FLORIDA WITH ITS SURGING CASES AND NO MANDATORY MASK POLICY

 Remember who resides in Florida and who so many for some reason want to appease him. Is the governor afraid to stand on his own terms?

Mandatory masks and vaccines has been the biggest champions in this pandemic fight.

The highest numbers in America. 1 in 5 cases.

I am fearful because so many Canadians have to go to Florida. They have to!!

So will they help to bring the virus back home. Probably some will.

I am glad our border is still closed. Keep the virus out.

So when their children go back to school no mask mandate there in Florida.

I know our kids will still have to wear them. For now. Keep them safe.

I do hope the parents in Florida have more common sense and send their children with masks. For now.

We all hope the future will change things. But for now let's keep safety as a first priority. For now.

What about you? How do you feel about masks?

#masks#covidrestrictions#stayingsafe#keepingourchildrensafe#nobigdealtowearamask#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

KEEP THOSE POPUP COVID CLINICS ROLLING

 So grocery stores. Pharmacies. Novel places.

Mobile clinics.

Many efforts are being made to keep those vaccines rolling along.

I can not stand to hear anyone now saying they can not be vaccinated. 

Only the medical compromised like a transplant person who has a legitimate reason.

We are not supposed to shame anyone. But I am sure tempted.

#vaccineclinicsarerollingalong#keepthosevaccinescoming#noexcusenottobevaccined#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THE JAYS LOOKED GLAD TO BE HOME IN TORONTO

 I did not go to the game.

I have been to Blue Jay games previously.

The crowd looked so excited to have them home. Everyone of 15000 people received a tshirt with the date 30/7/2021.

What I loved to see was the faces of the players! 

Some new players have not played in their home stadium due to COVID.

For them they seemed just as excited as the fans.

Welcome home Jays!

Play safely and stay safe everyone.

#bluejaysarehome#15000fansreceiveatshirt#playingatthehomestadium#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FINDING TIME TO DO SMALL ACTIVITIES

 Having grandchildren for a sleepover keeps me busy.

They did not like my pizza because the bottom was too hard.

They can mess a room in 2 minutes.

But hearing the laughter and the play and kids just being kids soothes the soul.

Going on an outing tomorrow means getting all the small activities done for the day.

Food in little packages. Clothes laid out and ready. 

It is an early leaving from home so need to get up and go.

Reminds me of days gone by. 

#smallactivitiestomakethedaygobetter#grandchildrenkeepnanabusy#laughterisgoodtohear#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

REPLACE HURT WITH HOPE SAYS OUR NEW GG

 Our new Governor General was off to a great start.

I love Simon's saying.

Replace Hurt with Hope. What a way to consider reconciliation and healing in our country. Innu from Northern Quebec and was known in Canadian politics.

There is so much to read about her that trying to summarize in this post did seem futile.

So thinking about her saying and its deep meaning will bring quiet reflection for many.

#replacehurtwithhope#hopeismagic#newGG#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-SUPPORT TO KAWARTHA BRANCH

 Belonging to several branches of OGS it is difficult to be as supportive to every branch.

The York Region branch is good but I lived in this area and have no ancestral connections. So I have posted pictures and wrote one short article on where I live.

I submitted articles over the years to the Durham and Leeds and Grenville branches.

Kawartha Branch has more of my articles especially the Ball Point series. Lots of research notes on City of Kawartha Lakes, former Victoria County. So joining with the few active members that keep the branch moving and shaking I have started to write book reviews. 

I will be perusing all my research notes on all of City of Kawartha Lakes not just Mariposa Township.

Any article or essay often has lots of information not needed or used. However there could be someone out there who may benefit from it.

Branches survive with volunteer participation. So I am trying to be more active with my branches.

I have chosen in the last two years to put my essays or articles on this blog. I find it is easier not to have my writing overly edited.

But contributions to newsletters are important too.

So I may rework some of my posts to put in the Kawartha newsletter as well as other branches.

Genealogy needs contributions of members. So pick a branch or group and submit your family history and information

#kawarthabranch#submittinginformationfornewsletters#writeupthosefamilystories#contributingkeepsthebranchesalive#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

3332-THE NUMBER OF POSTS

 I started blogging July 2010.

Today I wrote post number 3332.

Hard to believe I can still come up with new ideas.

Over the next few weeks I want to review my previous posts and determine if there are ones that I can recycle.

For old readers it may be fun to see what has been written.

For new readers, well it would be new information

To all of you- thank you for reading my posts over the last 11 years.

#3332posts#startedJuly2010#newpost#oldposts#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NANA SAYS SLEEPOVERS BRING QUIET JOY

 Able to have a sleepover with the little ones after a year was joyous.

