May 26, 2020: thought for the day: A quarrel is like an itch; the more you scratch, the more it itches. Yiddish Proverb

Here is another day with little on the agenda. I finished the church bulletin for this week and listened to the biweekly prayer vigil.

Sue wanted to do some shopping. I didn’t need anything right now so I dropped her off at Walmart. She wanted to spend some time there so I will go back and pick her up later. In the mean time I will get a few household chores done.

The photo a day challenges make for some interesting thinking and offers an exercise in increasing our attention to things we may not otherwise look for or explore more intently. The day before yesterday and today the theme has been about food. This opens a lot of areas of thought and presentation. Yesterday’s challenge was “lunch”. For me, tuna salad on toast and potato chips with a glass of diet cola.

I need to work on cataloging my photo archives as well as choosing photos I want to include in a coffee table book I am putting together.

The word today is grace.  If I am not, may God place me there; if I am, may God so keep me. I should be the saddest in all the world if I knew that I were not in the grace of God. But if I were in a state of sin, do you think the Voice would come to me? I would that every one could hear the Voice as I hear it, Joan of Arc. I welcome all creatures of the world with grace, Hildegard of Bingen.  To laugh, to lie, to flatter, to face: Four ways in court to win man's grace, Roger Ascham,  Education is a companion which no misfortune can depress, no crime can destroy, no enemy can alienate, no despotism can enslave. At home, a friend, abroad, an introduction, in solitude a solace and in society an ornament. It chastens vice, it guides virtue, it gives at once grace and government to genius. Without it, what is man? A splendid slave, a reasoning savage, Joseph Addison. Above all, live in the present moment and God will give you all the grace you need, Francois Fenelon. The soul, light as a feather, fluid as water, innocent as a child, responds to every movement of grace like a floating balloon, Jean-Pierre de Caussade. You cannot learn about Love, love appears on the wings of grace, Rumi. Simplicity is that grace which frees the soul from all unnecessary reflections upon itself, Francois Fenelon. Out of His fulness we receive, and grace for grace, — like wave upon wave, Horatius Bonar. 



Today’s photo theme is “dinner”. I made baked spaghetti for dinner along with garlic toast (made on hot dog buns (right lower corner), pickled beets and a splash of Parmesan cheese (left upper corner). And a salad, not shown.

Bob, my son, has been interested and very involved in the Ham Radio hobby for many years. It has afforded him opportunities he would never have experienced without it. He was involved with it at the Ohio State University football games, various marathons, Arnold Palmer events, the Forth of July fireworks (Red, White and Boom), weather emergencies, trips to New York for marathons events, natural disasters in other states and on and on. The article today tells about how it was used by some during the pandemic. As the article mentioned it gives users a place and space to “entertain, educate and converse”. Those three affects from the hobby are always there not just during the pandemic but even more so now as a way to stay connected. During the pandemic some of the “clubs” have increased the times of connection, called “nets” (multiple groups may join in)  from one time a week to two or three. Before the stay-at-home rules started there may have been a dozen or so members who checked in. Now there are “upward of twenty”.  It helps to break up the boredom of cabin fever. These ham radio net members “operate” from their homes for the weekly visits. Most can reach a distance of thirty to forty-five miles from the transmitters in their areas. During “normal” net meetings talk is about uses of the radios, technology and antennas. Recently the topics of been about so many other topics including astronomy, model railroads, 3D printing and on and on. What a nice way to bond with others. The article mentioned that “any of the club’s members can volunteer to prepare and host a presentation on a topic of his or her choice”. These conversations involve a wide range of ages and educational backgrounds. There are 27,955 licensed amateur radio operators in Ohio. The article went on to explain that ham radios can operate without the internet or even without an electric power grid making it an essential type of communication during all kinds of emergencies.

I think I am making Parmesan chicken and chicken stuffing for dinner.

Joy

May 24, 2020 thought for the day: Speak truth in humility to all people. Only then can you be a true man. American Indian Proverb

It has (almost) been a “lazy, hazy day of summer”. It’s been comparatively hot but only because the last few days have been on the cool and damp side. We will be getting a lot hotter, I’m sure.

The photo theme for yesterday was “something green”. The weather has been a real help to greening things up. The trees, for the most part, are in full leaf with different shades of green. Then there is the grass that has come back from the winter blahs. There is a group of trees about a half a block from my house. They form a beautiful collection of shades of green and in shapes and forms. 

