JUNE-A BUSY MONTH

June is that busy month at the end of the school year. Concerts and dance recitals. Planning for the summer. Buying new clothes for the warm season about to be thrust upon us. Anticipating more outdoor fun especially barbecues. Into the second month of the nice weather. Already missing May and all that it brought!

BELONGING-AN EMOTIONAL NECESSITY

Everyone needs to belong to something. We identify ourselves by our families, our church, our community, our country. People know us and we know them. New friends, old friends. Catching up with the news. Our work community. Our professional community. Belonging. It gives us an sense of self. A history with someone else. A place of time. "Remember when?" Even if everyone is not the bff, still belong! So being inclusive! Not excluding others! Letting people belong helps builds relationships. It is really emotionally healthy!

PURPLE FLOWERS IN A CANADIAN GARDEN

Purple flowers add lots of colour to any garden.

Pretty irises!

 Onion flowers!

Button flowers. Do you know purple flowers attract butterflies?

Captured wild flowers usually growing on the side of the road.

Purple-beautiful in any garden!!

LANGSTAFF SECONDARY SCHOOL CELEBRATED ITS 50TH REUNION

Langstaff Secondary School had its 50th reunion on May 30th. Located in Thornhill Ontario, it was my High School. Started there September 1964 and finished June 1969. So yesterday going to the 60s room, it was the old geiser room- who would have thought so long ago that I would be part of the old group. Talking with current students who were enthralled to meet some of the original students, it was an honour to be there. 5 years of my life- good years. I loved school. Met and later married my High School Sweetheart. Able to reconnect with many people even though a group of us meet annually to have lunch. Think we will add a few new ones to that group after the reunion. Talking and updating at a dinner at night for about 15, it was a good day. Reunions are necessary. We all like to belong somewhere to something and someone. Have you gone to a reunion lately? Is it time to reconnect?

EVERYONE NEEDS TO BE A WINNER!

We all need to win sometimes. In conflict there are theories are how to have win-win situations. However if there is a winner there is always a loser- so to speak. Competition means there are many participants but not everyone can be a winner. Olympics and team competitions mean that all the trying in the world does not make everyone a winner. Winning is a state of mind. Sometimes just being part of the competition pushes a person to do their best. A personal best is winning. Finishing the race, the interview, the completion is winning. Sometimes just getting through a tough meeting is winning! Many people feel like winners because they enjoy their jobs, like their families and live where they want. Maybe not having the best of everything but feeling good is winning! Of course winning the lottery is on many peoples' bucket lists. Yeah winning is better than losing but sometimes just good living is good enough? What do you think?

IRIS-THE GARDEN COMES ALIVE

The Iris is one of those lovely flowers that adds such beauty to any garden. Like other blooms comes in many colours.

Of course in mine the colour purple does abound.
There are other shades but my camera always seems drawn to the purple ones. Do you grow irises in your garden? Beautiful aren't they?

NANA SAYS FAMILIES HELP EACH OTHER

Having several generations in a family can be supportive. Grandparents helping children with their children. Grandchild caring for aging grandparents. Children feeling like the middle of a sandwich with the older and younger generations. There is a time to help and a time to be helped. Being there for the family makes a clear sense of purpose. Of course lots of patience as each generation has its own quirks!

LIFE IS LIKE A DRESSER

Life is like a dresser. There are separate drawers for like items. The design matches your colour scheme. It can be in wood with nice handles or white or mahogany. A chest of drawers or long! Keeps a room neat! Inside can be messy or well organized! A bedroom set can have more than one- depending on the amount of stuff one needs. Like life busy or minimal! Full of stuff or lean. What does your dresser of life entail?

LIFE HAS MANY TWISTS AND TURNS

Every time we think there may be clear sailing, another of life's glitches comes along. Dealing with all the twists and turns is what makes experience for us. Sometimes the new glitch may be- done that, been there! I can handle this one- again!! The ride can be fun. Or depressing! No matter what- the slide ends and we start at a new beginning! Fortunately, some twists and turns are good stuff too! How about you! What are you dealing with today? How is your slide of life? What unforeseen adventure are you facing?

BEING PREPARED

Being prepared for life's crisis takes some consideration. Having the right tools makes the difference. Strategically placing items like the hydrant in a convenient spot does make sense. Firemen know how to access it when needed. Those emergency kits around a home and in a car can help. What do you do to be prepared?

LILLIES OF THE VALLEY

A fragrant tubular flower that fills any corner of the garden. Once the flowers finish the greenery is a welcome addition. Especially in those corners where many flowers do not bloom.

I like to pick a few to put in a small vase in the house to bring the fragrance indoors. Do you like these pretty little flowers in your garden?

SHARING-DO WE NEED MORE IN THIS WORLD?

Sharing is an interesting concept. We encourage children to share. We all hear our mothers' voices about sharing. Is it compassionate? Yet it is hard to do without some thought. Everyone needs their personal space. their own bed. Their favourite chair. Just have a visitor to the house, work or your favourite coffee shop and someone sits in your spot. Even though a sharing person- there is a bit of an edge. Oh you are in my spot. Not just Sheldon on the Big Bang Theory. He just personifies the whole idea. Fences make good neighbours because the territory is clear. My side, your side. My little visitors to my house go everywhere. They get into everything so learning to share differently again has been learning. If we have a lot we are supposed to share with others. The rich countries should share with the poorer countries. Lunch programs encourage students not to put their portions of lunch in the garbage but to share with others. The older sibling has to share with the little one! Fights can ensue! If I earned it, why do I have to share it! Let the other person work for it too! Sharing means caring or does it! It does teach us about looking outside of ourselves. Do I have too much and can share with others? What do you think? Do you want to share your thoughts?

TULIPS COME IN ALL COLOURS

A spring garden in Canada includes tulips.

There are so many varieties.

Purple!

 Pink and White!

A community garden full of tulips!

Dispersed throughout the garden!

Bringing colour to a city street!

Tulips that pretty flower that just does not last long enough!!

WE ALL CAST SHADOWS

 

Life has day and night. Dark and light! We all cast shadows periodically. To stand in the light means a shadow will be seen. What we do with our dark side is manageable and can give meaning to us at a deeper level. Sometimes the dark and light are together. Like our path of life we just keep moving forward.

NANA SAYS TODDLER PROOFING A HOUSE TAKES EFFORT

Babies are easily contained. Preschoolers can know their rules and well teenagers can not be told anything. But the toddler year with its exploration of everything and learning takes some creativity in making a home safe. They climb, pull, put things in their mouths and well run, jump and explore everywhere. The stairs are always a worry. Some learn to go up and down like the rest of us. However, one little one likes to sit on her bum and well slide down! Hum! So needing to be beside her and yes there must be gates for protection. Seeing the world through the little one's eyes takes constant awareness. Safety is the main issues so any cleaning products, medication and whatever should not be in the child's hands must be put away. Then activities for learning- well those are fun. Just looking out a window at the squirrels for example are enjoyable moments. The speech development takes off at an enormous speed. The learning of words then to mini sentences. Understanding commands! Of course- give Nana a hug please! Well that is easy to do! Yes the energy level is huge, so put on your running shoes!

LONG WEEKENDS ARE NEVER LONG ENOUGH

Having an extra day on the weekend is always great. But why does it never seem long enough?? Enjoying the good weather and being able to be outdoors for part of the time helps.  Long weekends become work weekends especially this time of year with garden planting and cleanup. The good news is the 4 day work week. Already Tuesday! The days are longer so more time at night to enjoy the outdoors. How did your weekend go? Was it eventful? Did you enjoy some fireworks? Have a great week! Still lots of May to enjoy!

PHOTOS FROM A VICTORIA DAY STROLL IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

Long weekends usually mean lots of work around the house and garden. To cut up the monotony of such work a leisurely stroll in early morning with my camera was a photographer's heaven.

Pink and green on the street where I live.

A path in the park.

Walking along Yonge Street.

Not the fountain of youth, but a pretty fountain nevertheless.

A sea of tulips or maybe just a garden.

Heading back to my street. Dandelions are everywhere!

A fence makes a nice backdrop for a flowering tree.

A contrast of brown and green. A camera can capture so many images- actually endless!

CANADA HAS LOTS OF PINK IN THE SPRING

Our street has houses with pink flowering trees.

A row of pink trees.

Pink trees line the park where the grandchildren play sometimes.

A close shot of a pink bush.

A garden full of pink tulips.

A pink and white tulip in my garden.

A cluster of pink tulips growing next to my flowering bush.

Of course, my favourite local building is pink all year round. The Richmond Hill Central Library is a wonderful example of how pink can be used. Do you like the colour pink? Nature has a nice way of using it doesn't she?

VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND IN CANADA

Monday is a holiday. Victoria Day! For most people it is just exciting to have a long weekend when the weather is nice. There are some seasonal rules. Can't wear white until the Victoria Day weekend. The farmers warn don't plant your garden or crops until after the long weekend. This year it is a few days earlier than normal. So do we delay the rules??? It is a busy time for all the garden centers across the country as many people do attack their gardens for the next few days. Plants, bushes, potting soil, and stones for the paths are major purchases. Those with cottages, pack up the cars to go and open the cottages for the coming cottage season. Fireworks on Monday are a must. There are many places to go and see them. I just look out my windows to try to find one that I can see from a distance. Wonderland in Vaughan always has a good display! Hopefully some good eating with backyard barbecues! So what are you doing this weekend? Enjoy! Queen Victoria would love it!

KEEPING FEELINGS CONTAINED

Keeping your feelings contained can take effort. There are days with too much happening. Home, personal and work can be overwhelming. So how to manage it all. The old saying for work, leave your personal stuff at the door. Concentrating on the job at hand can help to manage the many stresses in a day. Remember worrying or trying to do too much does not help any situation. Rest, eat healthy and take breaks as needed are important too. Know your own limits. If feeling overwhelmed, try not to spill those feelings onto others. Walks and breaks at lunch help to clear the head. Find ways to identify why you are feeling what you are feeling. Are current events triggering old memories? Is it a time of year that had been difficult previously? For example, old grief issues may resurface. Something in the present brings up those old feelings. So what to do. Go with them. Identify them and find ways that work for you to deal with them. Brooding may not work. So a physical activity gently approached may help to burn some energy. Weeding a garden for example is a good metaphorical way to work through many things. As you pull out the weeds often it can coincide with weeding some of your thinking or feelings. Putting your feelings in "nice pots of flowers" allow growth and room to enjoy the day. Being human means there are good, bad and ugly days. Being happy does not mean one feels happy all the time. But finding happy activities does help. So how are you feeling today? Are you finding it difficult to enjoy the life around you? Start with something small! Allow those positive feelings to emerge!

NANA SAYS GET OUTSIDE FOR FAMILY FUN

With nicer weather, outdoor activities can be on the agenda. Children and adults alike need the fresh air. Even though lots of sunscreen is used, some Vitamin D from sunshine is good for our health too. Using all the venues available to you- a backyard, a local park, the community centre pool or in the really warm weather those wonderful splash pads. Picnic lunches or dinners can be fun too. Lots of lovely picnic dishes available which are reusable or use environmentally friendly paper plates, cups and napkins. Those with cottage properties lots of adventures can happen there. The campers are gearing up for late spring and summer adventures. Consolidating those swimming lessons with pool or lake swims make it fun for all. With boating, life jackets please!! Evening bike rides or long walks are easy opportunities to explore an area and leave the gadgets at home so some real talking can occur. My favourite thing is eating outside as much as possible. Using some strategies to deter the bugs and wasps are necessary as there is nothing worse than batting them away during a meal. Often little people do not like them and want to go inside. The outdoors calls.

HYACINTHS ARE BLOOMING IN CANADIAN GARDENS

The hyacinth is the fragrant spring flower that brings colour to the garden. From Mythology named after the Greek hero whose blood shed- Hyacinth. In some cultures like Persian, it is a flower used at Nirooz and can be found at weddings.

The garden with its colour.

 

 

Can't you just smell the marvelous fragrance of the hyacinth?

 

RELIEF BRINGS A TIME FOR RENEWAL

Relief comes in many forms. A test is over. The weekend arrives. A long drive has a restful end. A hard day is over. Sometimes there are months or even years of difficulty. Like the war in Europe and the end of World War Two. The cost of day care. The teen years. When an end finally comes, there is the rebuilding, the renewing, the beginning of the next phase. Often just burning and crashing. Stopping and getting off the treadmill. Reviewing the world around us. Deciding what worked and what needs fixing. Spring and summer months with the call to go somewhere to relax give us some time to enjoy the relief. Renewal! Hopefully enjoying the relief for a time before the next crisis begins. But really hoping there will not be one for a very long time! So am I feeling relieved today! Well yes! Have you been through some hard times and are now relieved? Oh life's trials and tribulations!!

WHAT IS A MOTHER?

A Mother carries you for up to 40 weeks just under her heart. The pain of childbirth gives way to a new life. She feeds, holds, cleans and loves her babies that grow into big people eventually. She always cares and worries about her children. Letting go to grow is a difficult mother's task but she does it. Then an amazing thing happens. Her own children can become amazing parents. So to all the mothers out there, those who lost their mothers, those women who are just motherly- Happy Mother's Day!

TULIPS IN A MAY GARDEN

Taking a few pictures of my tulips in the garden has given me some inspiration to find larger beds with these beautiful spring bulbs.

The variety and colours are always inviting.

Of course, many purple varieties!

One of my favourite pictures from the trip to Ottawa during the Tulip Festival in 2011. A gift from the Dutch- the many tulip bulbs for every spring. So if you can't get to the Netherlands then go to Ottawa in the next couple of weeks or just walk around your neighbourhood looking for the beautiful tulips. Do you have tulips in your garden?