May 7, 2026, a thought for today, Who knows most believes least. Italian Proverb

Photo in my life yesterday

The first assigned challenge for yesterday was “I love....”. In my life today is a being that brightens every moment her name is Bobbi. What else is love?

The next upload was titled “macro”. This is “up close and personal” of one
portion of a ‘ball’ on my snowball bush. This is the first year I have had an abundance of blooms. The plant was given to me by a neighbor. 

The last assignment for yesterday was “my choice” and in this case one of my “still life” series. It is the last three of a bunch of bananas from last week grocery order. 

Life today. It is another busy Thursday. The printing went without a hitch. I also managed to get two more photos hung on my “gallery wall”. Four down and lots to go, I hope. There was a delivery from Mid Ohio for our food pantry shelves. I left there to drop off the mail and stopped at Wendy’s for a “pick me up”. 

Time and I are on a collection course again today. I am late with the letter and with the photos. I tended to kitty needs, started the laundry and put a potato in to bake for dinner. I will be making the meat loaf shortly just before I do the grocery order for pick up tomorrow. I am doing it on Friday instead of Saturday because I am going to Drew’s first communion Saturday. 

Typical spring temperatures are taking their good old time getting here. When I have some extra time I should be getting my window garden containers cleaned and ready for the new plants. The things I had in them last year were annuals, not perennials so they will not be “resurfacing”. 

Tami and Andy were here again yesterday to give me a hand. I needed help making my bed, believe it or not. The age thing is raising it’s ugly head and the bed is in such a position that it is difficult to get to the back edges with the fitted sheets. It need someone with flexibility, not me. Andy also got my, what I thought was “dead” sweeper, fixed. It does my spirits good to have them here whenever I can.

The word today is voyage. Life's a voyage that's homeward bound. Herman Melville. Happy the man who, like Ulysses, has made a fine voyage, or has won the Golden Fleece, and then returns, experienced and knowledgeable, to spend the rest of his life among his family! Joachim Du Bellay. Were this world an endless pain, and by sailing eastward we could forever reach new distances, and discover sights more sweet and strange than any Cyclades or Islands of King Solomon, then there were promise in the voyage. Herman Melville. It is not the going out of port, but the coming in, that determines the success of a voyage. Henry Ward Beecher. We are all inventors, each sailing out on a voyage of discovery, guided each by a private chart, of which there is no duplicate. The world is all gates, all opportunities. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Voyage, travel, and change of place impart vigor. Seneca the Younger. Those we love can but walk down to the pier with us - the voyage we must make alone. William Makepeace Thackeray. In the love of narrow souls I make many short voyages but in vain-I find no sea room-but in great souls I sail before the wind without a watch, and never reach the shore. Henry David Thoreau. The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks. Ralph Waldo Emerson.  When the wind is blowing and the sleet or rain is driving against the dark windows, I love to sit by the fire, thinking of what I have read in books of voyage and travel. Charles Dickens. If all do not join now to save the good old ship of the Union this voyage nobody will have a chance to pilot her on another voyage. Abraham Lincoln. Every painting is a voyage into a sacred harbor. Giotto di Bondone. Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

Article summary. I wanted to see what this may have to say about the good affects of art. I don’t have the inborn artists eye, but years of experience, observation and tons of practice have brought an edge. What a way to see the beautiful worlds we were given.  Besides I feel it is one of the universal languages and is a healing and health- promoting force. The title is A clearer view on the healing power of the arts. Marguerite Johnson, Senior Lecturer in Classics, University of Newcastle. Miranda Lawry, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art, Deputy Head of School (Teaching & Learning) School of Creative Arts, University of Newcastle. At theconversation.com. I was surprised when I read the first sentence saying that Florence Nightingale, the nurse, advocated natures “beauty and aesthetics” and the part some of that related medical practice. She promoted the use of window placement to allow a view of the nature in courtyards and natures sunlight. She felt it was “imperative for the healing process”. The article relates that her “insights” ultimately helped lead to research work in our time that promotes the beauty of nature what is “natural” in nature, (lines, shapes, color, etc, etc.). All of those lead to all of nature including all that touches life and its surroundings. Some of this research has shown it affect on health of workers and patients. As a lead in to that it mentions it affords “opportunities to exhibit, perform and engage in activities that promote inclusion, wellbeing and enriched lives”. The art mentioned covers visual arts, creative writing, design, architecture all of which is promoted in not only hospitals but also in “schools, aged-care facilities and clinics”. Included in the health issues is stress reduction, mental health, dementia and alzheimers and more. The article included a section on one of the theories of Ms. Nightingale about the window part of exposing an entrance into art appreciation through viewing nature, in my opinion the ultimate gift were we given at the beginning of time. Some of the research on the window, by the way windows of all sizes and types, idea have shown they bring “visual distractions” leading to a reduction to stress. There was a photographer involved in one of the “window” studies. She made images of some results of the sights viewed in the promising windows and had the photos hung in “prominent “memorial” spaces”. It looks like Florence and I share more than our chosen field of labor. This article added to my hopes of photography to offer as additional view of life to the viewer and the nature of all its shapes, shades and minutia. Photos capture a moment in time never to be seen that way again. (here I am Lord.....take my hand)

It’s meatloaf and baked potato for dinner tonight. 

Photos in my life today

My first upload for today is another of “my choice” and another of my “still life” . This one is my sisters
oranges. She is going to have to eat them soon. 

The next challenge is “I like to eat”. I just plain like food. McDonalds and Wendy’s are quick ways to get meals that put a smile on the face and taste good too. 

My last image upload today is “skyline”. Being in the city and there isn’t always a good view of the skyline per se so I used one here that I took a while back on a trip to my family.

Joy

this is one of my Fine Art America images...an abstract of golden swirls is is digitally generated from an image of some of  Ukrainian eggs I have decorated. I used sever algorithms to change the shapes

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