QUILTS AT THE CREEK 2018

Each summer for the last 3 years I have attended the Quilts at the Creek. A wonderful outdoor display of quilts at Black Creek Pioneer Village.

As soon as one enters the area, there they are. Even a quilt using the Hudson Bay motif.

Using barn board fences to display.

The creativity of the quilters. Modern, traditional, abstract. So many ideas and wonderful quilts. Works of art.

Even some modern sayings and ideas.

I loved this display of many blocks. The goal for that guild was to make a full quilt idea in one 12/12 block. The variety and talent was amazing.

Don't you love how the buildings make a wonderful backdrop for the quilts.
There will be more quilts in future posts. Just a little peak at 2018 wonderful quilts.
#quiltsbythecreek#blackcreekpioneervillage#Toronto'squiltshow#quiltershavewonderfultalents#quiltersareartists

SUMMER-A TIME TO READ

For most of my life the summer time has always been a time to pick up a book or two. Southern holidays always included some beach reading. So for the last few years, it has been a goal to read 10 books over the summer. Why? So I actually sit down and enjoy the summer. Relax. Feel the wind in my face. Listen to the birds. So July has been good. 5 books read and 5 to go in August. I try to read 5 fiction but include some perusing of non-fiction. So a history issue has become an added interest- the campaign in Norway during World War Two. I bought an atlas of Special Operations in World War Two. There are other books to find as well for that issue.I will be writing at a future date the particular issue. Books are a best friend. So find time to read and enjoy. So what books are you reading this summer! You can share in my comments anytime.
#summerreading#books#summerbooks#fiction#non-fiction#summertimeatimetoread#lovereading#readingismybestfriend

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS #8

We are told to put information online as we go. Not to wait to gather all the information to write a 500 page family book. Well good advice. When I wrote about my great-grandmother Elizabeth Anne Frost, I had a few reads. Then a comment from a second cousin with so many answers and solved my brick wall. What had happened to Elizabeth's father and the rest of the family. So not in this post but will organize the information he shared and write it up for another post. It has given me hope to write about two other brick walls in genealogy on my blog. Like it is often said, it pays to advertise. My second big moment is how much I can purge from the Frost family binder. Useless frost information that does not apply to our family. My children will thank me. However, as I purged copious pages of microfische pages, the realization of the amount of work and yes money that has been spent over the last 34 years. Glad as a new retiree I am not starting out in the family search pursuit.
#Frostfamily#secondcousin#newinformation#genealogycostsmoneyandtime#itpaystoadvertise#familybinderpurging

WEEK 3 OF RETIREMENT

A transition that is slowly evolving. Some appointments out of the way. More organizing and purging. But sharing is even better. Some time with the grandchildren that has been fun. Baby hats and stuff on my craft agenda. Can take them anywhere so easy to have my hands busy. Finished book number 4 for my summer reading. Two outings planned so will report back once they are done. Yes getting through the various heat waves and managing to get a little colour. A breakthrough on one of my genealogy brick walls. Exciting to have some new ancestor pictures. Husband holding his own so able to have some time with him too. Will be contacting some friends and relatives as they are on my to do list. Now to revise my bucket list. Some many lists and so little time. Just kidding. Retirement gives lots of time to get stuff done!
#retirement#week3ofretirement#gettingstuffdone#organizingandpurging#yeahfuntoworkonmyownstuff

TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE THINGS AND THE BIG THINGS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES

Nice saying. By doing the small things in life it helps to prevent things from becoming too big. Appointments to address small complaints. Medical. Dental. Eyes- well you get the picture. A little leak in the house before a ceiling falls down. Happened in our old house. The bathroom ceiling came down so learned my lesson there. On top of a chronic illness. Recognized the small signs before they escalate into bigger ones. Eat too much for a while, cut back to avoid weight gains. Life is rather simple. We humans just make things more complicated.
#life'scomplications#life#nicesaying#appointmentsmade

MONDAYS ARE DIFFERENT IN RETIREMENT

It seems my trepidation about worrying about not going to work on a Monday were futile. I recalled the days and weeks after lay offs looking for work.Hoping the phone would ring. Hoping for a job interview. Waiting to hear back from an interviewer as promised. There is none of that now. No need to keep my resume up to date.Time to do activities for as long as I like. No accountability to a clock. No needing to document in a computer about my workload. Do not miss it. Reporting to myself. So am I using the time wisely. Yes. But just getting my feet wet in planned activities. Have accomplished some items already. My exercise program is on track. Walking in the morning and a short walk in the afternoon. So will add the next stage. Bought some cheap exercise DVD.  Some crafts on the go. Organizing little corners of my life. More time with Adolph. Some help with the grandchildren. Now to connect with family and friends rather than just through social media. No need to sing the Mamas and Papas song- Monday, Monday anymore.
#Mondays#retirementisdifferent#justgettingstartedwiththeretirmentthing#planningmoreactivities#startinganewlife#

SUMMER REFLECTIONS 2018

So the third week of July and summer seems to be moving along. Since the heat wave has passed, breathing better and less concerned about the effect of summer on Adolph's health. The back porch garden is producing- well some produce! Tomatoes, beans, eggplant, green pepper, cucumber! Let's me know I can have a simple porch garden and be content. Tired of the overgrown jungle in my yard. Tired of the work. Enjoying the local farmers market. As fast as I buy cherries or other fruit, Adolph wolfs it down! Ordering some supplies for the projects I have planned. Seeing the grandchildren often enough but still have to have some one on one Nana times with them. Enjoying the walking that summer brings. Helps to establish some new habits that include exercise. More time to clean those corners little by little. Organized some items to have in the car. Goal to keep everything neat. If my house can not be neat at least my car can be!! Yes the reading which gives me the time to be outside and enjoy some sun then some shade to stay outside longer. Summer with its beckoning to relax and take in all that life has to offer.
#summertime#readingandrelaxing#timetoslowdownandsmelltheflowers#summerfruit#eatingcherries#backporchproduce#suppliesforprojects#farmersmarket#gardentakeslotsofwork

SUMMER FLOWERS IN CANADA

Summer flowers can be found everywhere. The gardens look great.

At tourist attractions.

Even in a home garden.

Wild flowers transplanted.

Colours and white.

Near a farmer's market!

Oh summer in Canada and the living is easy. And pretty with all the flowers.
#summerflowersincanada#coneflowers#tigerlillies#farmersmarkets#roadsidebeauties#flowersinthecity#daisies#backyardflowers#monarchbutterflyinmygarden#lotstophotographinthegarden

6 AM WALKS- TIME FOR REFLECTION

Up bright and early and hitting the road for an early morning walk is a blessing. The noise of the construction on Yonge Street has not started. So able to hear the joyous singing of the birds. Surprisingly how many people have already started their day. The traffic on Major Mackenzie drive and Yonge is quite heavy.  Perhaps avoiding the later rush hour! Of course businesses are busy with early deliveries and work. Many pet owners walking their dogs. I am fortunate to have two fields on my walk to see the wild flowers growing. Adolph calls them weeds. Not a long walk. But up a hill, around the library and down a hill. So I use different muscle groups. It replaces one of my walks that I did when I walked to and from work.

#earlymorningwalks#timeforreflection#singingbirds#littleconstructionnoise#funbeingalone#petownerswalkingtheirdogs#prettyviews

MID JULY ALREADY- OH THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER

Summer months come slowly and then start to pass too quickly. So much to do and see in all communities. Mine is enjoying the free Jazz concerts Tuesday night at the Richmond Hill theatre plaza. Local parks have some activities too for the kids and big kids. Just being outside and enjoying a drink at a patio, your own patio or a friend's place. Time to read! Time to slow down and feel the joy of summer time. Even if it is too hot for many!!
#summertimeandthelivingiseasy#acoolpatiodrink#readinginthesummertime#midJuly#enjoyingallthatsummerbrings#jazzintheplaza

5 GOOD HABITS OF RETIREMENT

So retired from a workplace but not work. How to incorporate some good habits. My first post about the retirement thing. Still very fresh in my life.

1. Exercise works. Used to walking to and from work. So how to incorporate that habit into retirement. Well walk of course. So early morning with weights. Then the walk to the mailbox in the afternoon. Now looking for another way to find a 20 minute walk for the day. Bought some exercise DVDs so I can do some routines in my living room with my big DVD player. The Family Room is my husband's domain. Not much for going to the gym. But may consider joining a class of some sort in the Fall. A time limited class may get be started to going out to something and not just in home.

2. Not wasting time. Time was one of those precious commodities for evenings and weekends. So using my time wiser. Ways to try to find some revenue in those interests.

3. Setting priorities. What to do that brings meaning. Incorporating all my interests and hobbies into more of my daily life. Do I continue with some counselling services?? Or just fun and fluff stuff!! Social activities are important. Time with my husband, children, grandchildren, family connections and friends. Working through the process and transition of being retired.

4. Organizing and setting some goals for the day. Early riser so more can be accomplished in the morning. Then afternoons for quieter activities- like the summer reading. Books of course. But not forgetting newspapers, magazines and Internet articles. Reading.Reading. Reading. Also trying to read something every day in Italian, Spanish and French. To keep up those linguistic skills. Knowing another language is good for the mind. Putting crafts in my hands. Daily working on those projects. Small knitting and crocheting items can be done. Of course back to some quiliting. Starting small with little projects again. Yes not trying to head in different directions at a time.

5. Stopping and smelling the roses. Yes enjoying the big and little things every day brings joy. Slowing down- not a full stop and not rushing everywhere. Starting an activity and finishing it. Trying to eliminate all the little piles that get started in every room. Less piles. Less clutter. More puttering and keeping on top of everything. But at a methodical and peaceful pace.

Of course good eating. Always include some cake on those special occasions.
#cake#retirement#goodhabitsofretirement#settingpriorities#smellingtheroses#turninginterestsintosomerevenue#goodeating#exercise#walkingwithweights#findingmorewaystowalkeveryday#notmissingtheworkplacelife#findingmyselfagaininretirement

MY FIRST PHOTO SHOOT

My daughter Sonya writes an amazing blog. House of Kerrs.
House of Kerrs.
Doing a clip for Sketchers Canada we headed to the Mill Pond in Richmond Hill for the photo shoot. She wrote a wonderful post about me. I feel so humbled. Take your time to read it and see the fun photos. As most of you know who read my blog regularly I do not post people pictures. So this is a diversion and to see a picture of me doing something fun. I actually have a new pair of fun coloured Sketcher shoes from the deal.
#houseofkerrs#sketcherscanada#funphotoshootwithmydaughter#bloggingisfun#MillPondinRichmondHill#retirementfromworknotfromlife#newshoes

REFLECTIONS ON RETIREMENT

Right now it feels like a vacation. Since I have 20 vacation days to be paid in the next two pay periods, the pensions do not start until August.so not a fixed income yet but coming.
I do feel calmer already. No need to set the alarm. No need to report to a boss. No swiping my badge.
Up between 5 and 530 am so time to get washed, dressed then go for a power walk and finish by 615 am. Regrouping. Cleaning clutter corners. Reading. Being with my husband. Little quick errands in my car. A little surreal. I need a catchy title for some retirement ideas like starting a facebook group. Along with this blog, more writing- to prevail. Since it is the summer, trying to be in the summer mode and just enjoy. Looking forward to some outings with the grandchildren.
#retirementishere#retiringinthesummer#notafixedincomeyet#routinehaschanged#quickerrandsinmycare#regrouping#cleaningcluttercornerstobeginagoodorganizedretirement#upbrightandearlyeveryday#

THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF MY LIFE

Retirement day has arrived. Retirement from a workplace and now a pensioner. But not retirement from work per se. Once the new routines are established then developing those interests, projects and writing into my new work. Family responsibilites can be managed too. The home will be the workplace with different rooms serving a function. My computer room. My craft room. My guest room. The kitchen. Asked for the last few weeks about how I was feeling. Relief. I made it. With events in the last year, there were times I might have had to leave earlier. So relief. On my terms. When I wanted to go. Not feeling like I needed to leave in a hurry.

A little trepidation. But with a methodical, let's pull things together for the new life rolling with what life brings along with planning and organization, it is doable. Of course one day at a time. With others around me who have retired, lots of people that can offer advice. Well not sure if I will need it but I know who to call. Will I be busier like everyone before me that has retired, time will tell. A different busy. The house needs a methodical do over. Well the jungle garden will give me an exercise plan. Plus walking on a daily basis. Develop a different walking plan and using my weights. I had wanted to hit the ground running with lots organized, I put the running shoes away and will have bare feet so I can feel the new life happening. Less is more. So starting with one spot, one corner, one area and get it neat will be my first week's mantra. Retirement with relief is my feeling today. What tomorrow will bring is a mystery!!
#retirement#relief#newmantra#newroutines#pensioner#savingmoney#changemyhabits#familyresponsibilities#developthoseinterestsandhobbies#anewworkplace#lifebeginsagain

JULY THOUGHTS ABOUT IT ALL

Heat. Retirement. Family struggles. Lots to think about.

Cooking more. Maybe time to purge in the house. Call one of those Junk company to take some big stuff away.

Sit by interesting sculptures in parks.

Enjoying seeing wild flowers in the garden.

Finding documentaries and items with my favourite animal.

Revisiting quilting so my life can be pieced together
Family, friends, fun, photography, day trips. July with my many thoughts.
#July#thoughtsaboutlife#quilts#elephant#trips#retirement#gardenanditsflowers#what'snext#howtogetthrougheachday

BEATING THE HEAT IN CANADA

A heatwave in Ontario is running havoc for many. So do less and stay cool. Close the curtains during the day to reduce the sunlight on the southern sides. Hydrate as much as possible. Try not to crank up the air conditioning too much. Do not want a summer cold. If possible, go to a beach or be near water like a pool. Yes lots of sun screen and a hat. Vacations help. How are you beating the heat?
#heat#strategiestostaycool#airconditioninghelps#hydrateoften

ENDINGS BRING NEW BEGINNINGS

As one thing ends, another begins. When God closes a door, he opens a window. Endings are scary as it just seems like an ending. Some endings are devastating. Some endings are planned. Nevertheless, endings bring trepidation. But if presented well, the new beginning will be available. Beginning a new life is scary too. Just start it one step at a time. One day at a time. Use the moments to be aware of the world around us. So are you facing a new beginning! Just keep going and see where it takes you.
#newbeginning#endings#embracingthelifeinfrontofyou#endingsarescary#trepidationbringsnewenergy#whatisyournewbeginnings

RETIREMENT LOOMS IN A FEW DAYS

How many work mates have asked if I am counting the days? How many asked if I have trips planned? The anxiety and concerns occurred over a year ago when the decision to consider retiring loomed then.. I keep telling everyone I am past my expiry date. 65 is the usual official time to retire, if not sooner. Well I am 68 and half! Then some tell me how they knew someone who worked until age 75! Like my age is not old enough. With fairly good health, it has been feasible to keep working at a regular job. So retiring from a regular job but not work. Why work at all at anything? Well because I can. I want to take advantage of all that the modern forums offer. The Internet, the social media, the instagram thing and whatever comes my way. I love to craft- so is there a way to continue make things and sell them. Basically I had wanted to hit the ground running. But the methodical Barb says to take baby steps. Organize my time and put projects in places where they can be completed. Since it is summer, to enjoy what I can of the summer. However, my major duty will be availability to my husband with his chronic illness. Some simple doable quality time. The grandchildren are on my list too. Summer and fun stuff. From that fun stuff, ideas, photos and reflections for this blog. Loving the summer markets so perhaps revisiting and reworking some of the posts on Granpalovestocook! Oh retirement from a regular job is calling. Retirement from life, no way!
#retirement#lifeandnewadventures#caringforasickhusband#crafts#writing#tryingtomakemoneyfromhobbiesandinterests#goodhealth#usingmodernforumstomakemoney#methodicalBarb

GOOD EATING ON CANADA DAY 2018

Salads are a must.

Steak, hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, sausage. Wilh all the condiments necessary.
Red and white themes abound.

Cake, cupcakes, ice cream and of course butter tarts are the goodies to end the meal.

Some even start the day with pancakes and maple syrup!!
Happy Canada Day! Canadians know how to eat well.
#CanadaDay#eatingCanadianfood#drinks#barbecue#steak#hamburgers#hotdogs#flytheflag#buttertarts#maplesyrup