August 27, 2023 a word for today, Accusing the times is but excusing ourselves. English Proverb

The first upload for August 26 was “cloud patterns.” Early in the morning it looked like I would not be able to capture this one for today. But the sun came out and the sky presented all these fluffy looking white clouds. 

Sunday.... the day of reflection and renewal. Church service was nice today. We had a lay (church member) do the service today. He did a very good job, the message was better than some that we have had. As we entered the sanctuary there was a beautiful surprise. The church had been decorated for a wedding that will be happening this afternoon. Huge gorgeous bouquets of all white flowers near the altar.  I’m not sure what the flowers were. Then the whole center aisle was lined from back to front on both sides (quite a long distance) with peace lilies. Each were about two feet tall, much larger than my peace lily plant, and in full bloom.  Simply gorgeous.

Bob is having a mild reaction to his first chemo treatment. Food doesn’t seem to be a want right now. Milk shakes do some good and I am insisting on 8 oz. protein supplements. 

There was some trouble with the streaming of the service this morning so I am multitasking by uploading the service to the church Facebook page as “we speak.” 

The second upload for yesterday was “slow shutter speed.” I’m not so good at adapting to slower or faster shutter speeds. This one isn’t too bad in showing the blur that happens when stopping action but I am not happy with the greenish tone to the overall image. 

It is sadly obvious that summer is creeping to a close. The leaves haven’t begun to change, that will be at least another month but it’s just the feel. At night time the train whistles in the distance catch my attention (for me that is an autumn and winter note) and the football talk and games add to the “feel.” Being an Ohio native I am use to all the seasons and for a reason special to each change I look forward. I will have to admit that that wasn’t the case in my younger years. Summer was my favorite for a long time then spring and fall became comfortable. Winter has always been a little more difficult to dwell on but all the same has some interesting and engaging moments and memories.

While on my way home from church I was on the lookout for one of today’s photos, the coffee shop scene. We have a café a few blocks away that I pass on the way so I left early to get the shot. I discovered that they are moving and all the windows were covered over. I learned on more research on the subject they are moving just across the street. Anyway I found a different shop for the “assignment.” Both of my photos for today are already processed and ready to upload. So.....

For the rest of the day I am going to relax except for preparing dinner.

The first up load for today is “a coffee shop scene.” There is such an establishment on my way to church. I left early to capture the shot.....there were cardboards all over the windows saying they were moving so I had to take a different direction. After church I went by the Tim Hortons. I always considered them a “coffee house” type establishment. So that saved the day. 

A word for today determine. Imagine for yourself a character, a model personality, whose example you determine to follow, in private as well as in public. Epictetus.  Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing. Thomas Jefferson. The direction in which education starts a man will determine his future in life. Plato. Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. George Eliot. There is nothing impossible to him who will try, Alexander The Great. Every man is an impossibility until he is born, Ralph Waldo Emerson.  It is not a lucky word, this name impossible; no good comes of those who have it so often in their mouths, Thomas Carlyle. Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible. Saint Francis of Assisi. Times of great calamity and confusion have been productive for the greatest minds. The purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace. The brightest thunder-bolt is elicited from the darkest storm, Charles Caleb Colton. To the timid and hesitating everything is impossible because it seems so, Sir Walter Scott. It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses, we must plant more roses, George Eliot. The truest wisdom is a resolute determination. Napoleon Bonaparte. 

The second upload for today is “a wild animal.” I had to go back to the archives for this one. I don’t see many wild animals in the city except now and then when one visits and I am aware. 

There are all kinds of help these days and I think this is a good one. What caught my eye about this article is a “pet food pantry” has been established in a part of Columbus. It is called “the Essential Care Center.” It is offering “lowcost veterinary care, a pet food pantry and classes to help develop the future veterinary workforce.” According to the article it is the only one of “its kind” in the United States. “At 3772 S. High St., the center is open 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and closed on weekends. Appointments are required and can be made online at www.columbushumane. org/essential.” An interview related that labor shortage in the field is a problem and prices of veterinary care has increased. The property was purchased for the Columbus Humane department. As part of the service there is a drive-thru pet food pantry along with a “subsidized veterinary clinic with reduced fees for services, exams, vaccinations, surgery, and sick and injured care.” Appointments can be made online. There is also a veterinary assistant training program under the name of Rachael Ray Foundation Pathways to Careers in Animal Health program. This service may help find employees for other vets offices. It is hoped that this training will help other vet clinics with staffing and may lower costs some. The article reported that there are over 106,000 pets living in poverty in Franklin County. It is stated that “Everyone deserves a companion.” The article said that the pantry serves around 800 families living in the area of the building and also investigates many animal cruelty cases. Some of the “cruelty” cases are not due to purposeful neglect it may be only to  “lack of access to services”

I am going to try making chicken spaghetti for dinner tonight. 

Joy

      street maintenance with an observation point