TO HAVE A RESOLUTION OR NOT?

Many people begin the New Year with a list of resolutions that many experts- whoever they are- say are not fulfilled by the end of January. So disappointment! Why have any resolutions? How did the notion of a resolution even begin? Thinking about this whole notion, a decision was made not to have any resolutions. So how to start the new year freshly? What not just continue as is? Finish projects started. Continue to eat well. Exercise enough. Enjoy life and family. Do the things that bring meaning and pleasure. Why not start the year with the same old, same old? Sounds a little boring but if your life already has joy and pleasure, why not just add more of the same? Or just the same! More is not better, it is just more! Perhaps life's goals are more meaningful than resolutions! Or do we even need goals! Is getting up in the morning and putting a foot in front of the other, making life happen the best way to start any day as well as a new year? Well I personally have no new year resolutions! How about you?

                                                                 
                                                                           CHEERS!

SAYING GOODBYE TO 2015

December ending so another year has come and almost gone. There is always a joy to be able to reflect, review and rejoice about the year ending. To be alive and able to welcome a new year is a life's blessing. Sometimes going to a party like many people are planning or going to Niagara or New York City or City Hall in Toronto or just a quiet celebration at home, Canadians are saying goodbye to the year. So how about you, what are your plans and celebration? Did you get some things or activities done? Did you fulfill your resolutions? Did you even have any resolutions? 2015 was it a good year for you?

NANA SAYS VACATION DAYS ARE GOOD FOR DOWNTIME

With Christmas finished and the New Year approaching, it is a good time to sit back and enjoy the downtime. Rather than rushing around, try for some quiet events at home and in the neighbourhood. Of course some people are on a beach on a southern vacation but there are lots of things to do locally. Skating on an outdoor rink or indoors is a fun event too.  Home crafts or just cleaning up the craft area for the next projects helps too. With new items for Christmas, perhaps it is a good time to clean those closets. Sure the kids will say boring but often it is something that is necessary. Sorting through what fits and what does not! If a new item is needed, sales abound everywhere! Have the children, yes even the teens write a page about the year, Christmas or a special family event to put in your family album- a physical one, in the cloud, a computer file or whatever you use. It could become a tradition and a little mini diary of family events. Not much for now, but 10 or 20 years from now may be a moment at family events. Yes a video could do the trick but often the simple printed word written by little hands can mean more too! Encouraging reading, art, simple activities are good not only for children but the adults. Yes we can run and run and run around but being comfortable with our own company is good too! Teaching children to do simple activities is needed. Sometimes a play date may help. One friend over to spend a few hours with each child and a simple meal provided. Put away the gadgets. Too much face time is well too much. So the play date works with actual real time and conversation. Before long the new year and back to school will happen, the new hoopla will begin! Are you tired yet? So some restful activities may be what everyone needs! If the kids are too noisy, maybe there is a grandparent handy to help with them!!

FAVOURITE IMAGES OF 2015

A year can bring many changes, challenges and events. As seen through pictures, it can become clear what brought the most pleasure.

Celebrating a special birthday.

Winter with its white beauty.

Making a fresh batch of gnocchi for home and children!

A 50th anniversary High School Reunion in May.

Pretty in pink spring flowers and trees!

Pan Am Games in Toronto and area!

Oh those Jays gave us a good run!

Fall pumpkins and vegetables! The bounty of the nation!

Remembering!

Everything that Christmas brings! Family, friends, food, fun and love!

ENJOYING THE POST CHRISTMAS QUIET

Boxing day sales out of the way for the shoppers, being home for many Canadians enjoying the new gifts that could include a camera or a gadget or the current craze of adult colouring books on a post Christmas Sunday. Reading the papers from the weekend leisurely rather than snippets on the computer. Nothing like the feel of newsprint and if needed can clip an article or two to review again at a future date. Some families still have "get togethers" planned. Some are still eating leftovers like turkey sandwiches with soup. And the veggies with gravy! Movies at home or the theatre are a hit during the seasonal break. Trips in Ontario include jaunts to the Niagara area to see the winter Falls and enjoy the indoor play areas for children or up to snow country for the skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing! Hoping there will be enough snow! Still enjoying the lights and decorations until it is time at New Year to put everything away again. Many leave the outside lights up until after Epiphany- January 6! No wrapping and hoopla so the quiet projects can be reviewed and work continue. Finish any phone calls to family not yet made on Christmas day. More time to chat. Yes texting and emails can happen, but the real sound of a voice is pleasurable too! Or just puttering around the house and neighbourhood to take it all in! Time to slow down and not smell the roses but to appreciate all that is in front of us! Between us! And behind us! The present with all its wonder!

                                                Enjoying the moment in time!

2015 COUNTDOWN TO A CANADIAN CHRISTMAS WEEK EIGHT

Well it is Christmas day. Early rising for Adolph to call his cousins in Italy, His cousin Carolina loved the photo book we sent her of our family events the last year!  I spoke to my sister in Leduc Alberta this week. We sent her the same photo book- she loved it too! Well I sent one to my Dad in the Nursing Home in West Kelowna-Westbank, BC. as well! Last Friday there was the hospital Holiday Breakfast for all the staff. Well attended by all! It was busy at work as many patients were prepared to be discharged home for Christmas. The staff a little happier as there are so many goodies everywhere- chocolates, cookies and other stuff as thank yous from families and often our doctors and each other! Those that have to stay will be treated to a nice Christmas meal. The staff that are working today have a free lunch provided in honour of their hard work. The malls were packed with last minute shoppers. Apparently a lot of them were men buying those last minute gifts.There is a warm Christmas on record in the GTA while other parts of Canada have had their share of snow. North of Toronto in the Barrie area there is snow which is good for those ski and snow board operators. In Toronto, the skating rink at City Hall is closed as it is a pool right now. In a few days the temperature should drop freezing it again.
Our usual Christmas Eve seafood dinner which is an Italian tradition was just the two of us as our girls had plans with their in-laws. So instead of the 7 dishes, we had 3. Lobster was the main stay, shrimps and dip,  a crab mixture with some salad and a fresh bun. Rounded out with white wine for me and Italian chocolate torone for dessert. We watched another Christmas movie on TV and the concert from Italy with David Foster and Andre Bocceli. Very casual as the big meal is today.
Of course the traditional Canadian dinner with turkey and all the trimmings- fresh bread stuffing
( bread, onions, celery, fresh parsley, garlic, sage, a pinch of ginger, some butter cubes all mixed with the bread-white and brown) in the turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, 2 squashes, mushrooms and to have an Italian flavour to the meal for Adolph- some Italian sausages and roasted red peppers, some crunchy Italian bread.. Dessert will be a Yule log, Tuxedo cake and some apple strudel with vanilla ice cream. I miss the plum pudding and rum sauce but no one eats it but me so I do not include it anymore with the meal. It was a standard growing up as my Mom would put real rum in the sauce!! Of course the house is full of candy canes, chocolate santas, cookies- my girls make them with their children and many other goodies placed in dishes. Drinks will include white and red wine, milk-white or chocolate for the kids, pop, tea, coffee and bottled water. So a feast for all will be had. For little children and many adults opening those stockings and Christmas presents left by Santa will be happening right now across the country. Last night NORAND tracked Santa's travels across the world- makes us all a believer again. The Elf on the shelf gets put away for another year! Just hoping the grandchildren enjoy all the presents given to them. One little guy looked at his bag of stuff saying is it clothes?? Well some has to be clothes as it is for the Mom!
So what does it mean to have the big day here. A blessing. Memories of Christmas past! The fun that was provided by the adults in my life and now providing it for my family too. A day at home to putter and prepare for the meal later in the day. Listen to more music. Christmas- a time for connecting, going to church, singing carols, loving the children- well it is the biggest blessing to have them in my life. Knowing that some of the efforts went to support those in need in the community and to keep them in mind throughout the year! Remembering those we lost and keep their memories alive in small ways. So a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good day!

THANKS TO THOSE WHO WORK OVER THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

Not everyone has the days off to enjoy with family and friends. The police officers, the firemen, the health care professionals, staff at the Nursing Homes, the bus drivers and airline personnel, the convenience store owner, the emergency staff at hydro or any other utility-just in case- there is a down time. So many more!! Sure they get time and a half for working the stat but still they are not with family. Luckily the stores close at 6 pm so the sales people can get home to be with their families too on Christmas Eve. Our Armed Forces wherever they are, here's to you for being there and supporting Canadian efforts in the world. and at home. Well in all the kitchens across the countries- the cook who is usually the Mom- thanks to you for making Christmas look so easy! Santa's elves and helpers everywhere for all the shopping, wrapping and delivering of the presents, hosting the parties and Christmas/Holiday concerts that make the season fun. The joy of Christmas is from all the work so if anyone has been left out- thanks to you too!