SHORT STORY WRITING-A WAY TO CHANNEL THOUGHTS AND EMOTIONS

I love that ideas come to me for stories.

Mostly imagination.

I write factual essays for my genealogical research.

So short stories are an outlet to think and write freely without the need of source citation or being

factually accurate.

It is a story and can be flawed.

Most of us do not live factually in our heads.

I have been doing a Widow Series for a couple of years now. I am hesitant to put the stories anywhere.

I may or may not put them on this blog.

Time will tell.

#shortstories#widowseries#writinghelpstochannelthoughtsandemotions#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro 

SUMMER AND THE FRUIT AND THE VEGGIES-LOVE EATING LOCAL

 Summer brings lots of good local eating.

I love the fruit and veggies.

Farmers markets have lots of fresh farm Ontario produce. These photos are from the Lindsay Farmers Market in 2016.

All these lovelies were from the Market in Newmarket- 2016.

The abundance of local produce makes summer so much fun and good eating.

I find myself joining family on summer jaunts to farms like the earlier one to the strawberry farm. I go to the local market at Mall several times in the summer.

How about you? Do you like the summer eating??

#localproduceinthesummer#summereatingisgood#loveallthefruitandveggies#newmarketfarmersmarket#lindsayfarmersmarket#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

CIVIC LONG WEEKEND IN ONTARIO-LORD SIMCOE WELL WHO WAS HE?

 Different provinces call this long weekend by different names.

Lord Simcoe is our guy in Ontario.

So look him up and see what he did.

Part of his role was his part in freeing enslaved people in Canada.

Then his wife Lady Simcoe. She did something too.

I just like the fact it is a long weekend and people can enjoy themselves.

For this retired person, it is just a weekend.

But for family it is a time to enjoy being home with one more day away from work.

How is your long weekend going? Are you enjoying the last days of July?

#civiclongweekend#whowasLordSimcoe#whowasLadySimcoe#ontariolongweekendinthesummer#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

READING IS A SUMMER PLEASURE-HOW MUCH DO YOU READ?

For the last several years I have had the goal of reading 10 books.

Fiction or non-fiction does not matter.

Reading makes me slow down and enjoy the summer.

Especially the hot days where physical activities just cause lots of sweat.

So some mystery books and working on a non-fiction.

At 5 books read. One non-fiction that will take awhile.

Okay I also got two stamp catalogues from the Library but they do not count as reading as I peruse them. And probably photocopy some useful pages.

2019 was a good read.

I do have many magazines that I read cover to cover. Like Zoomer, Good Times, Canada's History and others. 

Reading takes me out of my head that these days has been very crowded.

How about you? Are you a reader year round? Are you a summer reader?

#readingforpleasure#summerreadinggoals#reading10bookseverysummer#likingreadingforpleasure#readingtakesyououtofyourhead#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JULY HAS RACED ALONG-BUT SOME ACTIVITIES DONE AND BIRTHDAYS

 My brother Ron celebrates his 80th birthday today.

Good that my family is chugging along.

July with garden work.

Reading books- 5 done so far. Relaxing is necessary with reading.

Enjoying slow walks.

Eating and drinking well.

Love the summer. It just goes too quickly.

How about you? How is your summer going?

#july#july2022#summerreadingissorelaxing#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

LIFE IS A WORLD OF BUTTERFLIES-ALWAYS CHANGING TO THE NEXT STAGE

 We often use butterflies to tell about change.

Metamorphosis!

In nature from an immature state to an adult form.

Planting the right flowers attract them.

Like life we attract certain energy too.

Do different flowers attract different butterflies?

Do our different moods attract different outcomes in our lives?

Of course Milkweed where Monarch Butterflies lay their eggs that turn into caterpillars then cocoons and finally into the Butterfly that we know.

Do you feel your life has been like a butterfly?

Transitions and changes.

