March 14, 2021 a thought for today, Judge not by the eye but by the heart. Cheyenne Proverb

The sermon was powerful this morning. Parts of it and parts of one of the hymns brought tears to my eyes. I could feel the messages deeply and was a little upset with myself for not keeping the meaning of the words in the message, a message  that I know in my heart, uppermost in my mind always. Anyway, it was a good start to a week, a week that will nudge recall moments of the message and words often when least expected. 

March 13th photo theme was “m is for....”. I don’t think this particular M needs an explanation. One thing I liked about the finished image is the shadows at the top, behind the M and at the left edge. There was also an added bit of interest with the texture of the wall. 

I got a beautiful birthday invitation, with a unicorn on it, yesterday that made me long to be there. The problem is it was in North Carolina and I am around 500 miles away. One of my great grand daughter’s is turning five. A once in a life time mile marker. My thoughts were with her and the family all day. 

The rest of the day will be laid back. I have to complete one chore though, I need to get dishes in the dish washer and start it. Then maybe play with some photos in the archives. 

The word for today is simplicity. In character, in manner, in style, in all things, the supreme excellence is simplicity, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  Simplicity is the glory of expression, Walt Whitman. There is a certain majesty in simplicity which is far above all the quaintness of wit, Alexander Pope. Of Manners gentle, of Affections mild; In Wit a man; Simplicity, a child, Alexander Pope. Pure, holy simplicity confounds all the wisdom of this world and the wisdom of the flesh, Francis of Assisi. Truth is ever to be found in the simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things, Isaac Newton. There is nothing so strong or safe in an emergency of life as the simple truth, Charles Dickens. The ordinary acts we practice every day at home are of more importance to the soul than their simplicity might suggest, Thomas Moore.  Simplicity is that grace which frees the soul from all unnecessary reflections upon itself, Francois Fenelon.  Simplicity is a jewel rarely found, Ovid.  He is rich or poor according to what he is, not according to what he has, Henry Ward Beecher. Simplicity and purity are the two wings by which a man is lifted above all earthly things. Simplicity is in the intention - purity in the affection. Simplicity tends to God, - purity apprehends and tastes Him, Thomas a Kempis.   When the subject is strong, simplicity is the only way to treat it, Thomas Jefferson.  Simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures. Simple in actions and thoughts, you return to the source of being. Patient with both friends and enemies, you accord with the way things are. Compassionate toward yourself, you reconcile all beings in the world, Laoz. 

Today’s photo challenge was is “n is for....” It’s Sugar’s nose. She was laying under my desk chair so it’s an “overhead” shot. I didn’t like the pattern of the throw rug she was laying on so I blurred and changed the hue of the background. 

In searching for an interesting news item to share with you about our city or state I found this one which was written a few weeks ago about our neighbor, a little over an hour from Columbus,  Mt Vernon Ohio. The title is “From Trash to Treasure...” According to the author Mt. Vernon like many small town will have “defunct storefronts and empty factories”. Mt. Vernon’s beginnings were closely related to railroads and natural gas. The town has a perfect small town atmosphere with their “independent” bookstore, coffee shop, a town center and monuments, a “little” hotel. The article went on to describe some of the other businesses in Mt. Vernon, a leather shop since 1880, an art gallery, pizza shops, a diner and so on. Part of the this story and history and revitalization of a town that was showing some decline centers on million-square-foot of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company that opened in 1907. It was “rotting on the south edge of the Kokosing River for nearly 35 years”. It is being “reborn” in the Ariel-Foundation Park. This park is a green space that is to connect Kokosing and the Heart of Ohio bike trails. The Plate Glass company was an eyesore and too “expensive....to demolish”. One plan was to make it an artist studio but that cost was out of bounds. Two artists took on the “lead” to submit a design and would take no public money for it. It was discovered that the steel that “provided the bones” of the old building could be resold to begin the revitalization process. The vision for the Ariel-Foundaiton Park where the old Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company warehouse is located to is “be a world class example of adaptive reuse that honors its industrial heritage and is the focal point for recreation, entertainment and social interaction” in Knox County. According to the article the 250 acre park is “stunning” and there is nothing else like it in Ohio.  At this point the “ruins” of the warehouse have been left in tact as “cathedrals of industry.” There another historic building, Coxley Building, there also that “harkens back to the turn of the 20th century” with elevator towers “like sleeping giants”. There are parts of factory “innards” salvaged from strictures of the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893. There is an observation tower on a 280-foot smokestack in the park. The article related that “Somehow existing both in harmony with and in natural counter to the ruins are the wide-open fields and reflecting pools, framed by the Terraces, geometric earthworks”. Along with the features mentioned there are woods and ponds for hiking, exploring and fishing and even a mediation labyrinth, all part of the park. There are hopes for even more growth. The last sentence of the article: “It reveals the potential of a small town as it evolves into something awesome and magnificent, building treasure out of trash.”

Sunday seems to have become Taco Bell night in the Rector house. 

Joy