QUILTS AT THE CREEK 2018

Each summer for the last 3 years I have attended the Quilts at the Creek. A wonderful outdoor display of quilts at Black Creek Pioneer Village.

As soon as one enters the area, there they are. Even a quilt using the Hudson Bay motif.

Using barn board fences to display.

The creativity of the quilters. Modern, traditional, abstract. So many ideas and wonderful quilts. Works of art.

Even some modern sayings and ideas.

I loved this display of many blocks. The goal for that guild was to make a full quilt idea in one 12/12 block. The variety and talent was amazing.

Don't you love how the buildings make a wonderful backdrop for the quilts.
There will be more quilts in future posts. Just a little peak at 2018 wonderful quilts.
#quiltsbythecreek#blackcreekpioneervillage#Toronto'squiltshow#quiltershavewonderfultalents#quiltersareartists

SUMMER-A TIME TO READ

For most of my life the summer time has always been a time to pick up a book or two. Southern holidays always included some beach reading. So for the last few years, it has been a goal to read 10 books over the summer. Why? So I actually sit down and enjoy the summer. Relax. Feel the wind in my face. Listen to the birds. So July has been good. 5 books read and 5 to go in August. I try to read 5 fiction but include some perusing of non-fiction. So a history issue has become an added interest- the campaign in Norway during World War Two. I bought an atlas of Special Operations in World War Two. There are other books to find as well for that issue.I will be writing at a future date the particular issue. Books are a best friend. So find time to read and enjoy. So what books are you reading this summer! You can share in my comments anytime.
#summerreading#books#summerbooks#fiction#non-fiction#summertimeatimetoread#lovereading#readingismybestfriend

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS #8

We are told to put information online as we go. Not to wait to gather all the information to write a 500 page family book. Well good advice. When I wrote about my great-grandmother Elizabeth Anne Frost, I had a few reads. Then a comment from a second cousin with so many answers and solved my brick wall. What had happened to Elizabeth's father and the rest of the family. So not in this post but will organize the information he shared and write it up for another post. It has given me hope to write about two other brick walls in genealogy on my blog. Like it is often said, it pays to advertise. My second big moment is how much I can purge from the Frost family binder. Useless frost information that does not apply to our family. My children will thank me. However, as I purged copious pages of microfische pages, the realization of the amount of work and yes money that has been spent over the last 34 years. Glad as a new retiree I am not starting out in the family search pursuit.
#Frostfamily#secondcousin#newinformation#genealogycostsmoneyandtime#itpaystoadvertise#familybinderpurging

WEEK 3 OF RETIREMENT

A transition that is slowly evolving. Some appointments out of the way. More organizing and purging. But sharing is even better. Some time with the grandchildren that has been fun. Baby hats and stuff on my craft agenda. Can take them anywhere so easy to have my hands busy. Finished book number 4 for my summer reading. Two outings planned so will report back once they are done. Yes getting through the various heat waves and managing to get a little colour. A breakthrough on one of my genealogy brick walls. Exciting to have some new ancestor pictures. Husband holding his own so able to have some time with him too. Will be contacting some friends and relatives as they are on my to do list. Now to revise my bucket list. Some many lists and so little time. Just kidding. Retirement gives lots of time to get stuff done!
#retirement#week3ofretirement#gettingstuffdone#organizingandpurging#yeahfuntoworkonmyownstuff

TAKE CARE OF THE LITTLE THINGS AND THE BIG THINGS TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES

Nice saying. By doing the small things in life it helps to prevent things from becoming too big. Appointments to address small complaints. Medical. Dental. Eyes- well you get the picture. A little leak in the house before a ceiling falls down. Happened in our old house. The bathroom ceiling came down so learned my lesson there. On top of a chronic illness. Recognized the small signs before they escalate into bigger ones. Eat too much for a while, cut back to avoid weight gains. Life is rather simple. We humans just make things more complicated.
#life'scomplications#life#nicesaying#appointmentsmade

MONDAYS ARE DIFFERENT IN RETIREMENT

It seems my trepidation about worrying about not going to work on a Monday were futile. I recalled the days and weeks after lay offs looking for work.Hoping the phone would ring. Hoping for a job interview. Waiting to hear back from an interviewer as promised. There is none of that now. No need to keep my resume up to date.Time to do activities for as long as I like. No accountability to a clock. No needing to document in a computer about my workload. Do not miss it. Reporting to myself. So am I using the time wisely. Yes. But just getting my feet wet in planned activities. Have accomplished some items already. My exercise program is on track. Walking in the morning and a short walk in the afternoon. So will add the next stage. Bought some cheap exercise DVD.  Some crafts on the go. Organizing little corners of my life. More time with Adolph. Some help with the grandchildren. Now to connect with family and friends rather than just through social media. No need to sing the Mamas and Papas song- Monday, Monday anymore.
#Mondays#retirementisdifferent#justgettingstartedwiththeretirmentthing#planningmoreactivities#startinganewlife#

SUMMER REFLECTIONS 2018

So the third week of July and summer seems to be moving along. Since the heat wave has passed, breathing better and less concerned about the effect of summer on Adolph's health. The back porch garden is producing- well some produce! Tomatoes, beans, eggplant, green pepper, cucumber! Let's me know I can have a simple porch garden and be content. Tired of the overgrown jungle in my yard. Tired of the work. Enjoying the local farmers market. As fast as I buy cherries or other fruit, Adolph wolfs it down! Ordering some supplies for the projects I have planned. Seeing the grandchildren often enough but still have to have some one on one Nana times with them. Enjoying the walking that summer brings. Helps to establish some new habits that include exercise. More time to clean those corners little by little. Organized some items to have in the car. Goal to keep everything neat. If my house can not be neat at least my car can be!! Yes the reading which gives me the time to be outside and enjoy some sun then some shade to stay outside longer. Summer with its beckoning to relax and take in all that life has to offer.
#summertime#readingandrelaxing#timetoslowdownandsmelltheflowers#summerfruit#eatingcherries#backporchproduce#suppliesforprojects#farmersmarket#gardentakeslotsofwork