#lifeiaaworldofbutteflies#changeslikeabutterfly#metamorphosislikeabutterfly#changesforthebette#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#monarchbutterly#cabbagebutterfly

SUMMER IS FOR ICE CREAM-A MEMORY FROM NIAGARA ON THE LAKE

 Adolph and I liked our day and overnight trips.

One visit to Niagara-on-the-Lake we checked out Carlotta's ice cream store. 59 Queen Street.

I think Adolph was trying to decide when to have an ice cream.

There is nothing like Italian ice cream.

Carlotta in Niagara-on-the-Lake is so special. It is authentic Italian ice cream or should I say Gelato.

Visit their website for their story.

Carlotta Gelato

#italianicecream#adolphcontemplatingeatingicecream#carlottsicecream#gelatofromitaly#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JULY 20TH 1969 THE LANDING ON THE MOON-WHERE WERE YOU

 It was such an exciting day.

The Moon walk.

The Moon talk.

One small step for Man. One large step for Mankind.

My Dad took these pictures off the TV at the big event.

Although magazines and newspapers had better pictures. These are a family vintage item.

Over 53 years ago there we were by our TVs to watch that historical event.

#sowherewereyouwhenmanwalkedonthemoon#manonthemoon#pcituresfromthemoonwalk#dadtooktvpictures#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FILLING MY DAYS WITH PURPOSE-BUT WHAT IS PURPOSE?

 Purpose is a funny word. Some people may think their lives have purpose and another person would look at them and not agree.

We are all making judgements of each other.

So what is purpose to one person may not to another.

For me my purpose is finding purpose in each day. Lately organizing some genealogical stuff fills some purpose.

Cleaning up messy areas of the garden.

Assessing what needs to be fixed in the house.

Reading more. Making meaningful appointments.

But for me my job, caring and being with Adolph gave me more purpose.

So all my interests and hobbies are some purpose but not big ones.

What gives you purpose in your life?

#purposeinlife#whatgivesyoupurpose#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-THE DI MAMBRO BINDER IS ALMOST DONE

 I found lots of notes and typed and reorganized.

I need to update some trees and make them doable for my family to understand.

So much info now in its proper place.

So much of family history is still in the mind of the researcher so important to get it to paper, digital or whatever for future generations.

I still love the Cassino Immigrant Facebook page. Lots of info uploaded and I found some too.

I have placed lots of photos as others may benefit from them.

So now on to another family history binder. 

Feels good to weed some information. 

Now what to scan and upload to Evernote.

#dimambrofamilyhistory#genealogicalresearch#familyhistory#paternallinesformychildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#adolphdimambro#granpalovestocook

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-WORKING ON THE DI MAMBRO BINDER

 Genealogy means information pours in from many sources.

Making little piles of paper and putting into binders.

Sticky notes.

Typed notes.

Photos. In the family album or the family history binder??

So my Di Mambro binder needed some weeding out of stuff. Lots of duplication.

Also consideration of what to scan to upload to Evernote.

What to make digital?? Less paper for future generations.

Now with second cousins of Adolph giving me his Lanni and Matrundola lines in a neat form I can reorganize those lines for the binder.

As stated in other posts, I am trying not to have thousands of names to give my grandchildren but the basic lines with access to a more comprehensive history if they so chose.

Working on Adolph's history and updating the local cousin lines is therapeutic for me. I have found some funny notes that are fun to include.

Like the time he told me about how the women used to wash the sheets in the river then had to carry the 50lb baskets back home. The sheets were wet. He added they could hardly move carrying the baskets. That is why the women are so short as it weighted them down. I had made a note that we laughed and laughed at this last comment. 

Sometimes family history research can be fun due to the person engaging with you. Adolph could be funny and not so serious.

So those cute tidbits in the binder bring me some joy.

#genealogyresearch#familyhistoryresearch#barb'sgenealogytidbits#DiMambrofamilyhistorybinder#scanninganduploadingtoEvernote#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FEELING OKAY IS OFTEN GOOD ENOUGH-YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE GREAT

 I was recently challenged about saying I was okay.

The person challenged and said you should say you feel great.

I gently said that sometimes okay is really good enough.

