made.

I stopped at the dollar store for some mouse proof containers. We don’t have any evidence of mice right now but fall is coming and they may find their way into our nice warm house.

I worked on cleaning out the frig and loading the dish washer, bleached the sink, and wet Swiffered the powder room and kitchen floor. All of that out of the way, started time to think about what I wanted to make for dinner.

Sue took the twins home shortly after I got back from the store. It was so good seeing them. We went a week without them while Sue was recovering from pneumonia.

Yesterday’s photo challenge was T. Guess what my choice of shots was ?

The word is awe. Gratitude bestows reverence.....changing forever how we experience life and the world, John Milton. Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. Benjamin Franklin. Well done is better than well said, Benjamin Franklin. Who is wise? He that learns from everyone, Benjamin Franklin.  I begin to see an object when I cease to understand it, Henry David Thoreau. The shudder of awe is humanity's highest faculty, Even though this world is forever altering its values. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  Close your eyes and you will see, Joseph Joubert.  One more, Who sees with equal eye, as God of all, A hero perish or a sparrow fall, Atoms or systems into ruin hurl'd, And now a bubble burst, and now a world, Alexander Pope. 

I always appreciate seeing what can be done for the underprivileged. Ohio State does so many good things for the community and here is another new addition. This article talks about a free clinic and how it helps both the recipients and providers. One of the participants is a student at the OSU College of Medicine. She along with students from Ohio Dominican run a Thursday evening clinic. They see 25 to 35 patients in a facility on the OSU North Campus. The patients receive medical, lab and pharmacy, social work services. There are also other mental and physical services available and to be added. Estimated value of the services is approximately $431,000 and costs about $18,000 funded by grants and fund raisers. After BP and other basic procedures the student is joined by physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. Students learn to consider food, stress and transportation issues for the clients that may be missed in primary care offices.

Today’s photo challenge, U. What to chose, what to chose....my Uggs, under shirt, uniform, utensils, under or umbrella...I shot Uggs, under, utensils and umbrella...chose and post processed umbrella.

I am making creamed chicken on biscuits and boxed scalloped potatoes for dinner. It begins with the usual white sauce, 2 T butter, 2 T flour then I add a can of Swanson Chicken Stock (Broth) and A2 milk to get the thickness I want. I add the chicken I had previously boiled and shredded. I added Knorr’s Chicken Bouillon to strengthen the chicken flavor as needed. The potatoes were boxed mix....Kroger Scalloped Potatoes with creamy sauce...followed directions on the package and added about a cup of Cracker Barrel extra sharp cheese and a splash of white wine. The biscuits was totally the recipe on the back of the Bisquick box.

Joy

September 19, 2019 thought for the day: The bird will not fly into your arrow. Ovambo Proverb

This long and busy week is nearing it’s end. I got the bulletin printed and distributed. I also got the newsletter printed for the ladies and I to finish putting together tomorrow.

Once I got home I made a couple of phone calls that I needed to make. My new doctor’s office has left a couple of message so I returned those. I have to get a pesky mammogram, so I made that appointment. It is also time for Sugar to have her annual shots. Both dogs need their phenobarbital too so I called the vet and set that up for tomorrow afternoon.

The photo challenge for yesterday was R. The best I could do was the neighbors roof, which I think had gorgeous lines and a beautiful background.

I had displaced some money and was getting panicky about it I finally remembered where I put it. That was a big relief off my mind. Once all of that was out of the way, I up loaded the newsletter to the people who want it by email, then uploaded to the church web page. My desk needed a quick straightening so I got that out of the way. Finally I got the laundry separated and the first load started.

On my way home I was on the alert for today’s photo of the day. I made a couple of shots. We’ll see if I use them or see if I have time to shoot some more.

The word is awareness. Patience is the companion of wisdom, Saint Augustine   Nobody can bring you peace but yourself, Ralph Waldo Emerson. The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival, Aristotle. To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom; and he that increaseth his riches, increaseth his cares; but a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not, Akhenaton.  Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self, Francis of Assisi.  Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it, Rumi.  Awareness of ignorance is the beginning of wisdom, Socrates.



