Image: Su Leslie 2020. Post title from a quote by John Muir
quotes
Note to self …
“When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength. Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living. If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.” –– Tecumseh
And perhaps more importantly I guess, is giving thanks that I have those things to be thankful for.
Pictures in my soul
“The soul can not think without a picture. “Aristotle, Greek philosopher, 384–322 BC
If the human soul is the seat of principles, thoughts and emotions, then the prevailing picture in my soul is of two things I most want to cherish and protect; my son, and the natural world.
My boy is fortunate to have grown up with a vast natural playground all around him. Every child deserve this, and every single one of us needs to take whatever steps we can to protect, preserve and if possible restore our natural world for the good of our own souls, and for those yet to come.
Debbie, at Travel with Intent, hosts a weekly quotation challenge. Visit to see her stunning photos, and find links to other participants’.
One of those days?
“Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple”
Perfect existence
Afloat on a full sea perhaps
There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures. — William Shakespeare, (Julius Caesar)
Posted to Six Word Saturday
Three day quote challenge, day three

“We are making photographs to understand what our lives mean to us.” — Ralph Hattersley. Image: Su Leslie 2017
Life isn’t about finding yourself. It’s about creating yourself. — George Bernard Shaw
When I was young, I remember the notion of “finding yourself” being talked about — in popular culture at least — as a thing that people (young, middle class, white people) could do.
At 12 or 13 it seemed terribly glamorous and infinitely desirable.
I also remember my father — a no-nonsense, working-class member of The Silent Generation (1)– scoffing. His mantra was more or less “if you can’t find yourself in the mirror, then running of to join a commune isn’t going to help.”
Perhaps that’s why this quote appeals to me so much. It balances my desire to reach for something beyond an unexamined humdrum existence, with a sneaking feeling that my dad’s pragmatism resonates more with me that I would have ever have wanted to admit.
More importantly, it acknowledges that we are all work in progress.
The Three Day Quote Challenge works like this:
1) Thank the person who nominated you
2) Post a quote for 3 consecutive days ( 1 post each day )
3) Nominate 3 bloggers each day
I’m grateful to Ju-Lyn at Sunrise, Sunset for inviting me to join this challenge and giving me reason to reflect on quotes and ideas that are meaningful to me.
If you haven’t already been invited to join this, and would like to — please do.
I for one am happy to read all the extra words of wisdom (or fun) that are sent my way.
Three day quote challenge, day two

My kitchen; part studio, part laboratory, part drop-in centre. My favourite part of the house and my all-time happy place. Image: Su Leslie, 2018
“Cooking is all about people. Food is maybe the only universal thing that really has the power to bring everyone together. No matter what culture, everywhere around the world, people get together to eat.” — Guy Fieri
I love food.
I love eating certainly, but even more, I love thinking about, planning and making food. To cook for you is to say “I care; you matter to me.”

Chocolate cookies baked with the boy-child, for delivery to the City Mission. Image: Su Leslie, 2017
It seems particularly appropriate to share quotes about food for this challenge as I was invited to take part by Ju-Lyn at Sunrise, Sunset, who says of herself:
Thank you Ju-Lyn.
In the few days since I wrote a post for the DP Photo Challenge about My Place in the World is has occurred to me that, no matter where I am, the kitchen is my place. I love my own kitchen — the part of our house renovation I am most proud of — and I happily commandeer friends’ and family members’ kitchens when I visit. Even on holiday, I crave the chance to cook at least one meal — using whatever is to hand.
So I guess there is need for a second quote today:
“The kitchen is a sacred space.” — Marc Forgione
The Three Day Quote Challenge works like this:
1) Thank the person who nominated you
2) Post a quote for 3 consecutive days ( 1 post each day )
3) Nominate 3 bloggers each day
If you haven’t already been invited to join this, and would like to — please do.
I for one am happy to read all the extra words of wisdom (or fun) that are sent my way.