HALLOWEEN HAS CHANGED OR HAS IT?

Instead of the typical ghosts and goblins, trick or treaters wear transformer, elaborate disney princess, movie characters, bumble bee, lady bug costumes to name a few. Some lawns have amazing Halloween displays instead of a simple pumpkin craved with a candle inside on a front porch. Some historians say the tradition started in pagan times or roman times or somebody's time, but the fun of the day is the next most favourite time for children- Christmas does come first still. Adults get into the mix by wearing something fun to work if allowed! There are more parties and events but the main fun is still going door to door getting the treats. I am the "pop lady". Giving cans of pop along with some Halloween candies, makes my house popular! Makes up for the simple pumpkin on the front porch! At a family get together on Saturday, my little grandchildren dressed in costume to have a group picture with some of their second cousins on my side of the family. Even had a Nana photo with them! So enjoy the day and the night! To the young and young at heart- Happy Halloweeeeeeeeeeeeeen!

A POSTCARD FROM WINNIPEG MANITOBA

Winnipeg is the 7th largest municipality in Canada.Steeped in Canadian History, it is the Captial of Manitoba. As a vibrant modern city, it is full of Theatre, entertertainment, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and a magnet to many tourists. NHL hockey has returned with the Winnipeg Jets. CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers has made the citizens proud. Howie Mendel and Burton Cummings to name a couple of celebrities call it home.

Located on the Assiniboine and Red River rivers a typical tourist attraction can include a boat ride. During a visit to my sister and family when she lived there in 1979, we all decided to take a ride on the M.S Paddlewheel Queen. Trying to stop one of my daughters from climbing on the rail resulted in a memorable two year old temper tantrum. The trouble with boats is it is hard to exit in a hurry. It became one of those family stories!

The postcards depicted are from the late 1970's. I am sure the city landscape has changed. I have not received a postcard from Winnipeg but I know I did send some to family at that time.

Do you have other comments to make about Winnipeg? It is also very cold in the winter and has the nickname of Winterpeg!

If you want a postcard featured here email me at abdm@rogers.com and I will send you my address so you can send me a postcard.

SCULPTURES-ART IN THE STREET

City streets are wonderful places to find art. My recent jaunt to downtown Toronto provided some interesting pieces to photogaph.

It looks like it might roll away. What do you think it means? What modern image or symbol is it trying to reveal?

A Water image on a city street! One of the 4 elements! Do you find it peaceful? Does it belong? Is it a whale? A dolphin? I like the way it connects to nature with the trees in the background.
Do the sculptures trigger any thoughts for you?

HALLOWEEN PARTIES

As we head into the weekend before Halloween, it is a great opportunity to go to a party. Dressing up, out of character is always fun. I had a Halloween party years ago and dressed like a cat- leotard, black tights and painted on whiskers. Slimmer then. If I had to chose a costume today, not sure what I would wear- wouldn't be so risque! My duty this Halloween is to babysit the grandkiddies so one daughter and son-in-law can go to a party! I guess I am going as Nana. The question-if you were going to a Halloween party-what would you wear? Who would you be? Would you pass on the whole costume thing? One of our friends who is a dentist came to that party years ago- guess- as a dentist! Come on adults out there, have so fun! When I shell out, I try to wear a hat or fake hair or something so that the little kiddies that come to the door know I am having fun too. Or are you one of those people that turn your lights out and does not get into the fun of the event? What do you think?

CHOICES-WHICH ROAD TO TAKE

Life is often described as a journey. We are on a road and sometimes come to intersections. Decisions must be made about which way to go. Sometimes we pick a smooth road, sometimes a bumpy road. Sometimes the road is closed for repairs and we have to detour. The choice of which way we go can be ours sometimes but sometimes it is not! Choices in life can entail so many aspects. What to have for dinner, which movie to see, setting our alarm for a specific time each morning. The hard choices are how to deal with a crisis in our lives that we did not chose- death, job loss, ill health, problem child, relationship difficulties, well you know the list! You probably have one of your own. We run into people all the time that complain about how busy they are and do not have a choice. For example, I had such an encounter last week- just asking a colleague if he was going to attend Grand Rounds that morning- I am so busy, so many meetings, I only have less than 1/2 hour daily to see my children! Does he have a choice? What do you think? Picking a hectic, busy career is a choice! Not seeing your children to accomodate a job is a choice! What about- I want to get ahead in life so I am postponing having children- a choice. Might not be a choice if waiting causes difficulty in conceiving! Or I am going to have my child in 15 activities so he/she can every opportunity so I do not have time to read a book, phone a friend and can only eat takeout because there is not time to cook- a choice! Maturity comes with making choices that are meaningful in our lives. Can there be sacrifice? Probably! We chose to back away from an argument quietly. We can chose to alleviate our boredom by doing something creative. We can make simple, daily choices that may lead to a happy life if we chose well! Choices, roads- which one are you on?

NANA SAYS WHAT'S BECOMING OF THE YOUTH TODAY?

Each generation brings new difficulties and differences. With cell phones glued to an ear, constant texting, spell check, openness about sex, drug use and some disrespect for parents and any authority, there can be concerns about the current generation of teenagers or should there be?
Think about this quotation" The young people of today think of nothing but themselves. They have no reverence for parents or old age. They are impatient of all restraint. They talk as if they alone knew everything and what passes for wisdom with us is foolishness with them. As for girls, they are forward, immodest and unwomanly in speech, behaviour and dress. "
Did it come from a parenting magazine, some guru of a child psychologist or your grandmother? No, words from ancient Greece.
It was credited to Socrates by Plato probably from Plato's Republic!  300 B.C.? I need to check the exact text again. There are other wonderful quotes from these two great philosophers. Perhaps I will share them with you at another time!
Throughout history, it has never been easy to raise children, let alone hang in there with teenagers. But we must! By continuing to be a role model and setting positive, consistent house rules with some flexibility to allow for teen autonomy, life can be bearable. Know which battles to fight! Your defiant teenager can grow into a wonderful adult with responsibility, goals and a meaningful life. Mine did! Are you struggling with your teenagers today? Are you feeling alone? Look to the wisdom of history-find some perspective!

PUT YOUR IDEAS TOGETHER-MAKE A QUILT

Quilts have a way of demonstrating that different ideas and thoughts assembled methodically can make a beautiful thing-in this case a blanket. Look at the picture-the shape of the flowers have been used creatively on each block.
Too often group thinking can succumb to that of one-the boss- or a few individuals because members may be too intimidated to express their own ideas.
Bring a quilt to your meeting, planning session, family get-together. Visually show how differences can make a beautiful whole!
Imagine the quilting bees of olden times. A group of ladies trying to decide the design of their project. Did the lightbulb go off and the suggestion- each block of using an appliqued design to be unique? But assembled with proper technique! Imagination and skill integrated together!
Now consider- the corporate world, the school, the business place- to allow such democratic allowance. Yes, there are rules and boundaries, laws to which we adhere! So ask your group to bring their own quilt block next time for an unresolved problem and see what the result could be!
Are you now busy making your own block? If so, what does it look like?