#51 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- QUILTS WITH AN ANNIVERSARY THEME

Quilts at the Creek- an annual quilt show at Black Creek Pioneer Village in Toronto Ontario Canada was a real treat July 29th. Attended with my granddaughter Sophia to expose her to the art of quilts. So lots of photos but for this post will feature those with the 150 Anniversary theme.

Some just red and white.

Lots with maple leaves1

So well done!

Even a beaver one!

Even the flag can be a quilt.

The variety and the skills of the quilters were amazing! A wonderful sunny day in Canada admiring the quilts!
#quilts#blackcreekpioneervillage#aniversaryquilt#quilter#mapleleaf

LIFE'S JOURNEYS BRING MANY THOUGHTS WITH IMAGES

Life has many paths. What we find in our journeys can be interesting.

Roads, trails, routes!

Near home or far away!

Many symbols can be found!

Some with boundaries!

Reaching new heights!

Shelter from the sun!

Images bring thoughts! Some adventures to be had! Not always necessary to wander far from home. Take time to stop and see around us! What images have you captured? What thoughts do they bring?
#fences#thoughts#paths#CNE#cambrianshield#life

NANA SAYS SUMMER IS FOR CHILDLIKE ACTIVITIES

So be a kid like the kids. Go and play. Enjoy. If lucky, grab a grandchild or two to have some real fun. Children know how to let loose and have fun. So go on an adventure walk, collect stuff and do crafts. Sit by the pool or play in it. Really enjoy your life. Well it is summer.

Reflective Thoughts by Barbara: #50 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- THE MUSKOKA CHAIR

Reflective Thoughts by Barbara: #50 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- THE MUSKOKA CHAIR: Nothing is more Canadian than sitting in a Muskoka chair in the summer time. Found at special events in larger sizes. Can be painted wi...

#50 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- THE MUSKOKA CHAIR

Nothing is more Canadian than sitting in a Muskoka chair in the summer time. Found at special events in larger sizes.

Can be painted with any design.

A cottage deck adorned with chairs to sleep, read or chat with family and friends.

Near a beach on a lovely gazebo!

Inviting aren't they! Makes one want to go and have a seat to enjoy the summer! How Canadian, eh?
#muskokachair#beach#canadian#deck#summer

WEEDING A GARDEN-LIKE LIFE IT CAN BE OVERGROWN

With the personal stuff and all the rain, my garden beds and paths are a huge overgrown mess. Every time some area is worked, well the rain came and voila more growth. So finally attacking the paths with a week killer, the garden is taking some shape. There is some stone or brown showing in the paths. It had me thinking about how overwhelming some events can be in our lives. We work on one area then along comes more- "rain"- to make events grow. By attacking a little at a time then some headway is made. Sometimes overgrown is not bad. Like my garden, more birds and definitely more butterflies are visiting my little corner of the world. So trying to control and manage too well may discourage other aspects of life. Letting life happen can be challenging. Having some control even more challenging. One thing for sure, I will never win one of those local horticultural awards for best gardens in town. But the 4 yard waste bags on the curb do show that some work was done as well as the little patch of grass was cut. in the front yard.

The perennials make their way through it all too.

These pretty cone flowers that attract wild life are abounding too. So in the midst of a busy and chaotic life comes some beauty. How is your life going? 

#life#challenges#stress#coneflowers#garden#weeds#weedkiller

SHOULD SENIORS ACT THEIR AGE?

Interesting question. So what does it mean. For me, safety, safety, safety at any age. Young people break bones. Old people break bones. Sometimes just an accident but sometimes could have been prevented. Helmets, arm and shin pads and whatever safety equipment is needed. For example, whether you know how to swim or not, wear a life jacket in a boat! Role model for the children in our lives! As a senior, everything is older no matter how fit one is. So to avoid unnecessary surgeries is good. If a bone is not broken, then no surgery. The complications of any surgery can send a fit person over the age! The heart does not need the strain of the surgery too! Can not live in a bubble but can be aware of the environment and what can be done safely. Feeling young forever is good. But knowing the limitations to enjoy a good life is common sense. A quality life. Accepting as we all age, things change. Adjusting to those changes well brings the quality. Being a Senior is not a dirty word. As we all know there are Seniors' benefits!
#seniors#aging#safety#accident#commonsense

STRESS BREAKS ARE NEEDED IN LIFE

Being under constant stress for the little things can wear a person out. So finding stress breaks throughout the day are vital. For me, leaving the building and going to my favourite bench to eat quietly and reflect. At night a little cat nap outside to enjoy the evening. Walking away from conflict and deciding which battle to fight helps many people. Getting things done so there is less stress thinking about what needs to be done. The topic of stress and stress release is a large topic so more will be coming. It just seemed it was on my mind today and maybe I needed to reflect on how I could manage my stress levels. How about you? Are there projects and areas of your life that are causing stress?

                   Sometimes some pretty flowers and a place to sit and enjoy works too!

NANA SAYS THE FIRST GRANDCHILD IS SPECIAL

Becoming grandparents for the first time is a major event in a family's life. Learning to parent as the support team. Getting a house baby proofed again. Discovering how much love a little person can bring. Then with each new addition to the family subsequent grandchildren bring more joy. Learning about their little personalities and loving them.The most joyous aspect of being a grandparent is just having those little children in one's life. Being called Nana or Papa or Grandma or Grandpa are the most Divine words in the English language.

LIFE IS LIKE A LEARNING CURVE

Just when you thought you got it, something new or different comes along to upset the apple cart. New learning needs to occur. It can hurt your head.  It feels fuzzy. Concentrating takes a toll! When all of us are comfortable with the routines in our lives, they are no brainers. Almost remotely go along in our day. New learning means concentration at a bigger scope. For example, a new job can be stressful, not because you can not do it but the concentration to learn new activities, scoping the new environment, new colleagues-who to trust, and just needing to pass the probation period. Waiting to hear, okay what did I do wrong. Life long learning is a good thing! It just takes us out of our comfort zone. And sometimes, comfort is all we want!

#49 BARBS' REFLECTIVE 150- REMEMBERING THE PAN AM GAMES

I think back to 2015 and the fun I had attending some events of the Pan Am Games in Toronto.

In three languages, it was fun to attend several events.

Caledon-Equestrian.

Swimming in Scarborough.

Beach Volleyball with our Canadians playing in Toronto.

The Toronto sign became a landmark in the city.

Soccer in Hamilton.
Them memories from any major sports event do last a lifetime Well in pictures anyway!
#panam#sports#beachvolleyball#soccer#swimming#toronto

#48 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- MARY PICKFORD

While on a downtown jaunt recently, we discovered a statue and plaque to the silent film star Mary Pickford.

Outside the Hospital for Sick Children on University Avenue, a prominent spot. My daughter asked who she was? Surprisingly not to know, but I proceeded telling her. One of the many first silent screen movie stars. And a Canadian! She starred in the significant movies of the timein the early 1900s with many leading men. Our little Mary!

Always interesting what discoveries can be found on a little city street stroll.

Even some more trees for shade.

CITY OF TORONTO WITH STREET VEGETATION

No matter how much concrete exists in the city. Trees and pots of flowers can be found everywhere.
Always adding colour.

Not large gardens but pretty neverthelesss!

ARE YOU A CHEERLEADER?IF NOT BE ONE!

