THE SUNFLOWER-THE HAPPY FLOWER

The sunflower is the happy flower. The ones in the garden have grown big and can be enjoyed even after the first frost. For any Fall table, they make a beautiful centerpiece. In our area there were fields of sunflowers that have been marketed for their seeds as well as cut flowers. Do you think it is a happy flower too?

FALL WITH ITS BEAUTY

Ontario sure has some beautiful scenery when the trees turn colour. From red to yellow to orange, the array is stunning! There are bus tours along many country roads throughout the province. Other areas in Canada experience this wonderful spectacle! With cameras in hand the photo opportunities are endless! School children like to collect the leaves so they can use a little wax paper and iron them to preserve them for another day or to use in school projects. Of course for the homeowers it can be another chore of raking the leaves once they fall! Of Fall-just have to love it for the variety it brings!

SEPTEMBER 2013-IT'S A WRAP!

As September wraps, the bounty of the fall is in full swing.The trees have started to turn beautiful colours. The harvest is well underway. Garden cleanup and taking in summer furniture continues. Even indoor fall cleaning is happening in stages. Thinking about preparation for Thanksgiving as the month ends. The kids are back at lessons and school so free time is at a premium! The panic at the beginning of the month is over with the norm being the back to back activities. Some projects like the baby blankets for my new grandchild coming in a month or so have been finished! Thinking about hats and scarves for my other little "pumpkins" are the new projects! Oh September-it's a wrap!

LIFE HAS MANY CROSSROADS

When we come to a crossroad in life it is often difficult to decide which way to go. Sometimes it is a good idea to stop and consider the options. If we think about our lives, there were probably more crossroads than we realized. Who to marry? When to marry? To have children or not? Which university or college or trade school to attend? To buy a bigger house? When to retire? Well you get the picture! Someone yesterday was saying it is important to embrace change. The longer we live we actually face more changes than in our youth! Most of the changes are forced on us! Like aging and wrinkles! Our children grow up and need more financial assistance. Some crossroads mean taking the least negative route. We can stop and refuse to continue or just look both ways and carry on! Life is rarely a straight line or smooth. Curves and bumps in the road keep it interesting! Perhaps a car with good suspension is the answer! What do you think?

NANA SAYS FIND TIME TO SLOW DOWN

September has all the flurry of a snowstorm. Working parents with back to school tasks and lessons in full swing, the quiet of the summer months seem far behind. All the advice like one day at a time and one task at a time prevail. Organization and good scheduling can make the activitiy level seem manageable. Relying on car pools, extended family helping with a drop off or pick up and deciding not to have your child in every sport or dance lesson also helps. Homework can be another thorn in a parents' side. Remember it is the child's work and try to provide a good space for completion while supervising. In the midst of the "busy" world, remember home is important for children so they can find the love, peace and emotional stability to protect them from the world. As a parent you need it too! Plan and organize down time. At least one work night or two, have no outside activities. One day of the weekend to be home or plan a family time- keep it simple! Remember the best part of family time is spending time together! If children fight when out, divide and conquer! Each parent has a special time with a child then switch next time! Even grandparents find when there is only one child from a family- the dynamics change! Home and family does not have to be on the run all the time! We all chose how much running we want to do! One of my daughters lives so close to the childrens' school that there is no real travel time. Walks them there then home to get the car todrive to work! When my children were in day care, it was 5 minutes from home! It sure made a difference in my life! Oh yes, do not compare with the other "superparents"! The competition of how many activities-" you have 5, well I have 10"! Really-who cares! Do what works for you! Don't be afraid your children may be missing out- they are not! So you busy bees, get back to the hive and chill!  

BARNS HAVE MANY USES

Old barns can have many uses. Some people build houses, some people use them-well as barns for farm animals. Near Port Perry, Ontario is the Ocala Winery and the barn is used as a store with lots of wine and other items for sale. There are collections of items such as old pictures and antiques. Social functions can be booked there. Finding little treasures such as small wineries made the summer months fun and interesting. When travel afar is not possible, travel near becomes another opportunity. The wine was actually quite good. Not only using grapes but apples and pears to make some dessert wine. Of course, I have one bottle left for my Thanksgiving dinner!

Don't the bottles have pretty labels! It is an easy little day trip from home. A quick jaunt to the winery then off to a park for a picnic or a a quaint restaurant for lunch. Do you have places close to home that give a fun time?

LIFE NEEDS A LITTLE FLAVOUR

Just like herbs add flavour to our food, do you have things or interests that add "flavour" to your life? We all need the basics but fun, exercise, good food and social events give us the extras that can sustain us through the difficult times.  Some like chocolate or plain vanilla ice cream! Others like a few nuts on top or with a cherry! If you had a favourite flavour what would it be?