NANA SAYS IT IS HARD HAVING CHILDREN AWAY AT SCHOOL

Your big children go away to university or college. You think you are cool but you really miss them. It is a wake up call that life is changing and the empty nest is around the corner. It is more emotional than anticipated. Wanting to give space but also wanting to know everyone is okay. No longer able to supervise everyday and get a handle on the activities or you think you did! The groundwork done in the early years does pay off with older children. Often it is the friends and peer pressure that prevails. So hoping your children have good supports around them. Weekends home are whirl wind visits, often ending with drives back to the campus. Or if lucky you can get a student pass on the train! Separation anxiety can go both ways. It may not be hip to admit one misses home so make sure favourite foods are available for those visits with those university and college kids. The cost to famililes is twice the cost for those living at home. Talk to other parents going through the same process. Don't be surprised at their emotions too.

WHERE DID SEPTEMBER GO

It seemed it just started and now only one day to go! A busy month! But did you get everything done? I did lots but more to do. With the weather being seasonally above normal and warm it was so enjoyable. A great start to Fall and the months ahead. Back to school, a new baby, workload picking up and planning for Thanksgiving and starting to buy some Christmas presents. Behind in my writing projects as there is still a mess beside my computer area. The garden cleanup is so-so! A first round but lots more to tidy. One more month of garden work then put it to rest for the winter- yeah. Love the garden but let's face it, it is lots of work! To concentrate on indoor activities for a few months will be more than enough to do. Besides energy does wane if too much to do. Am I just getting older? A month is just one day at a time so focusing on what can be accomplished in  a day is so important too1 So Goodbye to September and hello to October! How about you? What are your thoughts?

WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES HUG YOUR LOVED ONES

Tragedies happen and we weep. This week in Vaughan- 3 children and a grandfather killed by a drunk driver on a country road made headlines. Tragedy beyond belief! There are no words! One young mother when laying flowers at the scene, said it all. My heart goes to the parents. I just want to go home and hug my children a little tighter. R.I.P.

TIME TO WORK TIME TO PLAY

Life is too short not to find time to play. Children's work is play. It is how they learn. Doing activities that are play like brings joy to life in the adult world. Little children always want us to play with them. Sit on the floor and play with them. It is good for the soul. Crafts, hobbies, sports, cards, and social events can bring play to adults. Remember all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy! So what's your play today?

THE SUPER MOON

Did you see the lunar eclipse last night? Able to catch some of it before retiring to bed. Won't be another one for 18 years! There is the super moon to observe tonight as well. Your average full moon is often good to see. Bright in the sky. Strange things can happen with full moons. Do super moons bring more strange things? No I do not mean a werewolf! Often frenetic behaviour and energy! More babies are born! If nothing else, just give us something to discuss! Takes Canadians away from
taling about the weather!

CANCER FUND RAISERS FIGHT FOR A CURE

Attending the Road Hockey to cure cancer event for the Princess Margaret Hospital was a worthwhile event. Taking the grandchildren to see their Dad play and be part of the cause is good for everyone. Lots of families supporting their teams. No trophies, just fun road/ball hockey. Inspirational speeches. The goal is to cure cancer in our lifetime. Are you going to a fundraiser? The most popular ones include the Terry Fox runs each September!

SUNRISE-TIME TO RELECT OR PRAY

Greeting the morning before the sun is up and watching the sky change is a small pleasure of life for many people. Planning the day, saying a morning prayer, greeting loved ones and special hugs from little children can round it off. Sunrise is a positive time of the day. Optimistic about life is my mantra. Starting with positive energy to try to face whatever may come my way! Drinking a favourite beverage like a good cup of coffee or in some places in the world a tea!

The view from my computer area. 

The view where I would rather be!

HOPE-KEEPS US GOING

When God closes a door, he opens a window. We all have heard this saying but if someone is having a difficult time it may be hard to hear. Adversity can close our senses to good things. Hope can be a word to offer people in those times. Let's hope it gets better. Let's hope you find a solution to your troubles. Let's hope for a better day. I hope I can help you. Hope can help a person tread water and not drown.  Sure maybe not false hope some will say but why not! As long as it does not hurt anyone! Hoping you will find the comfort and support needed through whatever you are facing today! Always hope for a better tomorrow!

