Daily Quote: April 11, 2021

Posted on by Porte Photos

There is no sanctuary of virtue like home.

~ Edward Everett (American – Statesman / April 11, 1794 – January 15, 1865)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

The Sunday after Easter is designated as Devine Mercy Sunday. A day in the Roman Catholic calendar to encourage followers to offer forgiveness and reconciliation. Hopefully this expands to all Christian denominations and people of the world.

With pets being so important to us no wonder there are so many holidays and celebrations for pets. Today is National Pet Day. So spend the day with your favorite pet and have treats.

As we are approaching World Day, today is Good Deeds Day. Celebrate by doing one good deed. Or better still decide today to do one good deed a day for the remainder of April.

April 11th was always an important date in my household because it was my Father’s Birthday. He would have been 84 today, but his life was cut short at 63 by small cell cancer. Years of exposure to possible carcinogens at work and smoking caught up with him and took him away just as he was starting to enjoy his retirement years. Life wasn’t easy for him. He had a learning disability and was never able to read beyond a grade 3 level. But that didn’t stop him from working hard. He had an innate ability to learn by doing and after many years of being a laborer (ditch digger) became a high pressure welder for natural gas lines. Belonging to the Welders and Pipefitters Union permitted him to retire at 60. So after working hard from the age of 16, he was permitted almost 3 years of leisure and travel. We were so lucky to have been his children.

Daily Quote: April 10, 2021

Posted on by Porte Photos

The more we do, the more we can do.

~ William Hazlitt (English – Critic / April 10, 1778 – September 18, 1830)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

So with many things the more we do, the more we can do. So go for a walk. Slow down the aging process by doing a puzzle or just talking with others. Travel as much as you can as soon as you can so it becomes a part of a routine ingrained in your life and dreams. Practice makes perfect. That’s why so many golfers are out there on a regular basis swinging away. So if you’re a golfer celebrate Golfer’s Day.

Today is also National Siblings Day. Like most families, two of my sisters have recently stopped talking to each other and disowned each other. It breaks my heart. I love both of them. So here’s a quick prayer for all the siblings that don’t talk to each other: may you reconcile and share your time together while you can. Celebrate National Siblings Day by reaching out to your siblings and whenever possible spend time together.

It’s easy to celebrate National Hug Your Dog Day, I hug my dog every day. Rickie’s constant companionship has even been an important part of my life every since I adopted him more than 7 years ago. I rescued him, or should I say he rescued me, giving me incentive to go for long walks and forcing me to remember to play. We’ve both gotten a lot greyer in the last year.

COVID-19 Restrictions:

Posted on by Porte Photos

Porte Photos is looking forward to the re-opening of Ontario.

ONTARIO IS CURRENTLY UNDER STAY AT HOME/LOCK-DOWN RESTRICTIONS!!!

Please contact me to book your Summer 2021 event or family portraits.
Text: 519-318-0412
e-mail: debbie.porte@hotmail.ca

$50 for 1/2 hour Portraits/Events.

DURING STAY AT HOME/LOCKDOWN: COMMERCIAL PHOTOGRAPHY ONLY

Real Estate Photos or Air BnB $100

Daily Quote: April 9, 2021

Posted on by Porte Photos

The sky’s the limit if you have a roof over your head.

~ Sol Hurok (American – Musician  /April 9, 1888 – March 5, 1974)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

The sky’s the limit when you have a roof over your head. Both the sky and head are also important as we celebrate National Chicken Little Awareness Day. The chicken that thought the sky was falling because something fell on his head. And everything is a matter of perspective. You may not be the world, but you may mean the world to someone.

Dreams of magical creatures are always filled with rainbows and Unicorns, as we celebrate National Unicorn Day. Even better, Unicorns with wings…..

The farthest from Unicorns would be Sir Winston Churchill. Realist, cigar in hand and leading a country during a tough time with tough decisions, helping to defeat the Nazi’s. A tough realist with strong opinions: A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity, an sees and opportunity in every difficulty.

