February 12, 2021 thought for the day: You can't become a teacher before you’re taught. African Proverb

The weekly projects are done. Now it’s time to get back to work on setting up the newsletter and the annual report. There is still time before the deadline looms, a good time to begin in leisure. 

Yesterday’s photo theme was “10AM”. I set my alarm on my cell photo because I knew I was going to be out of the house about that time. I thought I would be on the road somewhere but as it happened I was in the grocery store when the alarm went off. I guess this shot could be considered a “personal journal” kind of photo. 

Sue just came in from spending some time with the twins. Their visiting dates have been rearranged so I most likely won’t be seeing them anymore on a regular basis. I miss the light and energy that seems to follow them but then....alas I am old, you know the adage “when I was a child...” (But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the antics of the young through mere up close and in person observation ☺ when the opportunity presents itself).

This is the winter of snow. Over all my many years I have observed, as we all have, that in some winters there is little snow, some drop snow here and there, then there is this kind where we have bursts of large amounts of snow and the cold that makes it last for days and days. To be honest, I have seen worse than this years snow fall but that was when I was younger and the snow seemed more like magic at times. There was a young man in the search of work knocking at my door yesterday wanting to shovel my snow in areas of ground. What a relief. We finally have the heaviest off of the parts that Bob couldn’t get clear in the dark after he got home from work. 

Yesterday was a good day. Despite the snow we had the night before on top of that snow that was still left from the day before that I was able to get the car out of the driveway. I made it to church for the weekly printings and dropping off the posters. I was glad to get those things done so that I didn’t have to worry about more snow that might keep me from getting it done before it was needed on Saturday and Sunday. I also made a quick stop at the store for dog food so they would be completely out if we had more snow in the next couple of days.  The rest of the day was spent on laundry and other odds and ends.

The word today is seeds. Really don't choose every day from the harvest you experience but from the seeds you plant, Robert Louis Stevenson.  Wherever you have planted a seed, I am prepared to expect wonders, Henry David Thoreau.  I have great faith in a seed, Henry David Thoreau.  Everything is born from change. ...there is nothing nature loves more than to alter what exists and make new things like it. All that exists is the seed of what will emerge from it. You think the only seeds are the one that make plants and children? Go deeper, Marcus Aurelius. He who is learning and learning and doesn't apply what he knows is like the one who is plowing and plowing and doesn't seed, Plato. There are not the weeds the ones that drown the good seed, but the negligence of the peasant, Confucius. Youth is the seed time of good habits, as well in nations as in individuals, Thomas Paine.  Destroy the seed of evil, or it will grow up to your ruin, Aesop.  Everything that exists is in a manner the seed of that which will be, Marcus Aurelius.  If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people, Confucius. The more you mow us down, the more numerous we grow; the blood of Christians is seed, Tertullian.  Remember that the smallest seed of faith is of more worth than the largest fruit of happiness, Henry David Thoreau.

Today’s photo challenge is “kindness”. I searched my archives for this one. I have all kinds of photos with family hugging, helping each other with a project, feeding the dogs, and so on. When I came across this one the “kindness” feeling hit me so this became the entry for today. 

In this article there are some more ideas befitting the new onslaught of virtual living and for Valentines Day. In this article they are calling it, for this story, “Galentine’s Day”. This name has been around for eleven years. Originally it was celebrated with girlfriends having waffles and beverages at the “season of “Parks and Recreation” in 2010". This year at the North Canton Public Library this year will be celebrated virtually. Apparently some libraries have set up “digital escape rooms”. This is how it works. You are “placed in a fictional story” room,  then you answer “x, y and z” to get out of the room. Here is how it will work “ it takes place in Pawnee (the fictional city where the TV show was set), of course, where Tammy the evil library director has locked Leslie and Ann in an office and they need to escape." People who want to “take the challenge” will log into the library’s website between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. Saturday. The library keeps track of “who gets out and how fast, and the winner being awarded a heart-shaped waffle maker.” There will be questions about the library, best friends in history and more. Besides the library game for this Galentine’s Day, there will be a virtual cupcake class. You would pick up a box of the cake makings and attend a Zoom cupcake decorating session. Also offered, not quite as virtual, is at a business in Columbus called uPaint Pottery Studio located at Polaris. You can pick up a take-home kit to make pottery. You can go online, to choose pieces to paint. The staff will gather the paint, brushes and all you need for you to pick up as curb side. Once the pottery is painted at your home, they can be dropped off to be fired. Another offer for this Galentine’s Day is distance yoga at a place called Wonder Within in Delaware. They have a “Tranquility Salt Cave, ..... which allows plenty of room for social distancing." At this location there is “guided meditation” session and a “crystal bowl bath”.  Here is what I found in a search for crystal bowl bath: "there isn't any water (or actual bathing) involved at all. Instead, a crystal sound bath harnesses the reverberating sounds and vibrations of crystal bowls of all shapes and sizes, to lull you into a peaceful and mindful state of being". This is a new way of celebrating Valentines Day, all new to my way of thinking but maybe, fun, at least interesting.

The week is ending and this is the night we enjoy the pizza pie. 

Joy