NANA SAYS DISCIPLINE IS NEEDED IN CHILD REARING

Spare the rod and spoil the child is Biblical. Often the rod is mistaken for the right to use force in disciplining a child. For me the rod simply means discipline. Children needs boundaries and guidance provided with encouragement and love. Discipline is not negative. A home with security and room to be a person- especially a little person- who needs the chance to experiment is essential to emotional development. Each flower in the garden needs a similar approach but knowledge about its uniqueness allows the flower to reach its full potential. Providing positive discipline that does include saying no when needed and yes when needed helps our children grow. Parents need to be disciplined too. Setting a good example in our language and behaviour demonstrates how living well can be accomplished. Remember a child can not be spoiled by too much love.

DON'T FENCE ME IN!

Do you ever feel as if there are barriers to what you want to do? A fence can keep bad neighbours out but it also can limit us in our views of the world. It is a safe environment. Gives us boundaries which are often needed. Would having a gate give us  the freedom to come and go in our lives? Perhaps, as long as it is not an excuse not to venture out into the world. It is said good fences make good neighbours! It can be said- don't fence me in!

BOTTLE OF WINE-FRUIT OF THE VINE

The summer was enjoyable with visits to many wineries far and wide. Starting with the Ocala winery south of Port Perry then to local ones like Magnotta and on to the Niagara area with its many fields. Trying wines not available in the LCBO gave credance to the expertise that exists in the industry. I have some dessert wine to use at Thanksgiving and Christmas so some of the pleasure will continue to prevail.

GENEALOGY IN MODERN TIMES

Genealogy is a wonderful activity to pursue. For over 29 years, it has been a passion to discover my ancestors and share with interested family members.When I first begun my journey, many visits to the library and scrutiny of microfische reels took hours and years of pursuit. Buying books, census and cemetery records from local genealogical societies assisted in the completion of cousin lines. With many databases placed on the Internet, the job became easier to access over the years. It still is detective work needing each line to be recorded one person at a time. Finding the same person in different places validates the information to be correct. Even TV shows now have genealogy as a main topic. For example, Who Do You Think You Are is quite fun to watch as celebrities find out pertinent information about ancestors. What I find amusing is how one will visit a library or resource and the person whether it is the Librarian or Archivist gently says I found a resource for you and turns to the exact page with the name. Those of us who do genealogical research know that it was probably hours of work locating the book completed by a team at the library. It is is great TV but the hours of research needed to give the tidbits gets glossed over!! There seems to be a heightened interest in genealogy which is always exciting. My many binders need some weeding of old notes and completion of family lines. With the 1921 Canadian Census now available to researchers perhaps some little gaps will be plugged. The 1842 Census of Canada West and Canada East is also available online. So with the click of a mouse, research can be done from home. There are always brickwalls that are frustrating. Maybe some new researchers may need some of my information and may have a missing clue for me.

NANA SAYS HOW IS THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR GOING?

Back to school for another year has begun. The children adjusted! The teachers adjusted! Well most parents have adjusted. Learning is the foundation for life long skills and knowledge. Helping your children with this learning is a commitment for the average parent. Having a home that gives a space for homework, projects and full of books- now the new technologies that are needed. The personal touch is still the best. Praising a child's efforts! Looking at an art project! Listening! It is a busy time but the pace will become the norm again! How has your school year started?

LABOUR DAY-THE START OF SEPTEMBER

Labour Day officially marks the end of the laid back lazy days of summer. With school starting and all the lessons, traffic resumes with a fury. There is a heightened energy in the air to get going again. Projects put on hold to enjoy the trips and outdoor activities  are waiting to be finished. Although, I actually did finish some projects during the summer. September almost feels like the beginning of a new year. The feeling to keep some warm weather longer and the anticipation of an Indian Summer. Looking forward to the fall crops of apples, squashes and rapini! Hoping the frost will hold off for several more weeks so the garden does not need cleaning up until October. There can be more day trips photographing the Fall colours. Maybe even another market or two! The path is not straight-maybe a little jog or two. How about you-what does the new month hold in store for you?

LABYRINTHS-FROM ANCIENT TO MODERN TIMES

Sometimes a day trip for one reason allows an unique discovery. In June during an adventure to Cambridge, Ontario to visit the farmer's market for a photo journal story for Adolph's blog, I discovered this garden. Initially I thought it to be a maze.

With a little internet research about the garden in Cambridge, I discovered it was a labyrinth. Known in history from the palace of King Nestor in Pylos in southern Greece from c. 1200 BCE. they are known to us.  Even Pompeii had some fragments of a labyrinth. Found in many places in the world and even among the Hopi and Pima peoples they have been around for centuries. Sometimes associated with the journey of the soul or a metaphor for an individual's journey through life they are therapeutic. A labyrinth has a winding path that leads to the centre and will take you back out. A maze tries to confuse the person and he/she must solve the puzzle to reach the centre and get out again.

What is interesting is there is a whole network of labyrinths throughout Ontario- some private, some public, some by invitation. In downtown Toronto, there is one behind the Eaton Centre accessed by Bay Street and open 24/7. Why a resurgence? Self-awareness and spiritual growth said the author of the site I read. Some have 7 paths which is the classical or cretan and some have 11 paths like the Chartres Cathedral in France. 

Do you have labyrinths where you live? Churches can have them now. Some hospitals use them to aid in rehabilitation. Meditation, reflection and exercise can be achieved. I stopped to take a picture of this beautiful Anglican church. Sometimes a journey for one thing does reveal another wonderful discovery. So when I jump in and out of the car snapping pictures wherever I go, I find possibilities for growth. Or do they find me?