Under stay at home orders, the Provincial Government has opened the Provincial Parks from Monday to Thursday for free for day use. Anyone who buys a seasonal day pass has the date extended until the end of November 2022. As my husband said: yeah and if they don’t sell any passes, they’ll close the parks just like they did our Senior’s Centre in Strathroy ON. So I purchased an annual pass and can go to any Provincial Park any day from now until the end of November 2022. My son’s got my little trailer out of the garage for me and I’m ready to go kayaking. ❤

Daily Quote: April 8, 2021

Posted on by Porte Photos

You may have a fresh start any moment you choose,
for this thing that we call ‘failure’
is not the falling down,
but the staying down.

~ Mary Pickford (Canadian – Actress / April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

April the 8th is Step into the Spotlight Day. Take your business out of the shadows of mere existence and make it shine for everyone to see. Promote yourself. Show people that you are worthwhile.

Today is also International Feng Shui Awareness Day. Feng Shui is the art of arranging material things to help the flow of good feelings and wealth into the spaces that they occupy. Bring goodness in and keep evil out. Take some time today to read about some of the layouts and recommendations.

And don’t forget to celebrate Draw a Bird Day.

Bring some peace to your spirit by bringing out your artistic side and celebrate spring time birds with a drawing. During lockdown you may want to paint more than one bird.

Ontario has now gone from a lockdown to a complete stay at home order. Except for essentials you must stay at home and not visit with your family and friends for the remainder of April 2021. As I saw tweeted this morning: Not a single person involved in the stay at home order will be without employment during the lockdown. Lockdowns aren’t working. We are all getting so tired of the communist type orders to not gather socially and not attend church in person. I just celebrated my second birthday under lockdown. When can I hug my family again? And now even stores that are open can only sell essentials. Who is going to tell people that clothes aren’t essential? And neither are gardening, or art supplies? Seasonal camping is cancelled for April so even though I just paid for my campsite I can’t go to it and use it.

Daily Quote: April 6, 2021

Posted on by Porte Photos

The most wasted day of all
is that on which we have not laughed.

~ Nicolas Chamfort (French – Writer / April 6, 1741 – April 13, 1794)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

Tuesday April 6th is now known as Tartan Day. The Scots of the world can wear their tartans again with pride. There was a time in USA history. Originally Tartan Day was celebrated on July 1, 1982. A day declared by the Mayor of New York to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the end of Proscription (August 12, 1747) when it was illegal to wear your tartan. The celebration was moved to April 6th to remember the Declaration of Arbroath, the declaration of Scottish Independence (1320).

Today is also known as Teflon Day. A day to celebrate the invention of teflon and it’s not stick qualities. Originally developed for space suits, it is more widely known for it’s ability in a frying pan so that we can cook eggs without sticking and fry foods without having a messy clean-up. But be careful, fumes from burnt teflon can kill your favorite pet bird. So be certain to cook on low heat and don’t leave it unattended.

Remember the writing exercise where you wrote your own epitaph? Well today is Plan Your Epitaph Day. So get out your pen and paper and plan your epitaph. It gives you an opportunity to take another view of your life and evaluate the direction you are going.

I really like today’s quote by Nicholas Chamfort: The most wasted day of all is that on which we have not laughed. I think it would make a wonderful epitaph, only I might want to change laugh to love. The picture I used is of a recent “walk” in the woods with my grandson. He has finally learned to ride his bike without training wheels and is thoroughly enjoying the challenge. Next time though I need to ride my bike. Rickie and I could hardly keep up on the trails as my grandson rode a head and actually had to wait for us. ❤

Daily Quote: April 5, 2021

Posted on by Porte Photos

If you want to lift yourself up,
lift up someone else.

~ Booker T. Washington (American – Educator / April 5, 1856 – November 14, 1915)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

Easter Monday, I never understood why Easter Monday was a holiday when I worked for Canada Post. I always dreaded going to work on Easter Sunday and missing out on Church and Family. I will never understand why Easter Monday is still a holiday at Canada Post, while people have to work on the holiest of Christian Holidays Easter Sunday. Oh, well sometimes you can’t change things. Today is a government holiday so don’t plan on going to the Post Office or Bank they’ll be closed.

