January 11, 2021 thought for today: To speak ill of anyone is to speak ill of yourself. Afghan Proverb

It’s been a pretty good day for getting things done. At this point the agenda isn’t all that long. I was able to get the bulletin done up to the point of information from the pastor. 

I was online with Microsoft. There is an old program on my computer that I haven’t used in ages, and don’t need but I have forgotten the password for it so I can’t open it in order to shut it down. Usually when I have been on the phone for extended time periods with other techys I get the job done. This time there was nothing they could do. The technician I was in contact with gave me one more possibility but I was on the line with her so long that I needed to get to some other things. I will work on it later. 

One of the January 10th photo theme’s was “something nice”. That led to another dirve through Westgate Park. There are a lot of somethings nice in that local urban park.

I had some lunch then a friend stopped by to drop off some things I had ordered for church.

I set up a prop for the photo of the day for today while I was taking a break for lunch. 

The word today is remove. Argument is conclusive, but it does not remove doubt, Roger Bacon.     Create all the happiness you are able to create; remove all the misery you are able to remove. Every day will allow you, --will invite you to add something to the pleasure of others, --or to diminish something of their pains, Jeremy Bentham.  A man should remove not only unnecessary acts, but also unnecessary thoughts, for then superfluous activity will not follow, Marcus Aurelius.  The law is for the self-righteous, to humble their pride: the gospel is for the lost, to remove their despair, Charles Spurgeon. There are two modes of knowledge: through argument and through experience. Argument brings conclusions and compels us to concede them, but it does not cause certainty nor remove doubts that the mind may rest in truth, unless this is provided by experience, Roger Bacon. When young, one is confident to be able to build palaces for mankind, but when the time comes one has one's hands full just to be able to remove their trash, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Law can discover sin, but not remove, Save by those shadowy expiations weak, John Milton. There is no form of sinfulness to which you are addicted which Christ cannot remove, Charles Spurgeon. Whatever things injure your eye you are anxious to remove; but things which affect your mind you defer, Horace.  Music is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God, to which Satan is a bitter enemy; for it removes from the heart the weight of sorrow, and the fascination of evil thoughts, Martin Luther.  If you wish to remove avarice (greed)  you must remove its mother, luxuries, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Patience cannot remove, but it can always dignify and alleviate, misfortune, Laurence Sterne.  

The second photo challenge for the 10th was “isolation”. I did a lot of searching for different “isolated” items and/or people. The single chair against the wall with a one door way seems to fit the picture, so to speak. 

This article is about a bit of fun and an art or craft that may interest you and brighten your home. I have worked with terrariums on several occasions. It is a fun project. They can be many different sizes and all kinds of containers. The article mentioned pickle jars, and other clear plastic and glass containers, (aquariums also make wonderful under glass gardens). It goes on to suggest the container and overall design can “complement the decor” of your home to brighten these dull winter days. Everyone in the family can make their own choosing container, plants and decorative items. Choosing the right plants is an important part of building a terrarium. The size of the plants should be considered as well as the type of humidity each requires has to be considered. It is suggested that cacti and succulents are good for containers that do not have a lid. The containers that have lids “become more humid”, too humid for cacti. Some suggested plants are baby tears, pollka-dot plant, artillery fern, aluminum plant, button ferns, even African violets. A layer of small pebbles to begin the “garden” will help with drainage. The suggestions in the article is to next place a layer of sphagnum moss or sheet moss on the rocks to help hold the soil in place. Next a layer of activated charcoal, this layer will be a filter to remove odors and bacteria.  Continuing with the planting is a layer of “high quality” potting soil. It is suggested that the pebble layer through the potting soil layer should take up about a third of the height of the container. Once the plants are in place and any decorative items have been added the terrarium needs to be placed somewhere where it will be in indirect natural light, not bright, direct sunlight. In a container with a lid will not require much watering, maybe weekly misting will do the trick. If there is too much condensation on the lid of a closed terrarium remove the lid for a while.  Keeping the soil barely moist, not wet, will be the way to go. 

Today’s photo subject is “shoes”. I have a pretty and fancy pair of shoes I bought for one of my grandson’s wedding. I also have another pair of less formal shoes that came in one of the nicest shoe boxes I have seen. I chose the second one to use as the image for today. 

I have sloppy joe in the freezer that will be part of dinner tonight, and maybe mashed potato pancakes. 

Joy