March 28, 2021 a thought for today, The eyes speak as much as the mouth. Japanese Proverb

Well, this minister never fails me. His message always hits the mark....I think I have said that about him before and will probably say it again. I was particularly drawn to his Prayer of Confession in our bulletin today. 

This is going to be a typical Sunday for me.....nothing much on the agenda. I did take a peek in the office while I was at the church to see if I had any more Easter Lily dedications. There were none there so I guess we have them all. I will wait until Wednesday at noon. After that it will be too late for additions. 

The photo challenge for yesterday was titled “fave word”. I have all kinds of favorite words. I suppose the one I use the most is related to food. So that was my choice for today. The best way I could think to shot that in a photo was a collection of some ingredients. 

I think I have another busy week coming up. I want to go to the store tomorrow. Sue has a check up with the eye doctor on Tuesday. I have a luncheon with my literary club friends on Wednesday. We haven’t had a meeting for over a year. So it will be nice to catch up with whoever will be able to get to Olive Garden. This will be my first attempt to meet with people other than family at a restaurant since the pandemic began.  

I was awakened with a thud around two o’clock. Sweet Pea, Australian Shepherd jumped up in bed with me. The dachshund, Sugar, was already there and panting to beat the band. The lightening and thunder was scaring the heck out of them. They didn’t know were to go for protection. We, all three of us, made it through the storm. 

The theme for today is “my age”. I really didn’t want a selfie that shows the wrinkles that formed
themselves on my face over the years not just because of the wrinkles but because I don’t like selfies. I don’t make a good photo. I find people vary in their presentable photographic qualities, mine, not so much. I chose this one. The wrinkles are there but not so outstanding. The “liver spots” answer the question of “my age” totally.  

The word for today is strength.  Fortitude is the marshal of thought, the armor of the will, and the fort of reason, Francis Bacon.  It is a strength of character to acknowledge our failings and our strong points, and it is a weakness of character not to remain in harmony with both the good and the bad that is within us, Madeleine de Souvre, marquise de Sable.  A single twig breaks, but the bundle of twigs is strong. Tecumseh.  Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict. William Ellery Channing.  Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength. Charles Spurgeon.  Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength. Saint Francis de Sales.  There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast. Charles Dickens.  Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect. Ralph Waldo Emerson.  Endure and persist; this pain will turn to good by and by. Ovid.  As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed. Vincent Van Gogh.  Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause. Victor Hugo. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu.  People do not lack strength; they lack will. Victor Hugo. Wondrous is the strength of cheerfulness, and its power of endurance - the cheerful man will do more in the same time, will do it; better, will preserve it longer, than the sad or sullen. Thomas Carlyle. When strength is yoked with justice, where is a mightier pair than they? Aeschylus.

This article offers a bit of history and maybe a rebirth of the idea. “During World Wars I and II, victory gardens tended by families in their backyards and in urban lots throughout the United States produced an estimated 40% of all fruits and vegetables consumed by Americans.” At that time it was needed due to food rationing and shortages. According to the article, during the pandemic the interest in this type of gardening spiked. Many “declared” that the gardens they were planting were victory gardens to help in the fight to many of  the coronavirus problems. To encourage the interest in this re-birth of the victory garden the Ohio Department of Agriculture and the Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is sponsoring a program called “Let’s Grow Ohio”. This program will offer free vegetable seeds and educational programming to help people make a success of their gardening. The free seeds will be distributed, in drive through form at the Waterman Agricultural and Natural Resources Laboratory at 2548 Carmack Road, on April 3 from 11am to 1 pm  while supplies last. The OSU Extension will offer educational programs led by master gardener volunteers.  More information about this Ohio Victory Garden project is available at  u.osu.edu/ohiovictorygardens. Last year the Bexley Community Garden and the OSU’s Waterman Agricultural and Naturally Resources Laboratory produced fall crops used to demonstrate fall and winter gardening. The products from these projects were donated to food pantries in central Ohio. 

Its taco night again, for dinner, ooops we decided KFC instead. 

Joy