THE CONE FLOWER

is a beautiful and hardy summer flower. There are several clusters in my garden as with other perennials they tend to spread and grow. It is from the Compositae which really means the daisy family. I like the backwards petals. It is even known to have a herbal use. Apparently the roots can be used as an immune booster. I just think it is pretty and adds colour to the garden. The purple ones attract butterflies. I have been lucky to capture a picture or two of my monarch butterfly occasionally. With our current hot spell, it is good to know it is drought resistant.

Although they are found in many gardens, it is a wild flower indigenous to North America.

Do you have cone flowers in your area?
They make a wonderful welcome addition to a daisy garden. The colour amongst the white. What do you think? Do you like my sea of cone flowers?

NANA SAYS SEPARATION ANXIETY

Can occur at various ages with children. We see it in babies- look for their mother if she is the main caregiver. It is healthy as it demonstrates a healthy emotional bond has been made. The preschool child often regresses and may become "sucky" as my daughter sometimes describes her son lately. It can be connected to a major change in the child's life. Before the child moves forward, regression occurs. Older children can have the same feelings. First time away at sleepover camp. Even the first sleepover at a friend's house can bring these feelings. If older children are away for a long stay, we call it "homesick". Healthy normal feelings. Be supportive! Reassure the child! I have always used the pictures of my children to show the grandchildren if they are having an off day at my house. " Mommy will be here soon!" " Daddy is coming!" An older child may not want to admit they miss their parents. Setting a check-in, such as a phone call time regularly may help to provide some stability during an absence. Parents also feel an emptiness when children are elsewhere. So be in tune with your own feelings! How do you handle your child's separation anxiety? Have you had an absence from your child? Not great feelings- but what reassures you?

YOUR KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR

Are you a knight in shining armour? Do you try to rescue people when needed? It's not just in fairy tales or the Middle Ages long epic poems that find people that rescue us- our doctors, teachers, nurses, police and fire people, military personnel, parents and even the odd social worker or 2 can be our modern heros. They get paid anyway. There are so many ordinary people in our lives and world that make a difference for the good. It does not have to be anything too special or over the top. Kind words to the store clerk, a good morning when encountering someone near your home, holding the door for that gentleman with his arms full, well you get the picture! Make sure you are a good Knight and not a Black Knight! Do good more often because you don't want the armour to get rusty!

LIFE TRANSITIONS

When the kids go to college, you become the caregiver for your parents, retirement are all hard transitions. There is a grieving process that accompanies each one. Are you going through a rough transition? Are you avoiding the true feelings it brings? Reality is the best remedy. Pretending all will be well is just avoiding the issue. Let's talk.

A POSTCARD FROM AUSTRALIA

Australia is always a dream vacation for many Canadians. Even though it is half way around the world and a gruelling flight, anyone that has visited the continent takes back so many memories. The cities, the outback, the culture and of course the kangaroos and kola bears are all symbols we love. The Sydney Olympics were so amazing! The wonderful films especially Crocodile Dundee- 1 and 2 touched our hearts- linking two continents. The cards shown here are from three sources- a local restaurant that had a special time of Australian food on their menu. Yes we even have a restaurant called The Outback! A second source from a work colleague that visited Australia sending cards to the team. The third source is a wonderful card from my brother Rob. He actually emailed us his trip every day but his card tells a piece of the story from his trip in 2005 with his family.

From Rob- August 8, 2005- " HI EVERYONE: CROWDED BEACHES! NOT! AROUND THE RESORT TOWNS THEY CAN GET BUSY , BUT NEVER CROWDED. GREAT FOOD AT A LOT OF RESTAURANTS, BUT SOME NIGHTS WE COOK OUR OWN ON THE "BARBIE". MEETING PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE GLOBE. PEOPLE ARE SUPER WE'VE MET. WE HAVE A RATHER LARGE MAP OF AUSTRALIA AND WE'RE ONLY VISITING THE EAST COAST. IT'S SO DRY & HOT IN THE "OUTBACK" THEY SUGGEST DRINKING 1 LITRE OF WATER EVERY 20 MINUTES. MAYBE NEXT TIME! WE'LL BE IN THE BIG CITY OF SYDNEY TOMORROW NIGHT. (TUESDAY). WE'LL WALK UP TO THE TOP OF THEIR BIG "BRIDGE", AND TAKE IN THE OPERA HOUSE. NO PERFORMANCES, JUST PICTURES! HAVEN'T MET ANYONE WHO WANTS TO VISIT CANADA DURING OUR WINTER. ( ESPECIALLY YELLOWKNIFE) MISSING OUR WEE DOG, BUT WE'LL GET OVER IT. BIRDS WAKE US IN THE MORNING. MY TAN IS COMING ALONG FINE....FROM MY ELBOW TO THE FINGERTIPS! HAVING A GREAT, GREAT TIME THOUGH!! TAKE CARE, GOD BLESS. LOVE TO ALL. ROOOOOOBIE

*MAILED BEFORE THE 17:00 MON AUG 8TH- YOUR SUNDAY. *SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES"

Well the card arrived to the Di Mambro Family August 26, 2005.

When Canadians meet Australians in other places, there seems to be a common bond. Similar cultures, history. My younger daughter recalls a couple she met in Italy and found this to be true.

Have you visited Australia? What are your favourite memories? Do you have family living there? Many local Italian-Canadians have family that located in Australia. Sometimes graduates find jobs there. Do you know anyone like that? I love the animals as there are so different from those in other parts of the world. Like the famous person said- Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, oy, oy, oy!

If you want your postcard featured here email me at abdm@rogers.com and I will send you my address.

WALL ART

No matter where you go, there is always room for art. At the Evergreen Brickworks in Toronto, just off the Don Valley Parkway, I snapped a photo of of this tree sculpture beside some little real trees. I liked it. What do you think?

WHEN THE PARTY'S OVER

Some events stand out in our lives- like a big party, a wedding, a lifetime accomplishment, a super vacation. When it's over, the emotional high lasts for awhile then comes the letdown that it is over. Like the Calgary Olympics, for example! Such an incredible event in 1988! Made our country proud. Today we can visit the museum, see the ski jumping hill where Eddie the Eagle flew! It is not the same with the same excitement but there is a feeling there. The important aspect is we had the ride, the party! The opportunity to feel good and have fun and with a real physical site to visit again if needed! Our memories on the other hand are locked in our heads. Getting together with friends, relatives, acquaintances- reliving some of those times gives us a life. Good memories can give us strength through the hard times. Life needs hard work. Normal routines are good but planning and creating fun times are even better for our souls. We all need parties sometimes too. Summer is great for such events- an impromtu barbecue- "hey everybody bring something to my place Saturday! " We can not be afraid of the letdown- we know it will happen. It is more vital to feel deserving of fun in our lives. Do you party? Do you try for those fun times to alleviate the stress in your life? What are some of the things you like to do? Back to work, the party is over!