When we were staying in Mt. Sterling and I was driving back and forth to meetings early in the growing season I noticed the fields when there were heavy rains. There were like over night ponds in all the fields. For the past couple of months there has been very little rain. What a life to have to depend on nature that way.  As you can probably tell the article is about the blite of farmers due to this past summer season. Apparently the heavy rain from earlier in the summer delighted the pumpkin crops. It was bad season for many farmers who had later and smaller harvests. But for the pumpkin farmers this will make for the traditional wagon rides, petting zoos, corn mazes and pumpkin picking as happy as ever. One of the hiccups for some of  the pumpkin farmers was that they had to replant seed in July that missed the mark with the June planting. The fact that after all that rain we had the particularly dry spell wasn’t the best news either but one of the framers mentioned in the article said “farmers are resilient and will roll with the punches. One of the ways the farmers adjusted to the difficult weather of the season and the lower than usual harvest was to not to sell wholesale to stores and reducing the price by 50 cents for the coming farms visitors. One farmer mentioned that while it wasn’t an ideal season the line was as close as you can get. Another food product mentioned was apples. Some of the apple farmers offer apple picking to people who enjoy getting their fruit that fresh. There is also a reduction in that crop due to the weather but there are still ten varieties to choose from on one listed farm.

Today’s (FMS) photo challenge was S. I used one of the shots I made coming home from church. Steps and shadows.

I am having barbeque sandwiches and left overs for dinner. I noticed that Kroger was carrying shredded beef steak when I was there the other day so I bought some with this in mind. I am making my own barbeque sauce, never done it before so it is a test. So here’s how I did the BBQ sauce. Three fourths cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup Heinz Ketchup, I used 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar instead of red wine vinegar and I think that may have been a mistake. The sauce turned out to be a little to sweet for me, I think due to the Pompeian Balsamic vinegar (and I will cut back on the brown sugar next time too). ½ T. Worcestershire sauce. I added a squirt of yellow French’s mustard, a dash or PÀPA Hungarian paprika, some black pepper, a squirt of wine, and a dash of onion powder. It tasted good but too sweet so I added a touch of Arm and Hammer baking soda, still to sweet so a dash of Kroger apple cider vinegar.  I browned the shredded steak and added the sauce. It was good but I still miss my mother-in-laws BBQ sandwiches. I never did get her recipe.

Joy

September 14, 2019 thought for the day: Good actions are nourishment for youths, much more than words. African Proverb

This has been a day at home. I slept until the sun woke me, not an alarm, how delicious. There was nothing particular pushing me to get up.

Once Bob was up I asked him move the half dozen plants I decided to give up to the curb for someone to take as they wished. And it happened. Some man stopped after about an hour and said he wanted to take all of them to his wife. Good for me, good for him and good for her.

Yesterday’s FMS (earlier blogs explain the letters) photo challenge of the day was “M”. I used a mop after several other shots. The mop isn't very "sexy" but there are interesting lines and shapes and the color blue on an otherwise gray photo.

My youngest son, Lowell, stopped and brought a whole box of doughnuts. Then we had a long and happy chat catching up on several things including how we are going to proceed with starting to finish up things here at the house.

For the past two hours Bob has been watching the OSU game. He and our neighbor put up their OSU flags for the game. Bob just got his a month or so ago. He is so proud to put it up and finds companionship of sort with the neighbor who does the same.

I cooked meals for the dogs. Sugar (miniature Dachshunds) has developed a sensitive stomach and is still getting over the bout with diarrhea so she is still getting chicken and rice, home cooked. I am incorporating lean fried beef too, slowly. Then I made their, both dogs, Sugar and Sweet Pea (miniature Australian Shepard/Corgis), love them, now infamous meatball treats. So we are caught up for a week or two on that score.


The word is authentic.  Joy comes not through possession or ownership but through a wise and loving heart, Gautama Buddha. Authentic happiness is always independent of external conditions, Epictetus.  To find yourself, think for yourself, Socrates.  The most common form of despair is not being who you are, Soren Kierkegaard.  There are more sure marks of authenticity in the Bible than in any profane history, Isaac Newton.

This is a continuation of the article about exploring old architecture. When Ms. Daniel was in high school she frequented a website called “Forgotten Ohio”. Then she would just take drives on Ohio back roads. She has as she continues her exploring she believes Columbus is growing while many Ohio small towns are go down hill and many old places are either town down or fall down pretty much on their own. When Ms. Daniel took classes at a school for photography she put together document and titled it ‘Autopsy of Ohio”. She doesn’t wan it to be a sad subject but more like memorial of sorts. Part of her thoughts on the subject of these relics of architecture are history, someone’s memories, a life time. What could be sad about it is the reason that someone had for abandoning these places. Many left behind because of a death in the family or a drop in someone’s finances. One of the stores she relates in the article is about one of the decapitated houses she found. She spoke to the owner of the house next door and learned some of it’s history. The house had belonged to a family for almost two hundred years. Because of circumstances of like the house slowly became “uninhabitable”. As her journey goes on she relates that she has always tried to get permission form the landowners to make a visit to the property. She most often doesn’t go inside the structures. She is carful about sharing the location of the properties she has found. If she does go inside she tries not to leave anything. One time she found a modern can of beer and that seems to break the character of the whole picture and story. The last paragraph of this article was titled “Before It’s Gone”. Here she relates that though some call her a historian she sees herself an artist and photographer. She doesn’t look at the physical history of the structure, when and how it was built. She considers the lines and shapes and monuments to “Ohio rural history” before they disappear completely. She wants her work to encourage people to visit and experience the small towns. I liked the way the author ended this piece: “lost things to find and forgotten things to remember”.

Our (FMS) photo challenge for today was “N”. I chose nuts out of a list including nickels, noodles and noses. I love the curve if the container and the color of the nuts against the black background.

I pulled the lima bean soup I made a couple of weeks ago out of the freezer for dinner tonight. I soaked the beans over night. Then drained them and added two cans of Swansons’ Chicken Stock, a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup, a teaspoon of onion powder, a teaspoon of dry yellow mustard, Mrs. Dash’s Table Blend, Mrs. Dash’s Original Blend. I also added one diced up potato and a cup of baby carrots. When is was almost ready to be served I added home made dumplings. Using my familiar recipes, one egg, a splash of water and a splash of oil then enough flour to make the dough workable with my hands. Drop heaping spoonfuls into the simmering soup.

Joy

September 12, 2019 thought for the day:   You know who you love, but you can't know who loves you Nigerian Proverb

It has been a productive day, hot much time to just hang out and day dream. It began with the virtual visits, then to church for printing the bulletin. Next a stop at Kroger, my “need this” list was getting pretty long. There were a couple of things we were totally out of, the kind we need today. So the stop was needed.

After I got it all out of the car, in the house and put up I separated the laundry and started the first load. Since I was out side bringing in the groceries I decided to complete the outdoor circuit for the day by choosing the next plants to come inside. I made the decision to give some of the plants away, some that are hard to tend to and seem outside my strength anymore. I picked the last five that I will bring in and prepared two of them to come in today.

Here’s yesterday’s FMS photo challenge, “K”.....keys. I think I have been getting most of my photos for the past few days from in or near the house. I need to get out more.☺

 The word is attention. Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you, Saint Augustine. Keep your attention focused entirely on what is truly your own concern, and be clear that what belongs to others is their business and none of yours, Epictetus. The eye of the master will do more work than both his hands, Benjamin Franklin. Genius is nothing but continued attention, Claude Adrien Helvetius. Thus every matter, if it is to be done well, calls for the attention of the whole person, Martin Luther. 

The  kind of thing, mentioned in the article on Columbusunderground.com that I have noticed today, is my cup of tea. I would love to be young enough to explore old architecture. Maybe to “feel” the past in them. How exciting. The article is so long that I am going to split it and talk about it in the next letter too. There is a lady who spends some of her time looking for forgotten places in Ohio. She searches for, one thing, holes in roofs. To her they have indicated that the house has been left behind in more ways than one. Daniel, that is the lady’s name, uses her computer looking for small towns in Ohio. Particular attention is paid to back roads. If you have ever used Google Earth you will understand how it is very helpful with these searches since it can zoom in on small areas. Holes in roofs and over gown trees and foliage act as clues. It is so engrossing that it can mean a full day spent in the search. One of the spots written about was an old gas station that brought attention to a house next door with a house number on it. Other times, she goes on a drive to small town and talks to folks in the community gathering ideas and tips. Daniels says she is not a historian or an archeologist. She is a photographer and keeps a journal on her find and how she went about she went about them and the memories made and people met along the way. One of story that she told in this article is a little sad for me. She found and photographed an old church, put it on the internet. Later she went back to shoot it again. When she went back this time the windows were all broken, the door axed, and graffiti on the walls. Some unfeeling and hurtful person saw the photo and apparently thought only of destruction.

My FMS photo challenge for today was “L”, I made several images, letters, lace, laundry and ladder. Finally I chose ladder and then I played with a textured layer in my digital darkroom (Photoshop) to give it a vintage and mysterious look.

I am making meatloaf and baked potatoes for dinner. It has been a while since we have had meatloaf and it sounds good to me today. A pound of lean ground beef and a pound of country ground port mixed with two eggs (I like Kroger’s jumbo eggs), about a half cup of Heinz catsup and a squirt of French’s yellow mustard then thoroughly mixed then shaped in a loaf. Bake at 350 for about two hours or until done all the way through. The Idaho baked potatoes are easy, wash thoroughly, pierce with a for and splash a little vegetable oil on the skins. They may take a little longer to bake then the meat loaf so you may want to start them an hour or so earlier than the meat loaf.

