May 4, 2025 a thought for today, If man is as wise as a serpent, he can afford to be as harmless as a dove. Native American  Cheyenne Proverb

The first upload yesterday was “urban/city scene”. This is  fairly common city scene in this part of Columbus. However, I think it is common in many parts of the country from time to time. 

The next upload was “food”. This is one of my favorite meal. It is quick and easy to fix.  

The last upload for yesterday was “weekend vibe”. My normal week end “vibes” are grocery pick up and church. This is Saturday’s chore. 

Life today. I am starting this before I leave for church. Matt, Jessie and the kids are going to pick me up as soon as I get home, we are going to the Columbus Art Gallery together.

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When I got to church I found the doors to the sanctuary still locked and none of the lights on. I unlocked and turned on the first set of lights. Then I got the keys to open the pastor’s office for the minister. Then a couple of us went to the narthex to find the right buttons to push to get the lights on. Next I turned the camera on to record the service. After communion and the benediction I shut the camera off and put the key away. 

When I got home I made myself a peanut butter sandwich and a cup of tea. Before I got three bites of the sandwich they were here. 

We put my rollator in the car and were off to the gallery. 

The first upload for today is “from where I stand”. This was taken from “where I stood” as I watched two of my grandchildren enjoying a part of our trip to the art gallery. 

It was fun. The art of course was amazing. I found that since I was there last they have expanded the section for kids. It seems to take up the whole first level. The kids went from one project to the next with glee and energy. It was fun to watch them. I was beginning to feel the walking by the time we were ready to go. It was nice being with them. 

When we left there we met Lowell and Rebecca at York Steak House.

My lounge chair really felt good after I took care of Sweet Pea and was able to sit for the evening.  

The second upload for today is “your best bokeh”. I don’t know that this is my “best” but it is one of the better ones. 

The word is ability.  I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor. Henry David Thoreau.  Ability is nothing without opportunity. Napoleon Bonaparte.  Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life. Marcus Aurelius.  Ability without honor is useless. Marcus Tullius Cicero.  Ability will never catch up with the demand for it. Confucius.  A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would be my standard of a statesman. Edmund Burke.  Natural abilities are like natural plants, that need pruning by study; and studies themselves do give forth directions too much at large, except they be bounded in by experience. Francis Bacon.  Every man's ability may be strengthened or increased by culture. John Abbott. Wealth is the ability to fully experience life. Henry David Thoreau.  Studies serve for delight, for ornaments, and for ability. Francis Bacon.  The ability to convert ideas to things is the secret of outward success. Henry Ward Beecher. As is our confidence, so is our capacity. William Hazlitt.  

The last upload for today is “open”. I have a few images that would fit this challenge. In searching the archives for the one I wanted to use I liked this one for this particular challenge.  

Article: I have heard about this abuse situation before at least the abuse itself part. I thought more information or information from another source would be a good idea. The title is “Animal abuse often signals human abuse — should therapists be allowed to report it?”  I didn’t realize the article was mainly about whether the therapist should report such abuse.  I was more interested in the forms of animal abuse and any possible useful way to stop it. When it is known to happen. It mentions that the therapist “bound by a sacred code” can’t report it. Even when if it is a “warning sign” of worse to come “the law ties your hands. It goes on to say that therapists are required to protect client information “unless there is a clear risk of harm to the client or others, particularly vulnerable groups like children”.   Further in the article it mentions that “unlike child abuse, which requires mandatory reporting, animal abuse leaves therapists unable to report without client consent” and this causes them “emotional struggles known as moral injury”. This makes them “feel powerless to prevent harm”. The article also mentions that animal abuse is often connected to human violence but is treated as “separate from other types of violence”. Some people “have described animal abuse as “the tip of the iceberg.” It goes on to say that how animals are treated by a family can show “valuable insight into family dynamics and signals broader issues”. In a study conduced in 1997 it was shown that 70 per cent “of people charged with animal cruelty had a history of other violent behaviors, including homicide”. The animal abuse can lead to bullying, partner violence, family violence and other types of violent crimes. All of that along with other personality disorders. The article suggests that professionals need training on how to “recognize the link between animal cruelty, domestic violence, child abuse and elder abuse, advocating for prevention”. It suggests that how animal abuse is “viewed and reported, ensuring that therapy is aligned with its core mission: promoting well-being”.

We went to York after the gallery. 

Joy 

a few years ago I generated this image of the the orange barrel and weeds to this abstract of colorful curves and lines using a filter and a set of its adjusted algorithms.