AUGUST ENDS WITH FLAIR

The summer was so hot and wonderful No one can complain we did not get a summer. Enjoying all that it brings! Now let's hope for an Indian summer September/October. There can never be too much of the warm stuff compared to the other stuff- you know the cold stuff! Even the word brings trepidation! More time for good times since Labour Day weekend is around the corner. How has your summer been? Good-I hope!
#augustendswithaflair#summerisover#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

LIFE IS LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER

Do you ever find yourself in situations where you just do not fit? Like a fish out of water is a good expression in the English language. So what does it really mean! The odd ball! Trouble coping! Feeling different! Feeling strange! Out of one's depth! Language is interesting. Trying to give a foreigner a definition for an expression like this one takes effort. Saying it to another Canadian the meaning if understood immediately! I was at a social event and felt like a fish out of water! I tried a new skill and felt like a fish out of water! So what does a fish out of water do. Well it flops around. It tries to return to the water. It often gasps for air. Back in its own habitat it survives. Do you feel like a fish out of water occasionally? How do you find your way back to safety? In other words, how much flopping do you have to do?

NANA SAYS COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS BRING MIXED EMOTIONS AS THEY LEAVE HOME

Little ones return to school next week. Big ones have packed up and headed off to college and university campuses across the country. For many it is the first time to live away from home. It is the first time Mommy will not be there to pick up your clothes or give all the reminders necessary for daily living. Of course, all those kids should have learnt those lessons years ago and carried some responsibility at home but one should not be surprised that many have not. If parents have nannies and cleaning ladies then some children have not been very responsible for their own stuff. So living in a dorm with others and having to carry one's weight may bring some shock value to it. Parents are glad their children have been accepted and reached this important milestone in their lives but the house can feel empty. There is that sense life has really changed. Interesting that it happens in Fall. If seasons are symbolic of life, many parents have reached 40 and older so are middle aged-Fall. Life transitions bring mixed emotions. The view that a piece of life is gone. The cohesive family group has been altered. Even though those kids ebb and flow back into the family for the next 4 years or more- believe me life has changed. Young adults. Can they carry their weight? Do they have enough responsibility to make it work? Parents you are off the hook. If they screw up, they take the blame. Under 18, maybe parents can be blamed but over 18, children carry the ownership of their mistakes. So what is the message here, teach your children well from the young ages. Teach and yes role model responsible behaviour. Let children make some mistakes to learn from them. Children away from home need to be on an assigned money plan too. Most students first year have some sort of meal plan  in their residence so can be well fed. In the next years, they often want to live off campus so supplying food rather than just money helps. There are only so many pizzas one can eat! Try not to rescue! Unless you have huge deep pockets! Already paying for tuition, books, a new computer, the stuff for daily living like linen and residence costs- the bill is big. Yes lots of students pay for part of the expenses but most responsible parents who believe in education pay for as much as they can. Another emotion, well no southern trips for awhile. When my younger daughter was away at university, she bought my husband a tee shirt- My daughter and my money went to Western! How true! Yes life has changed- hopefully a good new start1 A happy one for the family. If lucky, like my kid did check out all those little bursaries and scholarships, it really helps with the cost too! They do come home, usually the first time is Thanksgiving then Christmas, reading week etc. The year is a short one- just 8 months. So parents deal with your emotions! It is a reminder too of how your life is changing and you are growing older. Learning to have an adult child brings a new degree of parenting. Oh fodder for another post I think. Here's to the new school year!

DIANA-HAS IT BEEN 19 YEARS

Even though the Queen said in her speech we did not know her, the emptiness felt after the tragic death of Diana still resonates with most of us. Seeing her beautiful boys grow into wonderful men brings deeper feelings. She would have been so proud of them. She would have loved her grandbabies! To be just 36 when her life was snuffed out was way too young. As we age and just grow older life can be simple and ordinary and be quite lovely. Diana meant different things to many different people. An icon! A beauty! A crusader of various causes! But most of all a fine human being that can be missed. So raise your glasses- here's to Diana!
#diana#hasitbeen19years#alwaysrememberingdiana#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FALL MUMS-COLOUR FOR ALL

Fall Mums make the garden pretty until the snow flies. Filling up those corners of the garden where perennials have died. In lovely pots by the front at my house keep the colour of the garden flowing.

