April 24, 2022 a thought for today, Fish cannot survive in absolutely clear water. Chinese Proverb

It’s Sunday....nothing much on the agenda besides reflecting and refreshing the soul.

The first photo a day for yesterday was “sweet”. I have a lot of that around. But these chocolate chip cookies are an old stand by. 

My “head cold” is tiresome. I took a COVID test before I left for church to be sure I didn’t have COVID. It was negative.... just a common cold (and aggravating cold). I wore a mask to protect others. 

It’s a gorgeous day....almost like an early summer day rather than early spring. Finally I dressed for church in a short sleeve blouse instead of a dressy/feminine sweatshirt. Then I wore a light jacket and it was too much. 

The second photo of the day for yesterday was “something on a stick”. I was originally looking for a bird on a thin branch of a tree. Then I found this one in my archives. 

My sons helped me look at cars yesterday. We test drove two. The second was perfect, exactly what I wanted. We sat down with the salesman to make out the paper work. The price increased with taxes, title and so on until in crept out of my maximum limit. So I am sad but still hopeful. I’m sure it will work out in time. 

Today church service was good, I’m still hoping for more to come back but it’s in His hands. 

I have started reading another book. I just finished Fair Warning by Michael Connley. Now starting Partners by John Grisham. It continues to amaze me what we can learn from a book that is considered fiction. All that I have read have “Easter eggs” that are actually fact, kind of like or is like, reading between the lines and paying attention for a recognizable everyday fact. Some of the reading may inspire further exploration through Google for new and extended knowledge. The story may be fiction but, in my opinion, come from someone’s collection of life experiences, realities and fact. 

The first challenge for today is “in my cup”. This is a cup of chocolate milk with a bit of whipped cream. My creative thinking needs a boost right now. 

The word for today is steps.   No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man. Heraclitus. Most of the people who will walk after me will be children, so make the beat keep time with short steps. Hans Christian Andersen.  Speak the truth, do not yield to anger; give, if thou art asked for little; by these three steps thou wilt go near the gods. Confucius. The descent to the infernal regions is easy enough, but to retrace one's steps, and reach the air above, there's the rub. Virgil. Every step is on the path, Laozi. Doing little things well is a step toward doing big things better, Vincent Van Gogh.  Those who take long steps cannot keep the pace, Laozi.  We rise to great heights by a winding staircase of small steps, Francis Bacon.  When we cannot use the compass of mathematics or the torch of experience...it is certain we cannot take a single step forward, Voltaire. One step at a time is all it takes to get you there, Emily Dickinson.  An ant on the move does more than a dozing ox, Lao Tzu.  Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together, Vincent Van Gogh.  It is better to make many small steps in the right direction than to make a great leap forward only to stumble backward, Old Chinese Proverb.  What you think is the summit is only a step up, Seneca the Younge. When a resolute young fellow steps up to the great bully, the world, and takes him boldly by the beard, he is often surprised to find it comes off in his hand, and that it was only tied on to scare away the timid adventurers, Ralph Waldo Emerson.  

The second photo theme for today is “dog or cat”. This is one of Sweet Pea’s favorite poses and pass times. And the easiest time to get her still enough to take a photo. 

You know, titles are supposed to grab our attention.....this one worked on me. My question was why are houses near hospitals getting higher prices. There is a new house going up near Children’s Hospital. It is a two-story house with four bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms. What has many people “startled”...$524,900. This new house also has a finished basement with an entertainment center. There is another owner n the area who has bought up several homes, with one at about $63,800. There have been house built and renovated for what was called affordable to buyers but instead have been selling for premiums. According to the article, “Proximity to hospital (is) a selling point”. Some who have bought in the area are a doctor, two medical processional and a mortgage broker. An additional draw is that the “geographical location” is attractive. A lot of vacant homes in the area are being bought and renovated. Some people who live in the lower valued homes in that area worry that the houses selling for the higher prices will cause rent to go up on the older homes. I think I must have missed something in my reading ....I can’t see the relationship of cost of housing being higher close to hospitals except possibly the “geographical location”. It is mentioned that there haven’t been enough homes for a long time. Now there is “a huge supply and demand imbalance that’s going to keep supercharging housing costs”. That statement seems to be for housing prices in general not just near a hospital. 

It’s either Taco Bell, Subway or KFC for dinner tonight. 

Joy