They are always excited to do simple things at Nana's house.

Art in the Craft room. Allie made a picture of me with gray hair. 

Easton was happy to paint with Allie.

But two things stood out.

Cousin Damiano had spent some time with them. 

I suggested to Easton we could go to my room to watch a movie on my Prime subscription after Damiano left. He suggested why don't we do now. Okay it was a better suggestion than mine.

Going to our favourite park we call Granpa's Park to play and see the little plaque on the bench.

I wanted a picture of the two of them with the plaque. Allie decided to put her sunglasses on it for Granpa. Okay that was the picture.

Children find their way with life in their own way. Of course cousin Damiano had made some bow pasta with butter for dinner for all of us.

#nanasayssleepoversarejoyous#kidsfindtheirwayinlife#art#craftroomart#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MILKWEEDS AND MONARCH BUTTERFLIES

 I have a patch of milkweed in my front garden for the monarch butterflies.

Luckily I was able to capture one flying around the plants.

The best capture. Too bad my recycling box was in the background. I did crop the pic as best I could.

In flight.

I love butterflies. They are so symbolic of change.

#milkweedandmonarchbutterflies#monarchbutterflies#milkweed#takingpicturesofbutterflies#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE MOON

 Usually the early bird catches the worm.

In my case it was the moon.

Up at 530am I saw the beautiful full moon.

So grabbed my camera and took the following pics.

I was concerned about the low light and not wanting to use my flash. However inadvertently I had the setting on high speed from previous pictures so it captured the moon. So an okay pic but also learning.

Use high speed under low light.

#pictureofmoon#capturedanearlypicture#fullmoonisbeautiful#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

TAKING TIME TO SLOW DOWN AND REORGANIZE

 I find that I have too many little piles of stuff.

So eliminating stuff and sorting and reorganizing does help to bring some order to life.

I can not control all that has happened to me. But I can keep my work space orderly.

I can put away my clothes neatly.

I can pull some weeds. 

I can not fix everything in a day but I can use each day to find a way to find peace.

By doing small meaningful tasks I find it leads to finding some joy in my life.

Today for example a lunch out with a daughter and grandson.

A patio meal. Good eating. Good conversation.

Still limiting social contacts as the pandemic slowly recedes.

But I wonder if life speeds up, will I have the energy to speed up too??

#life slowsdown#reorganizingaslifeisslow#takingcontrolofmylife#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SUMMER TIME PLANNING AND DAY TRIPS 2021

 So a sleepover was doable for two double vaxxed granchildren.

Booked a tree trekking venture for next week at a local conservation area.

Going to McMichael Collection next week.

Some ice cream and fun eating always on the go!

Went on a day trip to see the Parkwood Estate and garden in Oshawa.

Lots of good photo opportunities.

So with daily walks and outdoor reading, trying to embrace what I can in this summer season.

#parkwoodestateinoshawa#gardens#photoops#daytripsarefun#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SUMMER GOES BY TOO QUICKLY AND THEN THE STORMS

 My heart goes out to those in BC with all the fires burning around you.

My heart goes out to Barrie with the Tornado touchdown. We were under a Tornado watch in Richmond Hill and all Southern Ontario.

Nevertheless I love the summer. I hate to see us past the middle of July.

So get my runners and out I will go to enjoy the day and the time of year.

How about you? How is your summer going?

#summer2021#enjoyingthesummermonths#gettingouttoenjoythesummer#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

LIFE CHANGES AND SO DOES THE WORK LOAD

 I see my daughters so busy with their lives. That was me years ago.

Work, home, kids.

Now retired and alone my life has changed.

There is the work of house and garden. I have my interests.

So I try to be as supportive as I can be with my families.

#lifechanges#beingsupportive#tryingtobeavailabletofamilies#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

GARDENS ARE MORE THAN PRETTY FLOWERS-SOMETIMES MEMORIALS

 When I worked at CNIB-Canadian National Institute for the Blind- years ago, there was a beautiful garden that was called The Fragrance Garden. It helped people with visual challenges to enjoy the garden area.

Famous gardens world wide attract so many people.

Toronto is devising a Healing Garden for Indigenous people. Of course others can go to the garden. It will be completed by 2023. As the project evolves I will post more information here.

I am really writing this post as there was an endearing segment on Your Morning June 11, 2021.

A 91 year old widower of 4 years created a memory garden in honour of his late wife of 66 years.

They loved the Wizard of Oz so his garden was a tribute to the story. Complete with painted gold coloured bricks. And all the other characters. I will try to find a picture.

It just seemed so sweet. So when he is in the garden, he feels close to his wife. 

I know I planted some pink roses after my mother died in 2012. 

