APRIL 2020- COVID-19 MONTH

No matter how we wanted it to be- COVID-19 was the theme and the topic non-stop.

Children kept out of school.

The Class of 2020 told there would be no graduations, no proms and no real end to the school year.

Words like social distancing then physical distancing.

Stay safe.

Be strong.

Unprecedented.

Flatten the curve.

Just stay home!!

Stay home saving lives.

Stop the Spread.

Canada Together.

Wearing a mask.

Wash your hands. Sneeze or cough into your sleeve.

And we can not forget- speaking moistly!!

The messages were bombarded from all directions. It seemed they would never end.

And now we head into May.

Will there be more messages? More concerns about the virus??
What do you think? How was your April?
#april2020#wordsofthequarantine#gettingthroughapandemic#stayingconnected#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#covid-19

COVID19-HELP A CANADIAN FARMER-EAT FRENCH FRIES

There was a segment on Your Morning about this very issue.

Apparently there is a glut of french fries. With so many restaurants closed, there is a surplus of potatoes.

People are buying bags but not eating fries.

So eat more french fries to help our potato farmers.

If ordering online, well order some fries too.

French fries can be a comfort food too.

Of course it could be a good time to make some gnocchi too with fresh potatoes.
#frenchfries#eatfrenchfriesduringthepandemic#helpingourCanadianfarmer#putfrenchfriesonyourdiet#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SPRING CONSTRUCTION IMAGES 2020 IN RICHMOND HILL

 The construction on Yonge Street in Richmond Hill for the YRT Viva buses has been ongoing for a couple of year now.

 The partially finished bus stop at Yonge and Harding.

Machines.

 A view on Yonge Street looking south from Harding Blvd.

 Some equipment.

Orange can be seen everywhere.

Construction is happening for some and closed for others during this pandemic.
#constructioninRichmondHill#lotsofimagesoftheconstruction#inandaroundmyneighbourhood#imagesofconstruction#photosbybarbara#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

RICHMOND HILL IMAGES DURING COVID-19 2020

I am a history buff at heart. And love to take photographs.

So some beginning images in and around my neighbourhood during April 2020 and COVID-19.

The restaurant next to our house on Yonge Street. A notice in the window.

St Patrick's Day party that did not happen.

The London Pub hand written closure note.

The Central Library is closed and are all Richmond Hill facilities.

 The empty parking lot.

 One lone person by the door.

The Hospital- Mackenzie Richmond Hill in the distance.With the Police station in the foreground.

The sign at the local park where my grandchildren often play.
No playing in the park.

 Caution barrier tape around all the equipment.

 The tennis courts are closed.

 Even the basketball net is covered.

                                                                      Another view.

 Yes ignorant dog owners who leave bags of poop in the park.

 The empty parking lot by the park and the Wave Pool.

The Robin is oblivious to the lock down.

 The Wave pool door.

A family by the Wave Pool celebrating from a distance and saying Happy 50 Anniversary to a couple on the 4th or 5th floor of the Northern part of the Dynasty on Harding Blvd.

The Coroner going into Sunrise.

You can see the police cars.

All these photos were taken April 5, 2020. They are one day in the life of my neighbourhood during the restrictions of CORVID-19.
#viewsofrichmondhillduringthelockdown#wavepool#library#celebrating50yearsforacoupleinthedynasty#walkingaroundmyneighbourhood#emptyparkinglots#thehospitalfromadistance#walkingaroundthearea#closuresignsonthedoor#dogownersleavebagsofpoop#theplaygroundisclosed#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#photosinmyareaduringCOVID-19

WHAT DOES HISTORY TEACH US? THIS COVID-19 TOO SHALL PASS!

History teaches us many lessons.

History repeats itself.

So what can we learn from history about COVID19. Do not hurry back to the old life too soon

More questions than answers.

When can small family gatherings occur?
What about charity fund raisers, weddings and other moderate gatherings?
When can we have public gatherings again?

Medically- how soon can we expect a vaccine??

Keep washing our hands. Keep sneezing and coughing into our sleeves. Do not touch your face.

Will masks become trendy.

Gloves were a fashion statement after the Spanish Flu. Queen Elizabeth II has always worn gloves to public events.

History has had the good, the bad and the ugly. Events that haunt us to this day.

History teaches us about discrimination. It teaches us we like to blame people. It teaches us racism can be alive and well not nice.

History teaches us to find ways to be kind and treat others as equals.

History teaches us that often we think it is survival of the fittest. So if the old or infirm or developmentally challenged or compromised babies/children or whoever die than it was meant to be!!
The healthy and fit should survive. What happens though when so called healthy people die for no apparent reason from COVID-19 then what??

It seems trite but COVID-19 will become history at some point. How we act and do and feel will be part of our history!!

Will it be a string of Instagam and tik tok and facebook songs and all the stuff we have done at home to cope??

Some say there will be a better world!! But what if you liked your old world?? What if you do not cope well? What if someone you love dies?

What if??
#whatwillhistoryteachus#doeshistoryrepeatitself#racismraisesitsuglyhead#glovesandmasks#learningfrompastpandemics#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#covid-19

BOOMER BARBARA ROCKS RETIREMENT- SOME THOUGHTS ON COVID-19

Firstly COVID-19 really sucks big time. Having said that, I do have some thoughts.

As the age group and older that is at risk, it is imperative to stay home.

My life has not changed so much as I have been staying home most of the time with the care needed for a chronically ill spouse.

I do miss the day trips occasionally that did occur. I miss a movie theatre visit with extended family. A lunch out with friends. A quiet grocery shop without all the pressure of what COVID-19 brings. Or having family and friends over for a dinner or social evening.

I am shopping online more and buying bulk items that can be delivered to my door. Like the orange crush my husband drinks daily.

No sense going to the store to haul home 4 cases at a time.

I muse at the younger generation staying home and not liking it. Will the need for early retirement go by the wayside? Having lots of time to do stuff is not as exciting when thrust upon a person!!

So my interests and hobbies keep me interested.

But there is a real sadness to it all. Hearing about the number of cases and especially the number of deaths is disheartening.

So we go on. We will get through this. In what shape, time will tell.
#covid19andretirement#survivingretirement#survivingcovid19#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#covid-19

COVID-19 AND DISTANCE CELEBRATIONS

A grandson 's birthday will be celebrated from a distance. A wave and visual hug from the doorway.

Finding ways to keep the happiness of life going is not as challenging as it seems.

With modern technology and social media it is doable.

What is missing is the human touch that we all need?

Children have it right. They have their "stuffies" or teddy bears and other stuffed toys to hug. Perhaps the adults need to get some too or borrow from their children.

Life is celebrated every day with the rising of the sun. So a Birthday. An Anniversary. A new baby. Celebrate and celebrate some more.

Make fun pictures. Use your mask as a prop.

The reason we celebrate is because some people will die from this pandemic.

Since we have life it is our obligation to celebrate and not waste the day!
So let us eat cake!!
#celebrations#celebrationsandcovid19#celebratingtoenjoylife#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#covid-19

WEAR RED FRIDAY FOR THOSE IN NOVA SCOTIA

#WearRedFriday

A nice gesture of remembrance for those in Nova Scotia.

Wear red today.

I have my red blouse and Roots Canada hoodie on right now.

It feels good to have some solidarity with those in Nova Scotia.

However it feels incredibly sad to have to honour those beautiful people, loved ones and communities!

So are you wearing red today??
#wearredfriday#rememberingthoseinnovascotia#rememberingthevictims#asaddayfornovascotia#asaddayforcanada#solidaritywithNovaScotia#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID-19 AND HOW CLEAN IS YOUR HOUSE NOW?

At the beginning of the stay at home mandate, everyone was discussing how they were cleaning their house, their yard and everything in sight.

So after several weeks, how is it going??

Still in a cleaning frenzy?

Well my house has corners with messy activities. The craft room has a project on the go so the table is not cleared as I usually have it for the grandchildren to craft there.

So many extra shoes and my outdoor tools are by the front door handy.

I did not do my usual spring cleaning for Easter as I was not having a big dinner. I figure I will do a big fall cleaning, maybe??

My dining room houses my extra boxes of drinks our families use. Why put them away? No one is coming for a visit.

For video chats with family, just use a spot where the background can not be seen. Or a nice one!!

Of course, the kitchen and family room are where Adolph lives so they reflect his activities.

Living at home means using the home. So is anyone's house good for staging right now??

Probably not? And why should it be??

A home is where we live. Life brings some messy corners. Activities need to be messy for awhile then clean them up when finished!! People need the safe sanctity of home!!

Home is where the heart is!! But right now I think it is where the mess is too!!
#covid19andacleanhouse#messycornersbringactivities#howcleanisyourhouserightnow#areyoubusywithactivities#livingathomemeansusingthehome#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#iscovid19anexcusetouseourhomesmoreactively#homeiswherethemessis#covid-19

COVID-19 AND CHANGING YOUR MIND ABOUT EARLY RETIREMENT

I did not retire early. I was almost 69. I would have worked longer if I did not have a chronically ill spouse who needed my time and care.

I took lots of slack from others in my family who retired in their 50s. Why was I working??

I took ageism at work. Even though I could run circles around those 30 years younger than I was, I often was treated as old.

So I watch the COVID-19 unfolding and all the people now having to work from home. The whining and how hard it is. Having to wear PJs all day etc.

Really. I get up, get washed, get dressed and put my makeup on first thing then make the coffee and morning routines for my spouse.

So many people had dreamed about working from home. What has happened is they do not like it??

So that is what retirement really looks like. Being home and making a new life.

My question- will it change people's minds about that early retirement thing? Will it make people appreciate the social aspect of the work environment? Colleagues? Acquaintances?

Those of us who have retired quickly are aware of how work colleagues drop you!!

For me I joined some new groups with new people. Now they are on hold to physically distancing and staying at home. But social being we are. They are there waiting.

Being home makes us aware of the surroundings. Is it the reason for the cleaning frenzy at the beginning of the stay at home mandate?  I wonder if the homes are still as clean!!

So the question. Has COVID-19 changed some of that magical thinking of what it would be like?? People have slowed down. Will they rev up again? Will there be an appreciation of those who have had to lose their job or income? Will there be more kindness when those same people are looking for work?

Early retirement is not so sweet, is it??
#covid19andearlyretirement#earlyretirementbubblebursted#stayinghomeandworkingfromhome#homeduringcovid19#retirementbringsitsownchallenges#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#covid-19

COVID-19 AND NEW SAYINGS

# Stayhome- are we tired of hearing this all the time.

Social distancing became physical distancing which is more amenable. We are social animals afterall!!

Wash your hands.

Don't touch your face.

Cough or sneeze into your sleeve.

The one I saw today was

                        APRIL DISTANCE

                                                                                                       
                                                       BRINGS MAY EXISTENCE!

We will have so many phrases that will become part of the English and World language!!

So what phrases are you tired of hearing? Can you add any to the mix? Have you been creative and thought of your own?
#covid19phrases#don'ttouchyourface#washyourhands#physicallydistancing#wearamask#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#covid-19

COVID-19 AND EARTH DAY

50 years since we started celebrating earth day.

With the environmental impact slowing due to the virus, it looks like Earth Day has a message for us.

Nature is reclaiming the earth in a good way.

Images from space show the air is clearing.

So Earth Day reminds all of us to practice good environmental habits.

I have composted for decades. I do not water grass. I let my garden be a little wild with wild flowers.

I try to walk as much as possible.

So what do you do for Earth Day??
#EarthDay2020#helpingtheEarthtoheal#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#covid-10

COVID-19 AND MAKING A FACE MASK

Proper masks are the best. But trying to keep supplies for Health Care Professionals caring for patients is our first priority.

So not having any masks, I decided to make some homemade ones.

These are sewed by hand. I was going to set up my machine that I have had trouble with the proper tension that I thought while I watched a movie or show just as easy to hand sew.

I used thick flannel material with some fusing inside.

The first were 6 inches by 9 inches. Two pieces of material and fusing. 1/4 inch elastic or make tubing or use something for ties. I tried different sizes. I made two small ones for the two youngest grandchildren. They will not be going out anywhere but I thought to help with the situation of seeing a mask as a good thing.

I used the pattern from the Missouri Quilt Company. Jennie has a tutorial there that is easy to follow.

Missouri Quilt Company

There are other designs.

National Quilting Circle had another design. It would be best to use a machine for it.

National Quilting Circle

I tried making the folding ones but they did not work for me.

I have worn the mask a few times when out on my very infrequent outings. I am staying close to home or in home from one week to the next.

Remember not to touch the front of the mask. Take it off from one side to the next, folding the front into each other. Into the wash as they are washable. I then hang then over the floor vent to get heat. Is heat something that kills germs and the virus?? Don't know but worth the try!!

There is lots of written literature about the effectiveness of homemade mask.

My feeling- better than nothing. Nose and mouth covered

I have ordered some masks from a local health care provision company- Age Comfort.
The box of 50 blue masks will be shared with my family groups so we all have some. I was able to order some heavy duty ones too.

With a severely chronically ill person in the home, I thought it wise to have them handy for any health care people that come to our home.

But good hand washing is the best at all times.
What kind of masks do you have for yourself and your family?
#stayathome#covid19#masksforcovid19#homemademasks#propermasksarebetter#keepingmasksforhealthcareproviders#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#gettingthroughcovid19#covid-19