Feeling okay may mean you are coming back from a bad space and did not feel well.

But now feeling okay.

For me I have stopped the pretense of either being really great and happy or mad or sad.

I do not need to share all my feelings with everyone. Just the ones I love and trust.

I check my feelings at the door and simply am okay 

I do not have to justify my feelings with anyone. 

I do not need to answer anymore than I am okay.

Frankly sometimes I am not okay. I do not feel great. But I will say I am okay

Sometimes just making it through the day with purpose can be difficult. So being at okay is really okay enough.

How do you feel about being asked how you are feeling? Do you answer honestly or with a trite okay? Do you really want to share your feelings? What are your thoughts?

#feelingokay#feelingokaybutnotgreat#learningtoownyourfeelings#doyoucheckyourfeelingsatthedoor#doyouwanttofeelgreatandnotjustokay#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambe

WHERE IS JULY GOING? WHY DO WINTER MONTHS DRAG AND WELL SUMMER DO NOT?

 Is it just me or does it seem the summer months whiz by too quickly.

The garden grows so much too. Every bush and tree has more branches to prune.

At least the grass is in summer no grow mode. I like it to die a little then I do not need to cut it.

I have been able to read two books from the library. I am trying not to buy too many books. 

I feel in summer mode. Lazy to do too much. I really have to push myself.

Then it is summer and the living is easy!!

#summergoestooquickly#whydoeswinterdragandsummerracesby#lovetheslowpaceofsummer#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS- DIRECTORIES SOLVED THE ELLIS 1921 CENSUS MYSTERY

 By searching the Might's Toronto City Directories I discovered finally why Ernie Ellis and family was not in the 1921 Census.

Ernie was living at 282 Broadview Ave. His wife Edna's Step father Harry Hanna was living at 284 Broadview Ave. 

So I decided to search Harry Hanna in the 1921 Census. He was there with Maud and Ina living at 282 Broadview, Edna's sister Maud Mitchell and family were living there as well. The section of the 1921 census is included with this post.

The number went from 274 Broadview to 284 Broadview. Numbers 276, 278, 280, or 282 were not enumerated. 

Ernie had been at 282 so of course is not on the Census.

In 1923 there is a Ernie Ellis in the Might's Directory living at #11 192 Jarvis Street in the King Edward Apts. in Toronto, It makes sense to be in an apartment with his family which now included my mother May Ellis who was born in 1922.

When there is an error in enumerating the Census, it is difficult to find people we know were there.

So sorting out this problem for future generations is important.

#Genealogy#GenChat#FamilyHistory#Ancestryand descendants#ellisfamilyhistory#1921canadacensuserror#findingernieellis#usingthedirectoriestofindpeopleandstreets#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

TUESDAYS ARE A HARD DAY

 We all have a day of the week that reminds us of a hard time or sometimes a good time.

For me it is Tuesdays. A reminder of a tough day in my life.

It is strange that the feeling continues. Not as intense but there.

So I try to do positive activities. Be present with my feelings. Not run away from them.

Go to bed early. 

Before I know it, Wednesday will come.

#tuesdaysareatoughday#reminderofatoughday#beingpositiveandpresent#bepresentwithyourfeelings#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FAMILY SUPPORT UNCONDITIONALLY-NOT AS EASY AS IT SEEMS

 There are family members that step up.

There are family members that show up.

Then there are those that talk but do not do the walk.

Fortunately, my two girls have always stepped up.

However in my work as a Social Worker there would be family members that were amazing and those that just complained.

In some cultures the daughters carry the load while the sons get to be sons with little work.

When a daughter was the usual caregiver, I suggested she give her brothers some duties. But her response I have always done it. Not the point. If for example, the loved one lives with the daughter then the sons could give their sister a night or several hours off. The sister could go out, shop and have time to be out of the home without worrying about the loved one.

Since some friends are more like family, asking for support from them is okay too.

So unconditional support is not always easy, is it? It can be a little fuzzy! 

#undonditionalsupport#familysupport#takingcareofalovedone#askingforhelpishard#expectingallfamilymemberstoparticipate#whydodaughtersandwomencarrytheload#daughtersandnotsonscarrytheload#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

YOU CAN NOT WIN IF YOU DO NOT PLAY-JUST LIKE LIFE, IT IS A CONTEST

 Entering contests is a lot like being part of life.

Getting out there and living.

Covid has made some of us gun shy.

Others have thrown caution to the wind. 

Even with covid numbers rising in some locations or after super spreaders, some people don't care.

For me with my previous worries for years about a sick spouse, I am still cautious.

So I enter the world like I enter contests carefully and with caution.

I can not enjoy life if I do not enter. 

So life here is my ballot!!

#contests#needtobecautiousaboutenteringlife#contestsarethereforus#lifeisthereforus#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SERVICE OUT FOR A DAY BUT WE SURVIVED-DON'T PUT ALL YOUR EGGS IN ONE BASKET

 The old adage do not put all your eggs in one basket.

So Rogers for internet and landline and for some reason my TV cable still worked.

My cellphone is Telus so had a phone and that service.

When I move I will rethink all services in one. My home security is telus.

Some complained about the hospital and not getting hold of families. Well if I had a family member in hospital-duh- I would have gone there.

If I was a staff I would have gone in person. And not call in sick knowing that there was an outage. It is called a Code Orange-a community emergency!! 

Too many excuses.

In person and using other means.

Having some cash on hand works too. I remember another outage years ago and people did not have cash.

Well restaurants and all businesses to have those swipe card manual devices for such emergencies.

When I worked in the hospital all charting was electronic. However we had paper copies of all forms in case of such emergencies. Doctors could write on prescription pads if an electronic one could not be given. Charting could be done.

We are told to have emergency supplies in our homes. Think about how to get a hold of peopl.

Ham operators were on stand by. 

So a wakeup call for many people.

Not the poor me. Povera me. Mentality is passe!!

So we survived okay.

How about you? How did you do for the 30 hours of inconvenience?

#serviceoutageofrogers#teluswasworking#don'tputallyoureggsinonebasket#survivingtheoutage#businesseslostmoney#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

STRAWBERRIES IN ONTARIO ARE SO DELICIOUS AND SWEET

 Went strawberry picking with daughter and two grandchildren.

A simple fun farm outing.

We all took turns picking in little baskets then put in one larger one.

There was a playground at the farm so the littles spent some time running around and having fun.

Strawberry creek farms near Woodbine Newmarket way.

#strawberrypickingwithgrandchildren#ontariostrawberriesaresodeliciousandsweet#ontariostrawberries#children'splaygroundwasfun#outingwithgrandchildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SUMMER PLANS ARE HERE FOR MANY

 Travel.

Trips to the cottage.

Day trips.

Visitors from away.

Some of the plans of many Canadians.

Even with the bad airport experiences it pays to travel if one can.

Travel in North America gives alternatives to air travel. Car. Bus. Train.

I remember someone during September 11th, took a car to the Canadian border to get a plane from a Canadian airport. 

For me, not too many summer plans right now. Still deciding what to do.

How about you? What are your plans?

#summertravelplans#whattododuringthesummer#beingabletotravel#travelinnorthamerica#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbardimambro

SOMEONE WROTE TODAY BEGINS THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER-SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU

 Well dog days imply to me to use the summer to chill and enjoy.

A time for travel.

A time to read.

A time to eat on a patio.

Just time to enjoy life more in a relaxing way.

Be like a dog and do what dogs do I guess!!

#dogdaysofsummer#timetorelaxandlieback#timetoread#timetoenjoy#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

CANADA DAY- TOAST TO GRANDPA

 We all have our memories of Canada Day.

Adolph loved a can of orange crush the last few years of his life every day. So in 2020 on Canada Day we gave an orange crush toast to him.

Happy Canada Day everyone!!

#orangecrushtoasttograndpa#rememberinggrandpa#reflectivetivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro