FEBRUARY THE SHORT MONTH ENDING

February always seems like the last month of winter. But as all Canadians know March can be as varied with warm and cold weather, rain and snow, wear your boots-wear your runners! For this busy trying to reorganize my life's stuff person, it has been too short. Decluttering and trying to decide what to keep and what to sell, give away, throw away is an arduous job and it seems never ending. Besides I have been questioning myself- why did you save this Barb? As a "crafter" for decades, little things can be reused often. There is a wonderful website- HomeTalk- where people use old stuff and remake new things all the time. Lots of ideas but not for me right now. It is great to see  stuff that gets saved can have a new life. Most of us worry about becoming "hoarders" so filter our stuff often so there are rooms with bare spots and well neatness- if that is a word. I keep a bag of "scraps" and misc items for the grandchildren to use in crafts! So a month with some activity, no flu bug, Adolph recovering well from his January hospital stay, some movies, good eating and some fun and well thinking about working harder inside in March. As all gardeners know April is that devil of a month with the garden calling for cleanup and well work! But for the clutter, yeah some may make it to the curb and save a trip elsewhere. I always like it when I do not have to drag stuff anywhere but the curb! But put your heart into anything and lots of good things happen!

                                                            With love, Barb!

SHADES OF BLUE-A CROCHET BOY'S BLANKET

Using 3 different stitches as well as crocheting into the back of a stitch and as many shades of blue wool available, a little bed blanket was made for one of my grandsons.

Striped blankets are an easy way to use up those 1/2 balls that need using. My daughter also needed me to fix 5 little baby blankets that the kids use. They pull the strands or little holes develop from uses. So Nana fixed them all so they could be used in the car, at the cottage or snuggling while watching TV. Although I have made crocheted clothes items, blankets are always a hit. There is no need to measure- one size fits all. So what is next- well my littlest granddaughter needs a longer blanket. Shades of pink is under way!
 #babyblanket # crochet items # Nana

#20 BARB'S REFLECTIVE150-OTTAWA OUR NATION'S CAPITAL

Ottawa is a beautiful city which happens to be the nation's capital. For the 150 there are many events planned. Just visit any website about Ottawa and the 150.

Several trips over my life to Ottawa. This postcard is from a class trip in 1964. Adolph and I took an anniversary trip in 2011.

Love those tulips during the Annual Tulip Festival.

The big spider street art is such a favourite with all the tourists. So what are you waiting for? Go visit Ottawa during the 150!!!

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS #3

Researching today is so different than 30 years ago. The online connections are great. Facebook has many genealogy groups that make connections with family groups fun and interesting. I now belong to 3 groups- Durham Region and Kawarthas which are my family lines and the Cassino Immigrant group which have my husband's lines. It is still important to provide information to the various societies' newsletters. Ontario Genealogical Society is always looking for new members. Check out all the branches where your loved ones may have lived. It is really a minimal cost to connect with these groups. To keep genealogy alive and well supporting those groups is as important as supporting a charity. Volunteers have for decades transcribed cemetery records, census, local newspaper that once printed seems like such an easy task but hours of  loved labour has gone into it. If from another province then join your provincial group and local branches. I also belong to the York Region group where I have no ancestors but have lived in the region most of my life. I feel an obligation to connect to it as well as write my history of how the region has changed. Since it is Canada's 150 many groups have asked for submissions of where were your ancestors in 1867. What were they doing? I am still considering what to write regarding our family lines. So there is no time like the present. If considering a family history journey why not start today!
#genealogyresearch#familyhistory#CassinoImmigrantgroup#OntarioGenealogicalSociety#belongingtobranchesofOGS#learningaboutthefamilyisimportant#cemeteryrecords#yorkregionbranch#Durhambranch#Kawarthasbranch

WHAT IS COMPASSION?

The ability to walk in someone's experience and feel for them. Showing love, kindness, concern! Not being a pushover but a sensitive, well meaning person. Not pity! No matter what the job to be able to be compassionate. Giving donations to worthy causes and how one defines worthy is relevant to that person. Loving oneself is important to give to others. Self-care to have the capacity and energy to see the world around all of us. Giving a hand up and not a handout. Although sometimes it starts with a handout to get someone started. How would you define compassion? Have there been times others have shown you compassion? Have there been times when you know you were compassionate to someone else? Do you think there is enough compassion in this world? If not, how to expand our ability to be compassionate? Finally is it a learned skill or some people are just born with it? Your thoughts?

NANA SAYS REVIEW SAFETY FOR CHILDREN

Safety is always paramount. Snow forts that can collapse and smother children and even adults. Ice and slippery walking. Wearing proper footwear. Easy for little ones but harder for teens and some adults. Working partly on an ortho floor, last week's ice brought in lots of fractured ankles from falls!  With warm and cold weather, being on icy lakes and rivers bring treacherous conditions. A death on Lake Scugog of a snowmobile going through the water on a night ride. So maybe teens and adults should not be out on lakes at night where the visibility is so poor. Ski and snowboarding conditions change. Being careful of bare spots that can flip a person. The Ontario mud can be cumbersome as well. Still just February but with Spring and those conditions around the corner, thinking safety never hurts. Waterways with spring runoffs need to be considered. Reminding children of the dangers. Even nagging children is very okay in this area. Children take stupid chances to nag away! Have a family motto of SAFETY FIRST! Always!

#19 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- LOVE THE WINTER FESTS

From Ottawa and coast to coast, regions are celebrating winter with their own winter festivals. Richmond Hill had the Winter Carnival a few weeks ago. Regina is having one this week. Ski competitions abound. Embracing winter is very Canadian. Even for Family Day a special skating party at Nathan Phillip Square with a live band. For many just getting out and having a walk- sometimes with the dog is the winter fest. Winter Festivals!

FAMILY DAY-TIME TO CHILL AND PURGE THE CRAFT ROOM

With the sunny sky outside, the urge to clean and organize prevails. Not Spring but Spring cleaning! The craft room is the project of the day. Sorting and purging so many little clutter baskets and containers. Trying to put most of the stuff in large tower movable drawers so when it is time to relocate then the stuff is ready to go. Just roll it out. Besides as any crafter knows so many little pieces of ribbon and cardboard and stuff gets saved just in case it can be used in a project. Saving one large bag of little scraps for the grandkids! However lots can go. Some to the garbage and some to several bags for a spring garage sale to be held by a ladies club where I am a member. What are my priorities?  Well knitted and crocheted blankets, hats, scarves and trying to get to some quilting projects. But no clothes for anyone! So being a little mercenary today- it is time. If my daughters had to clean my mess, they would be cursing me! So deciding to move forward with the rounding in the house! When it is all neat and organized again, projects will be easier to tackle. Seeing the amount of supplies gives ideas to do alone or with my grandkiddies!
#craftswiththegrandchildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#craftingisfun#usingafamilydaytochillwiththegrandchildren#makingstuffwithfamilyisfun#lotsofprojectstodoandfinish

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS #2

Genealogy includes so many family and cousin lines. It is important to decide how much is needed to make your endeavors fun. A recent webinar on my staycation stressed the importance of remembering all those cousins share the same ancestors. It is their information too. So a good family historian shares. I have some amazing documents that others shared with me over the years. Scanning them and saving in the appropriate files. But sometimes just photocopying and giving to the important family members that will share with their own loved ones is important. The rule to have information in more than one site or even province. So sending to libraries, genealogical societies, writing articles and well sharing. I just shared recently so hope the cousin will enjoy! Of course there will be more sharing it was just the beginning!

FAMILY DAY WEEKEND IN PARTS OF CANADA

A Monday off in the middle of winter is always a joyful occasion. Most families will chill and depending on where they live in Canada maybe even chill more. Many government offices and places are closed but tourist places open so families can go out and enjoy. Your Morning- CTV- had a segment on the Winterlude in Ottawa. Looks like so much fun. Maybe a winter trip another year to enjoy. For this worker bee, babysitting some of my grandchildren on a Saturday night. It should be fun as we have popcorn, ice cream and watch a movie. The weekend is  a good time to work on those projects. I always feel the pressure this time of year to complete indoor stuff as that garden come April will be work and more work!! So getting out for some fresh air and doing some indoor fun with the kids is my mantra this time. It is Family Day weekend, eh!!

#18 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150-LOVE THE CANADIAN FLAG

February 15, 1965 Canada had a new flag. It was such serious debate and designs for years before it happened. Hard to imagine Canada with any other flag now. Small and large- we wave it, we carry it at events and fly it on flag poles. Our Olympians pass around a big one at the end of each games- a flag tradition.

I like to have one outside the week before and after July 1- Canada Day.

Flying high at all government businesses.

Even make nice reflective pictures at tourist sites.

Remembrance Day sees the flag carried. Of course, one notices the flag of Ontario.

                   Oh Canada, our home and native land with flag equally as grand!

VALENTINE'S DAY 2017

Red and pink are the colours. Although most of Canada is seeing white due to the abundance of snow. Valentine's Day began with a martyr in 269 C.E. in Romans times. Apparently he was a priest who married Christian couples so was killed. It is fun to read versions of how the day all started. Even the cupid angle brings in Greek mythology. So do some research to help with some facts of the day. Impress your colleagues and friends with your wisdom. Modern Valentine's Day is cards, red roses and lots of chocolates. Dinner out makes all the restaurants busy and happy. Being on a Tuesday, many lovers probably celebrated over the weekend.

It is an opportunity to break up the winter season with some fun. For children at school they write little cards to each other.
For this Senior couple, take out and eating in will be the day. I bought two big cupcakes at work to bring home to help with the celebration. Some goodies, stickers, pencils and a piece of clothing for all my grandchildren made it fun. Of course a little monetary surprise to give them a boost. My real sweet Valentines are my six sweet grandchildren. How about you? What are your plans for the day? How do you celebrate?

WEEKEND OF CANADIAN SNOW AND FAMILY PROJECTS

Snow shovelling and lots of work at the computer entailed the weekend. Yeah, I finished a family project that I had wanted done during my staycation. Better late than never! I went to a movie with my oldest daughter. It is nice to have time alone with a child. Even the little crocheted blanket for my youngest grandson was finished last week. So Canada coast to coast is expecting lots of snow. The Maritimes are being slammed again. So family there must brace themselves. The positive side is the farmers and the vegetation need the winter precipitation to allow growing. It means though that this blogger starts the work week tired. So I need to catch up on the posts. Did you miss me?

SNOW IS THE NORM IN CANADA RIGHT NOW

Lots of snow but now some ice everywhere! I take snow any day! Ice cause more issues and problems like fractures. Wearing proper foot wear helps but slipping and sliding on ice can be treacherous. Vancouver has asked its residents to stay home and avoid the bad weather. Oh for those child snow days at work! In bad weather, we are advised to leave earlier for our jobs to get to work on time. Or to be living in Vancouver!

NANA SAYS EVERY CHILD IS GIFTED

Children are tested at school. Some are tested for the gifted stream. It can be bragging rights. I remember when my children were little and a parent at an event would state about the gifted child she had. Yes academically some children are gifted and is a good thing to give them an enriched program.  If a child is bored in school because the work is too easy then it can be cumbersome! But what does it mean in the long run of life. Taking a Nana stand that every child is gifted in so many ways- a sweet personality, athletic, artistic, good reader, little helper, social skills, just the fact the child is in this world. Okay all my grandchildren are gifted to me!! Schools streamline children to fit the mould. If a child is a little different then many teachers can not cope. So part of the issue can be, we need  teachers that can accept the differences in all their students regardless! Finding the strengths! Letting the active child move when needed. For adults that have trouble sitting, there are now standing desks to help with the day. Telling people to move around helps with brain function. Some adults pick careers that allow them to move. However say they could not do a desk job- have trouble sitting all day! So- why not see the same premise with little children who need to move! The parent with a special needs child that learns one new skill once in a blue moon will need to hear that child is gifted too. Children learn differently and some may take longer to get a new math concept, while others do not hesitate to go on to the next level quickly. But everyone eventually will get it! As children grow, their interests, skills and strengths will surface. Remember those emotional skills-emotional intelligence is so important too. Perhaps fodder for a longer discussion. So what gifts do the children in your life bring to your world??
#everychildisgifted#specialneedschildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#littlechildrenneedtomove#exerciseisgoodforthesoul

LUCKY 7 OR JUST AN UNEVEN NUMBER

7 is often seen as a lucky number. I thought of 7 because it is the 7th of February. Some days the ideas do not flow so whatever is in my world comes to the page. I really don't know if I have a lucky number- think not. For the lottery, I play our birthdays sometimes but usually just a quick pick! 7 is uneven so I like that! Life is not always even! So an uneven number of any kind suits me. It is fun to have a dinner party with an uneven number. Someone gets the crooked chair- usually me! I try to be organized but have learned to accept life with its uneveness! In all fairness, sometimes the thrills come that way. Oh the realization that I can get through it to live another day! So do you have a lucky number?
#luckyseven#lifeisunevenlikethenumber7#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SCANNER HELPS GENEALOGY

Finally understanding my new scanner- ScanSnap! So this last weekend been scanning large projects to be saved in Evernote. Need to photocopy some to share with family members. My continued goal to go digital and share with others is coming together. The best part is how easy it is to scan photos as well. So perhaps more photo books and themes. I am on a roll. My January Staycation helped me organize my work space. My daughters teach me about how to market some of my stuff differently! So one effort can have more results attached to it! The scanner is so compact! Remember the first flat bed scanners that needed as much space as the computer. The one on the printer takes as long for one page as this scanner does for 50 pages. Oh technology- have to love it!#snansnap
solutions.ca.fujitsu.com/products/scansnap/ix500#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WEATHER IS PART OF CONVERSATION-HOW CANADIAN EH?

Okay. Weather is our favourite topic. We can converse with strangers- cold, isn't it! Like that heat! A letter can talk about the weather. Watching the news and weather is a big highlight. Like today- the calm before the storm of bad weather predicted across the country. Snowy weather is coming. New Brunswick is still reeling from power outages from the 2017 Ice Storm! The GTA feels their pain- Dec. 2013 Ice Storm brought havoc to this area. Some customers went a month with no hydro. And the trees made areas look like a war zone. Snow storms, ice storms, thunderstorms, tornadoes, floods, droughts- well we have it all. Can go from -40 C in the winter to + 30 in the summer. Flexible we are and love to talk about the weather. So how is it where you live?

PRETTY FLOWERS CHEER UP FEBRUARY BLAHS AND OTHER IDEAS

Although January can be hard on the psyche, more depression and suicides can occur in February. So how to get through the winter blahs and depression. Firstly if you suffer from clinical depression, see your doctor, psychiatrist or get yourself to the nearest Emergency Department if suicidal. Sometimes real clinical help is needed not just some helpful suggestions like suggested here.
For those just getting tired of winter, surround yourself with things that bring some comfort and joy. 1.Like a pretty plant! Don't you just love the pink!
2. Go out for a dinner- if too expensive the breakfast restaurants can be fun and cheaper.
3.Go to a movie! Yes many have plans on your cable or netflex or whatever but sometimes just getting out of the house and going somewhere helps the mood.
4.If on a real tight budget, visit your local library. Many have coffee shops or you can bring your own beverage. It's free to browse the books or even take some home with your library card.
5. Of course for the lucky ones, a trip south or west or out of the country can really break up the rest of the winter months.
6.For winter buffs, skiing or snowboarding of tubing enjoying the winter can bring some good exercise and enjoyment.
7.February can be that time before the hoopla of garden cleanup that comes with Spring so perhaps some research and planning on what needs to be done.
8.Starting those little plants inside to put in the garden later can bring some pleasure too.
9.Too many people wish the winter months away instead of using the time effectively for well- Living!
10.It is a wonderful time to research and plan or simply do the easy stuff!
11. Read a book or many books that have been on your pile.
12.Contact with friends and family- text, email or maybe try an old fashioned letter. See how your hand flows on the paper. Or if not a letter maybe those little note cards for a few lines.
So what ideas do you have to embrace the long nights of winter!
#februarytheworsemonthforsuicides#februaryblahs#suggestionstoenjoythewinter#getprofessionalhelpifneeded#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#gotoamovie#readabook#getconnectedtofriendsandfamily#dooutdooractivities#reachouttootherswhoareathome

GROUND HOG DAY IN CANADA

Will Wiarton Willie see his shadow?

There are several areas in Canada where the little rodent is asked to predict Spring. Nova Scotia- Shubenacadie Sam, Manitoba-Brandon Bob and Alberta- Balzac Billy.
Here in Ontario it is Willie. Started as a tradition in the Bruce County in 1956, it allows for a fun Winter Festival around it! Wiarton is a pretty town in Ontario. A good stop before proceeding to Tobermory and the big lake- Lake Huron. Nice beaches nearby too. A three hour jaunt from my home, it is a good overnight trip!

Generations of Willie have come out of their hibernation to let us know if Spring is around the corner or 6 more weeks of winter. Since Spring usually happens March 21 every year anyway, it seems reasonable to say there is 6 more weeks whether he sees his shadow or not!! A fun or silly tradition, it is Ground Hog day. Unfortunately it does not come with a day off from work!

NANA SAYS FEBRUARY BRINGS EVENTS

Yeah Family Day weekend in a couple of weeks so time to plan some family event. If one is into football, Super Bowl Sunday this weekend. Of course little children and big ones too love Valentines. Time for some heart crafts to help children keep their hands and minds busy. Red and pink sure add some fun colours to the winter white. February is a short month but a prelude to the Spring. Perhaps start some plants in the home to teach children about growing their own food. One grandson had a bean plant growing in his Mom's kitchen. Simple fun indoor projects and activities for children and parents. Perhaps the grandparents can help them start a plant or two at their homes.