VINTAGE BUTTONS FROM THE RICHMOND HILL WINTER CARNIVAL

 Posted on Facebook to try to sell my vintage Richmond Hill Winter Carnival buttons.

No takers yet. The cost would be a charitable donation to the Woman and Child Program at Mackenzie Health in Adolph's memory.

Why did I buy 4?

                                                           1994- 5- really!!

                             1969- the first year of the carnival. I think we were given

                              these buttons at our High School- Langstaff Secondary School.

                                                                1991

                                                                1983

                                                                1992

My bunch of buttons.

Any takers. Email me at abdm@rogers.com if interested.

#richmondhillwintercarnival#buttonsfromthecarnival#1969aretherealvintageones#abunchofcarnivalbuttonsforcharity#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID PART OF OUR LIVES-HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE IT?

 New routines were necessary with COVID-19.

I have my little center by the front doo.

Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, boxed masked, homemade masks, face shield and some plastic gloves. 

Handy for coming and going or if anyone comes to the door.

Do you have a center in your house? 

#covid19centerbythefrontdoor#masks#handsanitizer#clothmasks#boxedmasks#faceshield#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#beingreadyforcovid

JANUARY NEARING ITS END-DID YOU GET EVERYTHING DONE?

The winter blahs compounded by COVID lockdowns are not very good for mood.

Limiting family contacts is difficult when living alone.

So phone calls, texts, emails and some masked door visits. I am trying to phone long distance family and friends.

My favourite thing is to make some goodies to take to the grandchildren.

They are on home schooling right now until they can return to virtual learning. I feel it breaks up their day a little.

Besides when I bake something the house has a good aroma in it. Tantalizing the senses helps with the mood.

I had some plans for January. I did not get everything done.

Restrictions so could not skate at my daughter's house.

Muddling my way through a couple of books.

Slowly knitting and crocheting some projects. 

Bills are done. Yeah!

Working on some personal family stuff.

Trying to finish some family history stories. We want to add certain documents and do you think I can find them? NO. Driving me crazy.

I am watching too much TV but I try to have something in my hands to keep me busy or at least productive.

Pushing myself to do things. Even walking to get the mail. Once outside I feel better. It is about 200 yards each way to my mailbox so a little outdoor exercise.

Celebrating my birthday was good- flowers, edible fruit, presents, homemade grandchildren cards, few pictures- hard when door visits occur, and take out food by both daughters and families.

I must admit I do feel down. It is hard to be rah, rah and positive. Usually I see the silver lining but not so much these days. 

I just feel numbed. Get up. Do some tasks. Keep going. Keep doing. Find meaning in every day.

Then I sit and watch the activities near my house. 

How about you? Has January been hard? Do you have bummed out moments, hours, days? Share your thoughts. Would love to hear from you!!

#januaryandtheblahs#hardtostaymotivatedduringcovid#whatactivitiesareyouworkingon#howisyourmood#areyoutryingtofinishsomeprojects#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#lotsofgoodbirthdayeating#tringtostaypositive

UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND HOW TO PROCEED

 When we talk about dreams and goals, the mark can be missed when life gets in the way.

Bucket lists.

5 year plans

Retirement plans

Places to visit

Celebrations missed

Well there can be unfinished business. People with whom we did not take the time to continue a friendship. Interests put on hold. Books unread. Phone calls not made.

Sometimes unfinished for a variety of reasons. 

So what stops us from finishing. Again a variety of reasons.

Deciding to finish or put the activity to bed can help us to get going with what really matters.

So do you have any unfinished business? Do you want to finish? What do you think is stopping you?

#unfinishedbusiness#tryingtocompletelife'stasks#bucketlistoutofdate#retirementplansdidnotpanout#whatdoyouwanttocelebrate#barbaradimambro#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara

A NEW DAY- NEW BEGINNINGS

 As we continue to struggle with the pandemic, it is always important to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Staying home.

Wearing a mask when I venture out.

And of course hand washing that should have been part of a hygiene routine.

Now with a change in the White House, life seems more hopeful.

America is divided! Let's not kid ourselves. But maybe battling the pandemic will bring some unity to all.

If someone has lost a loved one to this terrible virus it does not matter what political party, what colour, what gender- the loss is a huge loss to everyone.

So a new day with new hope.

New beginnings.

#newdaynewhope#newbeginnings#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY- WE NEED HIS WORDS MORE THAN EVER

 Growing up through the 1960s and seeing Dr. King on TV often brought the views of racism to the forefront.

Hard to believe the racial divide in the US is so prominent today.

As a Canadian we have our issues too. We need to continue to foster racial equality and justice.

Listening to some of his speeches today brings the awareness for us all to be tolerant, to be aware and show in our words, deeds and actions how important it is to continue forward.

#martinlutherkingday#rememberingdrking'swords#beingtolerant#showingthroughdeeds#reflectivethoughtsbybarbaradimambro#barbaradimambro

JANUARY AND STAYING HOME

 With a stay at home order due to COVID-19, it is hard to decide what can be done or not.

It is funny that I can stand by people in a grocery store with a mask. And not with family with a mask.

As a single I can gather with one other household. But I have decided to limit any outings even for groceries.

Bless online shopping.

Bought myself some birthday presents. I know the kids will come by with masks and physical distancing to wish me a happy birthday. Yes it works. I can sit outside with a parka.

Christmas was more stressful with the need to see people. Not so much now.

I find I look out the window at the back that lets me see across to the Esso station. I can watch cars coming and going.

I feed my birds and squirrels and watch them.

The natural light everywhere in my house.

My little jaunt- 200 yards each way to my mailbox makes me get outside daily.

I decided to use this stay at home time to get little projects done, read some books and well exercise with my home weights for toning.

Zoom meetings coming up this week so some intellectual stuff can happen as well.

It is hard for everyone so it is not personal. Although it feels personal sometimes.

So emails. Texting. Phone calls. Short walks around my house every hour or so. Told sitting too much is the new smoking. TV with a project in my hands to use the time wisely. 

How are you doing during these COVID times? How is your Mental Health? 

#januaryandcovid#covidtimes#stayhome#stayinghomeiskindoftough#beingsingleduringcovid#hardtobesingleduringcovid#doingsmallprojectsduringcovid#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FACING YOUR FEARS

 Recently our fear levels have changed.

Facing our fears.

For many it is one fear. For others it is many fears. 

Heights.

Public speaking.

The dentist. 

Being shy. 

Flying.

Running away from your fears means they will only chase you. 

If a difficult task. Do it first. So whatever else follows will be easier to do

So is one of your fears right now getting COVID,  well follow the rules and try to stay out of harm's way.

#facingyourfears#stayingoutofharm'sway#fearshavemanyfaces#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NANA SAYS PANDEMIC PARENTING IS MORE THAN TOUGH

 It sucks big time. 

With another lockdown in Ontario and children home from school until at least Feb. 10, the stress and demands are through the roof.

No one signed on for this. No one asked to be parent, teacher, worker- well you get the picture but you are.

Then having to lock down again and stay home makes it harder.

Trying to offer positive strategies for coping well is rather trite isn't it?

So I suggest.

You scream a little. Maybe even a lot.

Get a punching bag and punch it.

Go for an aggressive walk. Alone is best but maybe have one or two children along.

Any exercise that works for you. Movement helps.

When a lot of the stress is out maybe try these strategies.

Meditation works for some. I really do not do it. I knit. I crochet. It makes my hands busy and takes thoughts out of my head. So some crafting. Even teaching children to knit helps too. But finding a quiet space to rest your thoughts and body often during the day.

Music. Dance. 

Find a friend, a colleague, maybe even a Nana and bitch. Bitch a lot. Bitch about everything. Just try not to bitch at the children. It only teaches them to bitch back.

Realize this really sucks. I think I said it already.

Sometimes crying works. So cry. Ugly big fat cry face. What you are going through needs some crying so just do it.

Your mental health is at stake. Big time. So finding ways to know your stress, your anxiety, your potential road to depression means getting out all the real frustrations. They are not small. The pandemic is not small.

So maybe family group time to share feelings. Family group hugs. Some alone time with each child which makes it difficult for large family.  Some face time with other family members like Nana.

Getting through this is the goal. Remember people have died. Yes died. So just get through it. Alive and well is the goal.

We will get to the other side. The vaccine is here. Hope.

But parents. Your journey is huge. And you have come this far. I know it's an unfair race as the finish line keeps being moved. 

Hard to explain that one to your children. 

The example you set through all of this is being watched by your children. You are their heroes. 

Parents are the real heroes. So hang in there however you can. Just do it like some people say. 

Nana loves you all. Nana feels for you. Nana is there for you.

#pandemicparentingsucksbigtime#parentingthroughthepandemic#usestrategiesthatworkforyou#knit#chrochet#cryagiguglycryface#bitchwithothersabouthowtoughitreallyis#mentalhealthishuge#stayinghomeisneededbuthardtodo#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID-19 AND SUICIDE

 So saddened to see and hear an Emergency Room doctor in Quebec took her life over the weekend.

35 years old.

Married.

A parent.

Vicarious trauma is always a side effect of people who witness and care for others. Sometimes it is just too much. It carries you away.

Supports are needed for all Health Care Professionals.

So what to do.

Reach out.

Be thankful and send a message of some kind.

If one, take care of yourself. Have a support group.

Let's try to make sure this virus does not take other lives.

#suicideandcovid19#takingcareofourselves#rememberingtoreachouttoothers#reflcetivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#healthcareprofessionalsneedsupport

JANUARY 9 2021 AND THE WEEK THAT WAS

 With soaring COVID-19 cases in Canada, school kids home with virtual learning for another two weeks prevails. How to support my children and grandchildren from a distance. Well the mask is always on.

So isolating and staying home as much as possible. I even limit any grocery outings to very few if any. Actually could eat up all the resources I do have at home. Well stocked. Besides if not an item there is always Take-Out of something to have a novel dinner item. I am actually bored of trying to cook for one.

Curb side drop with Anniversary goodies for my youngest daughter and spouse.

But the events in Washington were so disturbing on Wednesday. Yahoos and white supremacists guised as real supporters of that horrible man. I will not write his name here. Seeing Confederate flags in Washington. Seeing t-shirts with the date January 6, 2021-Civil War. To believe the fake news and the fake vote garbage is actually believed by many. Knowing that on the Dark Web garbage prevails too. 

Democracy is important. But we are warned in tough times that it is easier to see the rise of extreme conservative behaviour. Excuses to hurt others.

Do not be complacent. To protect our democracy we too must stand up for all that is good. Every vote counts but to respect others is fundamental to it.

Knowing America the strong has actually been such a divided nation in true colour. White and more white. Ashamed to think that many white people think it is okay to be so extreme.

And what does it do for Canada. We need to fix things here too. We need to be sensitive of our democracy and not let our crazies thrive. We know there are people here who think what happened was okay. They believe the rhetoric. 

So as January proceeds the hope of more Vaccinations being put in the arms of Canadians. Hope here. I can not wait for my turn to be in line for mine.

For me trying to connect with friends and family. Emailed previous work colleagues with a message of support. 4 responses and a phone call. Felt good. I feel I have lots to offer so thinking of personal and professional ways of reaching out to people. It helps them but it also helps me to stay connected.

Of course, January with Adolph's birthday and mine. The blahs anyway with all the hoopla of Christmas being over. To find ways not to sink into a low mood. My grief continues.

TV Shows

Online movies

Books. Although I read more magazines right now. Like the short articles. 

Luckily I have my crafts.  Knitting. Crocheting. Starting a t-shirt quilt. What was I to do with all the t-shirts of Adolph? The memories. So saw the idea of using them in a quilt or in my case it will be a crazy quilt blanket of sorts. Then what to do with the scrapes. Well use them to stuff some cushions I intend to make. Yay. Yay. I know using more resources at hand. But really I go through the motions. They keep me busy to help heal my heart.

So 16,900 deaths from COVID, limited activities, using my creativity in a variety of ways. I love the news but I find myself turning it off more recently.

So how is your January going? Do you feel the blah of all the recent events?

#january6eventsinWashington#troubleinAmerica#januaryblahs#recapoftheweekthatwas#tryingtomakesenseoftheventsinAmerica#democracyneedstobeprotected#whiteisnotright#alllivesmatter#tryingtokeepbusyduringtheblahsofjanuary#stilldealingwithmygrief#keepingmyhandsbusy#tryingtoreachouttoothers#january92021andtheweekthatwas#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#supportingthekidsduringcovidtimes

FINDING WAYS TO HONOUR A LOVED ONE WHO HAS DIED

 As the number of COVID-19 deaths rise, it is still hard to have a funeral of any kind for loved ones regardless of how they died.

Restrictions. Lockdowns.

So what can be done?

Zoom or virtual funeral may okay for some but the personal contact of family and friends is greatly missed.

I put a long Celebration of Life on Adolph's obit on the funeral site. It would have been my Eulogy.

I have knit two squares for the COVID-19 Canadian Memorial Blanket. One in August and another one now in January.

But when New year or a birthday or an anniversary rolls around- what is the best way to celebrate.

Well I really want to do it quietly. No public hoopla. No need to draw attention to myself.

Perhaps looking at a photo album. 

What are ways you remember a loved one??

#honouringalovedonewhohasdied#rememberinginyourownway#quietwaystoremember#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

IS SNOW SHOVELING GOOD EXERCISE?

 Well a new year brings goals of more exercise.

So after a snowfall, time to shovel the driveway again.

Is it good exercise?

I sure hope so.

#snowshovelingasgoodexercise#gettingoutside#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JANUARY- TIME FOR RENEWAL

 A new month. A new year.

Time for renewal.

Time for reflection!

Time for change.

Time to move forward from the COVID virus.

How many people are looking forward to the vaccine?

I know I am. The sooner the better.

So hoping for a good year for everyone.

#virusvaccine#newyear#newhope#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro