A BREATHE OF FRESH AIR

Comes through that open window in the Spring. Do you notice when the furnace is turned off and the windows are open your home becomes fresher? There is a nice feeling when a breeze seems to blow away the winter blues and cobwebs as it goes through the house. Sunshine streaming in brings a new perspective. Sometimes it reveals lots of dust bunnies! Airing out our rooms is like airing out our lives! Closed lives and thoughts need some mental windows open.  Our homes are often such a reflection of us. Our stuff, our clutter, our priced possessions! It is good to review all that is there! Spring is that time the windows can be open before the hot weather forces us to close them for the air conditioning! Or like our minds that we may want to close again to the outside world. Are your windows open? Are you glad some new air can move through your house?

LOCAL SPRING IMAGES 2013

During my power walk, I chose to pass the Richmond Hill Library- a beautiful pink building with lots of windows. These blooming pink trees make a beautiful picture and this photographer could not resist capturing an image or two.

Do you know what kind of tree it is?

The little patio with a few benches is a quiet spot in the front yard. In the early morning it makes an ideal place to read or just think. Or to wait until the library opens. Usually I am rushing by this spot. Taking time to photograph these images helped me revisit how pretty it is. A simple local little spot! Do you have favourite local spots you like to visit?

HYACINTH-THE FRAGRANT SPRING FLOWER

The hyacinth is a wonderful flowering spring bulb to have in the garden. The colours enable the garden to become alive not only with them but the smell. The fragrance is captivating! Would even make a great perfume!

 Greek mythology tells us Apollo accidentally killed a beautiful boy named Hyacinthus with a discus. From his blood, Apollo made the flower Hyacinth to remember him forever. Sometimes poets have likened curly hair to the Hyacinth.  Ancient Persia and modern Iran honour this flower in their New Year-Nourz! As for this modern gardener, just wish it would hang around longer!

Can't you just smell it! Soothes the soul!

A POSTCARD FROM DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Receiving postcards are always fun and not as frequent as years ago. The recent one  received was very special. It was from two of my grandchildren from a recent family vacation in the Dominican Republic.

A typical beach scene but sweet words from the children. Both signed their own names. Yes and typical postcard message-fun at the beach! 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.

MAY-A MONTH TO BEGIN THE SUMMER SEASON

One warm day and the shorts, flip flops and tank tops are visible everywhere. 20 degrees C is not really that warm but one would not know it when seeing how people have responded. In the middle of July, it would be deemed cool! I digress! May brings all the vegetation alive. Each day the trees are budding further, tulips are popping their heads and the grass is a little greener. My favourite month, not only because my wedding anniversary occurs but it is the beginning of the stretch of outdoors and all the activities that accompany it. Meals! Walks! Day and overnight trips! Farmers' markets! Fresh, local produce will be coming our way! The promise of good times ahead! Just seeing some bushes start to flower with others close behind brings a smile! The windows are open with fresh air flowing through the house! Reviewing the pile of books for reading for the next few months! May is not just a month but can be a name for a woman! May day was celebrated throughout the world and even in some small corners of British Columbia! People just become more relaxed with the change! Be careful driving as there are really more accidents with the warmer weather! I always wish May could stay! Makes for a happier day! So what do you say?

IS IT AN ACTIVITY OR EXERCISE?

My walk to work makes me think. Often busy people will say they do a lot of exercise but is it really just lots of activities? We credit independent old people with being able to perform the normal activities of daily living-ADLS. It means toiletting, dressing, washing, eating without assistance, things like that. The normal activities! But little kids do those things too and we would not consider them independent enough to live alone without help. We all perform many normal activities every day! I consider my walks to and from work exercise! The walking and climbing stairs at work I consider an activity of the job. For me, exercise is above and beyond the normal! Some activities burn calories and do help to build muscles. When does a little gardening-an activity become exercise. When  the muscles hurt? Perhaps when one goes at it for hours instead of a few minutes. Vacuuming is strenuous but is it exercise! My weight routine three times a week is exercise but is lifting a laundry basket, digging in the garden or dusting high places an activity or exercise. Dancing is a fun activity but it really is good exercise too! We are now being told that exercise will help with many areas of our lives- heart, reduce cholesterol, might help fend off Alzheimer's but is just lots of activities throughout the day equally as good? Keeping busy creatively, moving our bodies, getting off the couch could lead to more exercise! Does the heart rate need to increase to call it an exercise? Do we need to sweat? Do active people really do more exercise than inactive people? What is an active person? Some jobs take more activity throughout the day. A house painter performs an activity but is he really getting some good exercise? A teacher stands at the front of the classroom or bends over the student's desk, so what would we call it? A nurse may go up and down a hallway all day-so activity or exercise or just part of the job. Do feet have to ache to call it exercise? Or is it just not wearing proper footwear the culprit?  When can anyone brag that they do a lot of exercise? When one is busy? Normal activities will burn calories and build muscles. Not doing those activities can lead to muscle atrophy! People say they are always on the run! It does not make them a runner who could qualify for a marathon! So what do you think- activity or exercise? How do you fill your days?

NANA SAYS IT TAKES TIME TO SUPPORT THE GRANDCHILDREN

Families keep us busy. The children grow up and there is time to return to adult activities. When the grandchildren come along, one either agrees to be part of their lives or continue to be busy otherwise. While driving for 1/2 hour to go to see our granddaughter dance in one of her dance competitions last weekend, it became apparent that there is an effort needed to be made. She wanted us to see her. It meant something to her. A quick picture with grandpa outside the venue and the drive home. Adolph even mentioned he missed one morning of gardening. Children grow up so quickly. Grandchildren even faster. A reminder that we as grandparents are important in their lives, knowing there will come a day that they will prefer to be with their friends and we will be just some old people boring to be around! Or will we be? Making an effort and actually enjoying the time with the children establishes a relationship. In my work at the hospital, I have had the honour of meeting many families including grandchildren that are there supporting their elderly family member. When one of those people passes away, there is real genuine grief at the loss. Life as we know it can be a circle! Like most things in life there is effort and work! Little ones are demanding, noisy and often even annoying but I would not have it any other way! Just glad they are in these grandparents' lives!