My Life, My World

October 31, 2025 a thought for today, Distrust is poison to friendship. Danish Proverb

Photo a day of my life for yesterday

The first unload for yesterday was “pumpkin(s)”. This is part of a decoration at the McDonalds where I often stop for iced tea. They put something similar to this up every year.

The second upload was “my choice”, an image from my series of “black and white”.

The last upload yesterday was “love”. It is love all the way around, hers for a forever home and me and mine for her as a part of our family

Life today. So far it has been a great day. There is a memory of yesterday spending with my daughter as we took Bobbi to the vet to have a checkup on her eyes. My worries on her eye was for naught, she is fine though permeant damage is manageable. The memories part is our conversations and just sending some time together and all that is part of that.

Today I have been taking care of my daily plans in a leisurely manner, that is a relief after a period of projects that have deadlines.

I didn’t’ get the bi-weekly care of the hydroponic plants done earlier this week so I will do it today. Then there is pet care to tend to, a mothering kind of thing to do and cherish. Then take care of things like ordering furnace filters and groceries for pick up.

The weather looks good but there is a chill in the air. I don’t recall having a “second summer” or Indian summer yet this season. I guess I may have missed it.

A word for today is liberty. Dictatorship naturally arises out of democracy, and the most aggravated form of tyranny and slavery out of the most extreme liberty. Plato. All mankind... being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions. John Locke. There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism. Alexander Hamilton. Liberty may be endangered by the abuse of liberty, but also by the abuse of power. James Madison. Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. George Washington. The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves. William Hazlitt. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as a heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors. Abraham Lincoln. Equality is the soul of liberty; there is, in fact, no liberty without it. Frances Wright. Free people, remember this maxim: we may acquire liberty, but it is never recovered if it is once lost. Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army. Edward Everett. Let us form one body, one heart, and defend to the last warrior our country, our homes, our liberty, and the graves of our fathers. Tecumseh. Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty; power is ever stealing from the many to the few. Wendell Phillips. Enslave the liberty of but one human being and the liberties of the world are put in peril. William Lloyd Garrison.

Article: At first this may seem on the morbid subject at least from the subject in the title. However, there is knowledge and wisdom in the story matter. There may be “Easer egg” messages found here for other uses. Check it out. The title “Symbolism of cemetery plants: How flowers, trees and other botanical motifs honor those buried beneath”. The article starts by mentioning that as you stroll through most cemeteries you will see plants along with all the other expected icons and symbols. It goes on to say that the plants “are planted with purpose, often serving as symbols for the physical and spiritual realms”. The history part of the story begins by saying that in the 1800s in the US growth of cities “boxed in burial grounds”. That led to cemeteries being established outside city limits. In one of the early cemeteries mentioned the “natural state” of the sight was kept in mind as the space was laid out. In the first cemetery mentioned the developers were inspired by the English landscape gardens. I was interested in learning that early rural cemeteries were linked with horticulture societies. Eventually they also became “green spaces to visit to escape the pollution and crowds of the cities”. In one cemetery there were 175 species of plants and a guidebook was produced. Plants were chosen for the climates they would grow in and also for “the symbolism of their shapes and historical associations of their species”. For instance Weeping willows may have been chosen due to “emotional and visual effects”. Evergreens for eternal life, deciduous trees for the cycle of life. Plants that re-grow each year for immortality. In the time of plagues and wars during the Victorian ages there was a movement called “floriography – “flower language” that led to symbolic meaning for, according to the article, “ almost every flower known”. There was a time in history that other symbols were also prominent on headstones. Symbols would vary with “time and place”. When came to plants that may have been used some would lend to the person’s “ancestry or birthplace”. The article mentioned a thistle on the stone may be a Scottish symbol and a shamrock an Irish symbol. The article said that Yuccas because the live for hundreds of years may have been grave markers themselves for “enslaved people”. There are many plants that are associated with religious symbols grapes, wheat and palms are a symbol in the Christian faith. Marigolds are used by Mexicans as a path. Victorians use dandelions as love and grief. Daisies for innocence and purity. Magnolias and carnations are often symbols one of strength and one of affection. Red Poppies were popular in the World War I as a remembrance. I learned that herbs also have meaning, for instance fennel is for praise, garlic for courage, mint for protection. Something that was mentioned in the article made me think twice, some cemeteries offer gardening classes. Even beekeepers have an interest in the idea of flowers in the cemeteries. Some cemeteries have become arboretums. I was also surprised when the article mentioned that there is even talk of growing edible crops in cemeteries in area where food is scarce.

It’s DoorDash night for dinner.

Photo a day in my thoughts today

The first upload challenge for today is “goodbye, October”`. This is the view of the last day of October 2025 as I sit on my porch swing watching the golden leaves still left on the tree about to give their swan song and the fallen leaves by the curb. With the shadows seemingly offering a so long.

The next photo upload is in keeping with the season, “cemetery”. This one is from my archives. It was taken when my sister and I along with her great grand children use to visit are long ago families surrounded by the peace and tranquility.