As is my habit for Sunday, I don’t have an agenda. I am just picking up something here and there that I have thought about on a different day but didn’t have the time to work on. Found a  new crochet pattern, then researched some information about getting back to church services, possible ways to make things as safe as can be. We will be having a meeting later this week.

I still need to work in the kitchen for a little while this afternoon.

The word today is genuine.  A man can be beautiful physically, mentally, or personality wise. True beauty, though, is in the spirit. A genuine man who understands right and wrong, with a strong sense of self is beautiful. A man who can be compassionate and caring, but firm and wise. Someone who can do the right thing no matter who's around to see it. Even if the deed is unseen and unrecognized. That is a beautiful man. One today is worth two tomorrows, Benjamin Franklin. Despair is the only genuine atheism, Jean Paul.  There is but one genuine love potion - consideration, Menander.  Let your words be the genuine picture of your heart, John Wesley.   I have before suggested that a genuine blackguard is never without a pocket-handkerchief, Edgar Allan Poe. To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian, in the only sense he wished any one to be; sincerely attached to his doctrines, in preference to all others; ascribing to himself every human excellence; & believing he never claimed any other, Thomas Jefferson.  To me nothing in the world is as precious as a genuine smile, especially from a child, Rumi. That friendship will not continue to the end which is begun for an end, Francis Quarles. A gentle word, a kind look, a good-natured smile can work wonders and accomplish miracles, William Hazlitt.

The photo challenge today is “breakfast”. There was a time the thought of breakfast didn’t appeal to me when I first woke up or even until time for lunch rolled around. Things change as age creeps in. The hunger topic for me has done an about face of sorts. I use to be ravenous at dinner time.  Now I wake up hungry, not so much at dinner time. I think that is perhaps healthier. It’s just a puzzle to me how such a years-long habit can completely shift.

I like tree houses. When I was a kid we tried to create one out of odds and ends. I have to be honest, it was not too successful but it was a little hideaway for a day or two. This article is about a tree house that needs some professional tips. Once the expert was contacted he first suggested that before starting some research would help. It would help to start with by dealing with the proper tools needed. The original tree house was described as a twelve foot by twelve foot deck in the air. One of the things noted was that the amount of weight is put on the size of the bolts that hold the frame together. Another error the professional noted was that the solid wood should be mounted on beams that are buried in concrete in the ground. The professional noted that drywall screws had been used to fasten joist hangers to beams. Special bolts should have been used. The original structure swayed a little. It could be fixed by putting up diagonal bracing on both sides of “apposing corners”. Another of the repairs needed was on the railings at the top of the deck. Apparently the posts were notched and shouldn’t have been. There are metal connectors that meet codes that are set for such things. The article mentioned that treated lumber can have copper in it and copper corrodes and steel that is in the structure. Those steel parts should be coated “galvanizing”. Another consideration should be that lumber shrinks.

I think we will order in for tonight’s dinner or have baked spaghetti from last nights left overs.

Joy

May 22, 2020 thought for the day: Most adults are attentive to what someone is doing, but children see beyond that. Indian Proverb

Yesterday I made out a curbside order online at JoAnn Fabrics for the yarn I need for the project for two of my great grandsons. I got an email this morning that it was ready to pick up. I also needed to pick up meds for Sugar. I asked Sue if she would like to ride along. After we picked up the meds, curbside as well, we went on up the road to JoAnn’s. This curb side pick up is beginning to look pretty good, especially since my legs wear out after walking more than it use to be. I made another stop at Straders for a couple of things. After leaving there, Sue wanted to make a couple of stops. The last stop was Kroger. She wanted to pick up a couple of things. I went in to see if they had the meat I wanted on Monday but it wasn’t on the shelf. It was there today.

May 21 was “routine” day for the photo challenge. I’m sure for those of you who have kept up with this blog know that I am one of those people who have a “routine” for almost everything. So, it was hard to choose one that was convenient and would form a photo. One of my multitasking chores for yesterday was doing the laundry. That had to be the photo of the day.

Before we left, I updated the Hoge Herald newsletter that I had uploaded to the web yesterday. I also listened to Tom’s facebook live prayer vigil.

I took care of a couple of email messages and other small pickups around the house. I think that will do it for today.