FALL 2015

Well even with warm weather, Fall has arrived. Summer is really over. Hoping we will have more warm days ahead and even a gorgeous Indian Summer. Fall with its colours, the vegetables- squashes and pumpkins and fruit- the variety of apples- there is so much to enjoy. The celebrations of Fall like Thanksgiving in a few weeks keep life interesting and enjoyable. A couple of months to tidy up the garden keeps the weight down. So what are your Fall plans.
#fall#pumpkins#apples#fallcolours#squashes#fallvegetables#Thanksgiving#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara

NANA SAYS YOUNG FAMILIES NEED SUPPORT

With an addition of a baby in any young family, the parents can benefit from extended family support. Helping with meals relieving the parents from all the cooking. Spending time with the new Mom and Dad to give some adult conversation. Sometimes just taking the older children out of the mix is most valuable. A day at the park or the movies. A sleep over at the grandparents. Lots of attention and goodies for the older children. Parental relief for the exhausted parents. Older children often regress to a younger level when a baby is around. They want attention too. So giving it in another location let's everyone win and stay happy and healthy. The mother needs to heal. Having time to relax with the new baby and often just sleep is so vital. A nursing mother has a body that is providing nourishment and does experience the fatigue factor with milk production. With many generations around a family support can be divided between everyone. A day with the cousins at auntie and uncle's house. Play dates with friends. It does not matter how much experience one has with babies, each new baby has his/her own personality and demands. Cuddlers, no put me down, gassy and crying, eating every two hours etc. So adjusting as a family is new too. So is there a young family that could benefit from some support or good old fashioned parental relief. A couple of hours here and there will help immensely. With a new baby in our family, Nana and Granpa will have two rambunctious boys at our house for sleep overs this weekend. Don't worry I have plans for their energy- like helping with some yard work if the weather is nice. Or a trip to the park- walking of course, again to burn some of that energy. My energy- hoping I have enough to keep up with them.

MUMS ADD COLOUR TO FALL

Mums are the new Fall must have flowers. Decorating entrance ways! Filling the pots to give some colour to the new season. A local farm had a field of them for sale. Which ones to buy was the dilemma!

My question is why don't they have some Dads! I guess Mums the word! Do you have these pretty flowers in your life?

SUNFLOWERS-THAT HAPPY FALL FLOWER IN CANADA

Lucky to have sunflowers in the garden as long as the squirrels do not get at them and eat their heads off!

Little markets often sell them in bunches.

They are fun in bouquets or just pretty!

Grown in clusters make for interesting pictures.

Adding photos taken over the years.

Of course there are several kinds so there is always variety in the garden.

The best thing about sunflowers are the seeds. So good to eat either plain or salted. Since there is such an effort to break them from their shell, probably burn more calories eating them then ingesting.
Oh the beautiful happy flowers!

CHARITY- A HAND UP NOT A HAND OUT

Canadians can get donor fatigue. Charities send their literature. People pawning for money in the street. Stores ask if you want to donate to their cause. Yes they can be the lovely tax deductions that come in handy when filling out our tax returns. Don't forget our taxes already pay for many services and goods for Canadians. Just say the word Health Care! Although some people think it is free! We all would like to make a difference in people's lives and think the money donated does help. So pick your cause or causes and think about what is the difference you want to make. I like World Vision for example- the money for a goat, a rooster and two chickens. I envision a family getting a chance at being self sufficient. If the rooster does the job there will be more chicks. I like the Red Cross as it is there internationally and at home. One can give to a special event. So if there is a flood or tornado in a certain area of Canada the donation can be targeted for that event. Remember the ice bucket challenge for ALS- well some went to services but a lot to research. If those now affected by that neurological disease can have a better quality of life due to new treatment wouldn't it be amazing! Canadian Tire with their helping children participate in sports. Sports for exercise, team work and perhaps lead to a job of some kind in the sports industry. The food bank may just seem like a hand out but people do need to eat. Those Breakfast clubs that help children start their day with nutrition is vital too. Even welfare in Ontario is no longer that. It is called Ontario Works so help for awhile but let's get you back working. Subsidized day care for low income parents keeps them working while good care is provided for their children. I have known such parents and it is a blessing for them. Eventually they no longer need day care. Education, health, dental and community activities let us give a hand up to others. Expecting them to take advantage of the education and work opportunities to give back to society can be our message. Thus our charitable donations can be a loan to the future. Receive now and give back later to help someone else that comes in your path. Yes I do give a loonie or two to a homeless guy on a visit to the city or the musician in the subway. I don't know why they are there. I will not judge. They need to eat too. Or do I just think- there for the grace of God go I!

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE

We win some. We lose some. People come and go in our lives. I am thinking of my Mom, my Mother-in-law and my dear friend Cheryl-my son-in-law's Mom- as a new addition to the family arrived yesterday. Another son for my daughter and husband. Are these people looking down from heaven at their latest family member? I hope so!

GETTING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF A PROBLEM

Are you ever stuck on how to solve a problem? Think of your options. Trouble choosing which one. Ruminating and pondering. Then the light bulb goes off and the solution presents itself. Life can have many problems or concerns or dilemmas. Often the solutions are straight forward. But those times that bring sleepless nights are not good for the health. Facing them head on brings a sense of accomplishment and relief. Facing and not running away from them is the way to go. So why are you waiting? Get going and solve that problem.

DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING?

Sometimes life's journey has no clear direction. We are told to make goals, plan, save- well you get the picture. However there are times where just waiting to see where life will take us is as much as can be accomplished in the day. Just getting up and putting one foot in front of the other. Do you know someone with depression? Often this is the experience of that person! So reach out and be there for that person! If it is you, then call a friend! Don't suffer in silence!

AN APPLE A DAY IN CANADA

It's apple picking season in Canada. Depending on the location some apples are ready sooner than others. Bought in the stores or at a market or a trip to apple pick with the kids it is a fun time. Sparta, delicious, mackintosh, gala or whatever your favourite may be.

An apple orchard is a welcoming place. Walking up and down the rows to select the ones to  take home. A ladder to reach the high branches. Local farms have areas for picking. Brooks Farm in Mt. Albert has many activities along with apple picking for families. The children really love it.

Teaching children where food grows is an important life lesson too.

Farms offer opportunities to see animals and understand the methods of old times and modern living. Like the century old fence made with boards.
Apples are a good source of nutrients. You know the old saying- An apple a day keeps the doctor away! It may be true but apples just taste good eaten fresh or make into pies or apple crisp. Fall desserts with apples are tasty! So go eat an apple!

THE NUMBER 13!

Sunday the 13th is not like Friday the 13th. Almost midway through a month! The number 13 can be bad luck to some people. Or in Christian faith- Jesus and the 12 disciples! 13 very important people. Numbers can have meaning or not. We all have a favourite colour but do we have a favourite number! Well I don't! Age wise 29 seemed good but it is so far behind me now that even my kids are older than 29. So today is just another day in the month of September. So does the number 13 have any significance for you?

REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11TH

Everyone  remembers what they were doing and where they were when the news of the attack on New York City, the Pentagon and the plane crash in Shanksville PA. A day that changed the world in North America. The day we looked at our lives and those around us differently. Who can we trust amongst us? With the current conflict in the Middle East, we can not forget. Striving to help those refugees in need but urging governments to stop the conflicts. Always trying to strive for world peace is humanity's struggle! As we remember, also try to think of one kindness to do today. One hand reaching out to help another! I believe there are more good people in this world than evil ones- yes there are evil ones. But good will prevail. Lessons from September 11th are with you! What do you remember? What were you doing? Stop and reflect then move on!

NANA SAYS DID YOU ENJOY GRANDPARENT'S DAY

It seems there needs to be a day for everything. Having a grandparent's day is okay. My joy in being a grandparent is just having those little munchkins in my life. I don't need a day. I have the whole year. I don't need any thanks as life gave this great blessing and joy to be a grandparent. Knowing people in my life that did not have the opportunity to enjoy grandchildren- dying before they were born. I only knew one of my natural grandparents- my maternal grandfather Ernie Ellis and he died when I was age 5. I had one paternal great-grandmother Gammie who died when I was age 8. My step grandparents did their best!  So being able to establish a relationship with the grandchildren and be part of their lives has given me the opportunity to be known by them. Something I did not have as a child. I see adult grandchildren connected to their loved ones in the hospital. It is very precious. Grandparents can make a difference in children's lives. They make a difference in the grandparents' lives. It is a win-win!

THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS HERE

Parents and children everywhere in Canada are excited about the first day of school. The start of another school year is more stressful than any other time. Lots of children want to see their friends again. The routine helps to organize everyone. The cost of summer camps is over. September has that busy quality to it. In a couple of weeks everyone will be back into their Fall routine. Meanwhile children with their new back to school outfits. First day of school pictures! Grandparents really look forward to them.

PUTTERING-WHAT IS IT?

A little of this and a little of that. That's what puttering around the house and garden means. Lots of little tasks get done. Breaks to read or check the phone. No schedule, just seeing where the day heads and flows. Organizing some pictures, ordering online and minimal garden cleanup- even picked some beans from the last vine that just kept on growing. Puttering gets a lot accomplished because there is no pressure to get anything accomplished. Whatever turns your crank and well you do it! So putter away and see where it takes you!!

LABOUR DAY WEEKEND

Summer is coming to an end with the Labour Day Weekend. One last blast before a return to school, even though the college and university students have been moving into their dorms for the past week! For most people, a wonderful long weekend. A time to relax or work your butt off with house and cottage organization! School children getting excited or nervous about school starting! For this worker, just glad to have one more day at home to do stuff or not!! I'll see how the time unfolds for me!

LEARNING FROM CONTRADICTIONS? ARE CONTRADICTIONS GOOD FOR RELATIONSHIPS?

The dictionary tells us a contradiction is a statement of the opposite or a denial. Sometimes a contradiction can come from left field. Even a good morning can be met with- what's good about it! A private discussion with a person and agreement on an issue can be met publicly with the person contradicting to stay on good terms with others in the room. Almost- two faced! Can we learn from contradictions? You bet. Often who your real friends can be! So it is important to be aware of the contradictory people and what the motives might be! Contradictions can teach us who really does not like us or respect us! Yes there are some oppositional people who like to argue about everything! Known many in my life. Really try to stay away from them. Can public contradictions hurt! Well yes sometimes! Parenting children involves lots of contradictions. Especially teenagers who like to contradict for the sake of it! How to listen and not react is the life's lesson! Why in that moment does someone need to contradict? What is the issue? Is there another way of looking at the subject? Does the contradictory person actually have a point? However if the same person is always being contradictory with you, is there an issue in the relationship? Sometimes, the person does not like you! So learning to spend less time with that person will help! Friends and family can agree to disagree. It does help the relationship. But hurtful, spiteful contradictions often in public places with an audience are not fair to anyone! Contradictory people have good defences. Often turning the tables on you- " you are just too sensitive!" Contradictions can be real "put downs!" They can be disguised as just stating my opinion. Being aware of how to have a discussion and state your own views with respect is life long learning. Blurting out whatever comes to your mind is not okay! Being oppositional for the sake of it can be very tiring and stressful for social activities and workplaces. Having varying points of views is okay but again with respect and as long as there is no harm involved. So in opposition to or conflict with are other words the dictionary tells us! So why is there is a conflict? What can you learn about the situation? Your reaction can be just not reacting but absorbing the contradiction and sorting out your own thoughts and feelings! So are you going to contradict me?

#contradictions#learningfromcontradicitions#lifecanhavelotsofcontradictions#doesthecontradictorypersonactuallyhaveapoint#arecontradictorypeoplenecessaryinone'slife#arecontradictorypeoplewelldefendedintheirviews#opposingviewsaregoodfordebatesbutaretheygoodinlife#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

OLD THINGS HAVE CHARACTER

Visiting any city can bring a reflection of new and old. Larger skyscrapers are okay but older buildings and monuments bring lots of character. Windows and doors intrigue me. Victoria style homes with the brickwork and little hearts in the corners. So why do many often not see the character in old people? Why are worn faces with history often just seen as wrinkled people? Is there not an awareness that every wrinkle may have a story? Blending old and new can bring an enriched character to any location. The Royal Ontario Museum kept the old original wall in the modern entrance. Union Station in Toronto has incorporated some of its initial features too. Like a family event with the babies, the children, the middle agers and the seniors- brings lots of character!

FALL FLOWERS

My graden is a sea of yellow. Pretty and hides the weeds! Can enjoy the colour before it is time to do the garden cleanup.

Cone flowers are still blooming too.

The fountain at the Exhibiton has lots of colour for the visitors to enjoy.

Harvesting continues as the farmers are busy.

Opportunities for lots of pictures.

SEPTEMBER-THE BUSY MONTH WITH LOTS OF HOPE

Even though January is the beginning of the new year, September often feels like the month with hope and prospects. A new school year! Getting back to the projects put on hold over the summer! Buying those farm fresh vegetable and waiting for the fall ones to be on board. Lessons gear up! Work meetings reconvene! Holding on to 3 more weeks of summer! Hoping the weather will be warm enough to continue those outdoor activities. Enjoying the last remnants of the summer garden before the cleanup begins. Wearing the summer whites a week longer as Labour Day occurs later in the month- even though I have been told the white rule doesn't exist anymore! Waiting awhile before going through the closet for fall and winter clothes. But I do use some tops year round as I love to wear colours. Never really liked the black, black and black thing that gets worn year round! Black does not really make one look slimmer!! September can bring renewel depending on how August and July flowed! A birthday and the wait for a new family member! Hope and love for good times ahead! What are your plans for September? How do you see it unfolding?