The mill at Black Creek Pioneer Village is one of the only working water-powered mills in this part of the country. We live in the machine age but very few of the technologies we use are transparent. Children understand what things do, but they usually can’t understand how they do it. In fact, the same is usually true for us adults! It is really wonderful for children to see something like a working mill. It is mechanical and very powerful, and most importantly, you can see all the gears and wheels with your own eyes. You can understand how it works.

You can even buy flour ground at the mill in the Village gift shop. Take it home and bake something with your children!

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Metro Morning, the CBC Radio 1 morning show, had a nice piece today about getting ready for the pre-teen years. Karen Horseman, who is on a roll these days if you ask me, spoke about her feelings as her oldest child starts Grade 7. He now has a locker at school and subtle changes in relations between the boys and the girls are starting to happen. It’s a moment that make many parents nervous – their first child is approaching the end of childhood …

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This was weekend was Thanksgiving. We drove to my eldest daughter’s new place in London and spent a lovely afternoon together yesterday. After the meal, we went around the circle and each person said something they were thankful for. I know it sounds corny, but it was lovely, and really interesting to hear what each person came up with.

We fit the whole crowd in, including the animals.

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It’s strange to say this, but our children don’t get to see much real work. Mom or Dad sitting at a computer, or rushing off to a meeting is not something a young child can understand as “work.” Dad or Mom sweeping the floor with a broom is. We’re not going to change our world, nor should we, but I think we do need to make a conscious effort to get our children out to see “real things.”

Hard at work, the way the pioneers did it

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My younger son just started playing in the local basketball house league. His first game was on the weekend, and what  a joy it was to see all those people there just for the kids. No try-outs, no pressure, just lots of encouragement and lots of fun. That’s what’s great about house league sports.

House leagues teach skills in an inclusive, supportive environment. I love it!

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We took in some of the sights (sites?) at Nuit Blanche last night in the city. What a great feeling to be outside with so many people, just to see art! You really experience the city as a community. Yes, there were too many people, especially as the evening went on, but it was in incredible experience just the same. Below are my tips for having a great Nuit Blanche.

This van has hundreds, or thousands, of holes drilled in it in flowing geometric patterns and was lit from the inside. The van was on a rotating platform, casting subtle pattern of lights on the surrounding buildings.

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Parenting is a complex, multi-layered job and I do a lot better at it when I have a tidy home. Unfortunately, being human and all, I don’t always manage to keep it that way. But when things are in their place, I find I can think better, react to my kids less, and it’s a whole lot easier for my kids to keep things tidy themselves. But when a part of my home becomes a little clutter-hell, I want to go into avoidance. Not useful.

Here’s how I have learned to deal with it …

This unretouched photo shows our den, in an actual de-cluttered state

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This is not news: our children don’t get enough movement. In fact, none of us do. I’m sitting here typing on a keyboard, that, plus the phone, plus the car, plus reading various materials, plus the occasional meeting, pretty much summarizes my workday. At the end of the day I’m tired, so as soon as dinner is ready, I’m sitting again to eat it. Then, after that, I might watch a movie. If I am not careful, I may find I have been sitting for almost all of the time I am awake. That is just not healthy.

And it sets a terrible example for our children.

Shooting hoops is better than sitting.

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The Brews Fest was this weekend at Black Creek Pioneer Village. There was lovely fall weather, and lots of people, including many families, came out for the event. I took some photos, and here are a few …

Young and old came out the meet the brewers and learn something about craft beer at the Black Creek Brews Fest.

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