A study in Yellow and ...

 

The first maple leaves to turn outside my window

More yellow - Art nouveau pitcher ~ eggshell porcelain ~ Samuel Shellink..Dutch pottery.

And for the Ukranians

Today's quote:

When change comes, you gotta slow down and take note of it. In the midst of that change is all the possibility in the world.

BERTICE BERRY

Climate change is still around

 Back to climate change!

Maybe considering a reduced ozone hole in the atmosphere...a 3 minute Nova note from PBS.

What Happened to the Hole in the Ozone Layer? Click here to play, the photo isn't a link.

The extreme thinning of the Ozone layer threatened to bring on a global crisis from destroying plants and ecosystems to sky-high skin cancer rates. So, what happened?

I've begun talking about how climate crisis refugees are likely to be coming to our area. I don't know what form that will take, but it will create an opportunity to serve and organize people's needs.

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Here's a bit of Native style flute playing by my friend Marina Raye...to just listen to and feel calm.

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Expecting these conditions for Thurs & Fri, as of Wed. 9.25. at 6 pm.

Rainfall amounts below as of Thurs. morning 9.26 at 8:30 am.

Yesterday (when I wrote this) Black Mountain was preparing for Helene's outer band of winds and rains to hit us in the night. Before that, we had had days of relentless rain here in Black Mountain. As of 8:30 am Thurs, Black Mountain had 7.33 inches over the last 36 hours. It had continued to rain off an on all that day. But the high winds and gusts were due that night, after Helene came ashore in Florida.

In the mountains, having super saturated ground from long term rains, and gusts of winds, is just leading to downed trees and power lines. There may well be landslides with the water coming down steep slopes. And many of the creeks and rivers are overflowing their banks so there are flood warnings. That is why NC has declared a state of emergency already. This was the weather report at 11 am Thurs. I'll give you some updates as I get them on Fri.

I have several relatives and friends who live in Florida. I'm thinking of how they've prepared for the storm, but fortunately they don't live in flood prone areas. So I hope they'll check in with me today (Fri.) sometime.

I may hate AI, but I had to laugh at this one! Incidentally, this was posted on FB, and then I shared it, and then it was pulled from FB!

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I haven't talked much about climate change lately. Why? Well my friends have all heard my views by now. I'm glad to see my former UU church is doing some efforts focused on climate justice work. Since I left it officially a few months ago, I still get notified of topics of the Sunday services.

Here's the notice for the service coming up on Sept. 29. I plan to attend, and will give you my thoughts afterward!

Sunday, September 29, 2024

“UUs & Climate Change”

Rev. Michael J. S. Carter

 

One of my favorite things about Unitarian Universalism is the unique way we approach our faith. I'm speaking specifically of deeds, not creeds. Our worship doesn’t just live within our congregational walls, but within the world. As I see it, climate justice, and our faith are interwoven too tightly to be separated. Upholding our faith goes hand-in-hand with advocating for the Earth on which we live (per our 6^th & 7th Principles). Our congregation has identified "Climate Change" as its number one concern. As our denomination has also taken up the mantle to advocate for our Mother Earth, let's explore what that looks like for our congregation going forward. I want to encourage each and every one of you to get to know the members of our Social Action Committee and to be curious about what you can do to assist them. Be on the lookout this fall regarding announcements about upcoming events and activities related to climate change...See you on the 29th! 

UUSV.org

Facebook

Upcoming Sunday Services

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Swannanoa Valley

500 Montreat Road

Black Mountain, NC 28711

They also post videos of each service to YouTube as well.

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Well, that went off on a tangent I didn't expect. But I used to belong to a group there which discussed climate change, and hosted the Earth Day event (held at the Lake Tomahawk picnic pavilion) where various topics were demonstrated from vegan eating to sustainable businesses for ecological toilet paper. My health kept me from being involved this last year.

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Today's quote:

"Emerging also is the recognition that, for all of our foibles, all of our vulnerability to ideological manipulation, all of our capacity for cruelty, it is tenderness we most long for, tenderness that is our deepest nature.