Many people plant trees or flowers or put tributes in their garden to those they have lost.

How about you? Have you planted something in someone's honour? Have you been to a memorial garden?

#memorialgardens#healinggardenproposedinToronto#wizardofozinagardenforhiswife#lovingsomeoneinagardenway#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

A RAINY COOL JULY DAY GOOD FOR PAPERWORK

 So I finished the minutes for a group to which I belong.

Did a post on Granpalovestocook on soccer and Adolph's Italian flag.

Have to take a grandchild to an appointment later today.

Slowly getting things organized in my computer area. My little piles of research and notes need addressing.

I prefer the warm summer days outside to sit and read. But with the rain falling and cool air, change of plans.

#coolsummerdays#changeofplanstobeingoutside#gettingresearchdone#organizingmyresearchnotes#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

I MISS THE QUILT SHOWS

 A summer favourite day trip was the Quilts by the Creek at the Toronto Black Creek Pioneer Village.

Covid made for cancellations two years in a row.

So memories and lots of photos are what I have.

Like life the pieces will come together.

Purple! That healing colour.

The pioneer buildings with quilts everywhere.

And orange! For healing too!

A time when real people could attend an event! Looking for that day again!

Hopefully there will quilt shows in the future. For now my photos! My years of quilt photos! Can not tell you how many!! So put some to good use here!!

#quiltshows#quiltsbythecreekquiltshowinjuly#blackcreekpioneervillage#goingtoaquiltshowisfun#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SUMMER TIME AND THE LIVING IS EASY

 But hot.

So time to enjoy life in a slower way.

So back to my mission to read 10 books over the summer.

It makes me go to a cool spot outside. In my case my little corner on my front porch with my little table and chairs.

When I read, I feel I am doing something constructive. 

This way I enjoy the summer days.

I would sit in the sun to read but I prefer just to sit in the sun for about 10 minutes daily.

I walk so do get some sun on my face.

Although the garden needs lots of work, I prefer to ignore it in the hot, hot summer days.

So how is your summer going? Are you finding ways to enjoy it?

#summertimeandthelivingiseasy#summerreading#rememberingtoslowdownandenjoythesummer#10booksin10weeks#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

HANDYWOMAN IN THE GARDEN

 So I figured out how to fix my side gate. 

Screwed the hinge again. Anchored it with a long nail and iron rod so it would sit in place.

Lots of pruning branches. Pulled several weeds and growth from my path by the gate.

After an hour I had enough.

Since I have until October to clean up my gardens I will not kill myself.

The more work I do in my garden the more I realize it is time for a smaller property.

Veggie and flowers on the porch work. Easy and attractive.

Maybe it is time to enjoy other people's gardens. The it is no work for me.

#gardeningiswork#veggiesinpots#flowersinpots#fixingthingsinthegarden#fedupwiththework#justwantmygardentobeenjoyedandlesswork#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JULY- THE SUMMER MONTH FOR OUTDOORS AND DAY TRIPS

 Trying to organize some simple day or 1/2 day trips with family especially grandchildren.

I can see them in small groups. 

The older ones. The younger ones

Picnics.

Trails.

The parks for fun.

There are some local museums like the car museum in Oshawa that may be fun if open.

How about you? What are you planning for July?

#july#daytrips#outingswithgrandchildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

CANADA DAY 2021- CELEBRATION AND REFLECTION

 Canada Day 2021 is a different day this year.

Some wanted it cancelled due to unmarked graves found at Residential Schools.

For those of us that knew Canadian history it is not a new thought to know about the injustice of those schools. The knowledge from survivors that spoke for years about the abuse suffered by them.

So to get on a band wagon now and accuse and point fingers does not mean we can not celebrate our country's rich history that includes all people.

We can acknowledge, reflect and honour those that are survivors.

We can not throw out the baby with the bath water.

So supporting the Indigenous communities across Canada is important for today.

But the hurt does not go away.

We need to continue to learn about the truth about residential schools.

We need to help with the identification of those little ones buried. But it will take time and money.

The communities need continued supports. They need fresh water. They need Mental Health Services. They need inclusion in society while retaining culture and language. 

We can celebrate all that is good about Canada. We are nice and say sorry. We are sorry for the hurt and injustice.

But sorry is not enough according to the leaders in Indigenous communities. So listening and learning what is needed of all Canadians. To continue from this day forward to work on Truth and Reconciliation is a given.

Otherwise stay on the band wagon. Stay caring.

What are you doing today? Are you celebrating along with reflection? What are your thoughts?

#canadaday2021#quietreflection#honouringthosesurvivors#rememberingtheharmfromresidentialschools#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro