January 12, 2022, a thought for today, Who honours not age, is unworthy of it. German Proverb

I’m bored. I have things ready for printing and some research that I needed to get done, that didn’t take too long. My continuing back problem doesn’t allow for much mobility right now. 

I moved around enough to make some sun tea and start a meatloaf.

The photo of the day for January 11 was “lunch”. Here’s what I had for lunch on this day. I called it the McDonald version of surf and turf. A fish sandwich and an hamburger sandwich with a nice large iced tea.

We have all heard of the “seasonal affective disorder”. An affliction that happens for many people during the winter months when there is less light in the day and the air is cold. Most of my life I didn’t notice  much of the effects of it but the older I get the more I feel it. Winter can be fun for many people but not so much when life slows down. The colder, grayer days see to reflect a colder, grayer disposition. This is one of those days for me. If I had the gumption, I should go out somewhere. I don’t like shopping unless I am going out to get something specific and then leave the store so that kind of trip is out. The temperature is a little higher today but still cold in my estimation so that leaves something that would mean being outside off the list too. Guess I am stuck. So I will find something productive to do on the computer.

The word today is old.  It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them. Ralph Waldo Emerson.  The young man knows the rules, but the old man knows the exceptions. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.  Be not the first by whom the new are tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside. Alexander Pope. Grow old with me! The best is yet to be. Robert Browning. Wear the old coat and buy the new book. Austin Phelps. Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late. Benjamin Franklin. When grace is joined with wrinkles, it is adorable. There is an unspeakable dawn in happy old age. Victor Hugo. Age appears to be best in four things; old wood best to burn, old wine to drink, old friends to trust, and old authors to read. Francis Bacon.  I met in the street a very poor young man who was in love. His hat was old, his coat worn, his cloak was out at the elbows, the water passed through his shoes, - and the stars through his soul. Victor Hugo. A man growing old becomes a child again. Sophocles. Memory tempers prosperity, mitigates adversity, controls youth, and delights old age. Lactantius. It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air that emanation from old trees, that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit. Robert Louis Stevenson. Education is the best provision for old age. Aristotle. 

The photo challenge for today is “I am here!”.  This makes the third selfie for this month. I am
in my usual spot, my desk chair in front of the computer with a window on two sides so that I get a continuous view of the nature in the city and for all seasons and weather conditions.

I seem to keep finding current articles about history in our area of our city. Here is a bit more about early Columbus Ohio. This article is about what life was like in our city more than two hundred years ago. Columbus was founded in 1812. When Franklinton, across the Scioto River, when founded in 1797 there were several hundred residents who supported the new state capital. There was a threat of attack by the British and “their Native American allies” in the area until after the War of 1812. But that wasn’t the only threat to the region. There were rattlesnakes and now and then angry bears. Still living with these dangers the “pioneer residents of central Ohio brought with them the customs of their earlier lives and continued to observe them”. The pioneer women wore clothing made of plain and simple linen and cotton that “fits the natural form and reaches to within six inches of the floor”.  They may have a belt made of “homespun and colored with imported dye” along with a row of buttons down the back. According to the article, the typical lady pioneers in this area wore cowhide shoes to “conceal substantial feet and shapely ankles”. A wedding taking part in 1876 mentioned in the article was further described as having the “attention of the whole neighborhood” who all were eager to take part in the celebration of the event. In this particular story the groom would leave for his father’s house to meet with the bride before noon. The wedding “by the inexorable law of fashion, must take place before dinner”. The transportation of the time was on a horse's back. The horse would have old saddles and bridles along with “packsaddles with a blanket over them”. They would form a procession along the road. As a part of the party some may play a joke by firing guns that would frighten the horses and the girls would giggle and scream. Games were played at the event, “race for the bottle” was one. Two or more young men raced to the bride’s house to win a bottle of whisky and then passed to the others for a drink. The ceremony took place at the bride’s house. There was a dinner and dancing and fun until morning. It was mentioned in the article that some not invited there made attempts at revenge by cutting off the manes and tails of the horses at the wedding party. Besides the story of a wedding celebration other activities of the time were mentioned in this article. There were log-rolling and harvesting for the men and quilting and apple butter making for the women. All of this helped neighborhoods get to know each other. Fortunes were told by counting apple seeds from the apples used in the apple butter and cider making. After the start of the fun activities the floors were cleared for dancers and loud singing. During these times a fiddler was an important person. He would call the “Virginia Reel” and signal the start of shouting, laughter and “clatter of hilarious feet upon the sanded puncheon floor”. 

I am making a meat loaf for dinner tonight with some of the Omaha potatoes we have left. 

Joy

enhancement added....

 January 10, 2022 a thought for today, Honesty makes you rich, but she works slowly. German Proverb

Yesterday turned out to be a great Sunday. One of my two favorite ministers gave the sermon and she didn’t disappoint me. The message was once again right on. She related several timely stories that tied the ancient words of the bible to today’s daily ways of living. I also had a touching message from a dear old friend. Also a message about a community service that came to one of our ministries out of the blue. 

The photo of the day for January 9 was titled “play”. The first thing on my mind was kids playing a game or maybe a basketball or basketball net or tennis nets at the park. When I got to church our choir director was practicing and I thought “playing the piano” .... perfect. 

It looks like this week is going to be one of the quieter ones for this month. Today there’s not much on the agenda. I did get a chance to work on the bulletin. I think most of it is done except for the information from the pastor, that should be here tomorrow. I worked on clearing some things from the frig and getting a full load in the dishwasher. 

It’s still cold outside. I think it is here to stay for a couple of months. At least it’s not snowing and the sun is out and as bright as it can be.

Todays photo of the day is "makes me smile". I have had pets all my life, each with their own personality and characters, their own special gift of love, their on place in my heart. This one does too, she is so very gentle, shy and drops her head when scolded (like maybe memories of abuse earlier in her life?). And to think she was “thrown away” because her original owner (when she was but a pup) mistook her chronic digestive problem as one of peeing on the floor that they couldn’t break. She’s mine for life as they each have been.  

The word for today is observation.  Observation more than books and experience more than persons, are the prime educators. Amos Bronson Alcott.  Observation is an old man's memory, Jonathan Swift. Observation, not old age, brings wisdom, Publilius Syrus. Nothing has such power to broaden the mind as the ability to investigate systematically and truly all that comes under thy observation in life. Marcus Aurelius.  Where observation is concerned, chance favors only the prepared mind,  Louis Pasteur.  A careful observation of Nature will disclose pleasantries of superb irony. She has for instance placed toads close to flowers, Honoré de Balzac.  I'm not smart, but I like to observe. Millions saw the apple fall, but Newton was the one who asked why. William Hazlitt.  The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses. Francis Bacon.  Observe constantly that all things take place by change, and accustom thyself to consider that the nature of the Universe loves nothing so much as to change the things which are, and to make new things like them. Marcus Aurelius. To know a man, observe how he wins his object, rather than how he loses it; for when we fail, our pride supports us - when we succeed, it betrays us. Charles Caleb Colton. 

This is one of the days I have two photos of the day assignments. This one is titled “circles, squares and/or triangles”. I took cans out of my pantry and lined up my image of circles. 

Here’s more about Columbus’s future and history. The title of the article is “Shaping Columbus for decades to come.”  At the beginning of the article it mentions how the pandemic affected “development” in our city. Warehouse and residential construction was a “boon”. But retail and offices “not so much”. According to the article there are ten projects planed for 2022 that will “shape Columbus for decades to come”. One project is the Peninsula and East Franklinton. Here there will be an office building and two apartments with parking garages going up. Then a hotel and a 34-story tower. Further down on Broad Street will be a mixed use “Gravity 2 development”. Some people wonder if these additions will affect the “historic core of Downtown”. Next there is work on the North Market Tower in the Downtown area. This project will be a 171-apartment complex including 212 hotel rooms, some office space and parking. Along with those is a 28-story Hilton expansion across High Street. These two projects will “fill the gap” in the area between the Arena District and the Short North. Combined with these growths and “improvements” is the Trolley District. There has been eight years of work on this area. It is a $25 million district built “from the shell of the city’s trolley car facilities form the 1880s”. There is continuing growth in the New Albany area of our city and surroundings. Another area of growth and renewal is The Ohio State University. The campus is being “transformed” in what, according to the article, is termed the ‘Innovation District’ where there are labs and commercial office space which include a 26-story addition to the Wexner Medical Center. This will “change the skyline....forecast to create 12,000 jobs”. There is more going on in the Arena District. The construction of Lower Field seems to have been the beginning of more to come. An area called Astor Park is planned for the area, office buildings, apartments and parking, all adding to the riverfront setting. Upper Arlington is another area where changes are occurring. Lane Avenue is a major part of the growth with Arlington Gateway, Westmont at the Lane, senior housing restaurants and parking are things to watch for. Capital Square yet another area of movement is expecting a “rebound” from a period of low interest.  To add to all of the energy and excitement for our city is the fact that warehouses were built during the pandemic. Many warehouses that were vacant were revitalized from “West Jefferson to new Albany to Etna”. Distribution centers “have risen”.  One more area to keep an interested eye on would be Nationwide Children’s Hospital where there is and has been continual updates and innovations. So we can take pride in our city and the efforts to keep us modern, vital, and continually moving into the future. 