"The challenge is how to live with the knowledge that what steers us one way or another, toward terror or tenderness, can be the faintest and most random ripple in the surface of consciousness — just a “wave in the mind,” to borrow Virginia’s ​[Wolfe] own lovely phrase."

 Maria Popova, The Marginalian

What makes a extraordinary building?

 

Fallingwater by Thomas Shalle. House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Stewart Township, PA, 1935.

"While Pennsylvania boasts the historic Fallingwater, the Chicago area, particularly Oak Park, is home to its own architectural treasures, including Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal residence.

A notable example is the Nathan G. Moore House, also known as the Moore-Dugal Residence, located at 333 Forest Avenue. Designed by Wright in the Tudor Revival style, this house was initially completed in 1895.

After a fire in 1922, Wright undertook a complete redesign, blending elements of Sullivanesque, Mayan, and other exotic styles into the structure.

Wright preserved the essence of the Tudor style but enhanced it with intricate ornamentation. The original simple bay window on the east facade was replaced with a Gothic motif, featuring paired lancet windows and elaborately decorated terracotta. While the half-timbering was limited to the peaks of three gables, the rest of the house showcased terracotta banding and heavily carved, geometrically patterned wood.

The house underwent further changes and eventually changed ownership several times. The most recent owner, Robert Dugal, offered seasonal public tours until they were discontinued in 2001 due to his decline in health.

The Nathan G. Moore House was added to the Register of Historic Places in 1973.

Photo Credit Ervin Eliud

Source: Facebook group Fans of Frank Lloyd Wright 

Moore-Dugal Residence, Oak Park IL. 1895-1922 Frank Lloyd Wright

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St. Andrew, The Little Chapel of Guernsey, in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.

Surfaces of the chapel are covered with broken China.

4.9m long (16 ft) 2.7m wide (9ft)

Created in 1914 by Brother Déoda

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Impressionistic painting of...

San Marco, Venice by Giuseppe Marastoni

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Yesterday was breathing day. High humidity with storm coming. I tried putting all the plants on the floor of the porch, breathing hard all the way. Canceled going to the lunch at the 11th hour...well 11:30 when my friend offered to drive me and let me off as close as possible to the Lakeview Center. But I was coughing continuously after my nebulizing, and almost fainted in the bathroom, but knew to put my head in the sink. It worked, but I was exhausted, so just am staying air conditioned to hopefully have lower humidity to breath.

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Today's quote:

Each of us is an artist of our days; the greater our integrity and awareness, the more original and creative our time will become." John O'Donohue

The fun times at the Tailgate Market in Black Mountain

 Some fun is experienced by watching the people, the dogs, the kids, the extravagant outfits people show up wearing. And then there's also fun purchasing just the best fresh produce around! Or maybe a plant, or jewelry, or baked goods, or pottery!

I sold this platter to a friend (well almost gave it to her!) last Saturday. She's one of those people who walks this earth just doing good things.  The image is some kind of wind and moon interaction that I thought up in 2014. My friend may give it to her daughter, as she has other pieces of my pottery. She also bought a pot from the other Mud Buddy, Amelia Packer.

Then the love sign holders came through the market!

They are noted to stand out on the corner of our busiest intersection every Wednesday afternoon at 5 pm waving and sending love to all who drive by.

I decided to purchase some pretty flowers for my home from local grower "Urban Farm Girl."

While the local Ukulele band gathered to share a couple of songs!

See what I mean about colorful outfits? I didn't have permission to post Michelle's photo, but I don't think he'd mind his outfit without his face!

A satisfying day for me...I did much better at being there more hours.  And I arranged my flowers back home while talking on the phone with one of my sons. That always makes me feel good.

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With the storm remains coming in the next few days, I'm not sure I'll go to the market this Saturday...we shall wait and see!

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Today's quote:

Courage without conscience is a wild beast.

 -Robert Green Ingersoll, lawyer and orator (1833-1899)

Just Good News

 I always love to share good news. Marcia already shared the Americans of Conscience list. But there's more from my neck of the woods! And after yesterday's ugly topic, let's look for some positive things!

