BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS- TIME TO PURGE

 Reorganizing my storage of my genealogical information is a good thing.

I am putting all my binders, articles in crates ready for a future move. But still accessible and easy to use until such time.

So by taking items down from the shelves, I have found good valuable information that can go with the various family binders. Other stuff that is not necessary anymore.

Some research documents will be donated to the local library Canadiana room. 

It never fails to amuse me how much I chased so many leads that lead to dead ends.

So purging duplicates and scanning other documents and uploading to Evernote will be reassuring they can found in a timely fashion.

One newsletter I found was the ALTON one. It has the family history edition by a George Alton that told the story of where the Altons originated in Germany before going to Ireland. I am surprised I did not store it already in the Alton crate. But it will go there now.

Unfortunately when I have new leads on my side and Adolph's side right when I wanted to do this reorganization I feel conflicted. 

Having empty crates and the space to put everything so neatly is calling me. 

Even my love of genealogy does not override the need to have a less cluttered space to work.

How about you? Does your genealogy call you? 

#barb'sgenealogytidbits#cleaninguptheclutter#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#altoninformationfoundontheshelf#gettingridofduplication#lovinggenealogy

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-MORE FROST INFORMATION

 Just a quick update.

I have been corresponding with my second cousin- Dennis Frost in Manitoba who has provided lots of new Frost family information.

Too much to summarize now.

The upside is posting online and writing those articles, newsletter, posts does bring information from others.

From what I see, the FROST goes back a couple of generations.

So I will keep you posted.

#frostfamily#connectingwithasecondcousin#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SNOW DAYS BRING INSIDE WORK OPPORTUNITIES

 With driving poor and slippery, it is always a good day to stay indoors. Even though we have moved into a red zone and business is opened under limited capacities I would rather be home.

Besides online shopping items need to arrive and will help with some organization of my computer room. I decided to put my family history binders, stamp collection and other items in crates.

Why?

I can see and use the items but when it is time to move they are already packed. Off the shelves and into the crates.

Until the crates arrive I have little items and activities to complete.

One of them is to shovel my driveway. So off I go to complete that activity.

How about you? What do you do on snow days?

#snowdays#indoorworkopportunities#reflectivethoughsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MUNDANE ORGANIZING SOOTHES THE SOUL

 With winter blues, covid blues, stay at home blues, some days getting motivated to do anything is a struggle.

So I have been tackling those little organizational projects that are mindless.

I can sit on the floor in the family room as I watch TV and organize away. The time goes by and something was done.

Another drawer is neat.

Some clutter is discarded.

Photos are organized or put in an album or scanned.

Genealogical information is neater. 

Crafts are always on the go. But they need me to tackle them as well. So the Tshirt quilt pieces have been moved to the sewing machine area.

February has always been a month of higher suicide rates. So keeping myself busy reminds me there could be others at there that can benefit from some contact.

So I try to connect with someone several times weekly and have a phone chat to catch up on all the little things.

Lockdown has meant stay at home orders still prevail. So friends are an email or phone call away. No in person gatherings yet.

So back to soothing my soul with these little mundane projects. 

Of course, March will bring Spring cleaning. Maybe, if I feel like it.

How about you? Is February a hard month to stay motivated?

#organizingtosoothethesoul#Februarycanbeadepressingmonth#whatprojectsbringjoy#whatkeepsyoubusy#howtoenjoyeachday#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NANA SAYS OUR KIDS ARE THE REAL TROOPERS

 With all regions of Ontario now back at school, thoughts about the resilience of our children.

Going from in person to virtual to in person. 

Extended breaks at home away from friends and teachers and a normal life.

Yes it is so difficult on their mental health. Will there be long term effects?

Probably.

Will they all be negative? Don't know.  

Will they all be positive? Don't know.

What I do know is the effect of the people around our children!

So if they are being troopers than we need to be troopers too.

We need to share our feelings, thoughts and show with our actions we will get through it.

Being socially responsible by following public health guidelines we set the example.

I can not speak for the parents out there. I can speak as a Nana. 

My grandchildren are experiencing their lives very differently than I did as a child. 

My children had their issues growing up. They did not have a pandemic. They did not have social media. They did not have media haters and trollers.

However this pandemic worldwide has had an effect on us all.

What I see is the children of this world doing art, music, local projects, reaching out to different ways.

Addiction to devices and gaming unfortunately too. 

They know what has meaning. They want to see their friends. They want to be through this world crisis.

But they wear their masks without hesitation. They keep their distance when asked. They are doing it.

Doing what. Showing us the way.

I am proud of all the children, youth and young adults who follow the rules. Who see we are all in this together. 

Nana says yeah to all our little troopers!!

#childrenareourtroopers#childrenareshowingustheway#Iloveourgranchildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#pandemicimpactonourchildren

KNITTING THE WINTER BLUES AWAY

 

Okay I do more than knit. But I always have a knitting project on the go. Currently I am using up some purple wool to make a spring poncho.

Optimistic!

Right.

Lately I have a goal to use resources at hand. 

COVID and its boredom can be difficult.

Wanting something new costs money. So my stash of wool brings some resolution to the need to spend money.

Make something new to wear.

Do you use knitting or crafts to keep busy and sane? Do you just like the activity as it brings joy??

#knittingtotakeawaythewinterblues#knitting#knittingwithpurplewool#howisyourcovidboredomgoing#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
 

A POSTCARD FROM ANTIGUA

  My folks visited Antigua in 1964. It was a first trip to the Caribbean for them. Mom purchased these postcards.

They are actually very artistic. And colourful! 

Don't you just love the detail in these postcards.

Fun dancing.

Who doesn't love the Limbo!

Somebody drew all these pictures. On the back of each card there is no mention of the artist. No credit given. No copyright!!

If drawn in this day and age with all the social media, the artist would be recognized. Has anyone with roots in Antigua! Perhaps we can find the artist or artists of these cards.

#Antigua#postcardsfromAntigua#lotsofcolourfulcardsfromabeautifulisland#howisAntiguafaringinthesecovidtimes#ahappiertimeintheislands#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID MAKES EVERY DAY FEEL LIKE GROUND HOG DAY OR DOES IT?

 Will the ground hog see his shadow? Wiarton is one place in Canada that the annual tradition occurs.

For many with COVID lockdowns and working from home, many people have joked it feels like Ground Hog day. The movie Ground Hog Day gave the notion to the general public.

With children learning from home right now, the days blend. Weekends do not have the same meaning.

Retired people have often felt like that. Mondays are like any other day. 

With little to look forward to, zoom meetings and no real in person meetings, make the social thing even more difficult. The coffee during a meeting with some chatting is just not there. A water bottle by the computer for a zoom meeting is the best that can be done. Or maybe for some people it is not water!!

Monotony- that state of sameness, dull.

So how to mix things up a little. And not feel like a ground hog!!

Sometimes routines help us get through the day. The more we do the more we want to do. Making sure little things get done.

Everyone is past thoroughly cleaning the house. With no visitors coming who really sees it??

So most of us whether the Ground Hog sees his shadow or not, winter is here. Usually looking forward to Spring takes on  a new meaning. Will it be more of the same?? Lockdown, vaccine, risk of getting covid!!

Oh hard to debate that it does not feel like Ground Hog Day!!

#groundhogday#winterinontario#tryingtomixthingsupalittle#tryingtostaypositive#monotony#monotonous#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FEBRUARY-THE MONTH OF FUN

 Ground Hog Day.

Valentine Day.

A holiday Monday.

And it's a short month.

February is a reminder that winter has moved along. So no matter how cold or how much snow it is manageable. Why? Closer to the end of winter than the beginning.

I like the idea of valentine chocolates. Red crafts. Hearts of all kinds.

So as the month progresses I hope I will have some fun things to add to the mix.

What are your plans for the month?

#february#valentine#groundhogday#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro