May 27, 2024 a thought for today, The more you sweat in Peacetime, The less you bleed during War. Chinese Proverb

An upload for the 26th is “serenity”. This for me is a place of serenity especially when there are no lights in the Sanctuary and no one there. It is total quiet and peace.

The second upload for yesterday was “funny”. It’s not a roll on the floor funny but seeing how much Sweet Pea would like to join the geese was amusing. 

The last upload for yesterday was “‘80's vibes”. I don’t any memorabilia of that “era” and time in my life. In this image I simply tried to emulate the feel with bright color and sequins.  

Life today. So far it has been a pretty good Monday. I have the bulletin done to the point of incoming information. 

There is going to be a birthday gathering for Lowell. It has been a while since I have driven any distance from the westside but I was going to do that later today. Sue isn’t feeling well so she didn’t what to go out of the house. Plans changed a few minutes ago. I will be meeting him and Rebecca for lunch at Tommy’s. Not so far to drive and I will still get to wish him happy birthday in person.

The first photo a day for today is “astrophotography”. When I let Sweet Pea out for the night I have been taking my camera since the northern lights display. I have been playing with settings to see what I can “create”. 

This is one of those days where the sun comes out for a while and the grayish clouds chase it away. I have the flag out waving in the breeze. I don’t like for it to get wet but I can bring it in to dry. 

For some reason I was thinking today is the end of the month. We still have almost a week to go. I still have two days of food pantry as well as the printing day. And an extra day....Friday....it should be a “laid back day”. 

The second upload today is “money”. I had this assignment title for another club this month. This is the same collection of coins only in a different configuration. 

The word today is far.  For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. Martin Luther.  True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that - it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Charles Spurgeon.  Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far. Thomas Jefferson. Go as far as you can see; when you get there you'll be able to see farther. Thomas Carlyle.  Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead. Louisa May Alcott.  O, wind, if winter comes, can spring be far behind? Percy Bysshe Shelley.  It's far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has. Hippocrates.  Suspicion is far more to be wrong than right; more often unjust than just. It is no friend to virtue, and always an enemy to happiness. Hosea Ballou.  Judging from the main portions of the history of the world, so far, justice is always in jeopardy. Walt Whitman.  Tears are often the telescope by which men see far into heaven. Henry Ward Beecher.  Who can map out the various forces at play in one soul? Man is a great depth, O Lord. The hairs of his head are easier by far to count than his feeling, the movements of his heart. Saint Augustine.  The knowledge of God is very far from the love of Him. Blaise Pascal.

The last photo a day upload for today is “still life”. This is a tiny piece of my hydrophobic house plant garden including the gnomes that accompany it. 

Article: All of God’s creatures are amazing and why not they are God’s creatures. We learn more and more of their particular gifts that He gave them to share with us, to teach us, to heal us. This ariticle is more on the subject of pets as opposed to all “creatures” in general. It is written by an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry ( prevention, and treatment of mood, behavior, cognition, perceptions, and emotions). Owning a pets is full of highs and lows (what part of life isn’t full of highs and lows?). In living with the lives of pets there are tail wiggles or purrs when you come in the door. Then the “urgent”care visits to the vet when there is vomiting or other medical problems. The article relates that research shows that dogs and cats have “equally positive impacts on mental health”. They reduce stress, anxiety and some of the overwhelming parts of daily living. There is also the sense of purpose and responsibility the pets instill in us. They bring with them a “range of emotions”. There was an ‘uptick’ of pet adoptions during the COVID pandemic. Dogs ‘reduce’ loneliness. They can and do “assist in detecting the onset symptoms of medical episodes, including seizures”. Helping in all types of therapy improve qualities of life after trauma, anxiety disorders, autism, brain injuries and more. One down side in pet ownership is separation anxiety as well as the worry when there are the signs a pet is developing some illness. Another ‘down side’ is the knowledge that pets live shorter lives. Pet owners need to acknowledge the stresses in pet ownership as well as the other side of the coin, humans receive unconditional love and full acceptance like no other from their animal companion.

Dinner will be something from the freezer or something in a can.  

Joy

                              into the night