Kuwohi is the recognized name for a sacred place for the Cherokee people and is the highest point within the traditional Eastern Band Cherokee homeland. It was formerly known as Clingman's Dome, after a Confederate General geologist. It's next to the Appalachian Trail, and in the Great Smokey Mountains National Park as well. You pronounce Kuwohi just the way it looks, Koo-woe-hee.

Seen in Australia

Sharing with Signs2

Today's Quote:

Alfred Hitchcock said, "The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the human bladder."

Don't read if you're in a good mood, but here's the update from Heather for today on Robinson's campaign:

In North Carolina the core members of Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson’s campaign staff resigned yesterday along with all but three members of the campaign staff—two spokespeople and a bodyguard—after the CNN report about Robinson’s offensive writings on a pornography website, including his declaration that he considers himself a “black NAZI,” and that he would like to own slaves. And yet the North Carolina Republican Party is openly defending Robinson. Today the Republican Governors Association announced it was not going to buy any more ad time in North Carolina, a potential disaster for Trump as well as Robinson

Since I live in NC, I should post about Robinson

 He has become a national focus, as of last Thurs. news I got to hear what the broadcasters warned might offend some.

I've been hearing TV ads by local Democrats for months, which mainly focused on his and his wife's prior nursery endeavor which endangered children.

But then his past interest in porn sites and his quotes became available.

"... the big story today is that Republican North Carolina lieutenant governor Mark Robinson frequented porn sites, where between 2008 and 2012 he wrote that he enjoyed watching transgender pornography; referred to himself as a “black NAZI!”; called for reinstating human enslavement and wrote, “I would certainly buy a few”; called the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. a “f*cking commie bastard”; wrote that he preferred Adolf Hitler to former president Barack Obama; referred to Black, Jewish, Muslim, and gay people with slurs; said he doesn’t care about abortions (“I don’t care. I just wanna see the sex tape!” he wrote); and recounted that he had secretly watched women in the showers in a public gym as a 14-year-old. Andrew Kaczynski and Em Steck of CNN, who broke the story, noted that “CNN is reporting only a small portion of Robinson’s comments on the website given their graphic nature.”

Source: Sept. 19 Letters from an American

He's been our Lieutenant Governor all this time? I've admired our Governor Roy Cooper, a Democrat who has worked with a totally Republican legislature and actually managed to accomplish some good in NC.

So Robinson is running for Governor for the GOP.

The Democratic candidate, Josh Stein, has lots of good achievements under his belt as our present Attorney General. He has been helping the Asheville area citizens deal with a local hospital which was purchased by a profit making corporation with the loss of many of the professionals who gave quality of care as a result.

As Heather Cox Richardson mentioned in her Letters from an American, the poor conservative Republicans are sitting between a rock and a hard place (my metaphor.) The GOP has gerrymandered so many districts (including my own in Buncombe County) that Democrat votes are probably not going to count...the Republicans (if they vote) will take the legislature hands down, and will have a good chance to put Robinson in the Governor's office as well as Trump in the White House.

"After the first story broke, Natalie Allison of Politico broke another: that Robinson was registered on the Ashley Madison website, which caters to married people seeking affairs. 

Robinson is running for governor of North Carolina. He has attacked transgender rights, called for a six-week abortion ban without exceptions for rape or incest, mocked survivors of school shootings, and—after identifying a wide range of those he saw as enemies to America and to “conservatives”—told a church audience that “some folks need killing.”

That this scandal dropped on the last possible day Robinson could drop out of the race suggests it was pushed by Republicans themselves because they recognize that Robinson is dragging Trump and other Republican candidates down in North Carolina. But here’s the thing: Republican voters knew who Robinson was, and they chose him anyway. 

Source: Sept. 19 Letters from an American

So we in North Carolina who support Harris for President, and Josh Stein for Governor will vote our hearts out. There are a lot of independent voters, and I sure hope they decide for the Democrats. And may somehow a miracle occur in North Carolina.

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Today's inspiring quote:

History lives in and through our bodies right now, and in every moment.

RESMAA MENAKEM

Mabon or Autumnal Equinox

 Happy  Mabon or Harvest Home. This equinox is also known as the first day of autumn. The equinox is on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 08:44 A.M. EDT in the Northern Hemisphere

Wonderful tower of Moonlight Macarons for a business near St. Petersburg FL by Moonlitmacarons.com. Lucky are the local Floridians, since they don't ship long distances. My daughter-in-law, Barbara Baker creates these delicious treats.

Today's quote:

Personal note:  I had an interesting experience last week. From a position of getting out of breath when walking almost anywhere I needed to, I started telling friends that I wanted to start taking walks again. I even set a goal with my care coordinator, Rob (an official title for a Physician's Assistant who phone consults with me once a month regarding my medical issues [having more than 3 chronic diagnosis] from my general practitioner's office.) The goal wasn't set until after I'd had a nice coffee meeting with some friends, where we explored our experiences of our own pain threshold. I didn't know if mine was high or low exactly, but I seldom seem to have severe pains, just fatigue.

So I was  talking later with Rob,, and out of the blue said I wanted to set this goal to walk around our local lake (a half mile) without stopping, in three months. These kinds of goals delight the medical professionals, I know, because they are measurable and can have incremental objectives set in the time frame. (I use to write the same thing as a mental health counselor for records of my clients.) 

Anyway, at lunch, right after talking with Rob, my friend asked if I'd gotten my referral for pulmonary rehabilitation yet. I said no.

Then within an hour I had a call from Tanya, the pulmonary rehab. technician who I'd worked with several years ago. She had the referral from the pulmonologist. Apparently when I had emailed two weeks ago about my difficulties breathing, and asked if pulmonary rehab would be a good idea, it had trickled down to a referral after all.

But the timing was the miraculous (cosmic coincidence) part...set the goal, set a date, and then boom, here's a way to actually have allies to help me get there! Yes, the universe is supporting me going in this direction. Anyone else would phrase it differently, but that's the way I see it. And I felt so good about myself, I made brownies to take to the pot luck at the apartment complex the next day. Usually I have a lot of fatigue in the evening, and coughing, so can't accomplish much, but not that night! I was feeling so up about possibly getting to feel better, I actually felt better.

PS I might have some energies and positive attitude, but I still have a brain that isn't functioning correctly. The pot luck wasn't for another week! I hadn't looked at my calendar to check. So I shared brownies at the lunch program.

 

Some Sepia photos and maybe some critters too!

In order to give a Sepia Saturday post (which I try to do weekly) and maybe Saturday Critters for Eileen's meme...I'm looking, I'm looking...

I was named after my great grandmother, Eugenia Almeda Booth Miller (1873-1936). My mother was mostly raised by her. Yes, 'Booth' is the part of her name I carry. 'Eugenia' had already gone to a cousin. And I'm kind of glad not to be Almeda! So I'm celebrating G-Grandma Eugenia.

Sepia Saturday's suggested meme is Highs and Lows.

Here are definitely some men engaged in something "high"

Acrobats balance on top of the Empire State Building, 1934.

New York City in snow storm, 1888 - just look at those wires!

Worlds Fair, 1964 New York NY - I was there! Those little gondola rides were also "high."

Giraffe and pup. A pair of high and low.

A leafy sea dragon - so amazing!

From high to low, he got his catch!

Today's quote:

"I speak two languages, Body and English."

also, "Between two evils, I like to pick the one I haven't tried before." 

and, "I used to be Snow White, but I drifted."

. -Mae West, actress, playwright, singer, screenwriter, and comedian (1893-1980)

Early Autumn at the lake, and reality check on Springfield OH

 After lunch yesterday for seniors (hot dogs, chili, baked beans, tomato slices, chips and a banana) I checked the status of the new gazebo. It still has both entrances crossed with yellow tape. But otherwise it's looking finished.

The pool has been closed since Labor Day weekend. soon they'll put a tarp over the water for the winter.

Along the steep hill between the lake and the pool are lots of wildflowers - a pollinator's garden.

Though I suffer from hay fever it's not from any pollen from goldenrod. I learned it can be from it's similar yellow flower, ragweed. This is all goldenrod.

I haven't seen many butterflies or bees this year. 

Sharing with Floral Friday Fotos

Today's quote:

Usually, terrible things that are done with the excuse that progress requires them are not really progress at all, but just terrible things.

 -Russell Baker, columnist and author (1925-2019)

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Reality check:
On Sept. 16, I posted this to FB

"For the third day in a row, officials today had to evacuate two elementary schools in Springfield, Ohio, citing threats that have led to safety concerns. The city has also canceled “CultureFest,” its annual celebration of diversity, arts, and culture, and the local colleges are meeting virtually out of safety concerns. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles has had to close, as has the Ohio License Bureau."

 - Heather Cox Richardson, 9-16-2024

Sept. 19, I posted this to FB:

"...J.D. Vance’s lie about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. That story has gotten even darker as it turns out Vance and Trump received definitive assurances on September 9 that the rumor was false, but Trump ran with it in the presidential debate of September 10 anyway. Now, although it has been made very clear—including by Republican Ohio governor Mike DeWine—that the Haitian immigrants in Springfield are there legally, Vance told a reporter today that he personally considers the programs under which they came illegal, so he is still “going to call [a Haitian migrant] an illegal alien.”

Here's the whole article by Heather Cox Richardson:

September 18, 2024 (Wednesday)

Today, at a White House reception in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, President Joe Biden said: "We don't demonize immigrants. We don't single them out for attacks. We don't believe they're poisoning the blood of the country. We're a nation of immigrants, and that's why we're so damn strong."

Biden’s celebration of the country’s heritage might have doubled as a celebration of the success of his approach to piloting the economy out of the ravages of the pandemic. Today the Fed cut interest rates a half a point, a dramatic cut indicating that it considers inflation to be under control. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has maintained that it would be possible to slow inflation without causing a recession—a so-called soft landing—and she appears to have been vindicated.

Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell said: “The labor market is in solid condition, and our intention with our policy move today is to keep it there. You can say that about the whole economy: The US economy is in good shape. It’s growing at a solid pace, inflation is coming down. The labor market is at a strong pace. We want to keep it there. That’s what we’re doing.”

Powell, whom Trump first appointed to his position, said, “We do our work to serve all Americans. We’re not serving any politician, any political figure, any cause, any issue, nothing. It’s just maximum employment and price stability on behalf of all Americans.”

Powell was anticipating accusations from Trump that his cutting of rates was an attempt to benefit Harris before the election. Indeed, Jeff Stein of the Washington Post reported that Trump advisor Steven Moore called the move “jaw-dropping. There's no reason they couldn't do 25 now and 25 right after the election. Why not wait till then?” Moore added, "I'm not saying [the] reduction isn't justified—it may well be and they have more data than I do. But i just think, 'why now?’” Alabama senator Tommy Tuberville called the cut “shamelessly political.”

The New Yorker’s Philip Gourevitch noted that “Trump has been begging officials worldwide not to do the right thing for years to help rig the election for him—no deal in Gaza, no defense of Ukraine, no Kremlin hostages release, no border deal, no continuing resolution, no interest rate cuts etc—just sabotage & subterfuge.”

That impulse to focus on regaining power rather than serving the country was at least part of what was behind Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance’s lie about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio. That story has gotten even darker as it turns out Vance and Trump received definitive assurances on September 9 that the rumor was false, but Trump ran with it in the presidential debate of September 10 anyway. Now, although it has been made very clear—including by Republican Ohio governor Mike DeWine—that the Haitian immigrants in Springfield are there legally, Vance told a reporter today that he personally considers the programs under which they came illegal, so he is still “going to call [a Haitian migrant] an illegal alien.”

The lies about those immigrants have so derailed the Springfield community with bomb threats and public safety concerns that when the Trump campaign suggested Trump was planning a visit there, the city’s Republican mayor, Rob Rue, backed by DeWine, threw cold water on the idea. “It would be an extreme strain on our resources. So it’d be fine with me if they decided not to make that visit,” Rue said. Nonetheless, tonight, Trump told a crowd in Long Island, New York, that he will go to Springfield within the next two weeks.

The false allegation against Haitian immigrants has sparked outrage, but it has accomplished one thing for the campaign, anyway: it has gotten Trump at least to speak about immigration—which was the issue they planned to campaign on—rather than Hannibal Lecter, electric boats, and sharks, although he continues to insist that “everyone is agreeing that I won the Debate with Kamala.” Trump, Vance, and Republican lawmakers are now talking more about policies.

In the presidential debate of September 10, Trump admitted that after nine years of promising he would release a new and better healthcare plan than the Affordable Care Act in just a few weeks, all he really had were “concepts of a plan.” Vance has begun to explain to audiences that he intends to separate people into different insurance pools according to their health conditions and risk levels. That business model meant that insurers could refuse to insure people with pre-existing conditions, and overturning it was a key driver of the ACA.

Senate and House Republicans told Peter Sullivan of Axios that if they regain control of the government, they will work to get rid of the provision in the Inflation Reduction Act that permits the government to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies over drug prices. Negotiations on the first ten drugs, completed in August, will lower the cost of those drugs enough to save taxpayers $6 billion a year, while those enrolled in Medicare will save $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket expenses.

Yesterday Trump promised New Yorkers that he would restore the state and local tax deduction (SALT) that he himself capped at $10,000 in his 2017 tax cuts. In part, the cap was designed to punish Democratic states that had high taxes and higher government services, but now he wants to appeal to voters in those same states. On CNBC, host Joe Kernan pointed out that this would blow up the deficit, but House speaker Mike Johnson said that the party would nonetheless consider such a measure because it would continue to stand behind less regulation and lower taxes.

In a conversation with Arkansas governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, his former press secretary, Trump delivered another stream of consciousness commentary in which he appeared to suggest that he would lower food prices by cutting imports. Economics professor Justin Wolfers noted: “I'm exhausted even saying it, but blocking supply won't reduce prices, and it's not even close.” Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark added, “Tell me more about why you have to vote for Trump because of his ‘policies.’”

Trump has said he supports in vitro fertilization, or IVF, as have a number of Republican lawmakers, but today, 44 Republican senators once again blocked the Senate from passing a measure protecting it. The procedure is in danger from state laws establishing “fetal personhood,” which give a fertilized egg all the rights of a human being as established by the Fourteenth Amendment. That concept is in the 2024 Republican Party platform.

Trump has also demanded that Republicans in Congress shut down the government unless a continuing resolution to fund the government contains the so-called SAVE Act requiring people to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Speaker Johnson continues to suggest that undocumented immigrants vote in elections, but it is illegal for even documented noncitizens to do so, and Aaron Reichlin-Melnick of the nonprofit American Immigration Council notes that even the right-wing Heritage Foundation has found only 12 cases of such illegal voting in the past 40 years.

Johnson brought the continuing resolution bill with the SAVE Act up for a vote today. It failed by a vote of 202 to 220. If the House and then the Senate don’t pass a funding bill, the government will shut down on October 1.

Republican endorsements of the Harris-Walz ticket continue to pile up. On Monday, six-term representative Bob Inglis (R-SC) told the Charleston City Paper that “Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to the republic” and said he would vote for Harris. “If Donald Trump loses, that would be a good thing for the Republican Party,” Inglis said. “Because then we could have a Republican rethink and get a correction.”

George W. Bush’s attorney general Alberto Gonzales, conservative columnist George Will, more than 230 former officials for presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, and 17 former staff members for Ronald Reagan have all recently added their names to the list of those supporting Harris. Today more than 100 Republican former members of Congress and national security officials who served in Republican administrations endorsed Harris, saying they “firmly oppose the election of Donald Trump.” They cited his chaotic governance, his praising of enemies and undermining allies, his politicizing the military and disparaging veterans, his susceptibility to manipulation by Russian president Vladimir Putin, and his attempt to overthrow democracy. They praised Harris for her consistent championing of “the rule of law, democracy, and our constitutional principles.”

Yesterday, singer-songwriters Billie Eilish, who has 119 million followers on Instagram, and Finneas, who has 4.2 million, asked people to register and to vote for Harris and Walz. “Vote like your life depends on it,” Eilish said, “because it does.”

On Thursday Sept 19 we learned Trump plans to go to Springfield OH to speak. That should be interesting.