As a Social Worker, sometimes I just tell people I am your cheerleader. Wanting the best possible outcome in a bad situation. May not win the game of life but will do the best! No one can be happy, happy, happy all the time! But one can look as if there are happy things in life. So what is a cheerleader! Well there are at most sports games. Some squads are actually quite incredible with lifts and flips and pyramids. So no I am not that kind of cheerleader, I would hurt myself! Just the kind that honours and listens to the problems in the day. Find the right resources for the person. Smile. Acknowledge. Check in! Families have cheerleaders. The favourite aunt or uncle. The favourite family friend. The neighbour that gives a little! Sometimes just being there when needed. So are you a cheerleader? Or do you need one? What are your thoughts?
#cheerleader#life#socialworker

WHEN SLEEP ELUDES US

Sleep is good for the soul and general health. It helps us heal. It gives us dreams and sometimes nightmares. A poor night's sleep makes the day start poorly! Young parents with a new baby can not get enough sleep. The teenager late coming home delays the parents' sleep. Shift workers have disrupted sleep. For the aging, sleep may be found in fits and starts. Cat naps during the day are good. Certain foods can affect sleep. Of course alcohol can be very disconcerting to poor sleepers. Some reach for sleeping pills while others try all the methods to try to get to sleep and stay asleep. The biggest sleep grabber is too much on one's mind. Pushing thoughts away can be bothersome. So how are you sleeping? Do you have trouble? What tricks do you use to get a good night's sleep?

NANA SAYS PARENTS NEED SOME SPACE

Grandparents are great resources to allow parents some alone time. A few hours on a Sunday so the parents can go for an ice cream or some furniture shopping. Sleep over at the kids' house so the parents can go out and not have to rush home. Besides Nana needs to go to bed early and not worry about staying awake to drive home alone on a dark road. Parents are people too. So always needing to be on duty can be draining. Time away, alone time is good. Of course, working outside the home gives some good intellectual time to parents. But the minute when picking up the children or arriving home, then the duty starts until bed time for everyone. Family time can be draining or rewarding depending on perspective. So including the extended family in that family time is good. For children spending time with grandparents alone is good for relationship building. Everybody benefits, especially the grandparents.

TORONTO STREET ART IS FUN

Just walking along University Avenue, noticed this lovely street art.

It was just in front of the Hospital for Sick Children.

The view from the hospital of University Ave. Actually, hospital row in downtown Toronto.
Back to the street art. Was it commissioned or just some artist decided to create it? I love the colours and the words- You Matter! Hearts are so universal! Do you find street art where you go? Sometimes just looking down can bring images! I almost missed this art as I was snapping pictures of the buildings and street!
#art#toronto#univesityavenue#hospitalforsickchildren

WHY BOUNDARIES ARE GOOD FOR RELATIONSHIPS!

No matter how close you are to others, setting clear boundaries sustain relationships. Group think can submerge the individuals' needs. So knowing in any relationship what boundaries are necessary to sustain and nurture every one's needs. The quiet person can be overridden by the one who has the need to be the centre of attention continuously. Actually, becomes the boring person of the group or relationship because others' needs are not being met. For me I look for the quiet person. To spend time listening and learning what is needed. With groups of children, it is necessary to let each one have a turn. Recently, I wrote about alone time. Good for a relationship too. To spend time exploring alone without needing to nurture someone else. Nurture oneself so to speak!! In the home each person can have a special spot. For younger children, could be their bedroom or a playroom or even in the adult spaces a place to do stuff!! Teaching respect of each other's space or boundaries. But then again fences make good neighbours!
#fences#relationships#boundaries

CAN YOU TEACH AN OLD DOG NEW TRICKS? OH COMPUTERS!

Computers have always been a learning curve for me. The first one I had was a challenge and it was DOS. Click, enter, click enter. When things moved to the mouse it seemed just too easy. Yeah. Finding where the start menu was became a challenge too. Each time the system upgrades to more features, well learning again. My latest version of Word was a month long learning curve of rearranging and finding features that were useful to me. The Evernote program continues to be a challenge of how to use it properly. My search program for genealogy- Find My Past continues to let me find new databases etc. I just want to be a user not a programmer! So this month begins the challenge in our workplace of a new top of the line computer system for the whole hospital. So can this old dog learn new tricks. Probably! The problem is the young dogs are having trouble too! If I could concentrate on my learning and doing my regular work without all the negative energy and stress around me. I do have a motto- this too shall pass! I want to be supportive but who supports me! If I did not have the stress of the last month, I would be in a better space. So knowing that others may feel the same way is important. As the old dog, the more I stay grounded the more I can do what I need to do a step at a time without being sucked into the energy around me. Concentrating on the people who we serve is the most important aspect of daily work! Woof, woof! The old dog is ready for action.

