NANA SAYS USE ME- I AM HERE NOW

Recently my children were worried about me babysitting five of my six grandchildren. Basically, I responded use me, I am here now. I have the energy now and the health. now. The children are small enough that they want to be with their grandparents. Time will turn things around. Besides grandchildren will grow up and grow away, the natural progression of life. So I am here now. To babysit. To be a listening ear. To write the family stories. Of course as the children age, they can be helpers for Nana and Granpa. They can run and get things. They can be responsible for their activities of daily living. So the workload is evenly divided. One daughter even mentioned the boys could help dig in the garden. Hum! Little shovels and gloves may be on the shopping list! So I am here  now to be the Nana I want to be!

HAVE TULIPS-THANK THE DUTCH

On my Bucket list is a trip to the Netherlands when the fields of Spring Bulbs are blooming. Meanwhile, enjoying the Spring locally with all the varieties popping their heads in the garden.

Over the years I have taken so many photos of tulips, I could fill a book.

Of course that wonderful trip to the Tulip Festival in Ottawa-2011!

Tulip art!

So this May the Queen of the Netherlands is visiting our country for our 150th. You do know the history. Yes she was born in safety in Ottawa during World War Two. In return, the Dutch donate copious amounts of bulbs to our country. So Thank the Dutch!

#tulips#spring#dutch#tulipfestival

LIFE IS LIKE A NEW PATH TO SOMEWHERE!

Where does your path take you? Will there be shadows? Will there be sunshine? Life takes us down different paths. Sometimes the same one can bring new events! Sometimes a new one to bring the same old events! Life means taking chances. Getting started on the path. Being adventuresome! Hopefully the path will lead back home to its comforts!

TAKE PHOTOS-SHARE THE PICTURES

Anyone that knows me knows I love to take pictures. Some okay! Some amazing! Some just ordinary! What everyone knows is I love to share and give copies of pictures. Yes in this day and age when everyone keeps their pictures digital and rarely print, well I print many photos and share with those in them. Beware of the cloud or whatever used! They could disappear. So don't keep all your eggs in one basket. Of course my children get lots because they are in them. And my wonderful 6 are in them alot too! So over the last few years I have also gone through my albums and still doing it to send photos to people from the albums. For example, I shared and sent photos to my wonderful cousin Roy of his earlier childhood a few Chirstmases ago. My niece Kathryn turned 50 so posted some earlier pics of her and will be sending the originals to her.She can share them with her children. Another niece received lots of photos one Christmas of some earlier pics of her. Her parents divorced so she probably did not have them. On my husband's side, his two nieces of divorced parents too received an album one Christmas of all their pictures with their Nonna and us. Their mother would would have only ripped up any pictures in their childhood with her so I waited until they were old enough to be able to make their own decisions about any picture. My facebook groups have benefitted from photos and even postcards! The response has been heartwarming!  My girls do not want pictures of everyone in the albums perhaps one or two so giving to the people helps me weed my albums and so to speak downsize the albums, Trust me I have shelves of albums so it helps to find new homes for pictures.  I have discovered in life that sharing photos with others brings joy! At our Amici Club, I had some photos from two events and had several copies to share with the ladies. Taking the pictures is one thing then sending them to the universe is another or not quite the universe, I exaggerate but to the friendship circles! I have been the recipient of pictures. My Dad shared his photos of him and my Mom before the separation and divorce. So many pictures of my beautiful Mom in her early days. Love them. So take photos but chose to share.

WATER EVERYWHERE-KEEP YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER

Spring can bring flooding in many parts of Canada. This year with the amount of rainfall in Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes, it is flooding in many places. The GTA has received more rain in a few days which is the normal average for all of May. The Toronto Islands are flooded with a ferry on standby in case the residents need shelter. The Don Valley Parkway with the raging Don River is at risk of closure. East of Toronto in the Bowmanville, sand bagging is occurring to try to fend off Lake Ontario. Suburbs of Ottawa are facing flooding. The Gatineau in
Quebec as well as the islands south of Montreal. Water everywhere. I even had some areas of my basement with some problems. It will be fixed in the next week or so with stone and eaves trough fixing happening.  The good news is the rain promised for today Saturday has held off! So a piece of advice- just keep your head above water!

#30 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- CANADA IN THE SPRING TIME

There are so many beautiful regions in Canada that burst with trees full of spring blossoms. Those blossoms can become the fruit so many enjoy!Nova Scotia-Annopolis Valley, parts of Quebec of course with the Maple Trees and maple syrup, Ontario especially the Niagara region and british Columbia's Okanagan Valley with fruit and of course the wine industry! Everywhere in between there are blossoms emeging.

                                     Of course pink is a good colour to see.

NANA SAYS PARENTS NEED THEIR OWN SPACE.

Becoming a parent does not mean your own identity needs to go. Of course there are some wealthier individuals that rarely see their children- nannies, boarding school, and other staff do the job. I am talking about average parents with demands of home, work and family. Keeping interests like exercise routines, reading, night courses or evenings out or even just couple vacations are paramount to keeping sane. On limited budgets it can be a challenge. Thus the car pools where other parents share with team activities and drives. Sometimes at home one parent has an activity while the other parent parents then switch the roles. The extended family helps with sleepovers at grandparents, aunts&uncles and even family friends. Giving a break helps the parent from breaking. Children's demands ebb and flow with age. Little ones need constant supervision. But older children tucked away in rooms on gadgets can bring another set of problems so a different supervision is needed. Being responsible for other people takes it toll on the mind, body and soul. All children bring some challenges so one never knows what might present itself on any given day. So trying every day to find "some space " is paramount. For me, it was rising an hour earlier than the girls. That simple quiet time in the morning was a luxury! Then some sleepovers on a Saturday night sure helped with couple time! Start small and manageable but find your space. Your children will thank you!