January 13, 2021 thought for today: If you want to annoy the devil stay silent. Bulgarian Proverb

It has been a day of noticeable growth for me (growth is ongoing, never ending and generally without pomp and circumstance). I am contemplating how I will adapt to a possible major change in my everyday life. The past year has been a year of stress and deep learning for all of us, a time of  new beginnings and unforeseen happenings of social life around us. I have experienced them along with all of you. It appears that I am about to face another personal change, as is a part of life. For a single woman of my age it is a time of worrisome awe, a time to gather all the courage our many years have taught us to bear through the sometimes tough and unyielding teacher called experience. 

I needed just the presence of some of the people I trust and love, my church family peers. My son had already touched base with me with his calming words early this morning (and his wife the night before). So I made a trip to the church for the comfort I knew I would find there either in the solitude of the sanctuary and/or the presence of people. And there were more people there to bring some solace than I expected.  Tony was there, when he was an everyday presence there, he always brought me a kind of quiet inner peace. There were several people there taking down our Christmas ornaments. There was my good friend who helps me with the newsletter. There was the seemingly ever present and person of strength, Patti. Just being among them not necessarily conversing was like an invisible but effective  hug. All of these people and more as well as a contact from my closest church email friend, who also helped with my need for the “reach out and touch” phenomenon today (she helps me probably without even knowing it). All of this helps in my growth, lessons of understanding and forward motion. ‘Nuf said.

The photo theme for January 12 was “technology”. One of my son’s is a ham radio enthusiast. Many of my photo aficionado peers were using such things a cell phone, ipads and all of their assessors. So I decided to use a part of one of my son’s set ups. 

I sent out the bulletin before I left for church. When I got home, after a stop for my daily photo journey, I put out a sad message of the loss of a good friend to me personally and to our congregation. And another message for the church. 

The word today is resolution.  How few there are who have courage enough to own their faults, or resolution enough to mend them, Benjamin Franklin.  When we once begin to form good resolutions, God gives us every opportunity of carrying them out, Saint John Chrysostom.  When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature, Sydney Smith.  Truth springs from argument amongst friends, David Hume. Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict, William Ellery Channing.  And hearts resolved and hands prepared The blessings they enjoy to guard, Tobias Smollett.  Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will, Jonathan Edwards. The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. I love the man that can smile in trouble, that can gather strength from distress and grow, Thomas Paine. When you have nothing to say, say nothing, Charles Caleb Colton. Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom, Gautama Buddha.  What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; it is dearness only that gives everything its value, Thomas Paine. To obtain a just compromise, concession must not only mutual-it must be equal also....There can be no hope that either will  yield more than it gets in return, John Marshall.   

Today’s theme is “something in nature”. That’s a subject with a wide-open selection of models. I shot several images but I was most attracted to the geese around the pond at Westgate Park. 

This article gives a bit of a sweet treat. It’s called “Comfort in cookies”. The article stated that “an organization called Top Data, the year 2020 has been the year of the cookie”. This agency, Top Data is an international marketing company, tracks data on shoppers of cookies. It determined that sales went up 25% during the pandemic. Ninety five percent of American eat at least one cookie a month. The article claimed that there was a bit of error in numbers and went on to say maybe we should not put to much trust in a marketing company. On the other hand, there are some truths that come out of these kinds of data tracking.  This article went further to tell which parts of the country are more cookies. The article ended with “Please pass the milk.” A recipe was included so I copied the ingredients and measurements below.  (Makes about 32 cookies-• 18 tablespoons (2 1/4 sticks) salted butter, cut into ½-inch pieces,  • ½ cup granulated sugar, • 1/4 cup light brown sugar, • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, • 8 ounces semi- or bittersweet dark chocolate, chopped into chunks (do not chop too fine), • 1 large egg, beaten, • Demerara or turbinado sugar, for rolling, • Flaky sea salt, or kosher salt. Line one or two rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.)

I am trying a new recipe called Hawaiian Chili Chicken, served over rice. 

Joy