SEAONSAL CHANGES CAN CAUSE MOOD CHANGES

Adapting and accepting change is life. But changes can bring mood disorders too. We often think of seasonal disorders in the winter. Going from summer to fall can bring melancholy also! The summer like Christmas has so much hoopla and expectations of being so wonderful. Even if a good time was had, being over brings those thoughts of depression, anxiety and a little bit angry of being over. Life goes back to the normal. The normal may not be so exciting. At work, all those meetings that were on hiatus start up again. Packing school lunches! The days are slowly getting shorted so sitting outside until 10 is no longer an option without some lighting. Knowing our moods can be affected by the seasons is the first step. Accept the fact it is okay to feel down! It is okay to be slow to embrace change. The start of the school year is exciting for children but all those lessons start again. Getting back in the groove takes some energy and time. So lots of healthy eating and sleep are two helpers! Remember trying to pack too much in every day only adds to your stress. So concentrate and organize what really must be done and what has the most meaning to you and your family life!

                                  There are always the summer memories to relish!

ORGANIZING FOR SEPTEMBER

As parents scramble to enjoy the last weeks of summer and prepare for school, this blogger is doing the same. Some more weeding of drawers and shelves. If I have not used it in 5 years time to think about what to purge. Genealogical notess that have not been read especially computer printouts, well to recycling. Besides the websites exist and I can find the information anytime. Pictures, photos from 20 years of flowers and other stuff- purged about 500. Kept all my people pictures. What I have done over the years is send any that are not immediate family to other family members.  Besides some of the flower and scenery ones were not that great. Now any sumbolic photos cans be saved in my photo gallery and occasionally if one is good can print it. Hoping once I figure out my new scanner, can scan pictures to files for further use or to share with others without printing etc. The learning about my new expensive scanner is definitely a September project and job. I have lots of finished genealogy stuff to scan and file and try to send to others in my family groups. So family have patience! So 9 days of August to enjoy! More jazz in the plaza, babysitting the grandchildren on an up coming week's vacation, walking and sunning. Dragging Adolph to another farmers market for his blog! Writing and more writing. Forcing myself to work on one paternal line, computer file and send to family! It is so hard to be disciplined about it.  I chart and write so much at work that sitting at my home computer feels like work and not fun! Any ideas on how to make it fun! For me research is the fun part. Finding a new piece of information. Or am I just kidding myself- it is really work!! So the end of summer is in the air! Yes the home rennovation projects continue. The garage door is finally painted! I supervised, Adolph did the work! Feeling the urge to try to cram more summer into the days! Then I have to remember July and August are just 2 months of the year. The other months are good too. It just seems that summer is the real preferred time. Oh to find a space to relax and remember it is summer! If we are lucky, fall may bring Indian summer! Now that's a thought!

INDIVIDUAL VERSUS GROUP GOALS

Our lives are our individual journies! As part of a larger collective, our families, our communities, our countries, we also journey along with others. By staying unique we add substance to the greater good. Our houses can look similiar but inside we decorate and live as we chose. We can bring individual style to the standards of care in our practices. The importance is to surround ourselves with people with similiar goals and values that do no harm to others. It makes it easier to live and to be. Yes in families there can be the black sheep! But maybe it is better to distance ourselves from others if the air is toxic. Living and enjoying our lives is an important goal! All together it can be a better life!

RIO-THANKS TO ALL OUR CANADIAN ATHLETES

Exceeding the number of medals expected which means there were a few unexpected. If we count all the personal bests, valiant efforts and 4th, 5th, 6th place finishes it was a great Olympics for those that went. For some just finishing the event or race was important too.  Families, home towns, schools where they attended, provinces and the whole country is proud. Go Canada Go! You made us proud.

PROCRASTINATION-PUSH PAST IT

Okay everyone procrastinates sometimes on something. Pushing past the urge to leave something and not do it takes dedication. Some tasks are really boring so it makes sense that the energy is not there. So divide the task into parts and complete each part in a timely fashion. For me it is typing information over again. Yes there are saved files but often it is easier to print a draft, review and redo. Forcing oneself to get things done is the best rule. At work it is another story, always start with the toughest case, chart and go to the next one. Or see all my people then chart at one time. Electronic charting is great because cases from different floors can be charted on one computer- just go to the individual floors in the computer find the person and chart. At home the genealogy stuff is my nemesis right now. Love research and finding the information. Writing up the stories because it is methodical is the tiring part. Thinking I have all the details then realizing I need the exact resource citation takes time and is the boring part. There is the realization that some information has been taken as gospel, need to prove the detail. Nice weather calls me outside to read and cat nap in the shade. So being inside in my computer room plugging away can be difficult. The more I get done the less to be done in busy September! But then summer reading was on my agenda so I have not really procrastinated there. So maybe that's the real trick- just find something enjoyable and easy to do- voila- no procrastination! How is your troubles with procrastination going? What is your solution to the age old problem?

