POST CHRISTMAS BLUES

Christmas brings some fun, some work, stress and lots of change in the daily routine. Then the month is coming to an end and Christmas is a good memory. Eating the remainder of the leftovers or chucking them is the dilemma. Putting away Christmas stuff slowly. My lights outside stay up until Epiphany. The magic has fizzled. The reality of the same old, same old. Is it why people make New Year resolutions to add some sparkle to life? There is still time over the next few weeks to connect with family and friends. Or even months. A January lunch date works!! Maybe some other dates for the next few months to get through the winter. Or can it be used for a time for reflection, energize, planning for what is needed in one's life or to finish those projects in the quiet of winter. Rewatching favourite movies! Or to go to the movies! Of course there will be snow shovelling which is a good outdoor exercise in small quantities. So as the Christmas season winds down, maybe time to take those photos of outdoor lights, store windows and any fanciful item that crosses your path. The reality of the blues does hit however. Normalize it. Recognize it. Accept it. Knowing it is the norm helps us all. So how are you feeling today?
#Christmasblues#reflectionsofChristmas#change#resolutions#planning#energizingforwinterblues#mentalhealth#magicofChristmas#family#friends

THAT CANADIAN WINTER CHILL

So the week between Christmas and New Year is so cold in parts of this country. The GTA is under a cold weather warning with extra shelter beds at the CNE to try to bring the homeless off the streets. It is why we have parkas, hats, scarves and good mitts/gloves and the warmest boots to keep us cozy. Venturing out in the weather means layers! I am still walking to work. Did not freeze my face off!! Not yet anyway. How are you enjoying the winter chill?
#winterchill#coldweather#warmclothes#parkas#mitts#hats#shelters#boots#Canadianwinter

BARS'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS#7-CHRISTMAS TIME FOR INFORMATION

Christmas can be a good time when family is gathered to get some information. Lots of time to talk about family stories and traditions. Why not this 150 year get people's memories of how they celebrated as a child? What they love about the season? Who they celebrated with? Where? Bring some Christmas past Christmas pictures for others to scan, photograph on their cell phones or cameras. Have paper and pens handy. Photograph, video tape, - record those stories anyway you know how or what medium you use  After Christmas write down the menu or be a foodie and photograph the food, who was present at your feast, was there a theme. Is it a first Christmas with some people missing. Remember those people. Again get people's memories! Family stories are good! Genealogy is enriched with those stories. So between courses, do a little genealogy. Merry Christmas everyone!
#genealogy#familystories#recording#memories#photographs#funtimeswithgenealogy#research#interviewingfamily#Christmasmemories#150year#childhoodmemories

LIFE IS LIKE A CANADIAN SANTA CLAUS PARADE

Lots of floats.

Politicians.

Along with ladies, men wearing skirts. Playing Christmas music!

Happy faces! Lots of waving.

A jolly guy in a red suit with a strange form of transportation.
Life with its variety, differences in people, many ways to have fun! The Canadian way eh?
#santaclausparade#floats#santaclaus#bands#winter#clod#smilingfaces#children#knowhowtohavefun#life

WINTER SOLSTICE 2017

Winter Solstice! So the shortest day of the year! It means that starting tomorrow the sun starts to come back to us. Some say Christmas and lights are celebrated at this time to bring some joy to a glummy time of the year. We need light and fun. So get out and enjoy all the Christmas lights on main streets, side streets and other places. Remember that light is needed for mood. So if you do have a mood disorder, get near light. It sure helps. Since winter is really here. Try to find ways to embrace the winter months. Avoiding winter only makes it worse. So walks, skating, sledding, skiing, snowboarding, tubing and other Canadian winter activities can make the time go faster but enjoyable. Meanwhile only a few days until the big guy in the red suit arrives so just lay back and enjoy your home with all the decorations! Call a friend on this winter day. For us we always remember our dear friend Larry who died this day! He will be in our hearts forever no matter how long it has been! Oh winter! Oh solstice!
#wintersolstice#friends#Christmas#winteractivites#fun#christmaslights#family#remembering

NANA SAYS EMBRACE FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE WINTER BREAK

So are your children really wired! Christmas brings out such excitement in children. Last minute school concerts and parties. Family coming and calling. Bringing gifts for under the tree. The stress of it all can also bring some whining and unruly behaviour. So what to do. Give children age appropriate activities to do. Let them help clean- especially their room. Keep the area where company will be tidy. Give them lots of supportive messages. Tell the Christmas story of the real meaning of Christmas. Bring out those books and read the stories to them. Let the grandparents help with those tasks too. Have some ideas but not set in stone for the week off and what can be fun. Remember when creating the magic, be childlike and let go of some stuff! You know what I mean!
#christmasbreak#children'sexcitement#family#grandparents#unrulybehaviour#fun#supportivemessages#children#Christmasstory#thereasonfortheseason

ONE WEEK TO CHRISTMAS-LET THE PARTY BEGIN

School, office and home parties are here. Had the Pot Luck at work. It was a fun time. Made my cheese and cold cut platter with cherry tomatoes, olives and strawberries. Put little Christmas decorations on it.
Hauling in gifts to various people every day so my house is a little less cluttered. Some presents have arrived for under my tree. So festive!
But when it rains it pours. Still no new stove. Buying a new car. Adolph's wound is healing. So not just Christmas but other stuff happening for us.
As with most people that make the magic happen, it can be tiring and stressful. So remember lots of sleep, healthy eating, keep well!

                                               Lots of colour to keep your mood happy!
#christmas#stress#oneweektogotochristmas#busy#presents#fun#christmasplatters#coldcuts#olives#festivetimes#december#whenitrainsitpours

CHRISTMAS IS ABOUT FAMILY

Christmas with family and friends makes it meaningful. Who makes dinner? Whose house to be at for Christmas Eve? Do you fly home or just connect by phone?
We had visitors often at Christmas. My folks spent several ones with us after moving west. My mother-in-law would sleep over to be with us Christmas morning.
Family can be good but also any issues can surface. Some family members always like to create problems no matter what day it may be.
So how to enjoy a good Christmas. Put the issues aside for the New Year. Decide to enjoy- not nuts but just to roll with the day. Kids are over the top so accept it. The whole season is the build up to the day which sometimes is like another day.
Phone calls to loved ones can occur before the big day so make that happen too. Emails and texting has become the norm with lots of communicating.
Call up all the family memories that were good. If missing anyone, put the person in the room. This year we are missing a Dad/Grandpa/Great-Grandpa!
So who in your family is important to you? What memories can you create?
#family#Christmas#celebrations#folks#missingalovedone#ChristmasDay#familyissues

3 WEEKS OR LESS TO CHRISTMAS

The parties and eating has begun. Treats from everyone showing up at work and home. Adolph has gone through two panetones already. Time for some torrone for him.
Hopefully I will have the new stove by Christmas or the turkey will be cooked at one of the girls' houses. The stove works but not the oven!!
Wrapping continues every night. Just the grandchildren stuff to finish. Lots of Christmas movies to see! Of course the favourite for the grandsons is Home Alone! Can't tell you how many times I have seen it.
My favourite Christmas movie is- Love Actually! Also love the original Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life. Oh Charles Dickens- you are the best!
The little ones love Frosty the Snowman.
Music- all the religious Christmas Carols for me. I even try to sing all the verses. Out of key of course!

Oh the stockings are hung by the chimney with care!
#panetone#torrone#Christmas#chimney#stockings#Christmasmusic#wrappingpresents#gettingreadyforChristmas#grandchildren#HomeAlone#It'sawonderfullife#achristmascarol#CharlesDickens

NANA SAYS CHRISTMAS MAGIC TAKES LOTS OF WORK AND ENERGY

The magic of Christmas usually comes from parents and mostly Moms! Yes I know Dads put things together, parent too. But mothers do the lists, most of the shopping, makes sure the social events and dinners are doable. I still hear men at work saying " have you started Christmas shopping yet?"
Magic takes a toll on the workload and energy of parents. So how to short list it even when it is so busy. Trying amongst the normal activities of laundry, lessons and housekeeping to keep it all together.
Letting go of some things during the busy season. Concentrating on what can be fun for all. If out of the house, the kids can not dirty the house. Letting the older generation invite everyone over so the preparations are reduced. Just dress the kids. This Nana does the Christmas meal so makes it easier for the girls, spouses and grandchildren to enjoy the day at home. They will bring some food too but not all the hoopla. Nana has all day to prepare.
Keeping well during the season is hard. Despite loving all the social events, they do bring a germ pool too. So have the items for colds and flu bugs handy at home. Know which clinics are open if needed. Of course the hospital door is open 24/7.
Magic can mean making cookies or a gingerbread house with children. Another layer of work but important for the memories. Or not!
Those wonderful Christmas pictures. If unable to get to a photographer, find a pretty background, some Christmas things and take some pics. Family and friends are more interested in receiving a photo from you then how amazing the picture can be.
Expect that children often have too much Christmas and can be tired and whinny at all the extra stuff- school, home, running around. Again what can you eliminate for awhile!
So let me know how you create the magic! Also feel good that generations of parents are behind you! Call up your childhood memories and what mattered to you! Will the same things matter to your children and family? So use a family tradition and share with the children! Keep it simple!

CHRISTMAS MARKETS- TORONTO 2017

Christmas markets are in so many cities. So Toronto has had one in the Distillery District for several years.

Lots to do both day and night.
Ventured down with my younger daughter and two grandsons.

Visual signs are a hit with everyone. Lots of photos and selfies abounding everywhere.

Walking around and enjoying the fun atmosphere.

The regular stores and boutiques plus lots of outdoor stalls.

Eating is good. The boys had a hot dog and jumbo dog while the ladies had Bratwurst on a bun with sauerkraut. We saved drinks until later when we were indoors- so a super candy cane mocha hot chocolate.

Fortunately for me, I will have another opportunity to go again during the day. Maybe some shopping too!

#Toronto#TorontoChristmasMarket#Christmas#Brandtfoods#Bratwurst#lights#family#grandsons#daughter#outings#lights#funatmosphere#eating#hotdogs#hotchocolate

5 REASONS TO PICK YOURSELF UP EVERY DAY

Sometimes life get tough. It seems that the bottom keeps falling out of the floor. So why keep going?

1. Each day brings a challenge. So grab it and go.

2. Reach out to family. Let their strength help you along. Call up the good memories from your life. Were there lessons your parents gave you? Aunts! Uncles- my was Unc! Look at your family pictures, find the good ones and display.

3. Reach out to friends. If you are a good friend then your friends will respond. Phone, text, facebook. Keeping in touch helps with those down times.

4. Pray. Let God answer some of your requests. Be still. Be quiet and listen. Look around and the answer could be there. Start with peace in your heart.

5. Embrace all the small stuff. Like the first cup of coffee. Watching the sun rise. Remember one step at a time. Music soothes the soul, so find what gives you comfort. Some days we may not want to count our blessings so don't! It is okay to be!

So do you have some other reasons to pick yourself up? Share them!

#pickyourselfup#positivethinking#overcomingdepression#life'simpleduties#friends#family#pray#musicsoothesthesoul#challenges#parents#comfort

DECEMBER- THE TIME FOR REFLECTION AND CELEBRATION

In Canada, we celebrate Christmas December 25th. However, many countries and cultures have different days of the month to celebrate. Learning other Christians ways of honouring the arrival of the Christ child is good. Along with all the hoopla and gift buying try to have some areas of the home with a creche or books on the true meaning of Christmas.
I always have a display on my sideboard in the Family Room with Christmas books and a creche. Of course, many angels.

The items can be touched and rearranged by little hands as needed. This year of course there is the wonderful children's film The Star in theatres. But in everyone's collections there are many Christmas films to watch. So as the season evolves so will my reflections.
#Christmas#creche#jesuschrist#reflections#Canada#traditions#books#christchild#december25#Christmastimeincanada

HELLO DECEMBER-3 WEEKS MORE OR LESS TO CHRISTMAS

If one has delayed starting Christmas shopping, usually December 1 is the wake up call. A fall cold delaying my completion of the in house holiday decorations as rest is needed, my preparations are on track. I just need to resist buying all the baked goodies and chocolates every time it go to a grocery store. A small Panetone for my hubbie as a treat was the only goodie brought into the house so far. Some social events are picking up at work and home. Not overly busy but there will be some fun for this Senior.

Sometimes just hitting a main street anywhere and lovely Christmas images can be found.
#Christmas#3weekstogo#lovelydecorations#December#bakedgoodies#panetone#socialevents