December 31, 2024 a thought for today, To dig up a tree, you must begin with the root. Chinese Proverb

The first upload for the 30th was “a flame”. I found this candle when I was searching for something else. I thought all of my candles were gone except for some birthday candles and a candle with three wicks. I need to get some more candles to have on hand.

The next upload was “shiny/bright”. I used the “bright” idea for this image. I like the shadow left by God’s bright light. 

The last upload for yesterday was “pop”. My great grand children call my son “pop” so I was hoping to get his photo today. He had other plans already on his schedule so I use my favorite soda pop (I don’t use it that often anymore.)

Life today. Yesterday morning I went to church to print the newsletter. I had a ride in and a pick up since I didn’t have my car back yet. I brought most of it home to finish putting it together for mailing. I had that part done in about two hours. While I was printing and downloading the streaming files to the backup external hard drive Patti and I had a chance to have a nice long chat. We covered some interesting details about things going on. 

Later in the evening Lowell surprised me by brining my car home. He and Rebecca had gone to get it just after he got the call that it was done and ready. It is a relief to have it back. 

The first upload for this last day of the month and year is “a thought for next year” . One of those  thoughts will be continuing with my hobby of growing hydroponic house plants.

It seems like this has been a long day. I finished the bulletin and got it out to several people for review before I am ready ro print it.  

I took a break for Sweet Pea and I to make a trip out to the post office. I mailed the finished newsletters then stopped at McDonalds for some lunch. 

The car felt good. It looks great. I had to reset the time and my favorite radio station. I do need help with one thing, I can’t seem to get the seat pulled up to where I want it. Lowell had set it perfectly before the mechanic had to work on it. I just can’t seem to get it to move. I’m sure Lowell will be able to set it for me. I also want the telephone feature to be reset. 

I worked on my photo uploads and closed out the monthly calendars. Tomorrow I will set up the new calendars for the new month and the new year. 

The next upload for today is another “a thought for next year”. This is to indicate my visits to the park for relaxing and for some of my photos. Those thoughts for the coming year include my many visits to my church and those activities.  

The word today is regret.  Make the most of your regrets; never smother your sorrow, but tend and cherish it till it comes to have a separate and integral interest. To regret deeply is to live afresh. Henry David Thoreau.  In looking back, I see nothing to regret and little to correct. John C. Calhoun.  Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. George Sand.  A man has cause for regret only when he sows and no one reaps. Charles Goodyear.  Get correct views of life, and learn to see the world in its true light. It will enable you to live pleasantly, to do good, and, when summoned away, to leave without regret. Robert E. Lee.  The man who insists upon seeing with perfect clearness before he decides, never decides. Accept life, and you must accept regret. Henri Frederic Amie.  Tribe follows tribe, and nation follows nation, like the waves of the sea. It is the order of nature, and regret is useless. Chief Seattle.  Remorse is the poison of life. Charlotte Bronte.  If only every man would make proper use of his strength and do his utmost, he need never regret his limited ability. Marcus Tullius Cicero.  Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets. Leonardo da Vinci.  Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. George Sand.  The only conquests that are permanent and leave no regrets are our conquests over ourselves. Napoleon Bonaparte.  For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'. John Greenleaf Whittier.  

The last upload for the year 2024 is “looking back”. Wow, what an assignment. At my age there are many, many things and reasons to “look back” and remember. This time I chose this one. It is a Christmas tree in my husband’s grandfather’s house oh so many years ago. This grandfather was a faithful member of the church I now belong to and his daughter and her son belonged to (he being her son and my husband) was a perfect attendant in the crib room in the beginning of his life and for many more years). 

Article: This is an interesting place to visit in Columbus. A few years ago they added a special part of he space especially for children, it’s Franklin Park. We took Sue’s twin granddaughter’s there when it first opened. Development began in the 1850s and continued to the 1880s. For thirty years it was the home of the Franklin County Fairgrounds. According to the article it is “the first known residential area of Columbus lies within the present day neighborhood”.  For a six block area it was called "Franklin Park Place". This neighborhood was “a mix of both larger mansions and smaller, modest homes”. Up to th 1940s he street car was most often used to get around until the “automobile” became more common. The article mentioned that people took Sunday drives in a “1.2 mile loop that circles Franklin park”. The article went on to describe that the park is 88 acres with several ponds, an amphitheater, terraced waterfalls, a community garden, an Asian-themed garden, a picnic shelter, and playgrounds”. Inside the park is the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. One of the landmarks of the neighborhood are twenty-one cherry trees that were given to out city. In 2012 to mark he 100 year of the original gifted tree. 

It’s going to be waffles do dinner tonight,

Joy