LIFE IS LIKE AN ORCHESTRA

An orchestra has many participants. All skilled in an instrument or two. Know how to follow the rules. Team players. Can follow a leader but can stand alone doing their part. Our lives can be an orchestra. We can have many instruments playing simultaneously or one solo! Sometimes we lead and sometimes we follow. We can house our orchestra in a beautiful building or take it to the streets! So what kind of music do you make? Is it pleasant to soothe your soul? Is it loud to drown out others in your life? Do you like the music you make? Do you want to change the music you make? Why not change some of the instruments? Me-a harp would suffice!

IT'S BEGINNING TO FEEL A LOT LIKE A CANADIAN CHRISTMAS

The tree is decorated with my lights flung over the curtain rod on the sliding doors behind it so the reflection in the window makes them look more colourful. Just a couple of stocking stuffers to buy to round out the gifts. With the light dusting of snow on the ground this morning, it really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. How about your area? Many parts of Canada and the United States have been slammed with snow! So the skiers and sledders and snowboarders must be in heaven! Time to get out the skates for those make shift outdoor ponds and rinks! How is your baking going? Are you finding some quiet Christmas season moments with friends and family? A holiday concert at the day care this week to see my grandchildren perform should be fun! Next week delivering the gifts to the girls' houses is an activity I enjoy! Clears out a big corner in my house!  Christmas! Must put on some Christmas music which I absolutely love and when no one is around I sing out loud! Two weeks and a bit to go! So pace yourself and don't get sick from the stress! If alone, let someone know so you can join their activities! If you are missing someone this year, put a little memorial for them to be included in your festivities. Oh yes it is beginning to feel a lot like Christmas!! Ho, Ho, Ho.!

NELSON MANDELA-AN INSPIRATION TO ALL

Nelson Mandela inspired a generation to fight racial inequality.

 He believed in education for all. May his voice and lessons continue in those who learnt from him. Like the stone thrown in the water, may the waves touch the other shore and continue to make a difference.

NANA SAYS DECEMBER IS TIME TO BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

With the start of December, the Christmas season can rave up for most families. Decorating, finishing shopping and trying to do some activities with little children takes planning and patience. So what memories do you want to create? A harried parent running from activity to activity? Children love many aspects of the season. With most of my decorating finished, my granddaughter Sophia enjoyed revisiting all of Nana's things. The Christmas books, time to sit and watch a movie, and baking one or two items for the season can be home functions.. My advice-do one activity at a time. I remember when my girls were small I needed to do my baking and wanted to make sugar cookies with them. Trying to do my stuff and their activity did not work. Children need to take their time. So after that little disaster, I learnt to do my baking separately and their cookie making as a fun time! My girls make a gingerbread house or cupcakes with their kids! One activity at a time! Using the grandparents so some things can be done may be essential. Dropping the grandkids to them or a friend's house allows some time to wrap and finish Christmas chores without little eyes around! It is a busy time of year. But try to find those quiet moments with your children before the big day! If possible, remember to try to take some of those unused vacation days to get things done. A home with love and joy of the season gives a good message to children. Of course, music playing often so they learn the Christmas carrols that no longer are allowed in most schools!

A CANADIAN CHRISTMAS CARD-CARRY ON THE TRADITION

       

Many Christmas activities take thought and work. The Christmas card is one of them. However it is one I really enjoy doing because I love hearing from friends and family far and near. I have been writing my Christmas newsletter for the last few years as a few scribbled lines in a card really take more time and does not update everyone. Now with facebook and email much of what is written is already known by most of my contacts. There are a few people that do not use that social media so it gives the new information from the year in a little time capsule. One of my contacts is a 94 year old woman who lives in Portland Oregon that Adolph and I met on our honeymoon in Hawaii in 1971! A nice contact as she was kind when my girls were born-she made them a crib blanket from scraps of various Hawaiian fabrics. Her son wrote an email last year as his mom had misplaced our address but I had put the email address in the newsletter. He updated us about her! Rather sweet! The newsletter saved the day!
Then some old work mates that moved away-just nice to know what is happening. I always hope they would come to the GTA for a visit as I really would have them stay with me.
Of course, my proverbial letters to our Armed Forces around the world that get sent in mid-November. Can not be a closed card in an envelope so I write a nice letter on coloured paper that I fold and tape so they can peak inside to see-it's just a letter! Sometimes someone writes me back! I have always treasured those letters. I always think that someone serving somewhere may have had a moment of cheer from a friendly Canadian stranger who cares!
Of course all these letters are saved and printed the modern way. One written letter then printed in as many copies as needed! I always wished the word processer or computer had been around when I was job hunting in my youth.
I love the years when a family member will say I was too busy to write any Christmas cards this year. Funny as a busy working woman and both my girls have busy lives, we still manage to send out the cards. I actually find this younger generation are having family or just children photos that are sent as their cards. It seems they have embraced the whole Christmas card thing! Great for others to see their growing family. I always put those cards in with my Christmas photo album or really it is more like a scrapbook album!
So the debate to christmas card or not! Just send an email to one and all! Just a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year on Facebook! Sometimes a friendly phone call is good too! But it really does take more work and time!

So what are you doing? Do you still like to receive cards from others? For the record I sent mine already. They had been written earlier in the season but I waited until December to have a December postmark on the envelope. I did not want to look too organized or keen! So we will keep it as our little secret!

FINDNG THOSE QUIET MOMENTS IN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Early morning photos of snow covered benches and trees bring a different perspective to a common scene. Like life, it is good to view some aspects differently. Taking time away from a stressful situation can bring a clarity that gets missed if immersed in it! Slowing down and feeling an event can allow time for healing too! Distancing oneself from negativity can allow the positive energy to return to our inner souls! The Christmas season can bring mixed feelings too. The demands of family events and the need to sit back and enjoy can be conflictual. Finding the balance may take work! Or sometimes just stop and photograph a pretty scene!

STARTING DECEMBER AT THE ONE OF A KIND CRAFT SHOW AND SALE IN TORONTO

November ended with a birthday celebration. Adolph did most of the cooking for our daughter's dinner party! Fresh pasta by him and greek salad by Natasha. Simple family times are the best. Enjoying a cake with some singing rounded off the evening. December started with more Christmas preparations. A jaunt downtown to the One of a Kind Craft show and sale with Sonya and new baby was a good start to the month. It was at the Direct Energy Centre on the Exhibition grounds. It reminded me of the first one of a kind show and sale. It was in 1975 when I had started my first job at Catholic Children's Aid. My work buddy Denise and I actually went to it several times on our lunch hour as it was about 10 minutes away from our workplace.. It was smaller of course. I bought some beautiful grey wine glasses that were made by a potter. I still have those glasses but do not use them as they are tucked away. The Sale has grown over the years. I do not attend every year but going every few years makes it fun. Perhaps a few photos will be shared at a later time. Crafters come from all over Canada to exhibit and sell their wares. I grabbed a few business cards of some of the artists to scruntinize their web sites at another time. So are you going to any craft sales? Even the local church ones can be fun this time of year and often are for a good cause!