POST CHRISTMAS BLUES

Christmas brings some fun, some work, stress and lots of change in the daily routine. Then the month is coming to an end and Christmas is a good memory. Eating the remainder of the leftovers or chucking them is the dilemma. Putting away Christmas stuff slowly. My lights outside stay up until Epiphany. The magic has fizzled. The reality of the same old, same old. Is it why people make New Year resolutions to add some sparkle to life? There is still time over the next few weeks to connect with family and friends. Or even months. A January lunch date works!! Maybe some other dates for the next few months to get through the winter. Or can it be used for a time for reflection, energize, planning for what is needed in one's life or to finish those projects in the quiet of winter. Rewatching favourite movies! Or to go to the movies! Of course there will be snow shovelling which is a good outdoor exercise in small quantities. So as the Christmas season winds down, maybe time to take those photos of outdoor lights, store windows and any fanciful item that crosses your path. The reality of the blues does hit however. Normalize it. Recognize it. Accept it. Knowing it is the norm helps us all. So how are you feeling today?
#Christmasblues#reflectionsofChristmas#change#resolutions#planning#energizingforwinterblues#mentalhealth#magicofChristmas#family#friends

THAT CANADIAN WINTER CHILL

So the week between Christmas and New Year is so cold in parts of this country. The GTA is under a cold weather warning with extra shelter beds at the CNE to try to bring the homeless off the streets. It is why we have parkas, hats, scarves and good mitts/gloves and the warmest boots to keep us cozy. Venturing out in the weather means layers! I am still walking to work. Did not freeze my face off!! Not yet anyway. How are you enjoying the winter chill?
#winterchill#coldweather#warmclothes#parkas#mitts#hats#shelters#boots#Canadianwinter

BARS'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS#7-CHRISTMAS TIME FOR INFORMATION

Christmas can be a good time when family is gathered to get some information. Lots of time to talk about family stories and traditions. Why not this 150 year get people's memories of how they celebrated as a child? What they love about the season? Who they celebrated with? Where? Bring some Christmas past Christmas pictures for others to scan, photograph on their cell phones or cameras. Have paper and pens handy. Photograph, video tape, - record those stories anyway you know how or what medium you use  After Christmas write down the menu or be a foodie and photograph the food, who was present at your feast, was there a theme. Is it a first Christmas with some people missing. Remember those people. Again get people's memories! Family stories are good! Genealogy is enriched with those stories. So between courses, do a little genealogy. Merry Christmas everyone!
#genealogy#familystories#recording#memories#photographs#funtimeswithgenealogy#research#interviewingfamily#Christmasmemories#150year#childhoodmemories

LIFE IS LIKE A CANADIAN SANTA CLAUS PARADE

Lots of floats.

Politicians.

Along with ladies, men wearing skirts. Playing Christmas music!

Happy faces! Lots of waving.

A jolly guy in a red suit with a strange form of transportation.
Life with its variety, differences in people, many ways to have fun! The Canadian way eh?
#santaclausparade#floats#santaclaus#bands#winter#clod#smilingfaces#children#knowhowtohavefun#life

WINTER SOLSTICE 2017

Winter Solstice! So the shortest day of the year! It means that starting tomorrow the sun starts to come back to us. Some say Christmas and lights are celebrated at this time to bring some joy to a glummy time of the year. We need light and fun. So get out and enjoy all the Christmas lights on main streets, side streets and other places. Remember that light is needed for mood. So if you do have a mood disorder, get near light. It sure helps. Since winter is really here. Try to find ways to embrace the winter months. Avoiding winter only makes it worse. So walks, skating, sledding, skiing, snowboarding, tubing and other Canadian winter activities can make the time go faster but enjoyable. Meanwhile only a few days until the big guy in the red suit arrives so just lay back and enjoy your home with all the decorations! Call a friend on this winter day. For us we always remember our dear friend Larry who died this day! He will be in our hearts forever no matter how long it has been! Oh winter! Oh solstice!
#wintersolstice#friends#Christmas#winteractivites#fun#christmaslights#family#remembering

NANA SAYS EMBRACE FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE WINTER BREAK

So are your children really wired! Christmas brings out such excitement in children. Last minute school concerts and parties. Family coming and calling. Bringing gifts for under the tree. The stress of it all can also bring some whining and unruly behaviour. So what to do. Give children age appropriate activities to do. Let them help clean- especially their room. Keep the area where company will be tidy. Give them lots of supportive messages. Tell the Christmas story of the real meaning of Christmas. Bring out those books and read the stories to them. Let the grandparents help with those tasks too. Have some ideas but not set in stone for the week off and what can be fun. Remember when creating the magic, be childlike and let go of some stuff! You know what I mean!
#christmasbreak#children'sexcitement#family#grandparents#unrulybehaviour#fun#supportivemessages#children#Christmasstory#thereasonfortheseason

ONE WEEK TO CHRISTMAS-LET THE PARTY BEGIN

School, office and home parties are here. Had the Pot Luck at work. It was a fun time. Made my cheese and cold cut platter with cherry tomatoes, olives and strawberries. Put little Christmas decorations on it.
Hauling in gifts to various people every day so my house is a little less cluttered. Some presents have arrived for under my tree. So festive!
But when it rains it pours. Still no new stove. Buying a new car. Adolph's wound is healing. So not just Christmas but other stuff happening for us.
As with most people that make the magic happen, it can be tiring and stressful. So remember lots of sleep, healthy eating, keep well!

                                               Lots of colour to keep your mood happy!
#christmas#stress#oneweektogotochristmas#busy#presents#fun#christmasplatters#coldcuts#olives#festivetimes#december#whenitrainsitpours