ST. JACOBS FARMERS' MARKET-KITCHENER-WATERLOO AREA

Capturing photos for my husband's blog- http://granpalovestocook.blogspot.com has been a fun activity. I have food pictures from many years that now can be used since he only starting blogging in January 2012. I am enjoying watching him enjoy all the activities that exploring food in various venues brings to our lives. St. Jacobs is a small community just west of Toronto in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. There is a blend of small city life and country living side by side with modern Canadians and the old Mennonite community. Cars and buggies with horses are seen on many roads.

The town has many trendy stores which I visited previously with freinds. Adolph and I concentrated on the Farmers' Market outside of town nestled amongst big box stores, an antique market and other modern businesses.

From the farm,

to the stall

at the market.

From the Bakery,

to many purchases, one of  the best parts of my day was enjoying the huge cinnamon bun made by two young Mennonite women at one of the small booths inside the market.

Reviewing the day with a hot coffee in hand it was quite delicious! My love of history has kicked in as well. I started some more research on the Mennonite community in Ontario. It could be the fodder for a post in the future!

REGROUPING AFTER SOME EVENTS

July was a good busy month with activities and projects accomplished. A fun day trip to St. Jacobs Farmers' Market over the long weekend gave me a chance to capture some fun photos. Time now to regroup and organize some areas of my home and my life to be ready for the busy August ahead. But do you ever find it is a struggle in the summer to organize anything? I do. I get into a summer mood of moving slowly. Some activities just look boring! That's when it is important to push through the boredom and just get the jobs done! Maybe the reason for Fall cleaning- just leave things to the Fall. One massive cleanup- house, garden, and whatever else comes your way? Or little cleanups in August? Day trips and photographing the events do sound more exciting! Sitting outside reading! Leisurely walks in a park with camera in hand! Sipping a favourite drink chatting with family and friends! Or do I just work through the boredom- to do or not to do, that is the question?

A POSTCARD FROM TOTEM POLE LAND ( BRITISH COLUMBIA)

I found these old postcards from the early 1960's that my mother had given me.

They are depictions of totem poles created by the Kwakiuti tribe( top two) and the Bella Coola tribe(bottom two). Images of ravens, thunderbirds, beaver and eagle are images often used in Totem Poles.

The Totem Poles above are from Thunderbird Park in Victoria British Columbia. Don't they show the range and depth of Native art and creativity. The old postcard-circa 1900 shows a cradle that was used only for one baby. When finished with it, the mother would hide it in the woods.
The man in the postcard is from th Coastal Salish tribe. He is in ceremonial regalia. Head dresses and masks such as these were only used on special occasions.

A totem pole at Georgia Park- Nanaimo BC and Prospect Point- Stanley Park, Vancouver BC are some of the many places totem poles can be found. The Kwakiutl postcard is a picture taken by Edward S. Curtis, 1914. He was a photographer that took many pictures of the " North America Indian". I even have one of his large print books on my bookshelf. The picture show two masked performers in the winter dance representing hug, mythical birds. Totem poles can be found in other parts of British Columbia as well as Canada. Just visit the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto Ontario and you will find a huge one in the stairwell.
If you want a postcard featured here email me at abdm@rogers.com and I will send you my address so you can send me a postcard.

SIMCOE DAY OR A CIVIC HOLIDAY IN ONTARIO

The first Monday in August is a civic holiday in Ontario. Other provinces like Prince Edward Island and British Columbia have a day off but call it by a different name. In Ontario it is called Simcoe Day after the First Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada- 1791-796- John Graves Simcoe or often referred in history as Lord Simcoe. He created Yonge Street, established courts, trial by jury, English common law, freehold land ownership and abolished slavery. His wife- Lady Simcoe- Elizabeth Posthuma Gwillan- wrote a diary which is a very significant book chronically the early years-1800s- in Ontario. Apparently she was quite an artist so her drawings depict visually early impressions in the province. There is a statue of Lord Simcoe at Queen's Park in Toronto outside the provincial legisiative buildings. Lady Simcoe has a statue in a little parkett in front of the Bradford Post Office. Bradford is straight up Yonge Street about an hour from downtown Toronto. No matter what they call the Civic holiday in other provinces or here, I am just glad to enjoy another summer long weekend which gives time for another day trip or two or just to relax, reading a book! Are you enjoying the long weekend? Thank you Lord Simcoe!

TIME-FRIEND OR FOE?

We alll have the same twenty-four hours in a day! But how many times do we hear- " I would do that but I just don't have the time!"

There are time management consultants that help us jam more in our day. Prioritize! Organize! Declutter your life to make time! All great pieces of advice! However, if we really want to do something we will not only find the time but we make the time for it! It is very simple! Routines in our lives help us to get the necessary tasks done- for me- change the bed Saturday and two loads of laundry, Tuesday- garbage roundup, Wednesday-laundry catchup and try to vacuum the main floor twice weekly, etc. There are seasonal tasks like Spring and Fall cleaning. Let's face it those tasks are really boring at times but we do them because they need to be done. Making time for activities we love to do can also become a routine. Like writing a post every day for my Blog! It was very difficult in the beginning as my standards were higher. Now I sit and write every day! Like the ad- just do it! I know that sometimes the posts are better than others. I want to finish some knitting projects. Looking at them does not get them done. Putting them in my hands and knitting one row at a time does! Let's face it- we do not make time for things that we really do not interest us! So don't feel guilty that someone else does an activity more than you! Do we really need to cram more into our lives if we do not want to! What is wrong with living and doing less rather than more! Can we live with a little clutter? Probably! We will clean up if company is coming, won't we? I have written about time previously and used my clock picture. Each clock is different-just like we are! So is time your friend or foe!

WINNING AT ANY COST-IS IT WORTH IT?

As we watch the Olympics and root for our country, it is always wonderful to see the best and those who do their personal best. Canada making it to number 5 from 8th in Women's Gymnastics was amazing. The little swimmer from Lithuania winning that gold for a country that does not come first. Concerns about cheating again in the pool is a reminder of the 1972 Olympics. We Canadians with our terrible Ben Johnson scandal makes us more vigilant to take ownership of cheating with drugs or doping. Besides the continued use of any drug could compromise the longevity of a person. Is it it worth it for a moment of glory to die before your time? Does anyone really want to face that consequence? There are enough events and medals to go around that can be shared by athletes of the world so many nations can be proud of their heroes. Olympics give incentive to todays' children and youth to try to excel in sports with lifelong benefits. We are told exercise has many wonderful possibilities for good health. Good clean competition is wonderful to see. May the best man or woman win in each event. But is pushing your athletes to win just a gold as a silver or bronze does not count  seem somewhat barbaric? State run programs work in some countries. However taking young children from their families in their childhood to live elsewhere denies them a chance, well to have a family. Does it give the emotional grounding needed to live as a well rounded adult? Where do you belong? To the state or to your family? We Canadians saw what such a move did to our First Nation people a couple of generations ago when young children went to residential schools. It was a blight on our history that we are still correcting. Winning is good but with the support of family, the immediate community, friends then comes the nation. I would not want to sacrifice one child for the sake of a Gold medal if it meant an adult without an identity. One moment of glory often does not account for decades of living out of the spotlight. What do you think is winning at any cost worth it?

NANA SAYS ENJOY THE END OF SUMMER

Since July is over and August has begun, the stores are full with back to school items. There can be a pressure to get organized now. Get over it with some school supplies shopping- buy a package of pencils! Then get back to the continued enjoyment of the summer. Stressing too much about the new school year filters down to the children who may be enjoying their time at camp or camping or just being with their parents and families more. Yes there is shopping with the little ones-maybe! You know their sizes! When my girls reached an age where they wanted to buy their own school clothes and supplies, they were given a nominal amount. They had to be frugal with the money. Actually if you hold off until the middle of September for clothes, many things go on sale anyway. For older children, they often wait to see what the other kids are wearing and may reject the earlier purchases. Save the bills! So see there is no real need to rush the month away with worrying about school shopping yet! If you are lucky, Nana has a new activity! As each grandchild starts school, she will buy an outfit! Last year one but this year three! Two grandsons start Junior Kindergarten! As for the granddaughter starting Grade Two, well Nana plans to try to have a special outing with her to buy that outfit. It is seen as stretching out the gifts bought for birthdays and Christmas. One less at those events budgetting to help the working parents with their budgets! So back to summer. Nana and Granpa have a babysitting gig in a week- 5 days and 4 nights while one couple celebrate a special anniversary away in a southern location! Plans to go to a  farm for children to enjoy things like a wagon ride and enchanted forest, splash pad visits and of course an ice cream or two! That's the real meaning of summer- simple, slow fun things! And yes a nap or two in the afternoon when the children are expected to read a book with quiet time!