THE PINE CONE

Wherever there are coniferous trees, there are pine cones of different sizes and varieties. For some gardeners they are a nuisance. For the crafter, they are an endless source of material for a abundance of craft ideas. Many Christmas wreaths contain pine cones with colourful accessories
or they are the accessory. Plain, painted or tied with a bow- pine cones become not only
a Christmas but a winter ornament. They can be used as the base for a name card on your holiday table. A basket containing pine cones makes a simple and quick decoration. Any craft store or craft sale will have a bag of pine cones to buy at an inflated price. Folks in older times used all these pine cones creating their festive environment. The real pleasure is the joy of collecting them. A walk by a small woodlot with trees will provide enough pine cones for many projects. Small children love to touch, feel and play with them learning about nature in a simple and experiential way. During the summer months, collected and stored until ideas blossom of what to do with all the pine cones! The potential is endless. If the supply is greater than the demand, pine cones burning in your winter fireplace are equally as pleasuable. Many family memories have pine cones in the picture. Do you use these natural elements in your home? Holidays? Do you have memories with pine cones and happy moments?

THE MODERN JUNK DEALER

In past generations, people made money collecting other people's junk and selling it. We now have garage sales and sell our own junk or treasures as the new purchaser will say. Stuff is sold on ebay by individuals and now all the dealers of any collectible use it as a site. Since I am now in the process of deciding what is an heirloom and if my children really will want it- so it's a keeper, what goes to a charity, what is a sellable collectible and what I really want to save into my old age. No time to manage an ebay account, so I have done the modern thing- hired my own salesman who does all the work and takes a small commission. Although many items were provided to him, my house still needs a good cleanse. There are also some items that will just go to the curb with my garbage. As we all know, there are still garbage pickers. Years ago, my daughter and I put out an old ping pong table with net, paddles and balls to the curb. Didn't want to be bothered with the bickering to ask a minimal amount for it. It was so much fun watching people trying to get it into their car, small van and finally a person with a pickup truck won the prize. Who has been the junk dealer in your family? How do you discard of those items that need a new home? It is hard parting with some things. Amazing what an emotional attachment there can be to small items.

BIRCH TREES

Birch trees are such beautiful trees. They are grown locally and in many countries around the world. Native Canadians made canoes, bowls and wigwams from this prolific tree due to the light weight and flexibility. Unlike most trees its bark is white and can be peeled in layers. A little research revealed the Hughes H-4 Hercules is made mostly from birch wood and that's why it is called " The Spruce Goose." Many homes have a birch as the front yard tree. When moving to our current home, we planted one with four distinctive trunks. Unfortunately, it became diseased and eventually died. Do you have a beautiful birch on your property?

A SNOW FLURRY MEMORY

I was a Social Work student doing my second year U. of T. Masters field practice placement at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto. As part of my learning, I requested cases with patients with terminal illness. One case- Renee- will always be remembered. I was a busy student, studying, researching for my placement requirements, married with commitments at home. Always in a hurry. One day when I was arriving for placement it was snowing and I was dreading the ride home if it kept up. I had many people to see that day and a paper to write later that evening. I visited Renee. She was in her bed, very ill and quiet. We started to talk but she kept looking towards the window. She told me in her soft voice that she loved to watch the snow come down, it was so pretty. And it was. We sat quietly together and watched the snow slowly descend. We talked about matters that were on her mind. It slowed my energy and taught me to be aware of the world around me. Although it was still snowing on my way home, my view of it was so different. The first snow flurry of the winter season always reminds me of her. There was a light dusting of snow today. Life lessons come from all directions.

LESS IS MORE

In our modern times when we want to do everything possible to cram as much in a day, the holiday season is always one where most of us go into overdrive. Well, stop! Decide what are the most important aspects of the season for you. Lists, planning, and writing down your thoughts help to visualize how much you are trying to do. It is easier before you start to decide what really needs to be done and eliminate some things. For example, little children find the season magical. One parade, tree decorating, making cookies should be fun activities and not chores. The visit to Santa and picture taking can be an outing and not just a filler while other errands are done. If everyone feels rushed, then the mood changes. By slowing ourselves to enjoy the activities helps to bring joy. Family obligations can be reassessed. Group functions with everyone pitching in can lessen the work on any one individual. Each year brings something new. This year for me, if I can help lessen the load on my daughter and son-in-law with the new baby, then it will happen. Another year they may help me. In my work many families can face a hospitalization during the season. There can be additional stress of how they are going to manage Christmas and hospital visits. By deciding what is important the tasks can be decreased. Less is more!! What do you do to help lessen your load? How do you make the holidays fun and festive?
Do you have suggestions?

THE CHRISTMAS WREATH

As we begin to enter the Christmas season with shopping, wrapping, card writing, partying and tree decorating, my official Christmas season starts with placing the wreath on the door, followed by Christmas lights. Of course, gifts are purchased throughout the year as they are found.

What do you put on your door? Did you make a wreath or buy one? Mine is homemade with local pine cones collected in warmer days.

WHAT IS OLD IS NEW AGAIN

Ideas, trends, favourite items recycle with each new generation. Just think of Trivial Pursuit, for example, the in game of the early 80's. Parties, get togethers, then the game collected dust and a new generation- now on the computer. Dolls that were popular for my children now have a new market. So is it time to recycle us. Getting older does not mean outdated. Slowing down but still can use those old ideas to solve today's problems. In my field, I see old ideas, concepts recycle with new labels and charts, graphs. Wanting to study another field, I bought a number of leading business books from the Rotman Business School at the University of Toronto. Guess What? The marketing principles, integrative thinking and team playing- all concepts I studied in my early Psychology courses and have used in counselling. Victorian architecture is prevalent in the new housing developments in my area. Not everything old is great. There are some old rock bands we would like to see retired- actually surprised they are still with us. Old is new again! What ideas have you seen go around and around in circles? What new trends do you match with the old? I blend antiques with modern items.