The word is gentle. The meek are those who quietly submit themselves to God, to His word and to his rod, who follow His directions, and comply with His designs, and are gentle toward all men, Matthew Henry. The easy, gentle, and sloping path . . . is not the path of true virtue. It demands a rough and thorny road, Michel de Montaigne. The swallow is not ensnared by men because of its gentle nature, Ovid.  Education should be gentle and stern, not cold and lax, Joseph Joubert.  Such is the power of love in gentle mind, That it can alter all the course of kind, Edmund Spenser. Wind feeds the fire, and wind extinguishes: The flames are nourished by a gentle breeze, Yet, if it stronger grows, they sink and die, Ovid. An able man shows his spirit by gentle words and resolute actions, Lord Chesterfield. To those who err in judgment, not in will, anger is gentle, Sophocles. In order to have a good hand, it must be light, gentle, and firm, Francois Robichon de La Gueriniere.  

The photo theme for today is “I’m reading”. I do quite a bit of reading in a day. I set aside at least an hour for recreational reading. On top of that there is the “educational” reading that is gained by sifting through Google searches and snail mail ads.  Then there is the spiritual reading. It seems that the majority of my “reading” is accomplished with the use of technology. Every now and then, depending on the subject it is welcome to have a hard copy.

It’s good to read about more growth and revitalizing. Today’s article is about the plans for the Scioto Peninsula designs. Historic commissions will be a part of the upcoming planning meetings. I like it when the historic value of an area is considered before final plans are made to any kind of changes or additions. These soon to be scheduled meetings will be online for the time being. The plans include an eight-story office building, an eight-story hotel with a retail facility behind it. These buildings will include a restaurant and some retail space. There is a building to be renovated and a series of murals will be created on some of the exterior walls. A river front park is being considered.

It’s Friday, so pizza for dinner....

Joy

May 20, 2020 thought for the day: Listen to the sound of the river and you will catch a trout. Irish Proverb

This was an early start day. I decided that I needed to go to the “senior hour” at Kroger, mostly to see if I could get some meat for the next couple of weeks. So I was up before Bob left for work. I was at Kroger when they opened the door. There were only three of us waiting when the door opened. I was a little disappointed, the meat I normally use was not in the case. As a matter of fact, I think the meat case as well as many of the shelves were even more empty than earlier in this pandemic. And prices are up. It looks like going to the store is going to be more stressful than in the past. I got everything on my list even with a few less choices than I commonly experience.

The photo title yesterday was “mailbox”. Mine isn’t so fancy but it was my only example today. I have some interesting photos of others in my archives but felt I wanted to create a new image today.

I sent the draft copy of the bulletin and the newsletter to the proofreaders when I got home and got returned changes in about an hour. I worked on finishing those to get them ready of printing. I got the envelops labeled and stamped and the newsletter labels printed. I should be ready to print early tomorrow.

I have been working on a particular pattern for two of my great grand son’s gifts but changed my mind. There is work to do on them beyond the crochet base and would be taking me much longer than I want; so I searched on Google for a different pattern that I liked. I try to make something for all five of the great grand children in such a way that I get them all done about the same time (I work on all of them every evening, shifting from one to the other). The first pattern I had chosen would put the “timing” way off. Besides, I was concerned that one of the items required to finish it would not be totally safe for the kids if they happened to be able to dislodge it. I am pleased with the second choice.

My house plants are not happy with all of the rain in the past few days. They are drooping. Maybe I put them out too early. They are going to require some extra TLC when this rain stops.

Today’s challenge is “my iso (isolation) crew”. Well, the only two that were visible today and didn’t object (too much) to a photo were my dogs, Sweet Pea and Sugar. They were not in the mood to be deliberately posed so I had to take what I could get, one on the floor and one on a place we have made for her so she came see life’s view from the window.

The word is genius. Genius without education is like silver in the mine, Benjamin Franklin.  The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of childhood into maturity, Thomas Huxley. What is genius but the power of expressing a new individuality? Elizabeth Barrett Browning. When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him, Jonathan Swift. Doing easily what others find difficult is talent; doing what is impossible for talent is genius, Henri Frederic Amiel. First and last, what is demanded of genius is love of truth, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Men of genius are rarely much annoyed by the company of vulgar people, Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Genius is the gold in the mine, talent is the miner who works and brings it out, Marguerite Gardiner, Countess of Blessington. The true genius shudders at incompleteness, Edgar Allan Poe. The principal mark of genius is not perfection, but originality, Robert Schumann.  History shows us that the people who end up changing the world - the great political, social, scientific, technological, artistic, even sports revolutionaries - are always nuts, until they are right, and then they are geniuses, John Eliot. Common sense is genius dressed in its working clothes, Ralph Waldo Emerson. If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. To see things in the seed, that is genius, Laozi. The greatest thing by far is to have a command of metaphor. This alone cannot be imparted by another; it is the mark of genius, for to make good metaphors implies an eye for resemblances, Aristotle. 

It seems things pile up on one another. First we are fearing, fighting and living with this mighty virus. Now there are people in our city fighting yet another battle, much smaller, but hurtful to those living through this flooding. Today’s article, RECORD RAINS, Downpours soak central Ohio, causing 1 death, flooding, evacuations, are destroying homes. When I was hearing about the floods here in Ohio and other places, I hadn’t heard about the death by drowning in a car found  upside down in flood waters. Westerville, Worthington, Clintonville were only some of the areas that were affected. Basements were flooded, flood gates were erected in low lying areas near down town. The weather caused these kinds of flooding in Michigan Indiana and Illinois also. The rainfall in Columbus set a record “smashing” a previous record. Alum Creed overflowed its banks prompting the American Red Cross and the Central Ohio Transit Authority to assist the evacuated families. One man in the article tried to barricade his driveway but that didn’t work. So he was forced to redirect the water “streaming” in through his front door to go down the basement steps. Roads became streams. The waters have receded some but more rain is predicted until the weekend. 

I had a second photo of the day to day titles “a song title (use a song title as the title to the photo)”. This was a rainy day. I used the wherewithal at hand so I didn’t have to go outside searching for a “song title” so I used one of the handy dandy standbys, Sugar.

I got a Stouffers cheesy macaroni with beef dinner for tonight.

Joy

May 18, 2020 thought for today: The best way to see divine light is to put out your own candle. English Proverb

I have been “glued” to my computer for most of the day. I took a break to tend to some of my houseplants on their first week of “vacation”. The rest of the time I have been concentrating on getting as far as I can into the preparation of the church bulletin and newsletter.

On the 17th I shot a photo to try to match the title for the challenge “I feel...”. After a couple of shots I came up with this one. I saw the mess I was building up and the thought that “I feel...like I need to organize” hit me so this is the answer to that question.

I have the bulletin ready for the last few plug ins. The newsletter is a different story. With this isolation, finding information to pass on through that communication medium is even more difficult than finding articles for sharing in what use to be “normal” times. I had put out a request for folks to share their pandemic-isolation experiences but there hasn’t been any response. I think I have come up with a way to fill the void. It would be better coming in the sharing of experiences with each other. There are reports in the news of folks around the city, I think I can use my personal synopsis of some of those that may be of interest.

I have had a problem with one of the items I put in each newsletter. There is a problem lining up columns of figures. It looks great in the email but when transferred to other mediums, different computer software and printing, the columns become unaligned. I spent over an hour on that problem alone this morning. I think what I did worked. Now I have to remember the exact steps I took to “fix” it.

There is a meeting scheduled for this evening, the first during/at the end of this odd period of time. I am a bit nervous about attending. It is a group of under ten folks and in a room large enough for separation. They are people, for the most part, who I know and am familiar with their life styles. I have been told that there will be one person there who is not a regular presence so that prompts some thought and concern. It looks like I will be making my final decision just before time for the meeting.

The word today is garden. A book is a garden, an orchard, a storehouse, a party, a company by the way, a counselor, a multitude of counselors, Charles Baudelaire. A weed is no more than a flower in disguise, James Russell Lowell.  All my hurts my garden spade can heal, Ralph Waldo Emerson.  There is simply the rose; it is perfect in every moment of its existence, Ralph Waldo Emerson. The poetry of the earth is never dead, John Keats. Nothing is more completely the child of art than a garden, Walter Scott. Gardeners instinctively know that flowers and plants are a continuum and that the wheel of garden history will always be coming full circle, Francis Cabot Lowell. Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher, William Wordsworth. A modest garden contains, for those who know how to look and to wait, more instruction than a library, Henri Frederic Amiel. The goal of life is living in agreement with nature, Zeno of Elea.  St. Francis of Assisi was hoeing his garden when someone asked what he would do if he were suddenly to learn that he would die before sunset that very day. "I would finish hoeing my garden," he replied, Francis of Assisi. In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous, Aristotle. A good garden may have some weeds, Thomas Fuller. My garden is a forest ledge Which older forest s bound; The banks slope down to the blue lake-edge, Then plunge to depths profound! Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

Today’s challenge is “I did this today”. As I noted earlier, I was busy with the bulletin and newsletter today. It would be hard to form that into a photo so I went with one of the other accomplishments of the day, tending to my house plants.

