July 2, 2021 a thought for today, He who does not know one thing knows another. Kenyan Proverb

It has been a wonderful day. After a kind of stressful start from yesterday I needed a quieter day like today. One thing I got done before I left for out-and-abouts was printing some coloring pages for the HM3 (free meals) on Saturday evening. 

The photo challenge for yesterday was “hello”. This one gave me some pause for thought. I could have gotten someone waving hello, I could have used a telephone receiver as one of my photo group peers did. I took some shots of the welcome signs at the park and then when I got home and coming up the steps saw the old and worn “welcome” mat at the bottom of the steps. It’s dirty and worn but still welcome’s feet before the climb up the steps. 

When I got to the church yesterday, I found that the computer was having a very serious problem. After some testing I found that the hard drive was fried. Then I leaned that we had what we think was a lightening strike in a storm from two days ago. We found in the process of checking that it had taken out a couple of computers. Now comes the time of rebuilding, putting things back in place, as much as we can at least. It means that a lot of work and old files were lost. Hopefully they can be recovered. I went to a professional printers and had a copy of the bulletin made then went back to the church to run the fresh copy through the copier. 

At the meeting last night, along with the rest of the agenda, we talked about how to proceed with getting things back to normal after the unexpected visit. 

Today after my usual start, I called to see if I could visit William and Benjamin. William was spending the day with his grandpa but I did get a visit with Benjamin and his mom. Ben and I got to know each other just a bit more, a bit at a time. 

On the way home I got my brunch, topped off the gas tank, did some photo searches and stopped by the church to check for crayons I will need Saturday, and find a clip board. 

As I was going into the church, I had a video call from Drew and Lexie. I couldn’t talk but for a minute since I was on the way in to church. But it was good to see them even for a minutes especially since they both had been sick the day before. It was good to see them feeling better. 

I got a couple of things for Bob and for the house ordered. Now the rest of the day is going to be laid back. The weather is much cooler so I have the doors open. I am listening to the wind chimes and a near by bird’s song. Oh, and I got to talk to Lowell for a few minutes too while it was another bonding time between grandpa and grandson so I didn’t talk too long. 

The word today is book.  The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. Saint Augustine. Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Thomas Jefferson.  A good book is the best of friends, the same today and forever. Martin Farquhar Tupper. You cannot open a book without learning something. Confucius.  Books are not made for furniture, but there is nothing else that so beautifully furnishes a house. Henry Ward Beecher. Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind, Joseph Addison. The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, And all the sweet serenity of books, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In books lies the soul of the whole past time, Thomas Carlyle. The books that help you the most are those which make you think the most, Theodore Parker. Read not to contradict and confute; nor to believe and take for granted; nor to find talk and discourse; but to weigh and consider. Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested: that is, some books are to be read only in parts, others to be read, but not curiously, and some few to be read wholly, and with diligence and attention, Francis Bacon.  He who destroys a good book kills reason itself, John Milton.  A room without books is like a life without meaning, Thomas Jefferson.  Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, Henry David Thoreau.  You cannot open a book without learning something, Confucius. The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. Saint Augustine. Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Thomas Jefferson.  Laws die, books never, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton. The true university of these days is a collection of books, Thomas Carlyle.  A good book is the precious lifeblood of a master spirit. John Milton.

Today’s photo theme is “no filter”. I shoot most of my images without a filer (for better or worse). I do, however, sometimes use filters in post processing in the Photoshop darkroom. There is no filter or other Photoshop feature used on this one. I caught sight of these when I let Sweet Pea out in the morning. Way back when I was a kid we called these Morning Glories. I think they are a weed but then they were gorgeous flowers and still now they spruce up the early morning landscape. 

I didn’t know about some of the features in the metro parks. This article goes into some detail. Shortly after I retired, I started visiting some of the parks for photo excursions. But didn’t get close to visiting even half of them. Now... that ship has sailed for me, there’s no way I could walk long enough to enjoy these areas. I learned there are nineteen “natural areas that make up the Metro Parks system”. Most have hiking trails, some with nature centers and wildlife. The article mentions the park with the bisons and a thirty-five-foot climbing wall and a tree house. The article went on to say that the less “popular” parks have “hidden outdoor gems”. The bisons live on seven thousand acres at Battelle Darby Creek. There are tree forts at the Glacier Ridge Metro Park located in Plain City. This park was named for debris left from glaciers of 15,000 years ago. These tree forts are made from tree limbs and trunks in the area, neat for hide and seek. The area “boasts a tricky disc golf course that weaves around tree trunks”. At Inniswood Metro Gardens there is a garden geared toward children. The land for the garden was donated to the city by Grace and Mary Innis in 1970. In the area of the park that children will enjoy are a water pump and basins where kids can splash. It also offers a tree house and a suspension bridge along with another small house. Other things at Inniswodd are trails and mazes. There is a climbing wall at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park that is located near the center of downtown Columbus. Wildlife including birds call this park home. The climbing wall extends to 35 feet high and overall covers 7,000 square feet. “There are four auto belays for those wanting to bring their own harnesses”. This feature is only open to people over thirteen years old. So there are some 10-foot tall boulders for younger people to climb. The last park mentioned in the article is the “Living Historical Farm at Slate Run Metro Park”. This park is located in Canal Winchester. People can see what a working farm of the 1880s would have been. There is a historic farmhouse and barn along with various farm animals....pigs, horses, geese, sheep and turkeys.   

Pizza!!

Joy                                                                   In the Middle