NANA SAYS OLYMPICS INSPIRE CHILDREN

Rio Olympics have had its share of ups and downs for our athletes. As young children watch our athletes compete and try for a medal, there is often a few that get very inspired to say maybe I can do that too. Feeling proud for one's country and yelling- Go Canada Go! My grandchildren were thrilled with some track events and swimming on a recent sleepover. It was good for me to see them so interested in the events. More than just sports- geography, history, math- are some of the concepts that can be reviewed as the events unfold. Even hearing the different languages spoken by the athletes can lead to a willingness to learn another language. Learning about the hard work, training and dedication to a sport are life values and skills that children may absorb by osmosis. Needing to move and get out there - off the couch and off the gadgets! Knowing the names of the winners! The overall feeling of pride in one's nation is a good thing for our children! Olympics with its many lessons of life!

TUESDAY-THE PRODUCTIVE DAY

Tuesday means the work week is in full swing. The weekend is a memory. So get going and be productive. At work, at home- all day and into the evening. Get the activities going strong. Write, read, craft, clean- well you get the picture!

                                                             So get that engine going.

MID AUGUST BRINGS TIME TO REFLECT

Yes two weeks until September! But a lot can be done in two weeks. Here in the GTA the CNE opens on Thursday. The warm weather enables us to be outside. Too early for the garden cleanup- that's a Fall activity.

The colours continue to ebb and flow. The wasps start to go crazy and want to nest. I bought one of those wasp traps- meat and juice in it to trap the bugs. It works so eating outside is more enjoyable.

Back to school stuff is abundant in the stores. I bought some tops for all my grandchildren as a little something for the return. Along with a little monetary gift, it is something fun for all the kids from their Nana and Granpa!
I have done nothing really razzle-dazzle this summer. But I feel like I have accomplished some activities. So far read 7 books, some market trips, lots of photos, Jazz on Tuesday nights, time to putter at home and really just enjoy the lazy days of summer.
However, the air feels like August with the urgency to do more summer things. Trying to wear as many of my summer clothes in the hot weather.
The fresh fruit and vegetables are so delightful this time of year. Seeing the large tomatoes and peaches and plums from local farms make eating so tasty.

Of course sipping my favourite beverage on the back porch gives a feel of relaxation to life. I can see the urgency returning when September rolls around. But two more weeks of August- oh yes a lot can be done! But slowly-it is still summer!

COMING THROUGH THE STORM

With all the hot and humid weather, it was no surprise that yesterday Ontario suffered through Thunderstorm and Tornado watches. Tons of rain- which must needed for the dry gardens and farms. But who needed any flooding. That too! In life, we have periodic storms to survive. Tough times! Losses! Disappointments! In the middle of the storm, seems like it will never end. But it does. If we are lucky, there may even be a rainbow! For the really lucky ones- a pot of gold!

POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

Sometimes thinking positive can get us through a tough stretch! No matter how bad things may look, trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel! Patience that solutions will come to us. Finding the right people at the right time in the right place! Being aware of all that is around us! Letting positive energy in and discarding negative energy! It does not mean necessarily that everything will be good. It just means that we can deal with whatever comes our way! Positive people are just really nice to have in our lives!

YOU'RE SUCH A PEACH!

Every language has expressions that do not always fit with the words. You're such a peach! That is real peachy! Why a peach? Well it is a good tasting summer fruit. Sweet with a couple of varieties! Good alone or can be made into great desserts like peach cobbler or peach pie! What can I say about peach jam! Peaches and cream skin! Or even corn!Sometimes a colour can be peach! I like peaches with chocolate ice cream! Of course very Canadian- growing in regions like Annapolis Valley Nova Scotia, Niagara area Ontario or in the Okanagan Valley British Columbia and other areas in between!  Peachy keen, isn't it?

NANA SAYS THE POWER OF TOUCH IS VITAL TO BABIES

In my work as a Social Worker, I come across concepts and research for my practise. Recently I presented a wonderful piece of research for my Allied Health participation on one of my rounds. Research-The Power of Human Touch for Babies written in 2015 from the Centre for Pediatric Pain Research in Halifax Nova Scotia Canada.
POWER OF HUMAN TOUCH
The article by the team can be read in full at their link. They researched over 600 studies.
With babies, holding, cuddling and when newborn the whole concept of Kangaroo holding-skin to skin has become prevalent. Does it work or make a difference? Well the general consensus is yes. Touch helps premature babies and all full term babies. Touch is needed throughout our lives.
For babies, according to the research many areas like weight gain, shorter hospital stays, stable heart rates, better tolerance of pain, improved sleep, less anxiety and stress, stronger immune system, healthier brain development, increased social skills and improved language skills were areas summarized with good results. Mother's or the caregiver's touch makes a profound effect on babies. Holding and loving by others is vital too.
Different types of touch summarized were holding and rocking, facilitated tucking, infant massage and kangaroo care, i.e. skin to skin.
So what does it mean for the average baby and family. Touch is important from the beginning of life to the end. Well have you touched someone today?

AUGUST HEAT WAVE-LOVE IT

One thing about the heat is the fact that one must try to cool down. So to the beach, a pool or a cold drink under a tree works. I use the rocks along the road by my work under a tree to have my lunch. Summer is so short. The sky and mood feels like August. It is that last hurrah of summer vacation to enjoy thoroughly. Of course many in my family are just hot! They want to complain about the heat. Sorry but I love it when it is too hot to do strenuous work. An excuse to do the quiet, relaxing activities that still need to get done. Organizing stuff but with less expenditure of energy! For those who are hot don't worry it is Canada and we all know what we will face in a few months!

LIFE IS LIKE SUMMER PURPLE

So Purple is my favourite colour. Found these flowers on my daughter's neighbour's lawn. Could not resist a picture.

I try to find purple in my world.

Late summer flowers.

Remember this FIAT from an Italian festival years ago!

Purple in a beautiful quilt.

Some signs have fun sayings.

The colour of jam- Grape from Concord grapes.

And baskets of eggplants!
Purple around us in life. Take your favourite colour and explore your world. Life is like the colour purple!

FUN AT CIRQUE DU SOLEIL

LUZIA- a Mexican theme- is currently playing in Toronto at the Portlands on Lake Ontario. Just look for the big tent! I had the opportunity to go with my oldest daughter and two grandchildren last Wednesday night. I had heard so much about Cirque. They have been a Canadian icon for years. So seeing the show live and in colour was an absolute treat. Buying popcorn or licorice to watch the performances was a must. Some of the acts seemed so simple until one realizes the absolute muscle control of the Core! Lots of colour, fun, music and even the main clown was good. Tired the next day but a good tired! Thanks Tash and grandkiddies for the good time! And I even have a fridge magnet!

A VISIT TO THE NEWMARKET FARMERS' MARKET

Adolph and I had another fun 1/2 day visiting the Newmarket Farmers' Market. Always a pleasure to buy fresh farm produce and check out other items as well. Discovered a new winery. Tawse Winery in Vineland. They had a booth there.
Tawse Winery

Along with the two bottles of wine, I was given a little tote bag.
 I may decide to use them on  Thanksgiving. It is always an opportunity to recap the fun of the summer.
Visit Adolph's blog-
http://granpalovestocook.blogspot.com for all the fun photos.
Granpa loves to cook
I enjoy these fun market trips. It gives an opportunity to visit areas close to home and support the local farmers and crafters.

When a big trip is not planned, gives the feeling of doing something fun and enjoyable. Besides lots of pictures can be taken to use for other posts and themes.
#newmarketmarket#tawsewineryatthemarket#lotsoffreshproduceatthemarket#granpalovestocook#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#cauliflower#peaches

LET'S GO TO RIO-BRAZIL FOR THE GAMES

Go Canada Go. The Summer Olympics begin today. So get out your red and white to root for our Canadians. Hopefully, the athletes will achieve their goals and some might bring home some medals for us. Despite all the politics and construction woes, I am sure Brazil will shine on the world stage. Not sure about the time zones but it should be closer to our time so no need to be up at 4 in the morning for live events. Might learn a little Portuguese while we are at it!

WHITE NO BLACK FOR THE SUMMER

Summer white lasts for such a short time. I observe what others wear for some reason. I can not understand why people wear black, black and black in the summer! There are so many colours to wear. White has such a short season. Besides on those muggy days that moving a muscle brings on a sweat, like the Bushmen in the desert, white fends off the sun!

Those white colours everywhere- from flowers to soft ice cream to clothes are one of the joys of summer. If you have an old fashioned summer sense, no white after Labour Day. Although there is now winter white. So do a little survey and count how many people are wearing black, black and black and do the opposite wear some fun colours like coral or turquoise or summer yellow! Or go to Hawaii- they have amazing fun coloured shirts- no black!

NANA SAYS ENJOY AUGUST WITH THE CHILDREN

As the stores ramp up with back to school clothes and stuff, there can be a sense that summer is over. Well it is not. There is still time to enjoy the whole month of August. Camps continue, picnics can happen, day trips or even longer trips are possible. Of course, there is the boredom factor with children. Often activities enjoyed at the beginning of Spring are weighing a little thin by now. Keeping children entertained is difficult. So why not some old fashioned ideas. Household chores. Weeding the garden. Taking out the garbage. Doing some laundry. By getting children involved in daily tasks of everyday life they may learn to appreciate the other fun activities they have in their lives. Parents need to chill and try to enjoy the luxury of summer living. Big bucks are paid to go on southern holidays in winter for the same heat and lazy living. August a time to get out and enjoy the day with the kids. Yes school is around the corner.