#47 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- A DAY IN DOWNTOWN TORONTO

A simple trip into a large Canadian city is fun for anyone. But enjoying a family day with family in Toronto is one way to celebrate the 150.

Oh the famous Toronto sign with the 150 maple leaf.

City Hall and surrounding area- a fun place to go and take pictures too!

SOLO ACTIVITIES-DO YOU ENJOY YOUR OWN COMPANY?

I love being married, don't get me wrong. But there are many times that interests vary and it is more enjoyable to go to an activity alone. Like last year's quilt show. Adolph would have been bored. So I find events that interest me and away I go. The Jazz in the Plaza series locally on Tuesday nights has started again. Two hours of live music then hubbie picks me up at the little strip plaza across the street. I was told once by a young niece, what a loser for going to a movie alone. Only losers do not have someone with them. Really, perhaps the opposite is true. To be afraid to be alone or to go to a function alone, is a sign of what. Not enjoying one's own company.
The first time I travelled by myself- I was 11. I took a trip to see family in Edmonton. So the beginning of trusting my own company. My mother even let me go to the dentist alone at 10 but that is another story.
Yes people can be alone in their own homes and get things done. But travelling, dining out or going to a movie alone takes a willingness to like oneself. Why stay home? Of course there is take out or home delivery when eating alone that works too.
There is also the realization as one ages that the partner may no longer function as well or even pass away. Adolph and I have these discussions as we are aging. One of us may end up alone without the other. So does life end if one loses a partner. No, but being willing to carry on and enjoy life is good too. So having together and separate interests allows for personal growth and satisfaction. Alone time, couple time, family time and friend time is always a good way to continue to enjoy the wonderful things that life brings to the table.
Enjoying one's company does mean that enjoying others can be had too! Why I like my own company? Because I do not say anything that bugs me nor do I have to placate any discussion that is annoying. I can have my own opinion and well keep it to myself. I do not get questioned nor evaluated. For example, do people really need to comment on what I am wearing. I like to match my clothes and wear as little black as possible year round. I like colours. Is it an old foggy thing? Sometimes when I get- you are so colourfu! Oh your clothes match! I wonder. So if alone, and you do not know me I do not need to hear anything positive or negative. Enjoying my own company means I need no validation, no compliments, no negative interference. Yes I can observe the world, the couples, the friends and the so called friends that start to gossip as soon as someone leaves their group. I could do a study on group behaviour but I will not because well I am enjoying the event and my own company! How about you? What do you think? Do you enjoy your own company? When do you like to be with others?

CROCHET AND KNITTED PROJECTS FOR THE SUMMER

With the hotter days and the feeling to sit and do very little, taking some simple projects keeps the hands busy. Crocheting is easier for road trips. Knitting, sitting on the dock or inside at a cottage on a rainy day or on the home back deck. Some of those projects that have squares or flowers on hats or sweaters are easy to transport. If staying in one place then a larger one like a blanket or bedspread can be done as there is a spot for it. If making an applique blanket then the items to be placed can be easily made. Previously I made a sunflower motif baby blanket. The petals of the sunflower were easy to do anywhere. Needed dozens of them. So use the quiet time wisely with busy hands.

