August 7, 2023 a thought for today, Eyes trust themselves, ears trust others. German Proverb

One of the uploads for yesterday was “something strange”. Maybe not so unusual these days but still a little out of the ordinary in this community. 

Monday again.....I amazed myself....I have the bulletin completely finished and ready for poof reading. The pastor for this week had the information to me Sunday afternoon so it was all here and just needed formatted and placed along with my own responsible additions. 

Bob has a series of another three appointments today. Lowell picked him up a while ago. Ohio State states that each patient gets his/her very own treatments built just for them....“discover, develop and deliver the most targeted therapies for each individual cancer patient”. . I guess that is what is happening for Bob. They have pretty much determined that chemo can’t work for him due to certain kidney functions. So it looks like surgery will be the way to go. I just don’t know how long we will wait to hear of that decision, it’s been four months.  

A second upload for yesterday is “an edge”. As we look around and observe there are all kinds of

“edges”. I chose this one....the “edge” of the pulpit. 

Sue is spending time with the twins again today so it’s just me and Sweet Pea for a while this afternoon. The twins will be starting to school in a couple of weeks so time to spend with them is special right now for Sue. 

I had my first “maintenance” on the hydrophonic plants this week end. I have worked out a way to tend to them that seems to take a lot less time than care of my house plants in soil. That’s what I was hoping for, it seemed to work this week end...about half the time and steps it took otherwise. (I find myself calling it my “mason jar garden”.)

I am making slow progress with the “new” computer. I have had to change three major passwords. I’m sure I will discover more as I use programs that don’t get daily attention. 

My first upload for today is “flowers in bloom”. The hibiscus are in full bloom right now. There are two plants at this location where now an then one of the branches intermingles with the other plant so there is a different color flower on one of the branches. There are pink ones and bright red ones. 

The word for today is certain. All the great evils which men cause to each other because of certain intentions, desires, opinions, or religious principles, are likewise due to non-existence, because they originate in ignorance, which is absence of wisdom. Maimonides. Certain defects are necessary for the existence of individuality. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.  Reasoning draws a conclusion, but does not make the conclusion certain, unless the mind discovers it by the path of experience. Roger Bacon. Fear comes from uncertainty. When we are absolutely certain, whether of our worth or worthlessness, we are almost impervious to fear. William Congreve.  There is a set of religious, or rather moral, writings which teach that virtue is the certain road to happiness, and vice to misery in this world. A very wholesome and comfortable doctrine, and to which we have but one objection, namely, that it is not true. Francois Fenelon. It is a most certain truth, that the richer we see ourselves to be, confessing at the same time our poverty, the greater will be our progress, and the more real our humility. Saint Teresa of Avila. My grand affair appears settled, for America is certain of her independence, humanity has gained her cause, and liberty will never be without a place of refuge. Marquis de Lafayette.  There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune; it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things; it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves. Francois de La Rochefoucauld.  It is a grand mistake to think of being great without goodness and I pronounce it as certain that there was never a truly great man that was not at the same time truly virtuous. Benjamin Franklin. 

In my lifetime I have all kinds of pets....dogs, cats, birds, lizards, a variety of fishes, a white mouse, hamsters, gerbils, a ferret and rabbits. We are a family of animal lovers. Right now my household is down to one dog but the memory of all the others abound and still bring smiles and happy memories. This is one of the “my choice” uploads....my sister holding our pet of the day (back then) a black and white bunny who had her exercise times through out the day and was allowed roam the house for a while. She was even outside on a leash at times.  

I found a sight that seems to have some interesting information. I think I will share some from time to time. This one is about how spices get their flavor. Not earth shattering news but may be enlightening. Spices come from many different plants and their parts, leaves, seeds, bark and oils. Part of the whole story of plants is that they “produce chemicals for different purposes”. The leaves of basil and oregano are commonly used in our kitchens. According to the article “essential aromatic oils that accumulate in the plants’ leaves produce their flavors”. I hadn’t thought about the notion that “oils from both of these herbs have medicinal uses against infections, pain and swelling”. Pepper comes from berries, red chili the fruits that the plant produces. Turmeric comes from underground stems called rhizomes that grow sideways on a plant called Curcuma longa. Saffron comes from “the red-colored, threadlike stigmas of the plant Crocus sativus...... one of the most expensive spices”. Harvesting saffron is very intensive and is typically done with tweezers. It is often used as a medicine, dye and perfume besides as a seasoning. Cinnamon comes from the inner bark of a tree. It is “rich in antioxidants...cinnamon may help control blood pressure and reduce inflammation”. The dried nutmeg that many of us use in pie comes from grinding the seed of the tropical evergreen tree family Myristica fragrans.  This same plant produces another spice, called mace. So there a little bit of the story of spices. 

I think it’s going to be potato soup and hamburgers for dinner tonight. 

Joy

   once there was life here