Quote of the Week

The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. - Nelson Henderson

Taking this quote at face value, it sounds like a noble thing to do.  I mean trees are pretty great right. Shade, fuel for warmth, paper, and most importantly, oxygen.  However, if we take a closer look we find a deeper meaning.

The true meaning of life is to do things for the greater good, even when you won't be enjoying the benefits. An example of this may be a leaving a legacy that supports a school, church or medical research, or becoming an organ donor.

Not every act for the greater good is on this scale, however, and the small things add up to make the world a better place.  Let's keep planting those trees so others can enjoy the shade.

Designer Digs

If you were a kitten, wouldn't you just love to have a great place to play?  My friend Ashley's son, Michael, designed and built this multi-level kitty condo for his two kittens, Sunshine and Shadow. Now they could have gone to the pet shop and purchased a ready-made playhouse, but where would the fun be in that.

The Kitty Play Place Extravaganza

No siree, Michael's kitties were getting a custom made place to climb, play hide and seek, and of course, sleep. The materials consisted of plastic pipe, connectors, carpet and cable ties. 

One of the great things about this design is that it allows you to hang all sorts of interesting things for them to play with and they don't get lost or worse...eaten.

The play house is on their enclosed porch with lots of windows, so it is definitely a feline paradise.  You can see Sunshine relaxing in the window enjoying the morning breeze.

It was a fun project for Michael, and Sunshine and Shadow both appreciate his effort.  Ashley and I also enjoyed sitting in comfortable chairs watching them play, while catching up with each other.

Shadow says "Thank You!"

Sunshine in the window

Also a big thanks today to my good friend, Sara from A Sharing Connection, for using some of my photos in her Story Photo Challenge.  Check out the Mysterious Case of the Missing Aliens and help her solve the mystery.

Quote of the Week

Look at your feet. You are standing in the sky. When we think of the sky, we tend to look up, but the sky actually begins at the earth. 
- Diane Ackerman

When searching for today's quote, I came across the category "clouds and sky" and was reminded of the beautiful clouds I saw over the weekend.  I wasn't alone.  As I scrolled through Facebook, I saw others had noticed them too.

What struck me about this quote was its different view of what actually constitutes the sky. We think of the sky as this blue expanse overhead.  Sometimes it is clear and sometimes filled with clouds. Sometimes it is a brilliant blue, and sometimes it is shaded gray with fog or haze, but always our eyes are drawn upward.

It is interesting to consider that the sky actually begins on earth.  To get a better grasp of this concept, picture a field with nothing to obstruct your view.  Looking at the horizon, it appears that the green grass and the blue sky meet, and therefore if you could suddenly be at that point the sky would be all around you.  In reality, no matter where you are, you are always where the earth meets the sky.

Quote of the Week

Don't find fault, find a remedy. - Henry Ford

Instead of seeing only the negative, find the positive and work with that.  Just because things are not exactly to your liking, doesn't mean they have to stay that way. For every problem there is a solution, so don't find fault - find a remedy.

This is what I started with, and while they are pretty on their own, I wanted a more artsy look, so I added texture and depth. I think it has sort of a tapestry look now.

Quote of the Week

Why not go out on a limb? 

Isn’t that where the fruit is? 

- Frank Scully

Some things are worth the risk, and if you never take the chance you won't reap the rewards.

However, if you sit too close to the end of the bench, it can flip on you, and you end up on the ground.  Oops!