August 7, 2021, a thought for today, Nothing can exist long without occasional rest. Latin Proverb

I love Saturday’s.....that’s another one of those hold-overs from childhood school days. The problem is I can’t seem to sleep-in as long now as I use to when I was school aged. 

For the “month of gratitude” photo of the day on August 6, I chose an image of a city bus. I haven’t used this type of transportation for years and years but when I did I found it to be an interesting adventure. 

So far it seems gorgeous outside as I look through my window. The sun is shining and no rain. There’s not enough of a breeze to cause the wind chimes to sing which would make it even more perfect. And now days it helps with reducing the pollution problem of too many other vehicles on the road.  

I am getting my hair cut in a couple of hours. That is the main productive activity I am going to get accomplished today. 

Sue and I got errands out of the way yesterday.  We took Sweet Pea along with us. Before Sugar crossed over the rainbow bridge, Sweet Pea didn’t mind being left at home. But now that she is alone, she seems to get the neglected look just before we go out of the house. I take her with us when I know one of us will be in the car with her while the other slips into a store to take care of business. I would never leave her alone in the car. 

The word for today is courage.  The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage. Thucydides.  Courage is knowing what not to fear. Plato. You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor. Aristotle. What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything? Vincent Van Gogh. To have courage for whatever comes in life - everything lies in that. Saint Teresa of Avila.  Happy are those who dare courageously to defend what they love. Ovid. Life is to be entered upon with courage. Alexis de Tocqueville. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received - only what you have given: a full heart, enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice and courage, Francis of Assisi.  Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the others, Aristotle. A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Courage is what preserves our liberty, safety, life, and our homes and parents, our country and children. Courage comprises all things, Plautus. He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all, Miguel de Cervantes.  To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself, Soren Kierkegaard. True courage is like a kite; a contrary wind raises it higher. John Petit-Senn.

Today my “month of gratitude” photo of the day is my hair salon. I am grateful for the luxury, actually
the necessity, of a good hair cut. 

I thought it would be good for us to learn something about nature that we should be aware of. Nature is beautiful and has its dangers too. According to the article the Hemlock plant is “one of the Earth’s deadliest plants” and it is spreading through Ohio.  It first began its spread here Ohio in the southern parts and originally came from Europe, West Asia and North Africa in the 1800s as an ornamental plant.  “This non-native plant is among the most deadly plants on the planet, containing highly toxic piperidine alkaloid compounds that cause respiratory failure and death in all mammals when ingested”. Socrates, Theramenes and Phocion were killed with Hemlock. The poison from the plant can be lethal by entering by ingestion but also through the eyes or nasal passages. The plant can grow in almost any type of soil and seems to be “most prevalent” near woods and streams, ditches and waterways. They produce thousands of seeds that spread as other plants do by wind, water, birds and mowing. The seeds stay fertile for up to six years. The article reported that in our area these plants can be found in Clintonville, Franklinton, and on the Ohio State campus. Here’s something interesting, it is a member of the carrot family. It is also sometimes mistaken for Queen Anne’s lace.  The article went on to say the simplest way to “identify” the plant is by purple-colored spots on the main stem. The worst time to try to control the plaint is when it is flowering, the best time is when it is in its “vegetative stage” when it is small and by using Roundup. It is dangerous to try to control the plant by mowing, hand-pulling or cutting. 

For dinner, hamburger helper, cheesy shells. 

Joy

                                                   two touches of yellow to dress things up a bit