April 5th is also National Dandelion Day. So celebrate the bright yellow dots on the yards and the great early blossoms that feed the butterflies and bees. Or have a glass of last season’s wine. 🙂

Along with that dandelion wine you could have a nice slice of Deep Dish Pizza and celebrate National Deep Dish Pizza Day. Cheese and tomato with your favorite toppings pilled high in a deep crust. Mmmmmm.

Daily Quote: April 4, 2021

Posted on by Porte Photos

Pleasures take to themselves wings and fly away; true knowledge remains forever.

~ Dorothea Dix (American – Activist / April 4, 1802 – July 17, 1887)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

April 4th, the 4th day of the 4th month is chosen as 404 Day. 404 Error is the computer error we get when an internet site has been moved or changed. Free speech advocates are vocal on this day to promote free speech. Under the guise of censorship we get the 4 oh 4 message: information is unable to be accessed not because of 404 messages, but because of censorship; 

in particular, the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) requires schools and libraries to restrict access to certain websites—those with obscene and pornographic images—in order for them to receive federal funding. In the process, many other sites are blocked, such as those with educational information, health information about breast cancer and sexual health, LGBTQ information, information about non-mainstream religions, and art museum websites. These are constitutionally protected websites, and their censorship is seen as violating the First Amendment.

Today is also International Mine Awareness Day. Mines and explosives remain in war torn countries causing massive damage, casualties and death to civilians. In 2005 the United Nations declared April 4th as a day to remember the victims of these “forgotten” mines and to work towards eliminated them without harm to civilians.

And last, but not least today is the holiest of days in the Christian Calendar, the celebration of Easter. When Mary went to the tomb and Jesus wasn’t there. She was comforted by an angel outside the tomb. Christ had risen. Enjoy your Easter Celebrations today.

Daily Quote: April 3, 2021

Posted on by Porte Photos

Good words are worth much, and cost little.

~ George Herbert (British – Poet / April 3, 1593 – March 1, 1633)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

The first Saturday in April is also Easter Saturday in the Christian Calendar. The day we remember that Christ lay in the tomb, alone in the dark with a huge rock rolled in front of the door and a guard outside to ensure that the body would be kept safe. A day of mourning, grief and darkness before the return to life.

Today is also a day set aside to honour American Circus Day. During the Pandemic, we haven’t been able to go to the Circus. Here’s hoping there’s one to go to once all this madness is done.

With April Showers we all go out and seek Rainbows. So get out and look for the eternal symbol of hope. Rainbows have been used recently to symbolize other things: Gay rights; rainbow babies; autism…….. So I wish you luck on Find a Rainbow Day.

Daily Quote: April 1, 2021

Posted on by Porte Photos

When you want to fool the world,
tell the truth.

~ Otto von Bismarck (German – Leader / April 1, 1815 – July 30, 1898)

Holidays and Celebrations:

Porte Musings:

March is done and onward we go to April. April Showers bring May flowers. The first of April is well known as being April Fools Day. Today’s quote by Otto von Bismark is very appropriate. Having been born on April Fools Day he would have heard all the Fool’s jokes and pranks, but it is true the best way to fool someone is just to tell the truth, for the truth is often more amazing than fiction.

In 2021, April 1st is also Maundy Thursday for Christians around the world. A day to remember the last supper, the prayers in the garden, the betrayal of Christ with a kiss, the mocking by the guards, the crown of thorns and ending with a trial rigged to appease the crowds.

Today is also Boomer Bonus Day. A day created to celebrate all baby boomers and to give them a discount without calling them seniors. So get your bonus if you qualify.

Being a grandparent, it’s impossible not to watch Peppa Pig. Today is her favorite holiday, National Jump in Muddy Puddles Day. To celebrate is easy. Find a muddy puddle and joyfully jump in it while laughing. Because deep down we all really like jumping in muddy puddles.