Joy

September 10, 2019 thought for the day:  You can't use your hand to force the sun to set. Nigerian Proverb

For some reason this has felt long a long day. I haven’t gotten a lot done, just a couple of articles for the newsletter placed. I think I have it up to date to the point of having members of the congregation sending me anything they would want to have in this issue. That won’t be until the end of the week. That is about the extent of my accomplishments for today. Oh, one other thing, I got the cards for the shut in’s ready to have them signed at the Martha Circle meeting tonight. That will be the extent of productivity today. I am surprised I got that much done due to a downer kind of mood today.

Yesterday’s FMS photo challenge “I”, for ink. Again, it was a search around the house for something that would fit the theme at the same time as pleasing me.

I have decided to change doctors. I have been with my present doctor for several years now. I have moved with her from one location to another, this being the third. She keeps getting further and further from my home, longer and longer to get there. I have decided to try to go back to the facility I chose after my former doctor retired. I called her today and explained the situation and the reasoning. I asked her for a recommendation for a new doctor. My problem is I am used to working with and being the patient of an MD, the one she has recommended is a DO. I have been reasoning with the change all afternoon and have about decided to make or at least try the change. There are many changes going on in my life right now. Some family changes, some good some not so much, the new changes in the house and a few changes in age old habits as in grocery shopping. Sounds like small changes but I am one of those people who don’t take to change very well. I will just go with the flow and see where it takes me. Maybe and hopefully happy new paths.

The word is attempting.  Such is the depth of the Christian Scriptures, that even if I were attempting to study them and nothing else from early boyhood to decrepit old age, with the utmost leisure, the most unwearied zeal, and talents greater than I have, I would be still daily making progress in discovering their treasures, Richard Baxter. The greatest mistake physicians make is that they attempt to cure the body without attempting to cure the mind, yet the mind and the body are one and should not be treated separately! Plato. Religion is as necessary to reason as reason is to religion. The one cannot exist without the other. A reasoning being would lose his reason, in attempting to account for the great phenomena of nature, had he not a Supreme Being to refer to; and well has it been said, that if there had been no God, mankind would have been obliged to imagine one, George Washington.

I am a foodie so when I see stories about introductions to foods new to me and places new to Columbus to eat I am interested. Hopefully you are too. This article is about “food for the soul”.  According to the article the recipe is made up of portions of white and yellow cornmeal, white sugar, cream cheese, sour cream, margarine, eggs and milk.  People from all over Columbus and it’s corners as well as some from out of state have been sampling the finished product with delight. It is said that sometimes just the cornbread seems to be satisfying enough to skip any other part of a meal. The article noted that cornbread is traced to Native Americans. Corn bread can be found in all types of restaurants, it is so well liked.  This article is centered around a lady who came from Jamaica nearly forty years ago. She and her family started an Caribbean style restaurant several years ago. The corn bread tops off many of the other meals that are served and enjoyed in this happy and delicious establishment.

My FMS (see earlier blogs for the meaning) photo challenge of the day is J, I chose a jar as the subject.. Instead of shooting the photo today which is my rule of thumb (normally I believe it should be shot on the date it is scheduled), this one is from my archives. This jar or more descriptively goblet was brought to me from Desert Storm by my US Marine son.

I took the beef and noodles that I froze a few weeks ago out of the freezer for dinner tonight. I usually buy beef called “stewing beef” for my beef and noodles because it is quicker to prepare. However, my son, Bob, doesn’t like the taste as well as when I buy a steak, trim the fat and cut it into cubes. I brown the meat, add two cans of Swanson’s Beef Stock, then simmer the sauce for at least an hour. I add spices such as onion powder, Mrs. Dash’s Original Blend, and Table Blend. I add a touch of worcestershire sauce, a little pepper (no salt, there is plenty in the stock,. While it is cooking I make home made noodles: one or two eggs (depending on how much meat I am using, one or two pounds). I scramble the eggs then a squirt of water and dash of olive oil. Lastly I add flour slowly while mixing it together until it becomes workable without sticking to the hands. Then I roll it through my mechanical noodle maker. Fist to flatten it then the other side the cut the dough to noodle size and shape. At times when I didn’t have a noodle maker I rolled the dough out like pie dough then rolled like a jelly roll lastly cutting in slices at the size I like. Let them dry a bit then add them to the simmering beef mixture. Then I add a can of Campbell’s Beef Gravy. If the noodles and gravy mixture is to thick add another can of Swanson’s Beef Stock or a can of water and a touch of Knorr’s Beef Bouillon. I like to serve this dish over mashed potatoes.