Although made in one piece, this knitted blanket could have been done in squares or stripes too. Improvise and use your skills in different ways. Then by the Fall there will be a bin full of projects. Maybe even some can be used for the Christmas period.
#crochet#knittedprojects#creativehands#quiet time

NANA SAYS GRANDCHILDREN KEEP YOU YOUNG

And tired. The energy of little children is unreal. One or two grandsons can run and run and run and still not be breathless. Listening to the conversations and just the joy of life is good. Holding little ones gives more back to the big person. Recently having my littlest grandson sleep on my chest was so enjoyable. To stay current with life's new items all ages must be together. The wisdom of age can be imparted on the younger generation. The little ones can show us to slow down and see the world through young eyes too. Telling children the stories of the family and about family members no longer here can be a regular occurrence. Genealogy- one of my passions can be shared in a variety of ways. Starting with us and our stories and going backwards to parents and grandparents! My grandparents are their great-great grandparents so no need to try to give them all the generations back 400 years when the last 150 can be very informative. There's time for that! So a goal for the summer is to spend time with each of my grandchildren and make a special time or day of it. Doing an activity the child enjoys. It may keep me young but I know I will have a good night's sleep because I will also be tired.
#grandchildren#grandparents#genealogy#parents

JULY-THE FIRST REAL SUMMER MONTH

With the longer days and warmer weather, summer is here. Kids to day and sleepover camps have begun! Summer goals are simple. Take in as many fun summer ventures and activities. For me some local ones- Jazz in the Plaza starts tonight. A short walk to the local theatre for music. Rain or shine. If wet, it moves indoors. Reading books is still a luxury. Finished my first one- Girl on the Train. Nice fast, quick easy read. The garden- able to cut the grass but all the gardens are a jungle. Goal to work methodically around the edges and eventually get to the middle of the beds. Or I could wait until Fall and just cut everything back. No horticultural awards for me! Not sure about vacation time yet with the new system starting at work next week. Everyone is a little apprehensive! With all the recent crisises in my life, I want to take the summer slowly. So how will your July be? Some adventures, staycations or home projects? Whatever, here's to July!!

And to the variety of daisies abounding in the gardens and on the roadways. Such a beautiful natural flower.

#46 BARB'S RELECTIVE 150-WINNIPEG AND ITS RECORD MAPLE LEAF

Winnipeg is well known as the city in the middle of Canada. Manitoba can be considered west and east depending on where one lives. Winnipeg home of the Winnipeg Ballet and many other wonderful entertainment venues. On Canada Day, however, at Portage and Main, many people gathered to create the largest maple leaf- thousands. What a fun and unique way to celebrate the 150!!
#150#Winnipeg#portageandmain#Canada

#45 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- THE CANADIAN BUTTER TART

Nothing is more Canadian than a butter tart. There are Ontario competitions on who has the best butter tart.

Bakeries, farmers' markets or even homemade- butter tarts can be found everywhere. They are eaten too as they are so delicious.

Part of a nice stash of goods purchased at the Lindsay Farmers' market.
#lindsayfarmersmarket#buttertart#barb'shomebaking#Canada#150

#44 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- THE CANADIAN BARBECUE

So a colleague at work of European background, was hoping the weather would be good because she was going to a barbecue. It was as if it was a novel concept. Hello- Canadians for decades have had barbecues on Canada Day and well throughout the summer. A very Canadian thing to do- have a family barbecue. Well we are going to a family barbecue even with burgers shaped like maple leaves from Sobeys! Not too much hoopla, just simple family fun1 How about you? Are you one of the lucky ones in Ottawa for the big celebration all day! Happy Canada Day!
#burgers#sobeys#Canadian#CanadaDay

#43 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- THE NATIONAL POST 150

So buy a National Post today and look at their version of 150 reasons to like being Canadian. Buy any of your local papers and see what is happening locally and just enjoy.
#nationalpost#torontostar#thesun#globeandmail

#42 BARBS'S REFLECTIVE 150- CANADA DAY IS HERE

Yeah for all the hoopla about the year, Canada Day is here. To be celebrated, to be enjoyed, to have some little protests, to eat, to party!