NANA SAYS BE KIND TO NEW PARENTS

New parents want to do it right. There is so much advice from family, friends and the Internet. Not much has changed. Babies cry, eat, poop and and need lots of cuddles. Babies come one of two ways. Mothers need to recover from the birthing experience. Skin to skin, kangaroo care or whatever we call it is good for all as it helps with the bonding. It is 24/7 which can be such an eye opener for all. Sleep or little sleep is so stressful for the new parents. How to be good support means ebbing and flowing with the new parents. Bring food. Let the Mom have a shower. If older children take them out and entertain them to give some relief in the home. Or take care of the baby so Mom and Dad can get out for some time. Even a quick coffee alone somewhere can be supportive. The best advice is to be a good listening ear. Let the new parents know you care without being overwhelming to them. If a grandparent, time to develop a relationship with the grandchildren.

COUNTRY IMAGES CLOSE TO HOME

A short drive to find some woodlots with fall colours revealed some areas close to home that have potential photo opportunities. All the summer rain has kept the trees greener longer so the full array of colour is slowly happening.

There is a sense of connection with nature. Trees are earth's most important resource. So is that why just driving and viewing the colours brings such joy. There are bus trips north to see the colours. Pictures are taken. Postcards are made with them. Too early to capture them all. Another country drive is planned. I know the spots and the safe parts of the road to pull over to snap some of nature's beauty.
#countrydrive#fallcolours#trees#photos#woodlots#postcards

#60 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150-A THANKFUL THANKSGIVING 2017

Canadians love their turkey and all the trimmings. Thanksgiving 2017 was a good time for family and friends to celebrate together. Remembering and celebrating our history. Time to bring all our people and concerns together. It is a celebration that transcends time. From early settlers bringing their harvest customs to embracing our First Nations contributions of nature and fall vegetables. Overall it is a truly Canadian celebration.
#thanksgiving#firstnations#settlers#celebrations

A CANADIAN THANKSGIVING-2017

Known for a big turkey meal with all the trimmings, the traditions do go back historically.
Different than the American one, Canadians celebrate on the second Monday of October every year. Our celebration has nothing to do with pilgrims.
It wasn't always like this.
In 1879 our Parliament declared November 6th to be a day of celebration of Thanksgiving. Then it was too close to Armistice Day after World War One.
January 31st, 1957, Parliament Proclaimed-
" A day  of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed!" So the second Monday of October became the holiday.
Harvest celebrations were always occurring in Europe and Great Britain. So those traditions made their way across the ocean when settlers came.

Our history tells us the English explorer Martin Frobisher had a ceremony in Canada in 1578 giving thanks for his arrival after surviving exploring the North West Passage. He held it in Newfoundland.  Samuel de Champlain- the French explorer- held a similar ceremony in Nova Scotia in the early 1600s giving thanks. The Order of Good Cheer!
Our First Nation people celebrated the harvest and gave thanks for the abundant crops.
Churches have cornucopia of fall vegetables and fruit from the harvest. In the Jewish faith there is the harvest festival of Sukkot.

Eating turkey and all the trimmings is the norm. Squash, sweet potatoes, corn and pumpkins are so generic to Canadian life. Apple, blueberry and pumpkin pies are a must. Yes cranberries are so historic too. They link us to the past.
So the first long weekend after the summer Thanksgiving is always a welcome event.
Celebrating and giving thanks is a good way to remember all that we have. Often Canadians will invite family and friends that may be alone at this time. There is always too much food anyway. So the more that join in the Thanksgiving table festivities the better.

So out to the farms and supermarkets for the abundance of food for the table.
#thanksgiving#dinner#turkey#squash#history#samueldechamplain#maritnfrobisher#history#parliament#pumpkinpie#applepie#blueberrypie#harvest#cornucopia#cranberries

OCTOBER- TIME FOR FALL ORGANIZATION

Thanksgiving is a good time to prepare the home for the coming months. Having guests for a good meal gives the opportunity to tidy up those clutter corners. Cleaning that has been put off for those warm summer months.  Putting stuff away in the garage. Since it is early this year, leaves weeks to finish lots of fall projects. Along with cleanup comes many opportunities for photographs. I have been scouting some locations so when the colours are in full bloom I know where I want to go. Actually my drive to my daughter's home in Aurora has a lovely drive up Bathurst street. Some woodlots are divine this time of year with colour, i.e. when the colours come.

From years ago, a favourite spot in Port Perry Ontario beside Lake Scugog. Photos can give such pleasure. Even one beautiful tree in your garden can be photographed year round.

                                                This is one of my favourite fall pictures.

o work around your house and garden. Then when enough is done, hop in your car and go for a drive and find those places that bring colour and joy. Fall- time to organize and well, just enjoy life!!
#fall#photographs#fallcleanup#Thanksgiving#countrydrives#PortPerry#Ontario#photographs#Aurora#trees

NANA SAYS DEALING WITH SCHOOL AND ITS RULES

Now that school is in full swing. Homework. Extracurricular activities. Early mornings. Late nights. Then the lessons and all the planning. October brings the new month of staying in the groove. The groove can be very tiring. So with a long weekend how to try to keep the school needs at bay. Well perhaps any homework, get it done Friday night so the weekend is free. Outdoor trips that may help coordinate the school needs. Are there lessons in science about trees? Collect leaves! Are there lessons about environment? Then a farm trip or trip into the city! Try to help your family have some fun with all the demands that are needed. So School needs can be incorporated into family needs too. Keep in touch with your children's teachers. Have home conversations about friends. Know who your children's friends are! Remember school is a part of your child's life. It is not their whole life. Although it can feel like the school has more control in your life. Especially if your child has some issues and you get calls from school. Keep it separate from home life. Give everyone a break. Embrace what school brings to our lives. If time be a volunteer there or send items that the teacher can use in lessons. No matter what, you are the parent and the most important person in your child's life. Challenges will happen. Grab onto them and find ways to solve, cope and sometimes just survive. School and home can be one of those huge challenges.
#school#home#challenges#activities#parents

OCTOBER ARRIVES- 5 WAYS TO EMBRACE IT

October that little month with a long weekend and lots of time to enjoy the Fall outdoors.

1. Thanksgiving weekend with the dinner and time for family. Eat well and cook a lot so there are leftovers. Then more time to be outside and enjoy.

2. Country drives. They will let the fall colours embrace your soul. Of course the photo opportunities are endless.

3. Country markets. Farm trips. Buy a stock of fall vegetables. Put them in your cold cellar for eating until Christmas.

4. Some fall cleaning. Changing the clothes from summer to winter wear allows for some purging. Give to charity, younger family members. The garage cleaning to allow for the car. What can not be sold or given to charity, put on the curb.

5. Outside decorating. Not too early for the Halloween theme if you are a groupie of that event. Some lawns are amazing with all the interesting things. So go for it.

More garden cleanup. Shopping early for Christmas. Just enjoying any days with sunshine. October with its varying weather systems- some cool, some warm. Just hoping for an Indian Summer..

                                      Just don't get fenced in! There is life on the other side.

#october#fall#thansgiving#countrydrives#halloween#fallcleaning#farmtrips#gardencleanup#photography#turkeydinner#familygetogethers#fallvegetables#fun