March 1, 2020 thought for the day: Hurt not others with that which pains yourself. Traditional Proverb

I got up a little earlier than usual so that I could get to church earlier than most other Sunday mornings. We had a bible study scheduled. The congregation was small today and the message was one of the kind that makes me do some soul searching and deep thinking.

Yesterday the theme was “repeat”. This is another one of those challenges that offers a lot of possibilities. I first thought of my neighbor’s privacy fence all the slats and peaked tops. But a closer one was the collection of slats on my porch swing. The view between the slats was a little messy for my taste so I used a darkroom technique of separating the background from the object. Then “burned” the background slightly.

There is nothing on the agenda as far of projects that need immediate attention. The weather is supposed to be really nice for the next week. So I may go out to get some things to concentrate on the plants that I put out late in the season last summer. At the present, it looks like items in my schedule are growing for next week. I have something scheduled for every morning except Friday and for two evening meetings. 

The twins got to spent time with their dad this week end so they didn’t get here Friday as we expected but they are here now for a couple of hours to visit.

I would like to find time in what is left of the day to work on one of two projects I am trying to get started, some with my photos and some with computer techniques.

The word today is elude. I am a happy camper so I guess I’m doing something right. Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder, Henry David Thoreau.  Look for the stars, you'll say that there are none; Look up a second time, and, one by one, You mark them twinkling out with silvery light, And wonder how they could elude the sight!  William Wordsworth. I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see. I sought my God, but my God eluded me. I sought my brother and I found all three, William Blake. We sail within a vast sphere, ever drifting in uncertainty, driven from end to end. When we think to attach ourselves to any point and to fasten to it, it wavers and leaves us; and if we follow it, it eludes our grasp, slips past us, and vanishes for ever. Nothing stays for us, Blaise Pascal. The present offers itself to our touch for only an instant of time and then eludes the senses, Plutarch. Life is short, science is long; opportunity is elusive, experiment is dangerous, judgement is difficult, Hippocrates.  

I made a lot of shots for today’s theme, “blue”. I took several of the stained glass windows, some of people I was in contact with wearing blue clothing and this one. It is a base for a sign at the White Castle drive through.

I am so glad to hear about people helping other people, people who have something to give helping those who are in need. This article is about a convenience store here in our city that gives away clothes and food and lets a homeless man come in just to get warm. This new and special experience is called Come & Go Center. As present is it a corner market with a “free store” merging with it. The person who runs it want to open a dormant kitchen with the plan that he will make and sell sandwiches that will then be given to people who can’t pay. The article states that the person who is trying to form all of this is a Palestinian immigrant and has a family here. There is also an airbrush artist involved. Apparently volunteers who do some of the cleaning. He does have a few needs, one is more volunteers and the other clothing racks.  The biggest concern that has been considered is that offering things free of charge will cause some to take advantage of the generosity. Their answer is that they think it is worth the risk.

Since yesterday was the last day of the month it was the time I make my composite of each of the days photos for the month.

 I pulled some homemade spaghetti and meat balls out of the freezer for dinner.

Joy