REACH OUT TO THOSE IN COVID ISOLATION

 Covid has created so much social isolation. 

Normally a walk around the mall.

Sitting in a coffee shop.

Browsing the racks at the library.

Simple activities for those needing to be out.

Covid says stay home. Limit contacts.

So what happens when the social isolation needs some sweetening. Who provides the dessert?

So a phone call. An email. A text.

Every little contact counts. It helps those living alone from feeling alone.

New Year celebrations are scanty this year for the smart ones. Told to avoid big crowds. Some will. Some won't.

For me saw some family today. Will watch a virtual celebration! 

Maybe stay up until midnight.

So just remember to think about others alone and what could help them.

#covidandsocialisolation#rememberingthosewholivealone#text#makeaphonecall#sendanemail#bethereforotherswhoarealone#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NEW YEAR AND ANY RESOLUTIONS

 New Year Resolutions can be made.

They can be broken.

For me.

Simple. To continue to do what I have been doing.

Increasing exercise in my daily routine. Simple. Small 10 minute intervals throughout the day.

Writing as much as possible.

Staying connected with family and friends. The social isolation is killing me. Zoom works but I would love more face to face time with people.

What are my hopes?

I hope like everyone else this bloody pandemic would be over.

I really hope the Toronto Maple Leafs will win the Stanley Cub.

I do not mind another booster.

I do not mind being tested as much as possible.

I want my family and friends to be safe.

So Happy New Year everyone everywhere!

2022 here we come, ready or not!!

#newyear#hopesforthenewyear#torontomapleleafstowinthestanleycup#familytobesafe#covidtobeover#whocaresifweneedanotherbooster#enjoyinglifeandallitbrings#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

HOPE IS THE BEST REMEDY FOR ALL THE COVID GLOOM

 With soaring numbers it seems so dismal.

But look the vaccinated who are getting covid are not getting it so bad. 

Vaccines work.

There are plans in place to get the world at least 70% vaccinated by next July.

HOPE

It carries us through.

We hope for an end to this crisis.

We hope our families will be well.

We hope we can see our families regularly.

We just hope our lives will have some semblance of normalcy. 

Hope will carry us through.

#hopeforcovidtoend#vaccineswork#vaccinateddonothaveasbadatimewithomicron#hopeourfamilieswillstaywell#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES ARE THE BEST

 Do you ever judge many happy times in your life with main events?

Summer vacations.

Birthdays. The special ones more than others. Like 25, 50, 75, 100. 

Or 60. That was a fun one.

Weddings.

Baby births.

Christmas.

Wreaths everywhere

Trying different decorating ideas.

Christmas memories usually top the list.

Starting to set the Christmas table.

Being creative with placenames!

My English Trigle.

Grandkids loved the Ginger Bread house

And Christmas Eve Seafood dinner prepared by Adolph.

I wish I had taken more pictures of food. "Foodies" take pictures of everything.

Christmas stockings with a name on them.

The Christmas Tree.

The presents.

The Christmas manager and angels. The reason for the Season.

Tim Hortons with a seasonal cup every year.

The family time.

The special presents. Mine- the diamond ear rings Adolph bought me in my 30s.

Playing Santa.

The big Christmas dinners. The most I had one year was 17. Now 11.

Lots of Christmas crackers and candy canes over the years,  Wearing those hats.

So now I have incentive to make a Memories of Christmas story for the family including lots of family pictures.

By the way, these are just a few of my Christmas pictures from over the decades.

How about you? What are your favourite Christmas memories?

#christmasmemories#christmasstories#christmascrackers#candycanes#takinglotsofchristmaspictures#chrismaswreaths#christmastrees#christmasdecorating#rememberingfunchristmastimes#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THANK A HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL AND ALL ESSENTIAL WORKERS TODAY

 Covid doesn't care if you are tired of covid.

Anyone working during this Public Health crisis is more tired.

Being on the front lines has taken its toll on everyone.

Rather than being angry about the effect it has had on you think about those working in the thick of it all.

Time to say thank you again and again to those performing the work.

If you can not say thank you then say nothing. But no anger, bullying and criticism of everything.

The rest of us are tired of listening to all the negative nellies.

For us a quiet peaceful walk in the snow would help to air the clogged thoughtsb.

How are you coping with everything? Are you like me and just plain tired of covid?

#saythankyoutoahealthcareprofessional#saythankyoutoanessentialworker#angerdoesnotsolveanything#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

2021 IN PHOTOS- Ontario Canada

 I love taking photos. Always loved the printed image. A moment in time.

A picture speaks a thousand words.

Birthday goodies in January.

Vintage Richmond Hill Winter Carnival buttons.

Thank you to our Health Care providers.

The Rapid Transit in Richmond Hill is finished after several years of construction.

Easter at a daughter's home.

Spring flowers covered in snow!

Spring flowers.

Mother's Day remotely.

Discarded masks become a litter issue everywhere.

A granddaughter turns 16.

A memorial plaque.

Sad discovery of unmarked graves. Every Child Matters!!

Day trip to Parkwood Mansion in Oshawa.

The beautiful Monarch Butterfly.

A wonderful Lavendar garden in Mount Albert.

Water park and fun for the grandchildren.

A summer day trip with friends to downtown Toronto.

Tobermory Bruce Pennisula for a short family vacation August/September.

Pebbles from Sauble Beach.

Outdoor art show in Richmond Hill. Doable during Covid as it was outdoors and everyone wore masks.

Those beautiful Ontario Sunflowers.

Grandson picking a pumpkin!

An outing to the McMichael Collection Kleinburg Ontario. One of my favourite places. 

Ontario apples freshly picked from the farm.

An outing with family to the Round The Bend Farm. Feeding the animals and finding some pumpkins.

Oak leaves during an Ontario Fall.

My pathetic little Halloween display.

Some local Richmond Hill restaurants with outdoor patios for patrons.

One of many birthday cakes for family!!

Richmond Hill Arts Council first Arts Festival at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Notice the hand sanitizer station.

Christmas light park in Milton.

Oh those Covid-19 test kits. Fun!!

Christmas treats.

A wonderful yule log cake.

More Christmas treats.

Covid changed the number of outings and ventures away from home. But making the most of what I did do was the important message.

I look forward to taking more pictures in the New Year. I will venture around my community to see what I can find.

2021 was as good as it could be. So I am well enough.

I hope your 2021 was good.

#photosfrom2021#photosfromOntarioCanada#photosfromRichmondHillOntarioCanada#farmtrips#localfarmtrips#familybirthdaycakes#christmastreats#christmasyulelog#mcmichaelcollection#avisittoTobermoryOntarioBrucePennisula#ArtsCouncil#RichmondHillArtsCouncil#familytimes#familybirthdayparties#homeboundMother'sDay#visitingfarms#springflowers#fallleaves#MiltonoutdoorChristmaslights#RichmondHilloutdoorpatiosofseveralrestaurants#pumpkins#apples#downtownTorontoforasummerjaunt#parkwoodmansionoshawa#monarchbutterfliesinthegarden#tulips#snowonspringflowers#richmondhillwintercarnival#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro