FATHERS COME IN MANY SHAPES AND SIZES

Father's Day is an important time to reflect on all the fathers in our lives.

Natural Dads.

Stepdads.

Uncles and Friends who are like a father.

Men who want to be fathers.

Fathers who have lost a child.

Fathers no longer with us.

Then the father of our children and grandchildren.

Knowing that Dad and all he has done. The many moments not caught on camera.

The wisdom from the Dad. The love.

How are you celebrating Father's Day?
#father'sday#celebratingfather'sday#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THE SALVATION OF A DAILY WALK DURING COVID-19

Okay I always was a walker. Walked to work and home. Walking while retired.

However I have noticed that walking during COVID-19 reaches a new level for many people.

In our area physical distancing is easy as there are not crowds on the sidewalks where we walk.

So it makes it relaxing.

I carry a mask on my wrist just in case it is needed if walking by a group of people.

I do not walk by the bus shelter at Major Mackenie and Yonge as I do not know who was standing there before I arrived. So I cut across the little grass area to the sidewalk to go west.

I have noticed many more people have taken up the walk. Couples. Some people look like they have not walked in years. Stiff!!

Articles in ZOOMER have said brisk walking helps with a longer life expectancy. So brisk walking for some.

But not for me. Yes I walk faster on my walk. But I do not try to increase my heart rate.

WHY? I enjoy being out of the house. I like the birds and the view and the fresh air. I just like being out of the house.

It is so difficult to go anywhere without the fear of contracting COVID-19 but my walk is less of a risk.

So walking. My little walk to the mailbox in the afternoon helps with another venture out of the house. Sometimes chatting at a distance with a neighbour or two. The social thing is good too.

Remember any and all social interactions help with mental well being.

So do you walk? Does it help with your COVID-19 funk??
#walkingthroughcovid19#goforawalkformentalwellbeing#walkingandtheview#carryamaskwhenwalking#goforawalk#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JUNE AND SLOW REOPENING-IT WILL WORK

Life with COVID19 is doable.

Many activities can be enjoyed with physical distancing and wearing a mask.

Grocery store visits are still somewhat of a nightmare. Discount ones especially. The smaller overpriced markets are easier.

So to decide on spending more on grocery items with the smaller market, home delivery with shipping costs or to venture out to the stores.

Using up the supplies and resources at hand is a good idea. Trying to buy what is needed and can be eaten.

Helping and being with the grandchildren is the next step. Starting with a day then eventually moving on to a sleepover.

Doable but slowly to make it safe.

What are your thoughts about the slow reopening??
#covid19andreopening#doingitslowly#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NOTHING LIKE A HUG

Had wonderful visits by my bubble family groups. Some members wearing masks.

Hugs with no direct face encounters.

On grandson said he could hug me forever. Love him!
Oh a hug means so much.
#hug#socialbubblesopenup#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THE SOCIAL BUBBLE OPENS A LITTLE- OH COVID -19

So we have to decide who will be in our social bubble to help to continue to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Wearing masks. Physically distancing. These will continue to be the norm.

Hugs without kissing a face is a good thing. Hug to the side.

Oh yes the hand washing. It was always a good thing anyway.

I will still limit my social outings. My walk is good as I do not encounter lots of people. I carry one of my masks on my wrist in case I need it. Handy.

I will be making some more cloth masks for me and my immediate family. Waiting for the supply of interfacing fusible lining to arrive. I also want to use it to start some small quilting projects.

So the grandchildren can come by and visit us and vice versa. A visit in the backyard still distancing will be the norm for some time to come. Outdoor air is the best.

My visits to stores is limited. I still order some products online and have them delivered. Like the canned peaches.

The Premier said there will be no social bubble police. He respects that people will be responsible.

The bottom line is that we want to stay well and help rid the community of transmissions as much as possible.

Life goes on as well as the beat!!
#stoppingtransmissions#openingthesocialbubble#hugsareinagain#beingaroundfamily#keepwearingamask#protectingeachother#limitingsocialcontactsisagoodthing#stayingsafe#physicaldistancingwillcontinue#clothmasksforfamily#missedthosegrandchildrensomuch#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#COVID-19

JUNE- COVID19, RACIAL UNREST AND THE BEAT GOES ON

The beat goes on and on and on.

The stress of COVID19 exacerbated by the death of George Floyd has made June a month to remember.

Searching our souls and hearts and heads to continue to make this world better by justice, sensitivity and awareness.

Reading the number of COVID deaths worldwide.

The good news is the measures of staying a part have worked to reduce but not alleviate the curve is good.

Opening up slowly and reconnecting slowly is working slowly.

The new normal. Wearing a mask. But they now come in so many designs and colours we can be trendy too as well as safe.

Being outside. Hearing the birds sing.

But one joy in the last day. A beautiful yellow butterfly at my purple wild flowers in my wild backyard jungle.

I must get my camera next time and snap a photo or two.
#racialunrest#covid19#seeinggoodthingsinlife#socialawareness#beingcarefulwithreopening#safetyfirst#wearingamaskcanbetrendy#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JUNE AND ITS PURPLE FLOWERS

Flowers are a way to love the world. They can smell nice. Look pretty. Cheer you up.

Amidst my jungle of a backyard, the colours emerge. They invite the butterflies and birds too!
Why purple? It is the colour for healing.
#Juneflowers#iris#buttonflowers#wildflowers#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID19 AND PROCEED WITH CAUTION

As the world and economies are reopening, proceed with caution.

Physical distancing.

Wear a mask.

Wash your hands.

I want to rush into being with family. But I have to have patience with it all. I can be around my grandchildren without all the hugging and touching.

Touching surfaces and remembering to clean one's hands.

It is a new world and reality but doable.

I am getting better at ZOOM meetings but can I say I can't wait for a live one again!! At least my computer area is tidier as the webcam picks up the mess behind my head.

So phone calls, emails and facebook are still important for all those connections.

Caring for a sick family member during all of the COVID19 stuff has been very isolating and trying to say the least. So talking with a neighbour whose husband is not well helps each of us with moral support. Some sharing helps.

Finding ways to be helpful Sharing books with a neighbour who could not go to the library. Sending a pretty cloth mask to a sister as a surprise!! Little presents and food to family.

What do you want to do once you can do more??
#proceedwithcautionastheworldreopens#physicaldistancing#wearamask#washyourhands#berespectful#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JUNE-QUIET REFLECTION ABOUT LIFE'S EVENTS

As protests erupt around the USA and world against racism, personal reflection is necessary. Looking at history and connecting to it.

I will not be joining public displays but have thought about the current events.

Change begins with one. Rather than write a long winded speech about it all, I have decided to listen to the voices of others.

I have opened my ears to hear and listen and my eyes to see and witness.

Remember hearing and listening are two separate skills.

There is too much noise and quiet reflection stills the mind, body and soul.

I don't want to be angry about it all. Anger can be a defense for sadness.

So in your reflection and thoughts of it all, quiet your energy after seeing the pictures, hearing the speeches, feeling the pain of others, take your own journey of helping to change the world for the better.
#quietreflection#beingpartofthechange#quietthoughtsleadtochange#reflectivethoughtsbybarbard#barbaradimambor

COVID19 AND MASK PRODUCTION FOR FAMILY USE

Cloth masks have become the norm.

I made about 5 previously for me. Then decided my girls and families needed some.

So I asked the grandchildren what colours they would want.
Red, Black and I don't care!!

While waiting for the 200 yards of elastic to arrive from Missouri Quilt, I cut out the rectangles of 6X9 inches for adults and 5X7inches for children. I cut and ironed the FUSE on each piece of fabric.

I had stitched the elastic to the pieces for extra tightness.Sewing the three sides by machine.

 Turned and pinned the pleats into place. I chose to hand sew around the edges. My machine's tension is difficult to regulate. I did not want the frustration of tangled threads.Top stitching would be nicer, oh well!!

 My Sunday progress.

 Continued to sew on Monday Morning.

 Finished before lunch. Do you like the little ones I made for two grandchildren's stuffies??

After the picture into the washing machine to take away all my germs.

Let them dry overnight. Ironed first thing Tuesday morning and bagged for each family.

It felt good to make the mask delivery to them. Taking a little break this week from any more sewing to tidy and finish other projects.
How about you? Have you made cloth masks for yourself?? They are very easy to make. If not by machine, easy to hand sew if necessary.
#masks#clothmasks#colourfulmaskforfamily#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#sewingthroughthepandemic#masksareheretostay#makeamaskforfamily#simplemasksforfamily

AN ANGRY VOICE OR DEFIANT VOICE AGAINST RACISM

Okay. The talk right now is the injustice of racism.

I get it. I grew up in the sixties and listened and watched marches and riots.

I heard the words of Martin Luther King and wept when he was killed April 4, 1968.

Trying hard all my life to treat others with equality. Well the way I want to be treated.

Have I experienced discrimination? Yup! Have I experienced reverse racism? Yup.

Do I let it stop me from treating others fairly? Nope.

We all have some prejudice thoughts and say things sometimes that are not politically correct.

Okay no one is perfect!!

It is what we do with all our feelings and thoughts. Back to treating everyone fairly.

I do not like criminals that hurt others regardless of colour. I do not like what happens in Toronto and the GTA with gang killings of innocent people. I feel for the families.

Just to be angry and yell and accuse gets an audience until the speech is finished.

Peaceful protests. Not riots and looting and burning.

Speaking with a voice of calm defiance gets heard.

Who do you admire when a speech is delivered?

For me-
Obama. Barack and Michelle- she is wonderful
The Queen.
Martin Luther King.
Ghandi
A well delivered sermon.
Greta.
Mahala.
Brian Mulroney
Lester B. Pearson
Lisa La Flamme- a voice of calm.
Christine Lagarde

I remember speeches that had meaning. Of course if I were to think deeply there are many other  people that would come to mind.

When speaking against racism, speak from the heart. Every child should be able to walk down the street without fear. Every adult should be able to do the same thing.

Every parent that loses a child weeps.

Respecting our police force by being a community that is worth protecting. Do not commit crimes!!

Dealing with racism means constantly checking one's own views and feelings and thoughts. It starts with one. Me. You.

Learn to listen. Observe. Reserve judgement- it is a hard one. Act and protect others when necessary.
Speak up.

Racism reels its ugly head too often. Like Medusa, we can cut off one head but another grows. It is constant work.

Any anger I have about the events have turned to sadness. Sad for Mr. Floyd's family. Sad for the city. Sad for the community. Sad for all of us. Shame on us- we should know better.

What are your thoughts about recent events? How do you feel?
#angerturnstodefiance#racismreelsitsuglyhead#listeningtothewisdomofothers#checkingone'sprejudicethoughts#treatingothersfairly#beingpartofthesolutionnottheproblem#racismandmedusa#speakupandbepartofthesolution#listeningtoothers#respectingallpeople#peacefulprotestsnotriots#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JUNE-TIME TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS

Although May had some hot days, it was cooler than normal.

Gardens planted so time to do regular maintenance on them.

Time to get the summer reading ready and to read outside.

Some projects finished like the face masks for family and me. 30 of them.

Looking forward to more walks and fun time. Even if physically distancing.

Flowering trees and flowers in the garden are so delightful.

I can not get enough of purple flowers, can I??
#june#juneflowers#juneandbeingoutdoors#juneanditsbeauty#lovethosepurpleflowers#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro