ARTS COUNCIL EVENT TAKES LOTS OF PREPARATION AND WORK

 A display board with clout takes time to organize.

So I used the help of my creative granddaughter to help with ideas and do the headings for me.

Deciding which pictures to use and where to put them on the board.

There will be the original board from 2021 and now a 2022 one.

Sophia suggested the border on the photos which I have been using and it looks alright.

As time goes on, I can dismantle them and use the board for new events.

#Artscouncil#richmondhillartscouncil#workingontheposterboard#lotsofcreativeideasfortheposterboard#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

TWO CASES SOLVED FROM GENETIC DNA USED FOR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH

 Two Toronto 1983 cases of murder have finally been solved.

Using Genetic Genealogical DNA to help with the investigation.

So what better reason to get your Genealogical DNA done.

For Family History and maybe could help in solving a murder.

Some people in the Genealogical world may not want to share.

I certainly do.

To help a family have some answers about who killed their love one would be so worthwhile and important.

#genealogicaldna#solvingamurdercase#usingfamilyhistoryforsolvingcrimes#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#barbaradimambro

TECH STUFF STRESSES ME OUT- HOW ABOUT YOU?

 When I worked at the hospital we had a tech department.

Put in a ticket for service and the work would get done.

Well needing to upgrade my Rogers account has been real.

4 hour wait to get a call back. 1 hour to say what I needed and to book an appointment.

Then one of my email accounts was disabled. Last night was not near my computer.

So bad sleep and did it at 7 am this morning.

All is good with my world.

But I do feel I want to know if it is Happy Hour anywhere??

#techstuffstressesmeout#techstuff#changingmycacount#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

CHRISTMAS IMAGES OVER THE YEARS-CANADIAN TRADITIONS

 Taking lots of photos during Christmas events. 

A nice reflection of what is important to me.

I love photos of the table set for dinner too.

Stockings hung for Santa.

A memory of a fun visit to Toronto's Christmas Market in 2017.

A family train ride with Santa.

Flowers and Christmas fruit.

Lots of church bazaars.

Love poinsettas. Of course silly reindeer antler hats.

Christmas crafts making felt place names for family. Stockings. Struffoli or honey bubbles made by a daughter.

Centerpieces make the table.

Oh the goodies.

The desserts.

Fun place names for family.

So many memories from these images.

What are your Christmas images??

#canadianchristmasimages#christmasimages#rememberingchristmaspasts#imagesthroughtheyears#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambr

DI MAMBRO CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTERS

 Each year for several years I enclose a Christmas newsletter with my Christmas cards.

So I am including those newsletters here.

It is interesting there are little tidbits about our lives.

I included a brief note with a picture of my parents from 1997 when my mother celebrated her 75th birthday. Family members were pleased. Some even put it in a little frame.

Retirement year which was a difficult year for me. And more for Adolph.

It was shorter newsletter. 

For this 2020 newsletter I put it on paper with a rainbow to reflect the rainbows in the newsletter.

I did not write a newsletter for 2021. I did send a family group picture from the Tobermory trip to several family members.

The newsletters when presented like this give a vignette of our lives. It is hard to send a card and write something personal in each of them.

When I have had to stop and write something short and sweet, it brings reflections of the year.

How about you? Do you like to write newsletters for family and friends?

#christmasnewsletters#dimambrofamilynewsletters#writinganewsletterbringsreflectionsfortheyear#rememberingthegoodbitsofayear#gladIwrotethesenewslettersforfamilyandfriends#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SHORTLISTING MY CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS-WELL GETTING THINGS DONE

 Christmas Cards done.

Yes I still send Christmas cards. Those people that want to send them send to me too.

My Christmas Newsletter is shorter but with a fun picture.

Sat at my computer Friday night and went through the grandchildren list and bought several things.

Going to pick up a gift for one today at a store nearby.

My den looks better. One desk is neat again. Will work on the second one.

My kitchen table is neat. My Christmas organizer folder is neater.

I keep all the receipts there in case they are needed later.

Deciding if I need to make a nice arrangement for the Christmas table.

I am part of the Group doing an Arts Festival next week.

Lots of work. Have my grandchildren coming to do some community hours for school.

After that event I will have time to enjoy the festive season. Maybe go to some community events, a church or just look for ways to take some festive photos.

I like when things come together. 

How are your preparations goings?

#christmaspreparations#gettingthingsdone#shortlistingwhatIhavetodoforchristmas#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NOVEMBER COMING TO AN END

 With Christmas decorating and some shopping completed, November has been a productive month.

I have been preparing for the Arts Council main event on December 4th.

Some house cleaning has been underway. I even have a new robot cleaner that I used some points from one of my plans to get.

Deciding what charities to support. Some food bank items to one daughter who has a campaign at her work.

The local police have a clothing and toy drive that is easy to do. Right up the street.

One more birthday to celebrate with a daughter.

So as November comes to an end, it will be time to enjoy the festive season.

Well I have started with some mint, chocolate chip ice cream bars.

How has your November been?

#novemberactivities#preparingforthefestiveseason#lotsoffunthingstodo#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

PEOPLE BECOME MORE CONTROLLING WHEN THEY ARE AFRAID OF LOSING CONTROL

 People become more controlling when they are afraid of losing control.

Most of us do not like to be around controlling people.

Most of us do not like to be micro managed.

I personally am not a control freak.

I like to plan. I like to do. But I also appreciate that others may do things differently than I do.

Then I can appreciate the contribution of others.

However, we have all been in work situations, committee situations, family situations etc when someone needs to have it their way. All the time.

How do we gently just do things our way?

How do we try not to insult the controlling person?

#controllingpeople#notoffendingthecontrollingperson#notlikingtobemicromanaged#notacontrolfreak#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#howdowegentlyjustdothingsourway#appreciatingthecontributionsofothers#lettingpeopledoittheirway

DON'T WAIT FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP

 Anxiety can bring a feeling that something bad is going to happen.

Yes bad things happen in life. But often not like you think.

PTSD is that feeling that the bad thing will happen again. The memories will not go away.

But for most of us there can be that feeling the other shoe is going to drop.

And when it does not then a lot of wasted worry and energy has been spent. On well- nothing.

Planning, avoiding dangerous situations, good health practices, driving safely and the list could go on.

So protecting ourselves is a good thing.

So living and doing and being. 

Trouble will find us. But if moving quickly outpaces it then maybe that shoe does not need to drop.

How about you? Are you feeling anxious about anything today?

#waitingfortheshoetodrop#anxietyanditsfeelings#tryingtostayaheadofthosenegativefeelings#reflectivethoughsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WORLD CUP IN QATAR-NO HAND HOLDING IN PUBLIC

 So millions of fans will go to Qatar for the FIFA world cup.

The rest of the world will get a glimpse of a Middle Eastern country.

So a married couple are visiting a site and looking at the view.

But they are holding hands. Married.

They are approached by the morality police and told no holding hands in public.

Then we are told that only beer in the stadiums even though it was okay when accepting the FIFA in Qatar to have pub hours for the many fans who are drinkers of beer!

Welcome to the Middle East.

That is why I would not travel there- ever!!

#middleeast#nohandholdinginpublic#wasitagooddecisiontoholdtheworldcupinQatar#FIFAworldcup2022#theworldiswataching#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

ENJOYING LIFE WHEN THE BEST IS BEHIND YOU!!

 Being positive when life is changing can be difficult.

I read something the best is yet to come.

Fine if you are 15 or 26.

But sometimes and many times the best is behind you.

Losing the love of your life can not be replaced by a trip or a dinner out or joining a group.

Yes they are fun and bring some meaning.

But leave people alone. They had the best and it is not coming again.

#thebestisbehindyou#enjoyinglifeafterloss#losschangeseverything#losingtheloveofyourlife#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#havingyourcake#lovinglife

MUSKOKA OR ADIRONDACK CHAIR

 Seeing the House of Kerrs post on their trip to Lake Placid was fun to see the chairs.

House of Kerrs

The Adirondack chair particularly. With my two grandchildren sitting in it.

However in Canada we call them the Muskoka chair.

Of course they are identical.

The big ones like this one from the EX at the Pan Am games in Toronto 2015 are fun for photo ops.

So what do you think the name should be?

#muskokachair#adirondackchair#funtositinthebigchairs#lakeplacidtrip#panamgames2015#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-CORTLAND ALTON AND THE RAILROADS

 Cortland Alton was a conductor in the CN railroad for most of his working years.

Cortland met his wife Leonie Parkin while stationed in Lindsay. He was from Sydenham Ontario where the Alton family lived.

I need to identify the trains in the pictures.

Ad in the Kawartha newspaper.

He moved around Ontario and lived the end of his life working out of Belleville. Both he and his wife Leonie are buried in the cemetery in Belleville.

#cortlandalton#railroad#cortlandworksinOntario#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#barb'sgenealogytidbits#grandtrunkrailroad#cn#trainsandtheirhistory

CHRISTMAS CAN TRIGGER SOME INTENSE EMOTIONS-REMEMBERING THOSE WE LOST

 For most of us there are so many memories that emerge this time of year.

Remembering those times as a child and the stocking. Family members that always came for dinner.

I was engaged on Christmas Eve 1969.

The first Christmas married.

The first Christmas with a newborn baby.

Our first place. Our first house.

Those Christmases after family members were no longer here.

Just the love of being together with people we love.

Loving the excitement of little children and how much it means to them.

Watching a Christmas movie with a granddaughter when she sees it for the first time!!

Remembering Christmas pasts. But also making new memories.

It is okay if memories get a little blurred.

#Christmasmemories#emotionsrunhighatChristmastime#makingnewmemories#beingpresentwithyourfeelings#thatfirstchristmasmarried#firstbabyatchristmas#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

CHRISTMAS PREPARATIONS ARE UNDER WAY

 So I went to my first church bazaar in two years. It was nice to have an in person event.

Majority were wearing masks inside the church.

I have been pulling out my collection of misc stuff that I have collected over the year.

One box to send to the Northern Project. A last minute request from one of the mounties in the North West Territories. It will go in the mail tomorrow.

I am actually doing less this year. A smaller parcel to one family member.

No service people to give gifts as I have done in previous years.

The two strings of lights are put up in the Living Room window. A simple but easy to manage light display.

Getting those little items to have around the house always is a fun activity.

Oh Christmas. Work makes the magic happen.

#christmas#gettingreadyforchristmas#pullingoutstuffforchristmas#gettinginthemoodforchristmas#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

VISITING A WAR CEMETERY HAS LASTING MEMORIES-CASSINO ITALY

 When visiting Adolph's home town of Cassino in 1991, we had the opportunity to visit the British Commonwealth Cemetery.

They call it the "English" cemetery as there are other cemeteries in the area.

It was a very emotional visit. As the fact that all these young men died and are buried there, never to have a life or return to Canada.

About 40% of the Cemetery have Canadians.

War cemeteries can now be found online. 

This is such a poignant picture. Monte Cassino on the mountain is visible from the war cemetery.

Significant battles were fought in this area during World War Two.

#worldwartwo#britishcommonwealthcemeterycassinoitaly#cassinoitaly#englishcemeterycassinoitaly#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#rememberingourcanadianswhofoughtduringthewar#montecassinoandthecemetery#1991visittothecemetery