May 5, 2026, a thought for today, He who swears is a liar. Italian Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

My first challenge upload yesterday was “I feel...”. When I decide to take a fifteen minute break sometimes I like to put my feet up and just breathe. 

The next upload was one of the “my choice” and I made another of my “still
life”. I have used the peonies from my yard for a couple of photos of them to different of my clubs. This on is one of them. 

The last upload was titled “open”. That could mean a couple of thing open for my own choice or a open door, window, bag and so on. I used this one of Bobbi looking at the storm door. 

Life today. Tami, Andy and Natalie were here yesterday. The main reason for the visit was Bobbi’s monthly pedicure. As it turned out they helped with some other projects too. I got that hole I have been trying to get to the right size done along with some winter outside things put away for the summer. But most of all their visit helped to lesson much of the thing that was worrying me as mentioned in my last letter. I think some of my prayer was answered. 

Now that I have a little spare time for a few days I can print, mount, mat and frame some more photos. I may need to set aside certain times of every day at least some part of a week to follow that path. I don’t know if this project is going to go where and how I would like and have visioned  but I will never know if I don’t try.  I think I may have found three people who will be willing to help me hang art to add to the walls at my church. They are people I love and trust and want to share my dream and make me happy at the same time. I need to work with it when they are available. 

It was time to vote so I waited until I thought the people voting before going to work were probably gone by now. I was apparently right, I got in and out in about ten minutes. 

I will be able to start rebuilding my four window gardens in a week or so. I call them senior gardens, they are a little easier to take care of than garden layouts in the yard. I have the plants under grow lights but I think they are showing signs of needing to be put outside  

The word for today is voice.  When a whole nation is roaring Patriotism at the top of its voice, I am fain to explore the cleanness of its hands and purity of its heart. Ralph Waldo Emerson. History is a voice forever sounding across the centuries the laws of right and wrong. Opinions alter, manners change, creeds rise and fall, but the moral law is written on the tablets of eternity. James A. Forude. One voice can enter ten ears, but ten voices cannot enter one ear. Leone Levi. I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true 'The empty vessel makes the greatest sound'. William Shakespeare. Conscience is the voice of the soul. Polish Proverb. A still, small voice. Bible, Kings xix. 12. Me thought I heard a voice cry, "Sleep no more! Macbeth does murder sleep!"- the innocent sleep. William Shakespeare. hips that pass in the night, and speak each other in passing, only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness... Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Music is the voice that tells us that the human race is greater than it knows. Napoleon Bonaparte. I was in my thirteenth year when I heard a voice from God to help me govern my conduct. And the first time I was very much afraid. Joan of Arc. When the green woods laugh with the voice of joy, And the dimpling stream runs laughing by; When the air does laugh with our merry wit, And the green hill laughs with the noise of it. William Blake. First and foremost, the monk should own nothing in this world, but he should have as his possessions solitude of the body, modesty of bearing, a modulated tone of voice, and a well-ordered manner of speech. He should be without anxiety as to his food and drink, and should eat in silence. Saint Basil. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice. William Shakespeare. Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined; Till at his second bidding darkness fled, Light shone, and order from disorder sprung. John Milton. Occasionally, some brother sings very earnestly through his nose, often disturbing those around him, but it does not matter how the voice sounds to the ears of man. What is important is how the heart sounds to the ears of God. Charles Spurgeon. 

Article summary. I watched the Kentucky Derby this past weekend. It brought to mind my personal very limited experience with horses, my love for all animals and their connections to humans. I was in awe of that majestic animal who came from the very last of 18 horses too win the race. I wonder what he was feeling. So I found this article that shines a tiny bit of the huge contributions these animals, as others also offer our in and with their lives. The titles Touch forms the foundation of the powerful human horse relationship. Keri Brandt Off, Professor of Sociology and Gender and Sexuality Studies, Fort Lewis College. At theconversation.com. It opened by mentioning two films that came out in 2017 that involved horses and humans together. I did not see the films but after reading this article I may learn from them and need a bunch of tissues. One of the humans experienced poverty and loneliness the other a brain injury. The films were “Lean on Pete” and “The Rider”. I like the way the author stated that he has researched the connection between the “two species” and finds it “miraculous” that one, a “predator” and the other a “prey”, come together with trust and communication. The article touches on the subject of when the horse might have been domesticated possibility in the area of Ukraine and Kazakhstan. For many years they were used a workers, transportation and in combat. In the 19th century due to modernizations they were not used in those ways so much. The article went on to mention that now days the interest using them in simple riding and in racing grew.  They have become valued as companions in a different manner that cats and dogs. As the article stated “horses sit at the intersection of being wild and domesticated” not easily in to house hold pets. In research it has been found that horse and man communicate with a “third language” that has been called an “embodied language system”. A language that come as a form of “touch, emotional connection and becoming attuned to physical movements”. This form comes from “melding of both bodies” which to the human and horse “developing a high level of bodily control and sensitivity”. It seems this connectivity can take years to grow. The article mentions that the “intimacy” comes with daily interactions to bring the “harmony” for the two. I liked this point, horses can help humans learn a new kind of knowledge with the body more than just words and thoughts. The humans know themselves better from this connection. That was in the last sentence in the article. I did some more research: Therapeutic horseback riding provides significant physical, emotional, and cognitive benefits. Also fosteres confidence, communication, and sensory regulation in a non-judgmental environment in therapeutic situations involving horse and rider. Horses help reduce anxiety, improve mood, and boost self-confidence.”

I think it is going to be dinner from the freezer tonight. 

Photos in my life today

This first upload assignment is another “my choice” and another of my “still life”. Yet one more of the peonies in different stages of “life”, new bud in tea cup with the older one and a few of it’s fallen petals on the table.

The next title is “pink”. This is image is on of stems on a hyacinth I bought at the store over the week end.  

The last upload is “I saw...”. Today was voting day so I decided to use a part of that for this upload. 

Joy

this is a digitized image that I created on a photo I took of a red jeep front grill I used filters to make the design it is on my Fine Art America site.

Want to shop? fineartamerica.com search for joy rector) (“view shop”) redbubble.com search for jarector)