I was interested in reading this article. When I read the title I figured it may be covering something a lot of us may be feeling. Here is the headline that caught my eye: Transforming into potato among my online meeting fears. A lady had down loaded some “goofy filters” to use during a virtual meeting. As the meeting proceeded she accidentally “turned herself into a potato”, an animated, virtual potato. She was not quite knowledge enough about the technology to turn it off during the whole meeting which made the employees smile. I was thinking from the headline that this article was about people turning to a potato by using technical equipment and television more than usual to reweave boredom. It turns out the article is more about leaning technology and all it's new forms as they come about and how it can be a detriment not to learn it and keep up with the history of invention and it's language. The article related how much influence the technology of today came into play during this pandemic. How not being familiar with it could put a big drag on communication in the time of isolation. There is Zoom, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts and Google Meet paired with “PINs” to type in, and “lingo” to learn. The writer of the article decided to share some clues as to techie talk. For exampel, Zoom is video conferencing that allows people converse with and view each other live from any and all areas they occupy. Another description:"what does mute yourself mean”, his answer, just keep your mouth shut. So there are some fun ways at looking at new  bright and miraculous inventions. It may  be  true that they can be a headache on the one hand but a life saver on the other.

I am having chicken fries and left over cheesy potatoes for dinner.

Joy

May 16, 2020 thought for the day: Listen to valuable statements even if they come from your enemy's mouth. Greek Proverb

Finally, I think spring is here! It is a beautiful day outside., Which gave me an even stronger notion to get my house plants outside for a period outdoors. I finished that project about two hours ago. Then I started the irobot (roomba). There were a lot of fallen leaves. The floors needed a good sweeping anyway. Sweet Pea never ceases to lose hair. I will let the sweeper run until it is out of power and heads for the recharging “station”.

Yesterday’s photo, “reflection”, caused some looking around. For a moment the search left my focus then as I glanced thru my side window I caught this view as I passed by taking laundry to be put away. I laid my handful down and rushed to get my camera. Here is the result. 

By the time I got the plants outside and the spot where they have been for the last ten months I was slowing down. They were doing a great job of soaking up carbon dioxide and letting off oxygen. They only add to our oxygen and diminish carbon dioxide in small amounts but better than not.

I think moving the plants and doing the straightening has done me in for the day except for the cooking at the end of the day.

One other thing, that needed attention badly, got done today. We have had a huge prickly weed growing and choking out and iris plant as well as my mint plants. Bob put on a pair of gloves and a shirt with long sleeves and let me tell him which to pull, which were weed and which were not. He did a great job and the weeds are gone for now.

I got a little done on the upcoming newsletter to make it at least started. I might get back to that a little later.

Yesterday was one of those days where I had a pair of photos of the day. The second one was titled “shoot from the hip (no view finder)”. I love the shapes and forms on this image but more especially the textures.

Now to look for my photo of the day pick and then to watch some food network shows.

The word today is future. With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now, Ralph Waldo Emerson.  The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time, Abraham Lincoln.   He who controls the past controls the future, Laozi.  Everything that looks to the future elevates human nature, Walter Savage Landor. The future is purchased by the present, Samuel Johnson. Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith, Henry Ward Beecher. What we look for does not come to pass; God finds a way for what none foresaw, Euripides. Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future, William Wordsworth. Take as a gift whatever the day brings forth, Horace. The past, the present and the future are really one: they are today, Harriet Beecher Stowe. Hardly anyone knows how much is gained by ignoring the future, Bernard le Bovier de Fontenelle. Men are often capable of greater things than they perform - They are sent into the world with bills of credit, and seldom draw to their full extent, Horace Walpole.   

The photo challenge for today was “I isolate here”. I thought of my lounge chair but with the weather changing the porch swing is an isolation place with added pleasures, like the sounds of birds and wind chimes and soft breezes.

Before the pandemic closed the schools, some Hilliard middle-school students created an 8 by 8 foot mural. It was part of the school’s innovative learning classes and a Franklinton street artist who has produced murals throughout Columbus worked with them. They brainstormed for what they wanted it to look like and made sketches and images for the piece they would produce. The completed mural is a black and white portrait of one of the students who was picked as a model. It is bordered by splashes of aqua, green and orange and is overlaid with sketches of suns, sunflowers and human hands. It can be seen at the Civic & Cultural Arts Center on Center Street in downtown Hilliard where it was set up earlier this month. The purpose of the project things that represent Hilliard, the school and the people. A portrait of one of the kids was selected as the focal point with drawings that remind of neighborhoods. The article went on to say that the adviser for the project was amazed at how the students seemed to be thinking of public art and why art is important as a bridge to conversation.

Hot dogs and cheesy potatoes are on the menu for tonight.

Joy

May 14, 2020 thought for the day: It's as far from my house as from yours. Corsican Proverb

Wow, what a day. I left early to do the bulletin printing. Being in the church was a little different today than it has been for the past few weeks. After I was there for a while, Dorothy came. It was so good to see her. I felt like I got to see another bit of my “family” for a one on one. She was there because there was going to be a food delivery for our up coming food pantry.

I just had to have my White Castle brunch after I dropped off the mail at the post office. Then I drove by the park as a “pick up for my soul”. Another highlight of this date, I was married sixty years ago today.

Yesterday’s photo title was “two things”. The “two things” most visible around my house are the two dogs. They are not usually as close together as they were for this photo but at least at the prescribed six feet apart.

After I got home one of the Terminix people came to check the squirrel traps, none trapped yet. A little later another Terminix person came for the regular preventative spraying around the foundation of the house.

Still later my former niece-in-law called to get my input with working on getting the Facebook messenger video with my sister’s great grand daughters. After several attempts and failures, we got it to work on my cell phone. I handed it over to my sister so she could have a private chat with her twin great grand daughters, the first after almost two months.

During all of the above I got the laundry started. I also got a few more houseplants put outside. I started on that project yesterday. I will do a little each day until they are all out for the season.


The word is friendly. Cheerfulness is the best promoter of health and is as friendly to the mind as to the body, Joseph Addison. The rule of friendship means there should be mutual sympathy between them, each supplying what the other lacks and trying to benefit the other, always using friendly and sincere words, Marcus Tullius Cicero. Christians appeal to those who wrong them and make them friendly to themselves; they are eager to do good to their enemies; they are mild and conciliatory, Aristides of Athens.  Be not forward, but friendly and courteous; the first to salute, hear and answer; and be not pensive when it is time to converse, George Washington. The permanence of all books is fixed by no effort friendly or hostile, but by their own specific gravity, or the intrinsic importance of their contents to the constant mind of man, Ralph Waldo Emerson. To the poet, to the philosopher, to the saint, all things are friendly and sacred, all events profitable, all days holy, all men divine, Ralph Waldo Emerson. Is it not, then, better to be ridiculous and friendly than clever and hostile? Socrates. The glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, not the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when you discover that someone else believes in you and is willing to trust you with a friendship, Ralph Waldo Emerson. But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine, Thomas Jefferson. Friends are relatives you make for yourself, Eustache Deschamps. 

I also took a little time amongst the rest of the agenda as I do every day to search out and shoot my photo of the day. The title today is “in the kitchen”. Kitchens are big places with lots of doodads and objects. So here is my selection today.

It was interesting to see this article and for me to see what the library is doing as things begin to open. Apparently the Columbus Public Library is planning a curbside pick up similar to the grocery pickups. They are planning some form of the pick up process beginning in the last two weeks of May. Several of the branches of the library saw “dramatic” increase in checked out materials in March. Bexley is planning “the big return”. People can fill bins with return items. Then, for the safety of the staff, those items won’t be touched for several days. The article mentioned that Battelle is working on determining how long the virus can live on library materials.

I was surprised to see that the library foundation has joined with PCs for People to provide discounted computers and laptops to eligible families and students. With the library closed for this pandemic their computers, of course, have been unavailable to students and people looking for work or other necessities. Since the library is still closed for the time being, they want to “ensure access to technology” for people. Most of their equipment was used but no longer needed. The library also took part in the Giving Tuesday Now campaign on May 5. The PCs for People are one of the first groups to receive from the funds raised in that campaign. The article also listed that one of the top efforts of the library is to “bridge the (wide) digital divide” in the community. It is listed that for the computers to be eligible to the families they must be entitled to receive free/reduced school lunches or be in the SNAP or Medicaid programs. Curbside pickup for the computers will be Tuesday at the Whitehall branch.

It’s going to be sloppy joe and rice pilaf for dinner.

Joy