August 22, 2025 a thought for today, He who seeks finds everywhere. Lithuanian Proverb 

The first upload for the 21st was another of the “my choice” and another of my series of “flat lay”. This flat lay is a few sheet of some of the art work two of my great grand children worked on as there was work going on the new deck. 

The next upload was “picnic”. I haven’t been on a picnic in a long time so I dipped back in my archives or this one. 

The last up load for yesterday was “feels like home”. As I am sitting at my desk and swing around this is my view.

Life today. My house is alive again today. The twins came last night for a sleep over and spend today with us. So there is movement and activity. There is youth, there is spring in things. There is also clean up and food choices. It is a sort of renewal or at least renewal of memories for eighty plus year olds. A breath of air and a sigh of relief. It’s good any time we can have our young people here for a visit. Sue and I are usually completely worn out when they leave but there is a warm glow to bask in as we rest and recover.

I was up a little early. The plan was to meet Dorothy at church to finish the newsletter. The last two months were too difficult to finish the newsletter at church because of the heat. But today is near perfect. She and Dennis came just a few minutes after I got there to unlock and shut off the alarm. Dorothy and I were able to catch up on the going ons in our lives and reminisce some of the past. We enjoy these short monthly meet ups. 

The first upload for today is “something I’m looking forward to”. This is one of my new “window gardens”. This one is on the fencing on the new deck. It is late in the season to be planting seeds but I just got this basket for the new fence. These seeds most likely won’t have time to bloom before the cold weather get here but I will be able to enjoy their greenery. They are johnny jump up seed and geraniums. 

I was eager to get home to spend a little time with the twins before it was time for them to go home.  I get to talk to them off and on between their cell phone time attention. Sue took them out shopping so I had time to make Sweet Peas next two weeks meals and water the plants, especially those in the full sun. 

Then it was back to the computer and to this letter. I was running so late yesterday that I didn’t get the blog uploaded for yesterday so I snuck that in as soon as I got home. I also had to set up two of the photos I needed for today. I have always been most interested in spontaneous photos for the “real life” and moments in time captures. But I am enjoying a touch of some other styles here and there too, such as flat lays and still lifes.

The next upload for today is “hard work”. This is another one from the archives. I am not in a position to see this kind of “hard work” going on to much lately. 

The word today is final.  The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. Johann Sebastian Bach.  Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art. Frederic Chopin.  The roaring thunder of the law and the fear of the terror of judgment are both used to bring us to Christ, but the final victory culminating in our salvation is won through God's loving-kindness. Charles Spurgeon. A God without dominion, providence, and final causes, is nothing else but fate and nature. Alexander Pope.  Whatever may be his true and final destination, there is a spirit within him at enmity with nothingness and dissolution. This is the character of all life and being. Percy Bysshe Shelley.  The kind of man who always thinks that he is right, that his opinions, his pronouncements, are the final word, when once exposed shows nothing there. But a wise man has much to learn without a loss of dignity. Sophocles.  You have been the last dream of my soul. Charles Dickens. 

The last upload for today is “my choice” and one of my series of “flat lay”. I had the ground beef out to thaw and a bag of potato chips for the twins along with grapes for their snacks. So I put them together for a “food” type lay out.  

Article: This being summer time it is traditionally a time for vacations or maybe a day or week-end trip. Here is another suggestion of things to see and experience right here in Ohio. The title is “Hit The Water: Ohio’s New Lake Erie To Ohio River Trail”. I liked the first sentence, “waterways have been shaping the state’s history for hundreds of years”. It went on to say that they moved people as well as “goods” and ideas. They also build towns and “inspired inventors”.  Now we in Ohio are “celebrating that history with a new driving trail”. This trails lines take you to the historic water spots. It is called the Lake Erie to Ohio River Trail and offers 150 of this sites across the state “from Toledo’s National Museum of the Great Lakes all the way down to the Valley Gem Sternwheeler in Marietta”. The stops at these sights show “preserved towpath”, scenic overlooks, and communities that still thrives”. The author mentioned that it is like “stepping back in time”. Those visiting these communities will see that it is like “seeing how central they were—and still are—to life in Ohio.”  This layout of the Lake Erie To Ohio River Trail includes seven categories which cover, boat rides and ferries, lighthouses, museums, canal museums, natural areas, and historic sites. The natural areas and overlooks cover aquatic science and research sites. One of the historic places is a “1925 lake freighter docked in downtown Cleveland”. Along the way is the states longest natural beach, at Headlands Beach State Park in Mentor. This project, the Lake Erie to Ohio River Trail, “is the third of six experiential driving trails planned by America 250-Ohio, which is organizing the state’s celebrations for the U.S. semiquincentennial in 2026". There have been other trails one of which was the  Ohio Air & Space Trail and another planed was focused on the Ohio Creativity Trail, highlighting Ohio’s writers, artists, and musicians. There’s more to come, too. Future trails will celebrate Ohio inventors, transportation, and leadership, including stops connected to U.S. presidents. The trails are just one piece of the semiquincentennial celebration. Ohioans can also look forward to themed monthly celebrations”. 

I think I have a chicken pot pie in the freezer for dinner. 

Joy

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