December 6, 2020 thought for the day: When you cease to strive to understand, then you will know without understanding. Chinese Proverb

It’s been a informative Sunday. A few people in the church family have some problems. Sad news can sometimes be easier to accept knowing that there is good entwined in the sad. That’s my hopes for the ones mentioned in our services today. It was my day, one I need at least once a week, especially in these times and in my place in life. It is a day of renewal of spirit and then the rest of the day for a semblance of rest and a time of reflection. 

This was our first day of live streaming of the church service. Up to now I have been uploading the taped service from a memory card after church each week. Now I don’t need to do that. I took a look at the equipment it takes to complete that task....I am glad I am not the one chosen to handle that each week. One part of the equipment looked like what I visualize as an airplane control panel, way out of my bailiwick at this point in my life. Good luck to the “driver”. 

On December 5 I had two photo a day themes. The first was “black”. Shooting an image in all black or all white can be challenge. I have two drinking containers I keep on my desk both have black tops so I used them as my subject, against a black back ground and then used a filter to “liven” up the image or give it some texture. 

I stopped at McDonald’s on my way home. As I passed the White Castle on the corner I noticed it is back open. I’m so glad they are back. There are memories in that spot and, I imagine, more to come for me.

I figured I had better start printing my Christmas calendars. I don’t have much time left. Doing this project as a home made item takes time and patience. Most hand made items are created with a natural love that goes into each step, time is a presence at the top of the list. I found a spot that is causing one section not to print so I had to search around to find the culprit and fix it. 

The second theme for December 5 was “cozy corner”. I did a corner subject for another recent image. As I mentioned then I have a few interesting corners in and around the house. I chose one of them on the front porch for this one. 

The word today is power.  To have what we want is riches; but to be able to do without is power, George MacDonald.  Power and position often make a man trifle with the truth, George A. Smith  Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced, Soren Kierkegaard.  Most powerful is he who has himself in his own power, Seneca the Younger. A victorious and powerful ally is but another name for a master, James Madison.  Opinion is a powerful party, bold, and without measure, Michel de Montaigne.  Learning is like mercury, one of the most powerful and excellent things in the world in skillful hands; in unskillful, the most mischievous, Alexander Pope.  The active part of man consists of powerful instincts, some of which are gentle and continuous; others violent and short; some baser, some nobler, and all necessary, Francis William Newman.  A man makes inferiors his superiors by heat; self control is the rule. Anger is an uncontrollable feeling that betrays what you are when you are not yourself. Anger is that powerful internal force that blows out the light of reason. Know this to be the enemy: it is anger, born of desire, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Justice is in subjects as well as in rulers, Thomas Aquinas. Example is more powerful than precept, Aesop.  

Today’s photo challenge is “pink”. Pink is a “picky” color for me. I mean for me it is hard to place a feeling on the color therefore hard to determine haw to present it. I have a very pink jacket and had it on when I came in and checked the photo list for today so I tool a selfie for th first shot. I chose not to use that one and looked for another. There are three children’s outdoor fold up chairs in the back near a fire bit. One of them is pink. I created a couple of images from that collection. The two other chairs were different colors and I didn’t want them to detract from the pink so I selected them out with a Photoshop tool and turned them to black and white in the overall image. 

I think this article offers a bit of holiday cheer. It talks about making handmade gifts and ornaments for the holidays. Making decoration especially this year can serve more than one purpose. It is a way to pass the time, bond with family and end up with a useful decoration to use as ornaments or as gifts. The article suggests and tips for making ten projects. The first is a wreath. Use ornaments you may have on hand, buy some at the dollar store, also use some pine cones and garlands that sparkle. Apply these to a wreath frame or twig frame with a glue gun. The next suggestion is to pain a slat from a  picket fence then use it as an accessory at the entrance way. Use acrylic paint then design a toy soldier, Santa Claus, snowman, candy cane, etc. The third suggestion was using dehydrated fruit as ornaments. String popcorn on a garland and add crispy fruit and berry chips. To dehydrate your own fruit put the fruit in a oven on low setting. Next, make a frosted mason jar.  Spray paint the jar, add pine cones or evergreen stems and top the jr with ribbon. Or ad a string of lights in the jar or add a candle in the painted jar. How about a paper chain garland.  Cut construction paper in even strips, bend them in to circles and put on through another before taping or gluing the end to form the circle. For a little difference use metallic paper. How about making a Christmas tree skirt. That could be done using a scrap of burlap material and a ribbon. Cut a circle of the burlap, wrap it around the base of the tree and attach a ribbon. Here’s another you may have done as a child, slat dough ornaments. Mix four cups of flour and one cup of salt, pour water in to mix and create a doughy texture, mix it thoroughly. The create shapes or use a cookie cutter on patted down the dough mixture. Be use to put a hole in what will be the top of the “ornament” where ribbon can be attached for hanging. The shape should be baked at 325 degrees for an hour. After they cool than an be painted.  Popsicle sticks can be used to make snowflakes. Glue them together to form a snowflake, then use acrylic paint and glitter to decorate. An evergreen center piece is always cheerful decoration for the table. Cut some small branches or twigs from evergreen trees or bushes around your house. Use a brick of floral styrofoam as the base to stick the evergreen pieces in decoratively arranged. Then place the styrofoam in a decorative bowl. The last suggestion from the article is “oversized ornaments”.  Decorate the outside of the house with giant, colorful bouncy balls in different colors. Use small metal buckets or take out containers to super glue the rim and add the ball. 

Tacos tonight for dinner. 

Joy