END OF YEAR BLESSINGS

Reflecting on a year can be an emotional journey. Each year has its ups and downs. For me a retirement, husband with 4 hospitalizations, 2 funerals, 1 baby shower, birthday cakes, day trips, farmers markets, family visits and well continuing to be a blogger. Still healthy enough to do all that needs to be done at home.
So what is a blessing! Good luck. Good times. Not taking what I have in life as a given. Looking for ways to augment my life and the lives of those around me. Remembering to take each day as it comes. Enjoying all the little things in life. Being thankful. Trying not to be angry about the misfortunes that have come my way.
Blessed not to compare with those who seem to get everything without any effort. Not really mine to judge.To be happy and content with what I have.
So am I blessed? Yes. Family, friends, a home, food on the table and the cognitive mind to do those things in life that bring joy, pleasure, meaning and perhaps some extra income.
How about you? What are your thoughts on your blessings for the Year? Do you feel blessed?
#countingourblessings#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#theyearanditsupsanddowns#goodluckorbeingblessed#whathasbeenaccomplishedovertheyear#takingthebadwiththegood#havinghealth#feelingblessed

GRAFFITI ALLEY TORONTO-IS IT ART?

A visit to Graffiti Alley- Queen West in Toronto was an enjoyable visit.My granddaughter had heard about it and wanted to take some pictures.

Laneway behind stores- it is a place where real people live and work. It can be seen by the garbage put out.

There is so much to see and try to differentiate from one mural to another.

Taking time to review each one was difficult in the freezing cold wind.

I am sure this Toronto mural has many pictures with tourists and locals!

This mural is popular for all the good sayings on it. Commissioned probably by the hair salon around the corner!

The colours are so vibrant.

Of course these pictures only depict a portion of all the murals. Cold made the viewers scant. However on a warm day one can envision crowds! The laneways are located in Queen West- a trendy area of the city. Reading the reviews on the area and Graffiti Alley the one notation was the fact it is free! Free to walk around and take pictures or just enjoy the artistry of it all. I would suggest if visiting the area to make sure to visit the shops on Queen Street too. For me a cold winter day with family was a  hurried visit. If I had visitors to the city then it would be a place to take them for pictures and a lunch! The fascinating piece was I had never heard of the place. My granddaughter knew about it from friends I guess. So learning about a new place and seeing something different is always exciting to me. I have another grandchild that might be interested in seeing it too.
How about you? Do you think graffiti is art? Have you ever done graffiti on a place? Do you like to leave your mark? Thoughts!
#grafitialleyintoronto#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#muralsonwalls#queenwestintoronto#torontohashiddenlocations#doyoulikegrafiti#visitinglocationsintoronto#isgraffitiart

WHAT A YEAR BUT WE MADE IT-RESILIENCE

With some of the changes and adversity of the year to be at its end intact is surely a blessing for me. Family is very important to most of us. Having all my family and being able to celebrate the Christmas season together was wonderful. With Adolph's 4 hospitalizations and not knowing what direction life was taking us was very disconcerting. Now holding his own, life flows. Issues in other extended family are resolving too. Friends that are having some struggles are well supported and those issues will resolve in due process. Each year in my life and your life too brings what it brings. Not predicable. There can be goals and resolutions but even then life can get in the way. So reviewing what was and knowing resilience prevails is a good thing. Stand up and congratulate yourself for making it through all the good, the bad and the ugly times. Look around and relish or cherish those people in your life that make you smile. Those people closest to your heart and your soul. Oh 2018 made it through. To enjoy the last day of the year with quiet resolution! And some eating will do too!!
#newyear#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#resilience#toughtimesweremetwithresilience#knowingyoucanmakeit#dealingwiththosestrugglesoflife#howtostaypositive#alovedone'sillness3caregiversupport#cherishyourlovedones

REFLECTIVE BARB'S FAVOURITE CANADIAN IMAGES OF 2018

As a history buff, loved the day out with a friend to visit the Viking Exhibit at the ROM- Royal Ontario Museum.

Winter snow and opportunities for those photos.

Making muffins with grandchildren and the aroma in the house.

Or coloured ravioli in cream sauce.

Winning a beautiful painting by a local artist in a charity event raffle.

The first signs of a Canadian Spring.

My first attempt at a porch garden to let my husband have outdoor activity.

There could be pages of garden images but just a few will suffice.

Cake and more cake for all occasions- birthdays, easter, mother's day, just because cake!!

Butterflies in the garden, ciambelle for my hubby and a new stash of wool for projects.

A day at a grandchild's horse camp and quilts at the Creek. That country feeling.

A day cruise on the Grand River and hearing a pow-wow!

More photos of colourful Canadian Muskoka chairs.

Retirement celebration with family and a day out in Niagara-on-the Lake- winery tour and lunch with a daughter.

Sunflowers- popular for instagram selfies! The 2018 summer trend.

Those wonderful summer trips to farmers' markets and the produce obtained!

A day trip with friends to Stratford and the Festival. Music Man was lovely!!

Making pickled red peppers for us. Construction images that caught my eye on  a morning walk.

Fall vegetables- yeah pumpkins! And the colour. Don't fence me in!

Wreaths at a Remembrance Day Ceremony.

Going to events with my daughters. One baking event but others were Come From Away musical, movies, parades!

The hoopla and joy of the Christmas season. Love it all.

Crafts in process.

The Toronto Christmas Market with family. A play at Soul Pepper Theatre.

The Happy Place at Harbourfront. A day trip with a daughter and grandchildren and a friend. City images!

Grafitti Alley on Queen West. Great place to visit and take pictures. Didn't know it existed until a granddaughter wanted to go there.

Christmas Eve dinner for two.

Christmas Dinner for twelve.
2018- fun and stress and sorrow and joy. Family. Loss. Change. Time to relish in the beauty of my local area. A few of the many images captured. Happy New Year everyone.
#imagesfrom 2018#canadianimages#musicals#toronto#thehappyplace#eventswithdaughters#summerflowers#pumpkins#sunflowers#daytrips#farmers'markets#dinnerforfamily#cakesandcelebrations#funwithfamily#rivercruise#niagara-on-the-lake#wineries#timeoutwithfamily#movieswithfamily#grafittialleyqueenwest#imagesfromlocalplaces#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#celebratinglifeinCanada#grandriver#torontochristmasmarket#quiltsatthecreek#horsefarm#grandchildren