June 20, 2024 a thought for today, He who does not open his eyes must open his purse. Jewish Proverb

The first upload for yesterday was one of the “photographers choice”. This is one of the side lawns with a row of day lilies belonging to  a neighbor near my home.

The next challenge for yesterday was “kitchen”. This is not mine, mine is not so “commercial”. This on is the one at my church. 

The last upload for yesterday was “I like to drink . . . ”. Of course, it’s tea. I have one kind of tea or another every day. It used to be coffee but I gave that up sometime ago. I drink herbal, not caffeine tea most of the time. But a lot of iced tea also. 

Life today. I got the printing done in better time than I foresaw. Once the computer was booted up it all went smoothly. As the bulletin was printing and folded I was clearing the memory card to the camera. Once the bulletin was finished printing and as I finished folding I started the newsletter printing. Once the bulletin was folded, I began folding the newsletter. After all the printing I proceeded with placing of the bulletin and two bulletin board updates. As I was working, Patti and I had some time to talk about church issues.

My first upload for today is “I don’t like to....”. My biggest “I don’t like to...” is cleaning the oven. 

When I left the church I stopped at the bank and then went on to mail the shut-in envelopes. Once I got home, I got back to this letter and creating some of the photos I need for today. During those two happenings I took a break to start the laundry. 

The next challenge today is “made of wood”. This is my back deck, the one that needs replaced. The wood, as you can see, is really aged and in not such good shape. 

It is hot, hot, hot today so I was glad Patti was at the church before I got there today and had the air conditioner running. Although I started early enough that the temperature wasn’t at its peak for the day.  

Tomorrow Dorothy will meet me and help with finishing the newsletter. We will work together in a room where there is another air conditioning unit. 

Brian called me while I was at church. He wanted to do the lawn today but I told him I think it is too hot for that. The grass hasn’t grown too much in a week since it has been so hot. I am hoping to ask him to help me later with the back deck. The top part of the deck needs replaced. I think Lowell has some left over pieces of composite “wood” that I can have and use.  

The next challenge for today is another of the “photographers choice”. This one is bricks from the patio  along with all of the weeds that have crept in for a visit. 

The word today is glad.  Plant the love of the holy ones within your spirit; don't give your heart to anything, but the love of those whose hearts are glad. Rumi.  Let others praise ancient times; I am glad I was born in these. Ovid.  Youth is to all the glad season of life; but often only by what it hopes, not by what it attains, or what it escapes. Thomas Carlyle.  Stay close to anything that makes you glad you are alive. Hafez.  Sorrow for sin is indeed necessary, but it should not be an endless preoccupation. You must dwell also on the glad remembrance of God's loving-kindness; otherwise, sadness will harden the heart and lead it more deeply into despair. Saint Bernard.  Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love! Sitting Bull.  As long as I have health and strength, I will gladly work all my days. Frederic Chopin.  Gladly we desire to make other men perfect, but we will not amend our own fault. Thomas a Kempis. 

This is one of the days of the month that I have a fourth upload challenge. This one is “treasure from the sea”. This is one of Sue’s collection of sea shells with one of my new air plants is using as home for now.  

Article: Art is a universal language. Art can be and is used in several areas and purposes in our lives. To me it is a sustaining necessity in all of life. There is the natural God given kind called nature as well as the learned and practiced human kind. This article seems to “back me up” in those beliefs. The article states it is a “uniquely human act”. It was written by a professor of Art Therapy Research. Most people think art is a childrens activity or that of a person with talent. It actually “exercises the imagination and is essential to mental as well as physical well-being”. In studies conducted by art education specialists “self-expression – including drawing, painting, fiber arts, woodworking or photography – can reduce stress, improve mood and increase self-confidence”. A couple bits from the article are “creating art is my sanctuary .....to better understand myself and a way to recharge and learn from the challenges of life”. The article relates that brains are “biological prediction machines”. It recognizes the surroundings through memories and the senses leading to all “future scenarios” of daily living and “abilities to survive and thrive”. Art on the other hand helps “us all practice this imaginative muscle in a useful way”. For this practice the brain uses fewer cognitive resources to preform compared to the “rote task of conscious effort”. Normal daily activities can lead to “natural creativity and imagination”. An example would be creating a meal with leftovers or finding a new way to get to much used places, dancing to a song and planting gardens. These kinds of behavior can be the most “underrated seeds of well-being in the world”. Not finding ways of relief can lead to distress and anxiety. Think about our ancestors who carved stick figures on rock walls. Art expressions are a “workout” of sorts. This “exercise” supports confidence and hope, it is a kind of therapy, a treatment for managing transitions and adversities that are common to everyday living. I learned in this article that art therapy goes back to “attempts to treat soldiers struggling with post-traumatic stress during the 20th century’s two world wars”. Sometimes people can’t talk about experiences that have troubled them, art became a way to express “and externalize those feelings and memories”. These activities can help people “regain a sense of agency (organization) and control”. When exploring an art outlet “think about activities that made you feel free to explore when you were a child”..... singing, dancing, writing, drawing. Use things like making a gift for someone or observing the beauty around you. Make time for your personal creativity on a regular basis without excuses for delay or putting it off. The article ends with the Latin saying that goes: “Plene vivere.” Live fully.” On a personal note-photography is my art....my counselor and therapist....my release....my growth...my teacher. I have some side “hobbies” that supplement my “lead” exercise (photography). I have dabbled in calligraphy, tatting, paper marbling, paper quilling, house plant gardening and more. Maybe they too have all along in my life been my counselors through the years. I have enjoyed and practiced photography off and on since I was ten years old. Some of the others come and go and come back again when I feel pull that they are needed.

I am having Welsh Rarebit and potato salad for dinner. 

Joy 

another of the maintenance spots around the city along with a dropped now often used off electric scooters.