USING NATURE TO MAKE CHRISTMAS FESTIVE

In the "olden days", people used natural products for the festive season. Now we head off to the craft store and buy our synthetic products or just buy ready made items. It is easy though to look around and use some items from nature.

Grape vines made into a wreath add texture.

Pinecones of course make the season cheery. Sometimes a bunch in a decorative bowl with a ribbon on top. A corsage! A wreath! Use in some garland! Christmas tree boughs bring a fragrance to the home.
Using new with the old blends the traditions of many generations.

How is your Christmas decorating going? Are you already sipping some eggnog by your tree?

WRITING A LIMERICK

The limerick has a five line rhythm. First two lines and fifth rhyme. While the 3rd and 4th rhyme.

Aging
At each turning in life a stage,
It's hard for everyone to age.
A smile with a crinkle
Becomes a wrinkle.
Showing our wisdom as a sage!

I think limericks can be fun. Tests our ability to rhyme words. They are fun at weddings, parties and special speeches. They do not have to be serious. Whimsical! Why don't you try one?

DARKEST BEFORE THE DAWN

We all have dark times in our lives when we feel we can not go on. Like the rotation of the earth the light will come again. Keep going! Not giving up! Hoping for a better tomorrow! These are small sayings that often help us through these depressing times. In this festive season, they may be people around you that need some light. Or do you need some light? It can be a time when we are missing people in our lives. Those who live far away and even those who have died! The dawn will come! Are you missing people? Are you going through a tough time? Reach out to those in your life either to get comfort or to give it!

A POSTCARD FROM PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND

Prince Edward Island is one of the most beautiful islands in the world. As one of the original provinces of the Dominion of Canada, it was home to the Charlottetown Conference, 1864 where the Fathers of Confederation discussed the creation of a new country that occurred in 1867. It can be reached by plane or from New Brunswick by the Confederation Bridge.
The famous novel- Anne of Green Gables written by Lucy Maud Montgomery has its backdrop in PEI. The house featured in the postcard is supposed to be her home.

My brother Reed sent me a postcard in 1964 when he was working there.
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island- 2 X 1964- " Hi Barb: Glad to here you received the stamps. Thought if you had ever read the book Anne of Green Gables, you would recognize the picture. At the moment I am in Charlottetown, P.E.I. getting the place ready for the Queen. See you soonly. Reed C.N.T. " He addressed it to me in Ontario with ( Upper Canada) in brackets actually being historically correct. PEI of course was part of Lower Canada.
I do not remember the Queen visiting in 1964. She probably did. I do know that Prince William and Kate absolutely loved it on their visit last summer-2011. The food is great too. Not only are PEI potatoes eaten across Canada but the seafood is famous too. Any visitor loves the mussels that are readily available. The beaches are right on the ocean. Of course, the people are very friendly! Have you visited PEI? It is on my bucket list to see this wonderful island.
If you want a postcard featured here, email at abdm@rogers.com and I will send you my address so you can send me a postcard.

A LITTLE COUNTRY IN THE CITY

On a recent jaunt to downtown Toronto, I discovered these sculptured cows in a little parkette. To be surrounded by tall buildings and the hustle of city business, they were an interesting contrast. Do they belong or are they out of place? What do you think?

ARE YOU A SQUARE?

Or a nerd? Do you get seen as ultra-conservative? Do you follow the rules? Obey the traffic signs? Pay your taxes on time? Try not to judge others! Do you even care what others call you? If you are the party animal or the one that can hold your liquor or liking to push the envelope- are you really so much farther ahead! Can you be square and still take chances in life. Like self-employment! Work out and have a dynamo figure! Go on an occasional exotic southern vacation! Squares turned on their head make interesting triangles with 4 points! Or a bunch of squares together make interesting objects! City streets! Wrapped Christmas presents! Suburban houses! My home is a square with its own unique qualities! To be a square or not to be! Or would you see yourself as some other interesting shape.? Personally, I like octagons- 8 sides! What does that say about me?

DECEMBER- THE LAST MONTH OF THE YEAR

Despite being 24 days to Christmas, December is always the reminder that another year is starting to come to an end. During the busy festive season, it can be a time of reflection about your life and the individuals in it. Reaching out to people through Christmas Cards, emails, tweets, facebook, phone calls and personal visits is a way to determine what others mean to us. Imagine if we did not have to try to contact them, would we? I know there are many folks who only send a Merry Christmas email now. I have been told lately who mails anything- well I do! The handwritten message or typed newsletter is a small way to update. Actually I like to hear from friends and relatives what is happening in their lives. When people are spread out through Canada, United States and Italy, everyone Adolph and I know are never in the same room at the same time. At our girls' weddings, we did have a good collection of people though at the same events! For me I miss the connection with people I love. How about you? Are there people you wish were closer?