Joy

September 8, 2019 thought for the day: If your parents take care of you up to the time you cut your teeth, you take care of them when they lose theirs. Nigerian Proverb

It feels so good to sleep with our an alarm set. It feels so good to wake up naturally and see that the sun has made it’s way up. Since I have put the “light filtering” curtains up it seems to be staying darker long or more toward the truth, the season has changed to the point of the sun’s movement being more noticeable

Yesterday’s FMS photo challenge, “G” for gas. I really like the color, lines and shapes in this image. 

I was able to get some of my every day early morning virtual visits done before getting ready for church. We are back in the fall/winter/spring mode of singing with the choir so I had to be there a half hour earlier than the in the summer months. We have a “dress rehearsal” before church. The sermon was good, the attendance not so much. The monthly donut fellowship was well attended with everyone enjoying each others company.

I haven’t got to much on the agenda for today. I think I need to do a little watering for the annual plants, not so much on the house plants that are still waiting to come inside. They get watered as I bring them in. I also want to make a couple of dishes to freeze for the next couple of weeks or so.

I just checked for my greeting card stock. Apparently it is in storage and Martha Circle at church starts Tuesday. I am the head of the sunshine committee. We send out cards each meeting to our shut in members. I am going to have to go buy some cards or card stock Monday.

The word is attachment. We do not die wholly at our deaths: we have mouldered away gradually long before. Faculty after faculty, interest after interest, attachment after attachment disappear: we are torn from ourselves while living, William Hazlitt.. Just practice good, do good for others, without thinking of making yourself known so that you may gain reward. Really bring benefit to others, gaining nothing for yourself. This is the primary requisite for breaking free of attachments to the Self, Dogen.  Let us read the lives of the saints; let us consider the penances which they performed, and blush to be so effeminate and so fearful of mortifying our flesh, Alphonsus Liguori. One more,  When I experience Love I must go to God. When I experience non-attachment God must come to me, Meister Eckhart. 

I enjoy these exhibitions that are held at the Ohio (Historical) Village. I went to one a while back with Rebecca, my daughter in law,  and Tami, my only daughter when life was a little less complicated. It meant so much to me to be with the two of them at this relaxing and interesting event. Rebecca found a book that she felt was perfect for Jessie in her, at the time, chosen profession. She was so excited about finding it and giving it to Jessie that I got more curious about Matt’s (my grandson) betrothed.  The article I found today is about one such event at the village. It was called Down-home dandy, Country Living Fair. The main features are tips on cooking, decorating, crafting and remodeling. There are vendors who are selling all kinds of creations and decor. One of the featured guests, from Oxford England,  is an author, decorator and inventor using chalk paint. She will do workshops and demonstrations along with her book signing. Another of the guests is Nancy Fuller, star of “Farmhouse Rules”. She speaks of how she believes family meals are important for socializing with each other in the family unit. There are other interesting vendors with exciting ideas and messages.

The FMS (fatmumslim.com.au) photo challenge for today is H, I used a common cupboard hinge. This was one of those days where my photography enthusiasm was lagging a little so I looked close to home and found very little that excited me.

I think it will be chili, that is one of the two meals I made to freeze, for dinner tonight. My recipe for chili is very simple. A pound of lean hamburger browned, add on can of Kroger crushed tomatoes, two cans of Swanson’s beef stock, Onions are one of the vegetable my family doesn’t all like so I shake one or two tips of Ms. Dash’s onion powder.  Other spices are Mrs. Dash Table Blend, Tomato Blend, and Garlic and Herb Blends, a dash of PÀPA imported Hungarian Paprika and a splash or fourth of a cup of Beringer’s White Zinfandel wine. Most times when I make a tomato based dish I add a dash of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda. I have a problem with an acid stomach, the baking soda takes a little of the acid out of the tomatoes. I don’t add kidney beans to the soup without a strainer that fits on top of the soup. I put a can of either Kroger Kidney Beans or a can of Joan Of Arc Kidney Beans (depending on my finances for that particular shopping session) in the strainer. The soup covers the beans and I can take it out before I serve the soup. I have one family member that doesn’t like beans. The strainer solves that problem.

Joy

September 6, 2019; thought for the day: If you have one finger pointing at somebody, you have three pointing towards yourself. Nigerian Proverb

The nights are getting cooler but then I can’t complain....it’s a normal happening and fall is one of the pretty seasons, they all are, to each it’s own. I have a window open and I am enjoying the smells and sounds and feel of the soft breeze on my arms.

I woke up worrying about my window that won’t stay up and decided I had better see if there was something I can do about it. I called Midas. It is just down that street and would be quick to get to. I was told that he would have to look at it but I ask for a ball park figure for fixing a window that was out of track. The mechanic quoted just over one hundred dollars but told me that they would have to see if that was indeed the problem. So I took the car to the shop. Once they had the door disassembled they said the piece that holds the window up was broken and that replacing it would be just over four hundred dollars. Wow. That seems to be the story of my life, expecting, with at least a bit of information then smacked with a large change in direction. I told them to go ahead. My credit card is hurting.

Yesterday’s FMS photo a day challenge, “E”, envelopes. On lazy days I have to try to find something around the house that will fit the challenge. After some roaming around the house and eyeing several items I picked a stack of envelopes.

Bob (my son) picked me up so I didn’t have to sit there and wait. Once it was done and Bob dropped me off I went to Strader’s Garden Center to get some more plant drip trays and potting soil. I stopped at Tractor Supply to see it they had any water absorbent pads, I have started sitting the pots on some ordered earlier (Waterhog) since the floor where I had them before was badly stained when they refurbished them a couple of months ago. The store didn’t have the pads I wanted so I headed home with a stop at Wendy’s.

Once back home, I started putting my bed room curtains up. I got the hooks I had ordered in the mail yesterday.

I want to bring another plant in so I will have to go pick one out and treat it with my DIY solution, giving it some fresh soil, good drink of water and clean up. .

I think that is about the best I am going to do today with getting things done today.

The word is attraction.  If one should give me a dish of sand, and tell me there were particles of iron in it, I might look for them with my eyes, and search for them with my clumsy fingers, and be unable to detect them; but let me take a magnet and sweep through it, and how would it draw to itself the almost invisible particles by the mere power of attraction. The unthankful heart, like my finger in the sand, discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day, and as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some Heavenly blessings, Henry Ward Beecher.  But the place which you have selected for your camp, though never so rough and grim, begins at once to have its attractions, and becomes a very centre of civilization to you: "Home is home, be it never so homely." Henry David Thoreau. Sense will always have attractions for me, Jane Austen.  There is safety in reserve, but no attraction. One cannot love a reserved person, Jane Austen.  Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Our life is what our thoughts make it, Marcus Aurelius.   We are always getting ready to live but never living, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Nurture your mind with great thoughts, for you will never go any higher than you think, Benjamin Disraeli. We forge the chains we wear in life, Charles Dickens. One more,  The thing you set your mind on is the thing you ultimately become, Nathaniel Hawthorn. 

It’s always good to see that the city is keeping up on needed repairs and maintenance. Although, many times it comes late. This article today is about bridge inspections. I was enthralled with the mention in the article that the men doing the inspections sometimes put on scuba gear as part of this procedure. At the beginning of this article one of  the inspectors was inspecting a bridge on the Blacklick Creek At the same time as he was in his scuba gear there was another inspector across town using an access door 100 plus feet over Lane Avenue at the Ohio State University to check the supporting cables of the bridge. State law requires yearly inspections for bridges of specific sizes. There are also federal procedures for bridge inspections. Of interest in the article is that there are more than 100 bridges in this county that were built 75 or more years ago. It is common sense that the early problems are caught the better and I would imagine less expensive to repair where needed. I caught the point that from March through December people passing by may spot problems arising and report them. In the article it explained that during one of the inspections a walk is need in a creek where the water may come to the knees to test for decay that may be found using that method. Things that inspectors look for are obvious such as voids in the structure, cracks things that may not be seen normally without looking for them on purpose.

Today’s fatmumslim.com.au photo theme is F. I chose fan blades as my subject today. Once again it was looking around the house to find something to fit the challenge title/heading. I liked the shape of the blades

PIZZA! No recipes for this treat, at least not my own. I make pizza’s now and then but not often, if/when I do I will share my recipe.

Joy

September 4, 2019 thought for the day An old banana leaf was once young and green. Nigerian Proverb

I like productive days and this has been one of them. I got a good night’s sleep after one that wasn’t so much that way. Sugar, my senior citizen dog,  had diarrhea for two days. I kept thinking it would clear up but after being up every hour on the hour to let her out I knew I had to do something. She and I were both being worn to a frazzle. I took her to the vet this morning. The vet gave her a shot to stop the diarrhea and some antibiotics as well as a couple of other meds for me to give her to build her immune system up. Other than the diarrhea she was acting perfectly fine. Anyway, things seem good today.

The first morning task was to finished the church bulletin. Then I headed out for a couple of errands. I am at a point on the crocheted baby raddle I am making to the point I needed the beads to make the sound. So after checking some stores on line I went to Michaels Craft Store, they seem to have things I need and at a price that is decent. 

I stopped at Walmart to get some printer ink and was looking for planter pots, they didn’t have want I wanted.

After some nourishment at White Castle, I headed to Strader’s Garden Center to look for the pots and some potting soil. I am still slowly, one day at a time, bringing the house plants in. When I got a couple in yesterday I saw that many of them have outgrown their pots. Ergo, new pots.

I am still working on the project of putting dry good in plastic containers. The ones I picked up the other day are a little large for what I need, so I stopped today to get a smaller size.

After I got home I started on the transplanting. Actually, I was multi tasking. My television soaps had started so I took advantage of the commercial breaks to work on the plants and then on filling some of the containers to arrange the kitchen cupboard shelves for better working order.

Now my legs ache and I want to tie up some small chores before I get started on dinner and clean up. I have our first church choir practice of the season this evening and I will want to rest a little before I leave.

My photo of the day for yesterday, September 3, was an every day cork screw. I wanted to open a bottle of wine to use in a recipe I was working on so another one of those killing two birds with one stone....a photo and a needed ingredient made handy.


The word is attitude. The purifying influence of public confession springs from the fact, that by it the hope in lies is forever swept away, and the soul recovers the noble attitude of simplicity, George Eliot.  Not only does the wind of accidents stir me according to its blowing, but I am also stirred and troubled by the instability of my attitude, Michel de Montaigne.  Art is the child of Nature; yes, Her darling child, in whom we trace The features of the mother's face, Her aspect and her attitude, All her majestic loveliness Chastened and softened and subdued Into a more attractive grace, And with a human sense imbued. He is the greatest artist, then, Whether of pencil or of pen, Who follows Nature, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  When one maintains his proper attitude in life, he does not long after externals, Epictetus.  Falsehood always endeavors to copy the mien and attitude of truth, Samuel Johnson.  Have your fun, my dear; but if you must earn your bread, try to make it sweet with cheerfulness, not bitter with the daily regret that it isn't cake, Louisa May Alcott.    In dreams we are true poets; we create the persons of the drama; we give them appropriate figures faces, costumes; they are perfect in their organs, attitudes, manners; moreover they speak after their own characters, not ours; and we listen with surprise to what they say, Ralph Waldo Emerson..   

Over the years it has become more and more set in memory that when something new comes around many times something old has to move to make room. So here we are again. There have been many cemetery’s moved over the years. My only hope is that it is done with reference and regard for the families of the deceased. The article I chose for today is about a new building project in the city. It has come to light that the new26 story residential tower next to the North Market is being built over a grave yard, reportedly one of the first grave yards in Columbus. One of our mayor’s is reported to be buried there. The grave yard has been I existence since 1813 and visited until the 1970s. A story about this space was written in a book called “Columbus City Graveyards” by Donald M. Schlegel. Due to new construction in the area through the years the space was in the way of growth. Most of those buried there were moved to another cemetery. But there were some that were missed and left behind. The article brought up the point that during some construction bones were found. Another situation similar to this in Tampa Bay was cited as a possible way to answer this situation. A company has been hired to find archaeologically using “ground-penetrating radar” any graves and the number of such will be properly exhumed and reburied.

Today’s fatmumslim.com.au project today is D. I had shot a photo of Sugar sleeping beside my computer monitor and decided to use it (dog) in lieu of looking around for another subject.

I am pulling another one of the pre-cooked and frozen meals from the freezer, quick homemade vegetable soup along with some sirloin beef burgers for dinner. This vegetable soup is so easy and quick. Three cans of Swanson’s Beef Stock, a 15 oz. can of Kroger crushed tomatoes (or diced tomatoes crushed in my Ninja blender), one small package each of lima beans, corn, green beans (my family is picky about what vegetables they will eat, those are the first choices). I dice up four or five potatoes and drop into the broth, half a small package of baby carrots dropped in and some celery chopped in large slices if I have any (this is one of the vegetables the family doesn’t care for so I chop it in large slices so they can take it out). Onions are another vegetable they don’t all like so I shake one or two tips of onion powder.  Other spices are Mrs. Dash Table Blend, Tomato Blend, and Garlic and Herb Blends. To top it off I use a with a splash or fourth of a cup of Beringer’s White Zinfandel wine. If I think about it I may add a bay leaf also. After the soup has cooked for a half hour or so I may add some dumplings. (One mixed egg, a splash of water and a splash of olive oil then enough flour to make a heavy dough. Then drop into the simmering soup and let cook for about fifteen minutes.