I am making beef stew for dinner, I’m giving the pressure cooker a work out today. 

Joy

overlooked

 January 8, 2022 a thought for today, The world's a stage; each plays his part, and takes his share.  Dutch Proverb

The cold has come in like a demon. The temperature is below freezing. I am surprised my car started yesterday. Bob said his car hesitated today. I haven’t tried mine today but being that it is older than his I may also have a complaint when I turn the key later this afternoon to go to the free meal at church.

On January 7 the photo a day title was “word to live by”. It’ hard to pick one word only. There could be a lot of words to live by depending on circumstances. On the other hand there are some very important words that come to mind, love, honesty and many more. I don’t have any framed words to photograph so I searched through some newspaper ads. I found this one. The background was the boring color of newspaper paper. So I used the Photoshop hue and saturation filter to give it a touch of color. 

My back is still not up to par so I am staying as still as I can although I did run the mop over the kitchen floor and did a little light dusting. I need to make some dog treats this afternoon so I think that will be it for today. 

The word today is now.  That though the radiance which was once so bright be now forever taken from my sight. Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, glory in the flower. We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind. William Wordsworth. Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country. Marquis de Lafayette.  There will be no end to the troubles of states, or of humanity itself, till philosophers become kings in this world, or till those we now call kings and rulers really and truly become philosophers, and political power and philosophy thus come into the same hands. Plato. The past is not dead, it is living in us, and will be alive in the future which we are now helping to make. William Morris.  Happiness is the only good. The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so. Robert Green Ingersoll.  Those things which I am saying now may be obscure, yet they will be made clearer in their proper place. Nicolaus Copernicus. With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. Ralph Waldo Emerson. The time to be happy is now, and the place to be happy is here. Robert Green Ingersoll.  There will never be any more perfection than there is now. Walt Whitman.  This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. Ralph Waldo Emerson. He is blessed over all mortals who loses no moment of the passing life in remembering the past. Henry David Thoreau.  

The photo challenge for today is “get in the photo”. I think we had one other selfie this month on the
2nd. Anyway, I turned around from my computer and spied myself in the mirror framed by some bric-a-bracs. 

The zoo has been a favorite place to visit in all seasons for many years. This article tells a little about its early history. It is reported to be one of the largest zoos in the United States. We have 600 species of over 10,000 animals. The Wilds is another part of the zoo, at least is managed by the Columbus zoo. The Wilds is a “safari park in eastern Ohio”. It was a huge embarrassment that our zoo which has  maintained an “esteemed reputation around the world” was recently involved in a couple of recent scandals. In my opinion those two “scandals” can’t erase the joy and educational experiences that this zoo has offered the international public over its time in existence for nearly the past century. The zoo opened in 1927at Riverside Park at the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir with “only a hand full of species to display”. On a trip to St. Louis two business men from Columbus visited the St. Louis Zoo. One of the two men, Harry Wolfe, “decided” this is what Columbus needed. When he came home, he “lobbied” the city to start the zoo but was turned down this first time. As it happened, the city began receiving “exotic animals as gifts for the zoo before they even had a place to put them” so they were kept at the Franklin Park Conservatory. The article mentioned that in December of 1926 the Columbus Dispatch held a Christmas party where Mr. Wolf provided six reindeer that he had shipped from Alaska. After the party he gave them to the city because there was now a place for the zoo, O’Shaughnessy Reservoir. This is where the zoo is today. The first building at the zoo was the Columbus Dispatch building where the lions and tigers were kept. Admission at the zoo was free at the time and the city of Columbus paid the wages of the employees and upkeep of the grounds and animals. There were some name changes over the years the first was The Columbus Municipal Zoo in 1937. At that time it was “no longer under the financial wing of the city”. Now the financial end of things changed to memberships bringing in the income. At that time the membership fee was $2. At the beginning of WWII the zoo struggled to generate membership and employment. Staff members were “called into service or more essential jobs”. The employees that were left at the zoo had to work longer hours and had more responsibilities. The article went on to say that in 1950 the zoo was re-established under the jurisdiction of the city of Columbus. In 1970 the management of the zoo was tuned over to the non-profit Zoological Park Association. The city still provided some funds out of the general fund until 1986. Now, today, the zoo gets some funding from the Franklin County tax levy. The zoo became more widely know than ever when beginning in the 1980s Jack Hanna appeared on television with animals for educational purposes. Memberships grew. Now, and with the name the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the zoo has come a long way with changes over the years. One fairly recent event was the addition of Wildlights in the Christmas season.  “It has struggled and it has thrived” over the years since the 1920s.

It’s going to be tuna casserole out of the freezer for dinner. 

Joy

Ignored

 January 6, 2022 a thought for today, When two quarrel both are in the wrong. Dutch Proverb

It’s been another one of those busy days. I was up at 6:30 to get all the virtual visits out of the way before it was time to leave for Sue’s appointment. After her appointment we made a couple of other stops before coming home. 

January 5 photo theme was “this year I’ll”. I chose “watch the seasons and their gifts” through my window. (and out and about). 

One of the reasons I got up a little earlier than usual, beside the virtual visits, was to start one load of the laundry. I don’t like to leave something like the washer or dryer running while I am out of the house so I wanted the load to get through the cycle before we left. Once at home I got back to it. 

For some reason either my titanium hip is needing attention or I have injured my lower back somehow. I have been having one devil of a time with the right leg, the one with the fake hip, for a couple of days. I had to resort to a rollator this morning for the errands. As you can imagine the steps in doing the laundry seems like they have doubled. Oh well, it’s part of the aging thing, as they say, better than the alternative.  

I had two photos for today. The second was titled “guess
what....”. Wow, wide open theme. I chose to generate an abstract of an image of one of my favorite house plants that my daughter-in-law had given me for last mothers day. I love the shape and feel of age in the gnarled and twisted trunk.  The abstract was created using several Photoshop filters.

The word today is never.  Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best. St. Jerome. It is never too late to be what you might have been. George Eliot. Learning never exhausts the mind. Leonardo da Vinci. Never be in a hurry; do everything quietly and in a calm spirit. Do not lose your inner peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset. Saint Francis de Sales.  Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are travelling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind. Henri Frederic Amiel. A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. Saint Basil.  My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened. Michel de Montaigne. Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything beautiful, for beauty is God's handwriting. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Friends are the siblings God never gave us. Mencius.  But he that dares not grasp the thorn Should never crave the rose. Anne Bronte.   I am a slow walker, but I never walk back. Abraham Lincoln. Wild animals never kill for sport. Man is the only one to whom the torture and death of his fellow creatures is amusing in itself. James Anthony Froude. Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul - and sings the tunes without the words - and never stops at all. Emily Dickinson. You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. Robert Louis Stevenson.  It will never rain roses: when we want to have more roses we must plant more trees. George Eliot. Friendship often ends in love; but love in friendship - never. Charles Caleb Colton.  You can never plan the future by the past. Edmund Burke. Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present. Marcus Aurelius. We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves. Buddha.  

Today’s photo a day challenge was titled “begins with G”. When I stopped for a sandwich a little while ago all this green “hit” me, so it was the photo of the day. 

The title on this article caught my attention and sounded worth taking a look. It’s about how the Amish celebrate Old Christmas on January 6. As the article mentions, this is not a holiday of shopping and “overindulging” parties with overly decorated trees. It is a period of “solemn....reflecting and visiting”. It is also Epiphany. Some who were interviewed said it is a way to “return to our roots, our faith, our community and our family.” As the interview went on, ‘“It also gives the Amish community a chance to connect with history.....like Old Christmas Until the 1600s”, when the Julian calendar was “discarded” and was replaced by the Gregorian calendar in 1582. The article related that Pope Gregory XIII deleted 10 days to match the seasons and this led to Christmas being celebrated on December 25. It is said that the Amish adapted to the “mainstream culture” to celebrate Christmas on the 25th, they now celebrate twice. The article said the “Old Christmas” is recognized around the world as in France, Germany, Austria and other parts of Europe. When the Amish celebrate Epiphany the day starts with a fast until noon then a large meal. Amish employees have the day off and businesses are closed. Amish children are excused from school for the day. The day is spent with family and there is no gift exchange. 

It is going to be chili mac for dinner. 

Joy 

Overlooked.... (in my quest of finding and photographing things left behind as trash in a search for the art that might be found in it, I find things overlooked too)

 January 4, 2022 a thought for the day, When the wound is healed the pain is forgotten. Dutch Proverb

It’s been a quiet and mostly uneventful day. So it left time for catching up on odds and ends. The biggest of those was to finish taking down the Christmas decorations. Then, since Sue had an insurance agent coming this morning, I wanted to get some dishes out of the sink early and a few corners straightened up. 

The photo theme for yesterday was “breakfast”. I don’t eat what is probably considered the “traditional” breakfast, pancakes, sausage, eggs, toast, oats, cold cereal unless I happen to have the opportunity to go “out” for breakfast. I have something quick and easy. This was a cake left from some Omaha Steak boxes that was handy, quick and delicious. And I always have tea. 

I got the information I needed to finish the bulletin late yesterday in an email so I got that done and sent out earlier today. I may print tomorrow instead of the “traditional” Thursday since I need to take Sue for some tests on Thursday morning. Also it would leave Friday open for come what may. 

It’s cold outside, winter is beginning its journey. Hopefully it will be on the mild side as opposed to a lot of cold and snow. 

The word today is name.  A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. Charles Spurgeon. Bee to the blossom, moth to the flame; Each to his passion; what's in a name? Helen Hunt Jackson. What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. William Shakespeare.  Love is simply the name for the desire and the pursuit of the whole. Aristophanes. How vain, without the merit, is the name. Homer. I love the name of honor, more than I fear death. Julius Caesar. Do I live as carelessly and worldly as unbelievers while professing to be a follower of Jesus? If so, I am exposing Christianity to ridicule and leading people to speak evil of the holy name by which I am called. Charles Spurgeon. No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service. Christopher Columbus. There is another old poet whose name I do not now remember who said, 'Truth is the daughter of Time.' Abraham Lincoln.  America is another name for opportunity. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Names and attributes must be accommodated to the essence of things, and not the essence to the names, since things come first  and names afterwards, Galileo Galilei.  

Today’s theme is “blue”. The sky is always a good image for that title. I needed the tree to be a kind of frame. 

Here is a story about another suburb of Columbus, Grove City. In the early 19th century there was an area just next door to Columbus that was “wilderness filled with oak, beech, maple, walnut, dogwood and other trees”. One of the group of people called pioneers developed the beginnings of the small city. Of course in the wilderness there were no roads or bridges even into 1803 when Ohio became a state. The man who was the first settler in Grove City came from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he operated a gristmill in the 18th century. He was in the habit of transporting his “excess goods” down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. After the good were sold he would walk back home. He was pleased with the Scioto Valley when he passed though on his way home so bought some land in 1803 and moved there with his wife. That land was what would become Grove City. He died soon after the move. Another visitor to the area bought 15.25 acres of that land with plans on farming it. Later he bought 300 more acres. He intended on farming that area to but plans changed when the Harrisburg Turnpike came through. With that change in plans he visualized a new village where there would be a school, church, blacksmith and a carpenter. He worked with some others to make a map showing the designs for the plans. In December 1853 there were fifty people living in the new village which had been named for the “groves of trees left standing”. The original designer lived next to where he set up a combination office/general store on what is the corner of Broadway and Columbus Streets. During the next ten years a post office, brick yard and saw mill went up. In 1864 the Woodland Hotel was built to be a home and overnight rest stop for travelers.  In the 1870 to 1900-period of time the “frontier was disappearing”. Two story brick and frame structures were built. During this same period the first train ran through the area. Gradually the village grew to 142 people with more town businesses opening. When the rail service grew the track ran along side the Harrisburg Turnpike brining commuters to and from the area. Later an “inter urban electric train” was formed for took people to Columbus with a more frequent basis than the train. This system led to growth to the area until 1929 when the “electric train” was replaced by automobiles. Beulah Park, the first “thoroughbred race track in Ohio” was developed in 1923. Around the same time people enjoyed the races and also movies at the “Kingdom Theatre and to dance at the Grant’s Auditorium”. By 1930 Grove City had grown to 1,550 residents. All kinds of business sprang up. After World War II there was a housing growth. Now Grove City has many businesses in what “used to be farm fields”.

I think it is going to be spam and left overs for dinner. 

Joy

Ooops.....or on purpose?

 January 2, 2022 a thought for today, He that would make a golden gate, must bring a nail to it daily. Dutch Proverb

Here it is Sunday again. The huge photo screen has been removed from in front of the altar. It felt much more like the house of God that I am use to and comfortable with. For me a much better way to absorb the message and renew my strength for the coming week and its adventures. We were far from being crowded. Our number hasn’t come anywhere near what it was before the pandemic as a matter of fact it seems we have lost many familiar and “old timer” faces. Today was even more scarce, mostly likely because of holiday activities. At any rate, the message and the hymns did their job of renewal. 

The photo a day theme for January 1 was “how I’m starting 2022". I didn’t know whether to choose a morning cup of tea, the long habit of sausage and sauerkraut, or a wider look. I chose the image I have form New Years evening where I was volunteering at a church activity. 

There isn’t much on the agenda today. Just a day of rest and thinking. I had a particular topic on my mind and needed some inner guidance in how to go about proceeding with the subject. The stimulation of the church service helped activate a positive direction. Hopefully positive, at least, in the final outcome. 

The word for today is mountains.  Mountains are earth's undecaying monuments. Nathaniel Hawthorne. Great things are done when men and mountains meet. William Blake.  Mountains will go into labour, and a silly little mouse will be born. Horace. I did not wish to take a cabin passage, but rather to go before the mast and on the deck of the world, for there I could best see the moonlight amid the mountains. I do not wish to go below now. Henry David Thoreau. A trail through the mountains, if used, becomes a path in a short time, but, if unused, becomes blocked by grass in an equally short time. Mencius.  A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle. George William Curtis.  What are men to rocks and mountains? Jane Austen. The tops of mountains are among the unfinished parts of the globe, whither it is a slight insult to the gods to climb and pry into their secrets, and try their effect on our humanity. Only daring and insolent men, perchance, go there, Henry David Thoreau. 

Today’s challenge is “this is me”. Another one of those pesky selfies. So here is me working on the
computer with iced tea at my finger tips. 

I just finished reading the Last Mile by David Baldacci and down loaded End Games, same author. I can’t go one evening without a book. So as soon as one is finished I download another. 

Here is some history about the F&R Lazarus store in Columbus. It all started when Simon Lazarus, who had come from Germany, opened a one room men’s clothing store in 1851. That led to memories for a lot of us of shoppers rushing about, animated windows, a talking tree, rooftop lights and visits with Santa. The one room store moved to a six-story building in 1909. No longer just a men’s clothing store it had grown to a twenty-department store. The store grew and lasted here in Columbus for 153 years. As the years passed shoppers moved to the “newer malls”. The main store that was in downtown Columbus closed in 2004. Here are some items that the article mentioned that made Lazarus a pioneer in “national shopping firsts”.  Here’s one I didn’t realize, Lazarus was one of the first to sell merchandise at one price, in other words no “bargaining”.  And was it exciting when they introduced the moving stairs....an escalator. They added the “bargain basement” that offered great reduced price sales. In 1918 when there was the influenza pandemic, Lazarus advertised itself as the Good Health Store which, to add to this claim, they added a ventilating system that changed the air every four minutes. In 1920 it became part of a federation of department stores. They joined with Abraham & Straus, Bloomingdales, and Filene’s of Boston. In 1934 to stay up with new technology they added air conditioning. Here’s something else I learned from this article, in 1939 Fred Lazarus, Jr. campaigned to have the national Thanksgiving celebration to the fourth Thursday in November rather than the final Thursday giving the holiday shopping season a little longer. As the main store went into “decline” restaurants closed in eight of the spaces and went down to one that was left open. The holiday season window disappeared, the annual Christmas parade ended, and Santa was no longer there. Lazarus opened stores in some of the shopping malls but the “sparkle” for many was gone, it was one of the things that end an era.  

Most likely it will be Taco Bell for dinner tonight. 

Joy

Another of the captures from my archives of trash/left behinds, things added to the landscape by carelessness 

  

 December 31, 2021 a thought for today, He would be wise who knew all things beforehand. Dutch Proverb

Printing the bulletin yesterday turned out to be a bust. When I pulled the document up and attempted to send it to the printer the menu drop down looked a little off to me but I pushed ahead to set the print instructions, pressed the print button and nothing....nada. Just for the heck of it, again...nada. I thought at first it wanted the yellow ink cartridge which had been warning us for a couple of weeks. So I changed it. Still, nothing. I ended up calling tech support. I was instructed to try printing directly from the copier....that worked. Then directly from the computer, that didn’t work. So the tech suggested reaching out remotely to the computer....I typed in the name needed to connect. Then “you have no network” message came up....there’s the problem.  Our network had been down two days before but reestablished the next day so I hadn’t given that aspect a second thought. After several attempts to reboot and still nothing I decided I would have to get a copy of the document professionally printed, then return to the church to make the necessary copies. Since so much of the time had gone from the morning and things needed to be done at home I decided to go make the copy first thing in the morning (today) and get to church for the rest. 

Yesterday’s photo was titles “something colourful”. My pantry always has a lot of colorful cans, boxes and packages in it so that was my choice. However, those items aren’t really too interesting except for the hungry stomach. So I added a motion filter to give the color needed and an artsy effect, hence more interest, I hope. 

Today, once the bulletin was done I stopped at the house and  picked up Sue and we headed for Mick and Kim’s for some breakfast and visiting. 

Later Lowell came by the house to pick up some things. Sweet Pea was outside and wanted in when she knew he was here. She rushed in the back door bumped into her bowl of kibbles, they went flying all over the kitchen floor. She was so excited to see him. So that took a bit of time to sweep up. 

Today’s photo challenge is “on word for 2022". For me it is the same word most of the time. This happened to be in a photo at my grand son and grand daughter’s house. 

The word for today is mind.  ...It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. Aristotle. The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled. Plutarch. The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. John Milton. Learning never exhausts the mind. Leonardo da Vinci. Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Joseph Addison. The face is the mirror of the mind, and eyes without speaking confess the secrets of the heart. St. Jerome. Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind. Robert Green Ingersoll. Remember when life's path is steep to keep your mind even. Horace. The energy of the mind is the essence of life. Aristotle. Iron rusts from disuse; water loses its purity from stagnation... even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind. Leonardo da Vinci.  Measure your mind's height by the shade it casts. Robert Browning.  It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways. Buddha.  It is a narrow mind which cannot look at a subject from various points of view. George Eliot. God's most lordly gift to man is decency of mind. Aeschylus. The things you think about determine the quality of your mind,  Marcus Aurelius.  

This is the end of the month so I have a composit of all my photos a day for December 2021. 

This article shares a little bit of  history about one of the busiest streets in our city.....Broad Street. At the founding of Columbus there were two main “corridors” one was High Street the other Broad Street. They met at a “100% corner” (The terms "hundred percent location", "hundred percent corner", or "peak land value intersection" may also be used) downtown. According to the article Broad Street came before High Street in 1797 with the “founding of Franklinton”. Folks on the west bank of the river wanted to be the capital but due to the flood possibility it was decided to be on the east side of the river. Then more streets were formed including High Street. I don’t understand this part: “streets and the entire grid were laid out 12 degrees off from a north-south and east-west alignment”. Trees and stumps needed to be cleared. Horse drawn carriages had to get around them which led to a wide roadway. Around the time the National Road was being built, that was in 1805, it reached Columbus in 1833 and used the part of West Broad Street up to High Street. In the early history of Columbus East Broad Street became one of the “fashionable places to live, from downtown past Franklin Park”. Gorgeous hotels and apartments like the Royal York went up. One of the houses, the Alfred Kelley mansion (1838) was torn down and replaced with the Christopher Inn in 1961. In 1857 the downtown portion of Board Street was a “lush boulevard” lined with trees. There were “medians” in the center of the street much like parks with grass and trees. In the 1930s when traffic became heavier the “streetscapes” had become a “danger” by “careless” drivers so the greenery was removed making the streets wider. In the 1970s something similar to the grassy medians was attempted but funding and growing traffic caused this attempt to be ended. Over the years the magnificent mansions that had been constructed in the beginning along East Broad street were in need of restoration which took place in the 1980s. When Columbus hosted the AmeriFlora ‘92 there was some reworking on parts of Broad Street considered. A walkable plan was put in place in 2010 and that narrowed Board Street.  A redeployment of Franklinton began in the 2000s. “Streetscape improvement took place”. Tree-lined areas, painted bike lanes, two-way turns , and “grassy rainwater basins” were put in place on Broad Street west of downtown. The work in Franklinton along Broad Street will go on. 

Pizza!

Joy

a couple