BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS- OCTOBER FAMILY HISTORY MONTH

If you are not doing your family history, this month is a good time to get started. It is family history month. Lots of information online to discover how to do it. For Ontario residents, start with the Ontario Genealogical Society.
Ontario Genealogical Society
There is so much information to get you fired about this family history stuff. For real beginners there are resources and support to get you started. For those who do genealogy when able, this month is a good time to revisit your work completed to date. Or it could be a time to get started on those stories or articles on portions of your family tree. Yeah for Family History Month.
#familyhistorymonth#ogs#ontariogeneralogicalsociety#startwritingyourstories#researchingyourfamilytree

A THANKSGIVING MORNING WALK

After missing several days of walking due to a need to super clean the house and prepare for Thanksgiving and the family.
So a refreshing Thanksgiving Monday power walk was had.
Not the usual commuter traffic at Major Mackenzie and Yonge. No one really waiting for the buses. So able to stay focused on thoughts, the weather and the environment. Seeing the trees slowly turning to the beautiful autumn shades is a small joy in life.

Must return with my camera to take this row of trees that are no longer green.

Glad I took pictures recently of some construction paraphernalia as it has been removed.

It is a small area where I walk. I loop back on the same road to my house. But the simple images and noises keep my thoughts churning.
I also noticed tons of goose poop on the sidewalk. I thought those Canadian geese would have gone south already!!
Most of my thoughts were on the thankful moments of my life. A busy, noisy Thanksgiving dinner with members of all ages is one of life's joyous blessings. Preparing for the dinner is lots of work but enjoyable. I feel blessed I am still able to do it. Life changes us. One day the torch will be passed to another family member or members.
The walk was good too to get me back to a good exercise routine again. So part of my thanks is just doing the walk.
Why are you thankful this Thanksgiving Monday??
#thanksgiving#thanksgivingmorningwalk#beingwithfamily#picturesfromthewalk#needtoreturntodomorepictures#feelingblessed#takinglotsofphotos

A CANADIAN THANKSGIVING

Harvest Home. A time for family and celebration of all we have and give thanks. Appetizers! Turkey and bread stuffing and mashed potatoes and gravy. Along with all the trimmings like cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Vegetables can be plentiful. Squash and sweet potatoes from the year's yield.
Always the second Monday in October for Canadians. A little early this year but that's okay. Our dinner will be on the Sunday so lots of leftovers for Thanksgiving Monday.

Thanksgiving a time for family and good eating.

#thanksgiving#goodeating#turkeyandallthetrimmings#pumpkin#aCanadiantradition#potatoesandgravy#lotsoffuntimeswithfamily

AIRPORTS- A PLACE FOR HELLOS AND GOODBYES

I am an airport geek. I love to people watch. So while waiting for a family member to arrive at Terminal 3, Pearson Airport I had the opportunity on Tuesday. Just Canadian flights coming in and mostly West Jet so not those fun international flights with throngs of people. And no customs. Watching the arrivals board so knowing the flight was on time and when it landed. The people with the tour signs for their group. The Montreal flights and lots of French being spoken. The dazed look on people as they entered the terminal area from the baggage claim area. Where do I go now??? Two little girls with welcome signs for their person! Hugs and kisses for many! If you love the movie- Love Actually, the scenes at the Airport are my favourites. At the beginning and the end of the movie, a statement of humankind. There is little support for those of us who were waiting, few seats to rest our butts. So standing and leaning. I also watched the ground personnel. The security people did not give me much faith. Talking and not observing the crowd as I thought they should. I guess there are security cameras watching us but first observations and awareness of who is there is also important. The Social Worker in me to be aware of all behaviour and people around me at all times. Even if it seems like I not looking. I really am!! So a little Airport fix for me. Do you like airports? Do you like to people watch?
#airports#terminal3pearson#peoplewatching#canadianflights#arrivalsboard#movieLoveActually#airportscenes#whoareyouwaitingfor#astatementofhumankind

DR. DONNA STRICKLAND-NOBEL LAUREATE

Canadian eh! A woman wins a physics prize. How wonderful. For laser treatment! All Canada is proud of her. I saw her speak at a news conference at the University of Waterloo. Intelligent. But her views on being a woman. Just do what you love that is good she said and you will make a difference in the world. It made me think about the many jobs that people do every day that make a difference in someone's life. What a wonderful day for her, the university and Canada. Way to go Donna! Just keep on teaching us about physics and your philosophy of life.
#DonnaStrickland#nobelprizeforphysics#proudcanadian#universityofwaterloo#strongwoman

PREPARING FOR A HOUSE GUEST

Years ago I would have house guests regularly. Not many for awhile. But this year it is happening again. I find getting the house in order more tedious than I recall. I want the guest room and bathroom to be in tip top shape. I have left some Thanksgiving cleaning to this week as there are areas of the house my guest will not frequent. The real truth is some areas of the house have been forgotten or overlooked due to my previous work schedule. Now with this retirement thing I have developed some new home habits. Start a task, have a middle and finish it. No more leaving things to be finished another day as I have that extra 20 minutes to half an hour to finish things. It is a good feeling. It does give a sense of control. So my house guest can drink a coffee while I continue to work and do and organize. However, I have a list of outings to do with my house guest. Fun is always important in life. So a movie or two, some shopping, some visiting are in the works. Have you had house guests lately? How do you prepare? As you age do you find it to be more work than previously?
#preparingforahouseguest#cleaningthehouse#gettingreadyforsomefun#makeavisitlessworkandmorefun#workpreventedlotsofjobsbeingfinished#ahomedooverisgood#retirementbringsmoretimetogetstuffdone

OCTOBER- THE ORANGE MONTH

When I think of October, I think of pumpkins, Thanksgiving and Halloween. I think of fall vegetables like squash- all of them and  fruit-apples- well all of them. More orange in the beautiful array of fall colours on our trees. Opportunities to take those fall pictures. Time to enjoy the outdoors before the really cold weather arrives. Well it has arrived in some parts of Canada but not here in my neck of the woods yet.

There can be some red too!!

Late day flowers for the garden like Mums but no Dads!!

The variety of pictures with leaves. Or just walking in them and hearing the noise of crunching under ones' feet!!
Oh October. A month with lots of good eating and some fun.
#October#halloween#thanksgiving#orange#orangepumpkins#apples#fallvegetables#squash#takinglotsofallpictures#walkingintheleaves#whatdoyoudoinoctober