ARE YOU ON THE RIGHT TRACK?

 Are you on the right track?

The straight and narrow.

Do you want to follow your own path and see where it leads you?

During this pandemic, all the lofty goals we have had seem a little off track.

Hard to make too many long range plans as we do not know where the world is headed!!

But do you know where you want to be headed??

Having softer plans that are more immediate and present may be the way to keep on your own track.

Of course physically distancing from others on that track.

#ontherighttrack#stayingonyourownpath#havinglimitedgoals#tryingtobepresentinapandemic#knowwhereyouarehadeded#havingsofterplanstosurvive#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FALL IN FULL COLOUR IN ONTARIO

 The trees turning the array of colours each year is one of nature's gifts.

Not in the mood to drive around taking photos I thought I would share some from other years.

Each leaf has a story to tell.

My little sunflowers.

Scenes close to home.

Sunflower- the flower of hope. It turns to the sun. It adapts and changes.

Bulrushes.

Can't have enough pumpkin pictures.

Late bloom asters that help the bees.

Orange.

The strength of the oak.

Local farm and barn.

Fun with pumpkins.

My favourite laneway picture.

#fallimages#takingfallpicturesthroughtheyears#sunflowers#pumpkins#ontariohassomanybeautifulimages#seeingthebeautyaroundus#takingtimetoseethebeauty#somanyfallimagesovertheyears#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#mapleleaves#oakleaves#asimpleleafhasatorytotell

ORANGE SHIRT DAY

 Wearing an orange shirt is easy. 

Studying and learning about the need for Reconciliation is a different journey.

The National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation is a good place to find ways to connect with the issues.

Meanwhile I am wearing my orange shirt in remembrance of the Aboriginal child that could not wear it to her Residential School.

Due to COVID-19 isolation, no one will see me wearing it. But I know I am.

#orangeshirtday#truthandreconcilation#honouringthosechildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#everychildmatters

COVID-19 AND NEGATIVE NELLIES

 Not just the pandemic alone but the negative nellies make it overwhelming for many.

Yes the numbers are up in Ontario. Why?

Look at the social gatherings that should not have happened in droves with no public health protocols. The yahoos not the responsible family and friends limited social times.

We are not in March.

We have PPE.

Masks and cute ones at that.

Hand sanitizer everywhere and toilet paper.

We know more about COVID-19 than when we started. 

More testing done. More assessment centres.

We know how to physical distance. 

Stores limit the number of customers.

We smart ones follow the rules.

Yes some schools have had some covid. We smart ones knew it would happen.

We were aware of a second wave. Just not knowing how bad.

Can we get through it?

Well yes we can.

Should the kids be back at school. Yes they should.

Should we continue to be vigilant. Yes. 

Should we limit our social gatherings. Yes.

Should the authorities fine those that do not abide by the law. Yes. And yes again.

So negative nellies. Shut up!! That's all.

#negativenellies#yesweareinasecondwave#childrenneedtobeastschool#wehavePPE#everyonehasmasks#prettymasks#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS- GETTING BACK TO WRITING THOSE STORIES

 Reviewing so much of my research, it is now time to continue writing the stories.

I will reconnect with people who have contributed to my family knowledge. 

One area is my husband's Italian roots.

A wonderful place is the Cassino Group Facebook page. I have posted many pictures there as well as short stories.

I have found some birth, marriage and other pictures too for my use.

Many people who research post all their findings for others to use.

I was fortunate when I started researching in 1984 to have a mother-in-law Concetta Maturndola Di Mambro provide all Adolph's line to all his great-grandparents. Now with research in that group I am going to start to go back further. I do have some of his lines from current Italian second cousins who are researching. 

Of course digital and weeding duplicate paper copies of information is an onging process.

Photos from World War Two of Cassino.

#genealogy#writingthefamilystories#concettamatrundoladimambro#CassinoGroupFacebookpage#reflcetivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SUMMER 2020- DIFFERENT WITH COVID-19

 Limiting outings and social engagements due to COVID-19 did not stop all outings.

Going to outdoor spots with lots of physical distancing and wearing masks was the norm. 

A small farmer's market with masks and distancing.

An outdoor visit to the quaint town of Port Perry with family.

Terre Bleu Lavender farm near Campbellford Ontario.

Lunch on an outdoor patio with friends with masks and distancing.

The Toronto Van Gogh exhibit.

The muskoka chairs are good for sun and conversations.

A meal service on a bear skull.

An old fire truck has a new home

Riverstone Eco Reserve near Durham Ontario. A lunch with a chef who prepared indigenous dishes. A daughter's working lunch.

Finishing that wall hanging.

A double digit birthday.

Watching grandchildren go carting on the way to Blue Mountain.

Eating tacos in Blue Mountain Village.

Finding some nature photos.

Eating ice cream.

Visiting my Hillcrest market. Two cauliflowers for $8.00. I had to let the clerk hand pick them. What a difference, eh?

Making the square for the COVID-19 Memorial Blanket.

More masks for family and me.

My little crop of herbs from my porch garden.

A Dinasaur birthday celebration for a 5 year old.

Outdoor patio lunches over the summer with one daughter. Backyard barbecues with pool privileges with another daughter. 

So not lots of outings and places visited but some. August with back to school crisis thinking for parents made 2020 different.

#summer2020#covid19madethesummerdifferent#lavenderfarmvisit#collingwoodandbluemountain#rivestoneecoretreat#portperrydaytrip#summerbirthdays#beingwithfamily#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro