July 26, 2021 a thought for today, Walk your own road and bear your own load. Mexican Proverb

It has been a Monday of “different colors” so to speak. I usually spend the first part of the day on putting together the bulletin template for the coming week. I didn’t today. 

The challenge for yesterday was “art”. I made shots of an old tree trunk that had been decorated, some sculptures at the park and this a couple of graffiti type art. This one is a small section of a full graffiti wall on a local business. I love and admire the lines and proportions that artists can maintain in these huge, bigger than life images. The vivid colors add a vitality.

We had problems with the copier again. So we had to put off printing the newsletter this past Thursday/Friday. So the first thing this morning I went to church to see if I could recall the set up for printing the newsletter. It took a little coaxing but I finally got it figured out. It all worked except for the stapling. I called Dorothy to see if she could come in to help, she was there in about fifteen minutes. (Isn’t it great to have such friends?) I printed and hand stapled as she folded  and sealed them. When I had the stapling done, I joined her efforts and we completed the whole process in about an hour and a half. After a couple of other tasks I was ready to get on with the day. 

When I left the church, I stopped for brunch, then on to a short photo excursion. When I got home there was a couple of phone messages I had to attend to. 

So now I am well into the middle of the afternoon and don’t want to start a lengthy task. I will just tie up some loose ends today and get to the bulletin the first thing tomorrow morning. 

The word for today clouds.  Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray. Lord Byron. God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars. Martin Luther.  Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility. Saint Augustine.  Clouds and darkness surround us, yet Heaven is just, and the day of triumph will surely come, when justice and truth will be vindicated. Mary Todd Lincoln. It is better to have your head in the clouds, and know where you are... than to breathe the clearer atmosphere below them, and think that you are in paradise. Henry David Thoreau. The clouds may drop down titles and estates, and wealth may seek us, but wisdom must be sought. Edward Young.  To penetrate and dissipate these clouds of darkness, the general mind must be strengthened by education. Thomas Jefferson.  Rising genius always shoots out its rays from among the clouds, but these will gradually roll away and disappear as it ascends to its steady luster. Washington Irving. Without the frown of clouds and lightning, the vines would be burned by the smiling sun, Rumi.  Clouds signify the veil of the Most High, Honore de Balzac.  When there is love in the heart, there are rainbows in the eyes, which cover every black cloud with gorgeous hues, Henry Ward Beecher. Roses have thorns, and silver fountains mud; Clouds and eclipses stain both moon and sun, And loathsome canker lies in sweetest bud. All men make faults, William Shakespeare. 

Today’s theme is “curves”. Again, I used images of the park as my model. I like the feel of curves,
“Curved or circular lines provide relief, softness, and balance”. 

I visited the garden mentioned in this article when they first opened. It is quite a place for the kids (and adults too). I hope many take advantage of the art of it, so much of it is graphic creation, art of all kinds but living in the plants and manmade. I believe art is a universal language. The article covers one of the hands on learning programs at Franklin Park.  On Wednesday morning as most mornings children were running around fascinated with the vegetable and flower gardens. Other young people visited the “Bee Bop Corner” where there were they could observe large objects that could be musical in the Sensory Garden. Another place to visit was the area of puppet shows. Added to these fun and learning possibilities, the park offered a six-week Summer Experience where 8,100 students took part in the summer school program. This year’s experience was retooled to offer more “project-based learning”. The program core focused on enriching interactive opportunities. This program presented core subjects such as social-emotional skills. There was something called  “summer school-meets-summer camp” format. There was more to this summer school than learning math and other such needed subjects. It added the interaction such as, the middle school students designing autonomous robots along with classes in aviation, fashion, robotics, cyber security and urban agriculture. They also got into nature and participated in golfing, kayaking, swimming, aviation and more. They experienced survival scenarios. One of the instructors said the students were so excited to be there and take part in the hands on project. COSI Columbus and Franklin Park Conservatory allowed the students to explore the city. Part of this educational program offered a blended program with instruction online. For high school students who work at night and have jobs there are weekends classes. One of the elementary students who participated said “.... I had the funnest day in my whole entire life.” 

We will be having left overs for dinner tonight....each our own choice, tuna casserole or chili (or chili mac). 

Joy

      green grass, shadows, reflections of trees, the sky....and then there is the cigarette butts and trash