GENEALOGY CONTINUES TO BE AN INTEREST

After the amazing conference in June in Toronto with the OGS and over 800 participants, I have had some time to ground myself. So many ideas and links to explore, it was time to choose a family line to review, revise and rewrite. Too often information is obtained and after a time what is the source for that piece of information. So the Parkin-Keeler line- a paternal one- will be one family group to concentrate on getting all my information with cited sources. What happens is information hard to obtain 10 years ago can become more available as more family historians are putting their charts on the Internet or search sites like Find My Past keep adding more resources to their sites. I bought a membership to it rather than Ancestry.ca. More English and Irish resources that needed for not just this line but several maternal ones. For this family line the sources are Canadian and English so not too difficult to try to clean up some of the gaps. Of course in England, the Parkin family was from Derbyshire so there is a historical society and other sites to explore. Acquiring local information on the region's history and historical sites can be found by many different links.The Keeler family was from Norfolk County so again some sites to explore along with the regular Family Search.org. When I am ready to explore more of my husband's history there is an European one to search. Stopping and picking one line is difficult. It is easy to flit from line to line obtaining tidbits- the piles grow. So cleaning up my table beside the computer with just the binders and information for this line is done. Besides reviewing it, there is quite a lot accomplished. Writing a small family history story on the property on Ball Point. Mariposa Township on Lake Scugog has been an ongoing project. So this line is important to finishing that story. The Parkin-Keeler family lived there. Robert Parkin and his wife Hannah Keeler raised their children there. The Keeler family lived nearby in Manilla so there are lots of family lines and cousins to include. I want to finish this project so getting more of my information digital, scanned-bought a wonderful scanner for the job- and out there on the Internet as well as a format to share with other family members that takes less of my time. Photocopying and mailing was okay at one time but with the tremendous amount of information- easier to scan and make files that can be sent as information is needed. No one ever pays for the photocopying or the time spent! But a click and send so the recipient can do what he or she wants with the information is good enough. So with this Parkin-Keeler line there will be separate folders for each child of Robert and Hannah so if there is an interest just need to send one individually. One of the goals is to reduce the paper and the clutter of duplication. Photocopies of information can be scanned. Just keeping any pertinent originals is important but can be reduced as well. The problem is the emotional attachment to all the notes, letters and other correspondence with other genealogists. Time to purge too. One emphasis from the conference was to write up the family history- charts, stories and to share with others. Many presenters said their children were not interested in all their stuff and might just burn it. I have a similar fear so am busy making the information user friendly and interesting to them as well as other family members. So August will be Parkin-Keeler line- it is a big one with lots of cousin lines in there but a good focus! If you are not in this line, don't fear- two of my maternal lines have already been done by other family historians. Just need to scan and file those lines! Good to send as a completed document already!
#genealogy#ogsconference#keelerfamily#parkinfamily#derbyshirecounty#ballpointmariposatownship#lakescugog#manilla#parkinkeelerfamily#lotsoforganizingofmyfamilyhistory#familyhistorytakestimetoorganize#gettingtheinformatodigital#genealogycontinuestobeaninterest#knowingaboutlocalhistoryhelpswiththegenealogy#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

AUGUST THE LAST HURRAH OF SUMMER

Many people choose to take their summer vacations in August. Connecting with the Civic Weekend to use one less vacation day. For me there is a family wedding anniversary, birthdays and time to finish all the summer planning and projects. Of course mid-August the EX! 31 days of opportunities and fun. More time to enjoy the garden and outdoors. Little jaunts and wonderful farm fresh food. July has more lazy days but August is a close second. Local events bring music and outdoor activities.

The garden continues its orchestra of colour.

The local Sunflowers abound.

Splash pads in local parks for the children. Safer than the pool but fun on our hot summer days.

Watching local baseball teams. For us the Toronto Blue Jays.

Colour of August etching into fall colours.

The market trips continue with fruit, vegetables, home made jam and even soap!

Simple summer salad of tomatoes and cucumbers with a little oil and red vinegar. Adolph's favourite and staple.

Making pickles or for some pickled eggplant!

Finding Muskoka chairs everywhere and even in  a variety of colours!
Oh summer with its fun and frolicy ideas! 31 days of adventure or quiet solitude! Your choice!!