September 12, 2021 a thought for today, Even in paradise, living all alone would be hell. Native American Seneca 

There was a bit more activity in the church today than there has been in a long time. They weren’t all there for our church service but it was nice to hear and see all the activity. 

The September 11th photo of the day theme was “how I feel today”. First I made an image of Sweet Pea as she lay curled up on the carpet taking one of her naps...that seemed to be a good fit. Then I had to go out for errands so I went by the park and happened upon this image, captured the moment and came home to see if it would work. 

As usual for Sunday I don’t have a long agenda for today. On the other hand I wanted to get the plants that need separated and transplanted off of the to do list. So when I got home from church I tackled that chore. Now it is out of the way. I put some plants that need new homes out by the curb. In years past I have done that and people took them almost before I got them set up. This year there hasn’t been any interest at all. Bob and I put them out yesterday and again today. I will move them to the back tonight and try one more time next week end. Then I will have to take a different way. I may have to throw some out. I really need to “downsize” on that are of my daily chores. 

I planned on stopping by the neighborhood art gallery on the way home but there wasn’t any parking left when I came by the shop so I passed on it for this week. 

So the rest of the day is on the relaxed and easy going side. 

The word today is experience.  No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man. Heraclitus.  Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards. Soren Kierkegaard.  One thorn of experience is worth a whole wilderness of warning. James Russell Lowell.  Experience is the teacher of all things. Julius Caesar. I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. Patrick Henry.  The head learns new things, but the heart forever practices old experiences. Henry Ward Beecher. By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. Confucius. Simplicity is the most difficult thing to secure in this world; it is the last limit of experience and the last effort of genius. George Sand. The wise are instructed by reason, average minds by experience, the stupid by necessity and the brute by instinct. Marcus Tullius Cicero. No man's knowledge here can go beyond his experience. John Locke. Gratitude bestows reverence, allowing us to encounter everyday epiphanies, those transcendent moments of awe that change forever how we experience life and the world. John Milton. 

Today’s photo challenge is “this is useful”. I took shots of some of my major cooking utensils like Kitchen Aid mixer, food processor, mandolin and on. I made a flat lay of my laptop, tablet, cell pone/camera, keyboard and channel selectors. Then I spotted this one on my way home from church. 

This article is a bit about the beginning of roads in Ohio. The article started with the statement “long ago when driving along at 65 to 70 mph across Ohio was not possible.” It went on to say that until the “completion of the interstate highway system.....traffic moved considerably slower”. In the beginning of the state the roads were mostly dirt and followed paths of animals and the Native Americans. As the state grew in the 1800s there were “corduroy roads”. Trees were cut, split and laid out to cross muddy places in the paths. In the cities there was a system called “wood block system”. This system was paving the streets with brick-like wooden blocks laid side by side on a gravel bed. These blocks cracked, warped and broke over short periods time and changing weather. Later bricks were used. Brick streets “remain a fixture in German Village.” However, bricks are hard on automobiles. Moving on, streets were built of macadamized asphalt. The National Road, 1811, was made of a durable layer of gravel. Along that highway stone bridges as they crossed waterways. The National Road came to Columbus in 1831. The article went on to point out that the “real change in Ohio” began with bicycles and automobiles which became more available to more people. Automobiles became less expensive and came with improvements like self starters and dependable headlights. All of this brought on better roads. Beginning in the 1900s federal, state and local money was used to build paved highways. I liked this sentence in the article, “In the years after World War II, a road trip was something of an adventure that usually was an adventure.” It was slower than traffic today mostly because they were two lane roads. Traffic became heavier and there were trucks using the roads too. Roadside parks came into existence so that people could stop and rest. There was no air conditioning so the trips in the summer could be uncomfortable and these. Even with all this the article related that travel on the “back roads of Ohio was interesting.....at a speed of 35 mph.” It took longer to get to places but it also allowed for more sight seeing. 

I think it will be taco bell tonight for dinner. 

Joy