April 28, 2020 thought for the day: The main road is an easy way, but everyone loves the side streets. Chinese Proverb

These days, mine at least, seem to move forward as ideas and motivation come to mind as the minute’s pass. Naturally there are some things throughout the day that are done by habit and necessity, like eating and tidying up. But those don’t take up all of the waking hours. In my case, for most days there are no hurry-up-and-get-it-done items on the agenda.

I needed to call for and pick up some meds for Sugar so I decided while I was going to be out I would make another stop. I am intending on planting some seeds when they arrive in the mail. I made a stop at Strader’s Garden center to pick up some potting soil and flats for the seeds.

The weather is on the acceptable side today, periods of clouds with alternating periods of sun. I decided it was a good day to accomplish a long needed chore. The inside of my car has needed attention for many months, I have religiously put it on the back burner day after day. This was the day. Loose pieces of paper, loose coins, even a swimming pool noodle were moved to appropriate places. Then a hand-held sweeper picked up small particles of dust and dirt and fur and cookie crumbs. It looks much better but it could use a professional scrubbing on the inside and out. This is going to do, well, the windows could be washed too, maybe tomorrow. The car is over ten years old and has many bumps and dents but it faithfully gets me where I, and sometimes others, need to go.

My back porch is now ready for my house plants to be moved there for their summer vacation. I think it will be best to wait for that move though until after Mothers Day in a couple of weeks.

Oh, I forgot to mention about yesterday. A moment in time for me . . . I did a curb side visit with my  granddaughter in law and my eight-month old gorgeous great grand son. It was the height of the day, the height of the week, the height of several weeks of not being able to see him. It was just a few minutes but it was a sunburst moment. Naturally, this is my photo challenge for today’s monthly theme, month of gratitude. I am sooo grateful for this little jewel in my life. I can see him from time to time now, but in a while he will be moving on with his mom and dad.

The word for the day is focus. In trying to defend everything he defended nothing, Frederick The Great. Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts, Soren Kierkegaard. It is not enough to be busy. So are the ants. The question is: What are we busy about? Henry David Thoreau.  It is not good to have an oar in everyone's boat, Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden. Every man's life lies within the present; for the past is spent and done with, and the future is uncertain, Marcus Aurelius. Without Knowledge, Skill cannot be focused. Without Skill, Strength cannot be brought to bear and without Strength, Knowledge may not be applied, Alexander the Great. 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. Well done is better than well said, Benjamin Franklin. Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow, Aesop. That which grows fast, withers as rapidly. That which grows slow, endures, J. G. Holland,  A person who is gifted sees the essential point and leaves the rest as surplus, Thomas Carlyle. 


Today’s photo theme entry was a selection of new growth adorning a block wall and displaying a grateful breath of spring. 

This article was in a Colorado newspaper then picked up by the Dispatch so it is a little outside of our local community but may just fit us too. It is a story about a mail delivery person in this time of the pandemic. She, the mail carrier, hopes that with each “flip of the mailbox lid” she is bringing comfort to the home owners by demonstrating that some things are going along like clockwork. Her deliveries contain prescriptions, games, other kinds of “tools”, even baking supplies. According to the article the post office, Amazon, FedEx and UPS claims their delivers are looking much like Christmas time deliveries. She said first class mail has dropped off. This has brought on talk from critics saying the postal service should be privatized. Others say it is “essential government service” and shouldn’t be expected to “turn a profit”. The delivery person in the article says she stays out of the conversation. She just wants to serve her customers. She says she wears a mask when sorting mail with peers but not when she is in the open air delivering, though she wears a cloth mask around her neck for use when close to her customers. She says that though she is delivering every day she doesn’t see them as much as she use to because they are inside with the social distancing. 
I am making oven fried chicken for dinner.

Joy