May 9, 2026, a thought for today, Muddy water won't do for a mirror. Italian Proverb

Photos in my life yesterday

The first upload for yesterday was “I have....”. I have a huge English Ivy plant that I had purchased for one of my window gardens. It is WAY to large for that purpose for that purpose so I am putting it in the front “garden”, it is mostly of wild mint plants right now. This will add something of stature. 

The next challenge was “my choice”. It is one of my “still life” series, an apple in the dark. 

The last upload “35mm/70mm”. With my Samsung 24+ camera it was difficult to get this precise so I used my own view of the difference. 

Life today. I set the alarm to get up early so I could get the letter started and some photos if I could and get them done before Lowell picked me hope to go to Drew’s first communion. 

I did get the letter started and four photos ready for Photoshop. Lowell was here with Rebecca and Jefferson before 9:30. Off we went for the special event. 

I am home now. I want to finish the letter and get it in the mail, email that is, this afternoon. The photos will have to wait ‘til tomorrow morning before I go to church. 

The church for the first communion was gorgeous. Tabi and Andy were there too. Most of the  families were there. We didn’t all sit together but we were all in the same place at the same time, that felt good and special for me. After the service we went to the front of the church for photos. Some of us headed to Matt and Jessie’s for a “reception,” including lots of good food. Being in the church cemented my feeling with where I am in my own personal Christian journey. The home visit after the communion service made me appreciate how much family and friends mean in lifes journey. Stay together for as long as God gave us the opportunity to do so. 

Bobbi came into view when she realized I was home. That is also a welcome feel for the day, to have her waiting to greet me. It’s a day for welcome and a bit of the warm feelings that are there as a supreme gift if we hold them dear as we were designed to.

The word today is warm. One kind word can warm three winter months. Japanese proverb. And virtue, though in rags, will keep me warm. John Dryden. The glow of one warm thought is to me worth more than money. Thomas Jefferson. A friendship that like love is warm; A love like friendship, steady. Thomas Moore. Continuous eloquence wearies. Grandeur must be abandoned to be appreciated. Continuity in everything is unpleasant. Cold is agreeable, that we may get warm. Blaise Pascal. There may be a great fire in our hearts, yet no one ever comes to warm himself at it, and the passers-by see only a wisp of smoke. Vincent Van Gogh. Gratitude, warm, sincere, intense, when it takes possession of the bosom, fills the soul to overflowing and scarce leaves room for any other sentiment or thought. John Quincy Adams. I formed, in early life, two purposes to which I have inflexibly adhered, under some very strong pressure from warm personal friends. They were, first, never to be a second in a duel; and, second, never to go security for another man's debts. Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II. I have no hostility to nature, but a child's love to it. I expand and live in the warm day like corn and melons. Ralph Waldo Emerson. A stale article, if you dip it in a good, warm, sunny smile, will go off better than a fresh one that you've scowled upon. Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is because I think so much of warm and sensitive hearts, that I would spare them from being wounded. Charles Dickens. There are some who speak well and write badly. For the place and the audience warm them, and draw from their minds more than they think of without that warmth. Blaise Pascal. 

Article summary. I was wanting to find an article about window gardens. I was in a hurry since I will be going out for the day. So I came upon some articles about other kinds of gardens in city spaces so I decided to have a look. The title is Green buildings can boost productivity, well being and health of workers. Md Sazan Rahman, PhD Candidate, Bioresource Engineering, McGill University. At theconversation.com. The opening sentences mention what most of us know and have already read about. I am referring to how building that have greenery in and/or outside the doors in a courtyard, beds along the outside walls or even on the roof tops can aid to energy saving “biodiversity” that reduces heat an offers filtering of gases leading to a taste of clean air.  It went on to say that “green buildings” cost five to ten percent more than a “conventional” buildings, but “analyses” show the cost can be considered in added benefits to health and wellness. It says covering the building reduces energy by adding to the heating processes in the winter and the cooling in the summer.  Those features add to saving some money in those areas of costs. I see all of this only adding to the welcoming sight of green plants and flowers of nature. The temperature question also adds to “better mental health” and better production in the work spaces of the building.  The article went on to mention the “dioxide” in the air that also enters the picture of the health issues of plants.  Plants in the areas mentioned can “reduce the air levels of nitrogen dioxide, ozone, sulfur dioxide” which save money in the processes needed in “terms of pollution removal.” More benefits of the plants are “fewer mould spores”, and the fact that they can add to indoor humidify helping with dry eye, itchy throats and “chapped lips”. Plants “reduce noise levels”. Studies show that the lighting of plants also add a health related issue as humans seem of “feel” better in the light. The article ended by saying “it’s high time green buildings became the norm to improve well-being, air quality and carbon emissions”.

Dinner is out of the freezer again tonight. 

Photos in my life today 

The first challenge for today is “I read this”. This book was given to me by a very dear minister friend, Rev. Ed Sensenbrenner. It does and will always remind me of him. 

The next upload is another "bicycle” I made this image a while back when I was waiting for my grocery pickup. this was apparently a "break station" for the store employees. 

The last upload for today is “clean”.  I couldn’t decide what to use so I picked this one. Dawn cleans almost anything, including baby duck that have been soaked in oil. 

one of my Fine Art contest entries generated from an image of open venation blinds

Joy

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