June 23, 2020 thought for the day: There would be miracles if youth could know and age could do. Traditional Proverb

I have completed the bulletin and the newsletter. They have also been updated with corrections. So I think I am ready to print tomorrow.

My photo challenge yesterday was “V”. I have vines in the yard that would have been on good subject for that theme. I have a Christmas vest that would have worked. I ended up choosing one of my favorite but seldom used vases.

I haven’t gotten much else done. I did get a change to go out in back to see how the plants trying to bloom took the rain we got last night and this morning.

The rain let up for a while. The overcast contributed to a down in the dump’s mood to start the day.

The word today is preparation. Success depends upon previous preparation, and without such preparation there is sure to be failure, Confucius.  Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe, Abraham Lincoln. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail, Benjamin Franklin. I will prepare and some day my chance will come, Abraham Lincoln. Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, Seneca the Younger. For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned, Benjamin Franklin. One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something, Henry David Thoreau. You had better live your best and act your best and think your best today; for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrows that follow. Harriet Martineau. No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation, Horace. Preparation for old age should begin not later than one's teens. A life which is empty of purpose until 65 will not suddenly become filled on retirement,  Dwight L. Moody. So much of our time is spent in preparation, so much in routine, and so much in retrospect, that the amount of each person's genius is confined to a very few hours, Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

Today’s theme is “W”, like windows, watermelon (a slice in my frig), (spider) web, wagon (in the garage), wine (bottle in the cupboard), and so on. I chose a batch of weeds, against a wooden backdrop (another item for the theme, wood). I was lucky to get some asymmetry/symmetry, color and texture in the shot.

Today’s  article is about the visitor/tourist opportunities in and around Holms County. There have been many calls to the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau about when the county would be open to visitors after the pandemic. Some of these calls have come from as far away as Arizona and Massachusetts. The places that the callers are interested in visiting are a “huge part of the county’s economy” “Restaurants, lodging and attractions all took hits as Ohioans were encouraged to stay home”. These resources are working to take measures to keep visitors and residents healthy and safe. An example of one instance is an Amish attraction like the Farm at Walnut Creek allows folks to feed the animals during a wagon ride, that now only allows visitors to drive through in their own cars. Apparently and according to the article the community is just starting to see the virus spread into Holmes County. The article went on further to state that it is ulceration if the spread is due to tourism. There are crowded sidewalks along Route 62 with few people wearing masks. Recent cases of the virus are up from 28 cases last month to 136. It has been reported that the virus’ spread is more difficult in areas where people are more isolated. Having visitors coming bac is a “double-edged sword”. They rely on visitors to support the economy. “One of every 9 jobs in Athens County is tourism-related.” In the guidelines they are now operating with there is a request that “asks folks to “visit with love” to keep Athens healthy”. Some suggestions are wear masks, and be patient where there is limited capacity. It is hoped that much of the area will be opening by July 4th. There will be one-way trails, many signs and maps and limited parking. Some of the areas may be a little later opening to later this summer. My personal suggestion would be to call ahead to see if the area you want to visit is open.

I think I am making creamed chipped beef on toast for dinner.

Joy