Joy

September 2, 2019 thought for the day- If you don't know where you are going, any path will take you there. American Sioux Indian

Wow what a productive day. Having my son, Bob, home for the day helped out a lot. First I got the other two traverse rods up in my bed room. I will have to wait for the hooks that I ordered to get here to finish that project. I marked the spots for the brackets and he did the rest. Another thing on my to do list for him was,  my computer speakers that haven’t been working since we did the moving back and forth to Mt. Sterling. He was able to get them up and working for me today.

The first thing this morning I worked on the church bulletin as is the norm for Monday morning. I will work some more on it tomorrow. Then we worked on the rods. Next I went over to the just-down-the-street Dollar General to pick up some containers that I saw the other day. I want to be putting the dry goods in them to discourage mice from visiting.

The first photo of the new month in my photo a day challenge is “A” ---- the monthly theme is the alphabet. After a few shots for that letter I chose this one here. I was on my way to church and happened by this landscape and found it interesting.

I cleared the dish washer and started reloading. I should have it filled again by the time I have dinner ready.

After lunch I worked on making the dogs meatballs and then my DIY mixture for controlling pests on my house plants. They have spent most of the spring and summer outside on their “vacation” so I wanted to prepare them for coming back in the house for the fall and winter.

All that done and out of the way left the next opening for filling the day. I chopped the potatoes to make some potato soup.

I think I am about at the end of my check list for today. Now I will focus more on getting some food on the table.

The word is attachment.  Only to two or three persons in all the world are the reminiscences of a man's early youth interesting: to the parent who nursed him; to the fond wife or child mayhap afterwards who loves him; to himself always and supremely– whatever may be his actual prosperity or ill fortune, his present age, illness, difficulties, renown, or disappointments--the dawn of his life still shines brightly for him, the early griefs and delights and attachments remain with him ever faithful and dear, William Makepeace Thackeray. There is more security in self-denial, mortification, and other like virtues, than in an abundance of tears, Teresa of Avila. Gentleness is the ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation, and not to embark on revenge quickly, and not to be easily provoked to anger, but be free from bitterness and contentiousness, having tranquility and stability in the spirit, Aristotle.  In order to be effective you need not only virtue but also mental strength, Aristotle.  What others think of us would be of little moment did it not, when known, so deeply tinge what we think of ourselves, Seneca the Younger. One more,  Don't regard what anyone says of you, for this, after all, is no concern of yours, Epictetus.     

It always pleases me to see when there are plans in the works to make an even playing field for those who cannot experience things as it seems the rest of those around us do. This article today is about a play ground being built at the Ohio State University’s Nisonger Center. It is mentioned, and I agree, that playing is and can be a way of learning many lessons. The structures built on the play ground allow work on gross motor skills as well as social skills as youngsters take turns on the equipment.  This project is part of the 67 University Centers of Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. The play ground is part of the Early Learning Program where there is day care offered. About a third of the children in the program have a disability. Due to some other projects in the area, part of the play ground had to be moved so it slowed down the completion. Part of the construction included a new layer of “breathable, antimicrobial artificial turf making it more accessible and comfortable for all.

My daily fatmumslim.com.au photo challenge theme for the month has changed since we have moved into September. The themes now are the alphabet. Today’s is B. I used a corner of my blinds for this photo. I found the earlier photo a little more appealing than this one but they all have a purpose and capture a moment in time.

I am making potato soup and fried bologna sandwiches and corn on the cob cooked  in the microwave (husk and all) for dinner. Normally I make potato soup after we have had mashed potatoes. I use the left overs for the soup. But when I am hungry for potato soup and don’t have the left overs I diced up several potatoes boiled them until they are tender. Then I make a white sauce of two or three tablespoons of butter and than add flour until it is pasty. I slowly add Swansons Vegetable Stock to make a thickened broth then add a little A2 Milk (I learned about the milk in one of my very frequent Google searches in a completely different subject), and possibly a little left over potato water. The only seasonings I add are pepper and onion powder to taste. I like to add a few egg dumplings so, one egg, enough flour added to make a gummy mixture and drop it in the sauce by small spoon fulls to the simmering soup. For the fried bologna I use the thick sliced cuts and simply fry it on a griddle sprayed with Pam. I used a new method, new to me, of cooking the corn on the cob. I microwaved the corn still in the husk at a high setting for four minutes. Then cut the stem end of the corn off and squeeze the corn, silk free, from the husky.

Joy