December 2, 2022 a thought for today, The greatest conqueror is he who overcomes the enemy without a blow. Chinese Proverb

One of the photo uploads to begin the new month was “I love this!”. I have a pretty good life so I “love” a lot of things. My pets have always been one of those items at the top of my list. This is Sweet Pea the furry child in my life right now. 

Time ran away from me yesterday. So I am playing catchup on some of what got left out of yesterday today. 

It seems since Fridays are the beginning of a three-day period that are the most stress free of the rest of the week it’s “freer”. I think that habit and/or way of thinking for me started waaay back when I was in elementary school and followed all the rest of my life. It went on through high school and into my working life (I was one of the lucky ones to had Saturday and Sunday off except when I worked in the flower shop) and now I still enjoy these three days the most. It’s like a celebration of the past week and a looking forward with hopeful anticipation to whatever the next week will hold.

The second photo upload for December 1 was “silent night”. I don’t do much night time photography. I catch some when I am awake and notice something a little special. This shot is from my archives. 

I have started putting the Christmas tree up for this tiny family here in this house. Every year it seems to take me longer to get it done. It takes me a couple of days now rather then a few hours. I do some, sit down and look at it....move something here or there. When those first few placements look satisfactory I take a brake. Then a few more ornaments before I let the rest go until tomorrow. For today the lights are on and the tree top is placed. Tomorrow, after grocery pick up, more of the bulbs will take their place. 

One of the photo uploads for today was “I bought this!”. I am not much of a shopper for “things”. The most “shopping” I do is for groceries. So that was what seemed to be my natural choice. I added a filter to the image because cans of food may be a boring photo subject. 

The word today is still.  Be still. Stillness reveals the secrets of eternity, Lao Tzu.  In stillness the muddied water returns to clarity, Laozi. If we have not quiet in our minds outward comfort will do no more for us than a golden slipper on a gouty foot, John Bunyan. O God, make us children of quietness, and heirs of peace, St. Clement I of Rome. I am still learning. Michelangelo. Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. Benjamin Franklin. Do what you love. Know your own bone; gnaw at it, bury it, unearth it, and gnaw it still. Henry David Thoreau.  Be as a bird perched on a frail branch that she feels bending beneath her, still she sings away all the same, knowing she has wings. Victor Hugo.  Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will. Jonathan Edwards.  In those parts of the world where learning and science has prevailed, miracles have ceased; but in those parts of it as are barbarous and ignorant, miracles are still in vogue. Ethan Allen. 

The second photo upload for today is “candles”. I have a candle with three wicks settled in on one of the doilies I crocheted last year with my “indoor garden” of house plants surrounding it. The rest of the candles I have in the house are half used birthday candles. 

This article tells about another service in our area for young people. The Huckleberry House in our area is planning to “expand its mission for youth shelters”. The article mentioned that for four decades young people have looked for a shelter as a refuge. They have found it at the three story home in Weinland Park. In 1976 Huckleberry House began its service there. It began as “a street outreach mission”. The organization bought the original house from the OSU where some students lived in it as a rooming house. This year some other organizations and Columbus City Council have partnered to help with two distinct projects that include interior overhauls and revitalizaions on some exterior areas. In describing the work of the shelter the article said youth at the ages of 12 to 17 stay at the shelter for about a week. They are counseled and offered other services until they can find other situations in their lives. The Huckleberry House sometimes offers “extended emergency shelter....for up to three months” when Franklin County Children Service can offer help.  After the renovations are finished, it is hoped that the spaces will be more accommodating and comfortable  to different life styles. They serve up to 500 youth at-risk each year. Huckleberry House is an important “anchor” for kids to have somewhere to go. The article said “It’s hard being a teenager in general, and you layer on top all these issues young people are dealing with and it’s incredibly difficult”.

It’s pizza night again.....always a good sign

Joy

                            someone left the rest of their soda by the side of the road