NANA SAYS SHELL OUT SHELL OUT

The witches are out! Treat or Trick! Smell my feet! Give me something good to eat! Halloween! One of the most popular days for children here in North America. Many families now decorate their lawns for several weeks with Halloween decorations. Children go door to door getting candies and other Halloween goodies. When I was a child, some people would give an apple or a peanut or one candy! My favourite was the lady who made candy apples. Now with some of the tricks like a needle in an item, parents check their children's bags for appropriate candies. The wrapped candies are the safest. There are Halloween parties at school or friends' houses! Children wear store bought costumes in a variety of themes! My little grandsons are superheroes while my granddaughter will be Belle from Beauty and the Beast! Some people still will try to make a homemade outfit. I made clown costumes for my girls one Halloween! Last Saturday was the Halloween party time for the Adults. Apparently the business surrounding this event has boomed into a lucrative affair for many entrepreneurs! So with my pumpkins on the front porch, some bagged candies to accompany the cans of pop I give out, Halloween is about to begin. Have a very Scary time! Watch out for all the little trick and treaters on the street! If you are in the mood you can watch all those Halloween horror movies! So are you a good witch or a bad witch!

SURVIVING A SUPERSTORM

Downgraded from Hurricane status, Sandy still packed a powerful punch to the Eastern region of North America. Friends and families in the American Eastern Seaboard are waking up to a new reality this morning. Surviving a night of howling winds and bending trees here in Ontario, my damage is two sections of my wooden fence needing repairs. After hearing a huge thump at 2 a.m., I checked the house and could not determine what it was! Checked the whole house this morning and still is standing! My little leak in a corner of my basement is nothing compared to the losses many are facing today! Should I count my blessings? You bet! Toronto has some damage and lots of stuff and garbage strewn over city streets despite the warnings to take in anything that could fly around. Take a look at my kitchen and front hall with outdoor stuff needing to be put away! I even cleaned lots of leaves from the street in front of my house as there are two sewer grates that could fill with them and cause potential flooding. In a crisis, if everyone does their part, then the community can come through it with as little damage as possible. The only question- do I take a ride from Adolph to work or grab a good broom because with the wind still howling I could probably fly there?!!!

PREPARING FOR THE STORM

As Hurricane Sandy heads inland, Ontario is told to brace itself for rain and high winds and possible power outages. Time to pull out the emergency supplies- batteries, flashlights and candles- just in case they are needed. Check the sewer grates on the street to make sure they are not covered in Fall leaves that could interfere with drainage. The wind is the greatest fear as there are big trees around my house and street. Can not do anything about the trees! We may get some water in the basement- who knows. We are told to get prepared for the unexpected! But if we don't know what will happen, we can only do so much!

PUMPKINS PUMPKINS PUMPKINS EVERYWHERE

Between Thanksgiving and Halloween, pumpkins are popping up everywhere. For the amazing crafters, craving has become an art. I just put out a few uncarved ones on my front porch. I am not good at craving. After all the festive events, I cut the pumpkins open take out the seeds and roast them in the oven. I cook some of the pumpkin with ginger, nutmeg and cinnamon then take the skin off and use the mush in pumpkin  in bread, muffins or pies! A Pumpkin is a happy vegetable with its bright orange!

I also like to take a few pictures. A quick picture from a speeding car of a pumpkin field not far from home!

Some little pumpkins for decoration!

Fun farm decoration!

Which one to chose!

Or are these ones better!

A Cinderella Pumpkin for the little Princess in your Life!

CANADA AM- ANOTHER CANADIAN ICON

This popular morning show is celebrating 40 years on the air this week and particularly today when the first show occurred. I remember it! Over the years,I have watched many hosts change, learned about new singers, writers, current studies on various themes and the political and news issues from coast to coast to coast. The show does go on location in various parts of the country periodically to showcase the locales! If I am travelling, it is  a way to keep in touch with my home base. I can also check what the weather is like for other family members in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and New Brunswick. Canadians like to know what the weather is like so we have something to talk about! Unlike other Canadians institutions, for example, The Bay that have been bought by foreigners, Canada AM continues to be Canadian! A guest today will be Burton Cummings- a favourite from Winnipeg! The show is done with some class and some humour! I have it on in the morning while I blog, get dressed and then scurry off to work. I do not sit and watch it but treat the show like a radio where I can listen to what is happening then watch the tidbits I like. So to Bev, Marcie and Jeff- keep up the tradition of a long list of people that made this show a keeper! Do you watch CANADA AM? Do you have favourite moments?

PATIENCE IS A TOUGH VIRTUE

Waiting to capture the image you want takes patience.The above picture took 7 photos to obtain the one I wanted. Patience with people or events in our lives take strength of character. It can be difficult to trust the process presented in front of us. To be able to wait! Patiently! Sometimes we need to leave or walk away from a situation! To think! Regroup! The Therapist works with the client's issues and the insight that can be a struggle to occur. The parent gives the child time to learn at his/her pace. The teacher presents material for the class to grasp collectively but some individuals do need more time! Patience- a virtue! A tough one!

NANA SAYS HAVE SWEET NAMES FOR CHILDREN

Children have given names that go on birth certificates and official documents. There are those nicknames and messages that abound. My daughter told me a cute story about one of my little grandsons. He told her- "Mommy you call me a monkey. Nana calls me a pumpkin!" He likes his little nicknames! A good thing! Sometimes the names we call our children and grandchildren may not be so loving! How many times do you hear- he was my little accident! Really did not want another baby! Love him anyway. Why not say- he was my wonderful surprise! Or finally after 3 girls, we had the son we always wanted! Or 2 boys and we have our little princess! Why not- we always wanted to have a boy and a girl- the millionaire's family! The black sheep in the family! Oh, she was always my troubled child! Nothing but heartache! Some of these children end up in therapy or feel they were never really loved in their families! As the adults in our children's lives remember to give praise, loving messages amidst the normal nagging that goes on! Safety and discipline mean we might not always sound so nice! Don't run into the street! Sit while you eat or you will choke! Listen to me! Negative messages or names do slip into our conversations- to be human! Children are listening but much more they are feeling! The tone of voice, the touch and the correction can save the day to reflect the love we feel for those people! Focus on the activity that needs correcting, not everything about the person. " You are not listening to me right now!" Rather than- " you never listen!" is one example. Children try our patience and do need constant supervision sometimes. Act as if you really love being around the little ones! Even if you look forward to their bed time! Even grandparents love bed time!