APRIL SHOWERS DO BRING MAY FLOWERS- BRING THEM ON!!

 Tulips are popping up everywhere.

The trees are starting to show their green.

April ending colder than normal but ending.

May is my favourite month for many reasons.

But April had some good moments.

Birthdays to celebrate.

Watching my grandsons play hockey. And one winning a tournament.

Cake and pizza and dinners out.

Life is such a blessing

Caring for one set of grandchildren while parents were away. It was a good time.

Missed my regular be but all was good.

Memorable moments for me and family.

#aprilshowersbringmayflowers#enjoyingfamily#memorablemoments#birthdaystocelebrate#eatingcake#beinghappywithlife#lifeisablessing#lovemygrandhchildren#reflectivethoughsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

CLIMBING THE STAIRS OF LIFE- ONE STEP AT A TIME-YOU WILL GET THERE

 Sometimes the climb to get to a new place seems unsurmountable.

Just start one step at a time.

If needed hold onto the rail for safety.

Getting started can make the difficult journey manageable.

Are you facing a challenge today? Just put one foot in front of the other. Get started.

#climbingthestairsoflife#onestepatatime#richmondhillwavepool#stairsbythewavepool#photosinmyneighbourhood#lookingforphotoopportunities#reflectivehoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

RICHMOND HILL HAS ITS SHARE OF PINK SPRING TREES- JUST ROAM AROUND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD

So lovely to see.

They can't be fenced in can they??

Pink trees at "Grandpa's Park."

Love this row of pink Spring trees.

Or just on the street. The pink trees abound.

 

Even better with a close up view.

The only problem is they do not last long enough do they?

#springpinktrees#pinktreesinthespring#enjoyingthepinktrees#wanderingaroundandfindingpinktrees#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbardimambro

NANA SAYS GRANDCHILDREN MAKE LIFE FUN-A FUN STORY

 Being with one set of grandchildren while the parents had a brief vacation last week. was fun.

Busy. Tiring but fun.

I bought Swiss Chalet dinner with some gift cards. 

The grandchildren appreciated it and said thanks Nana for using your gift cards.

I said who else would I spend them on but my sweet grandchildren. 

Then I said where would I be without my grandchildren.

The two oldest said maybe at one of those places for older people playing bingo.

I laughed and said I hate bingo. So I if I need one of those places make sure they know I don't like bingo or bowling.

So now it is our in joke.

Of course along with the way I say TACO. They tease me but I say it the way I like just to hear them tease me about it.

Love those grandchildren!

#grandchildrenarefun#afunstory#tacosaidnana'sway#nobingonobowling#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SPRING BULBS KEEP COMING UP IN ONTARIO AND OF COURSE THE TREES ARE GETTING GREENER

 

Some neighbours have beautiful pink trees. Flowers are coming along.

Love the colours of the bulbs.

Tulip leaves are up but no flowers until May.

More to come. Yeah!

#springflowers#springinOntario#crocus#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

APRIL WITH ALL ITS SURPRISES-SUMMER WEATHER BACK TO COLD-OH WELL IT'S CANADA

 We had a hot spell. 

In tanks and shorts and bare legs.

Nice for 5 days. Could be outside.

Garden cleanup started.

Some leisurely walks.

But back to jackets and warm socks.

It's Canada. What can I say!!

#canadianweather#bakcetocoolerweather#wearingjacketsagain#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ASKED-AREN'T YOU TOO OLD TO BE LIVING IN THAT BIG HOUSE

 Widows face a lot of crap.

Firstly being a widow in the first place sucks big time.

Secondly it sucks big time.

Thirdly it sucks big time.

With the nice weather neighbours are out and about.

Not bothering to chat but asking directly.

One- I heard your house may be on the town's plans. What are you going to do? When are you moving? Who did you hear it from? Well the neighbour behind me. That nieghbour does not talk to me but wants to talk about me!!

Two- Another neighbour says hi then says I am surprised you did not have a For Sale sign on your lawn.

Isn't the house too big for you. When are you thinking of moving??

Let's face it. If I were 90 but living with my 90 year old spouse no one would ask me about my intensions.

Somehow for some men an older- I am 73- woman living on her own is a topic of conversation.

Why? Can you tell me?

It is funny. My mother-in-law lived on her own for many years and no one in our family even questioned she should move or move in with a family member.

I am not a nosy neighbour so I do have difficulty with nosy neighbours and especially male ones.

Am I threatening that I am able to live alone?

What do you think?

#livingalone#nosyneighbours#beingabletocopeonmyown#reflectivethoughtsybarbara#barbaradimambro

KEYS-WAYS TO NEW LIFE AND MEANING

 We all have collections of keys.

Often forgetting where the key fits.

With key fobs for cars are keys becoming obsolete!

Life has many keys.

A key to your heart.

Opens a door.

Starts a car.

Unlocks a treasure box. 

Your locker key.

Trunks come with keys.

Singer Alicia Keys!! Well not a key but I could help throwing her into the mix.

Places like Queens Quay( pronounced key) at Harbour Front Toronto. Key Island Tasmania Australia. 

The key on the Basketball court!!

Keys could help us to next stages of life. That new door we open, what is on the other side??

Our heart! Does it have room for new love?

A journey in our car on a road trip can bring new adventures!! 

With all my posts, I did one on keys over a decade ago! Found this picture to use on my Instagram account so thought I would rethink keys. Hard to believe it was January 19 2011!

What do you use your keys for now in the world of key fobs!! Or door codes on main doors??What is your key to success?

#keys#keystomyheart#opensadoor#unlocksatreasure#keyislandtasmaniaaustralia#keytosuccess#keytoyourheart#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-VIMY RIDGE-APRIL 9 1917-ERNIE WAS THERE

 For Canada the Vimy Ridge battles were so significant. Canada came of age.

For our family Ernest Adolphus Ellis, my maternal grandfather was there.

I have written about him on several posts over the years.

Toronto going to war.

April 7 2017 on the 100th Anniversary. And celebrations in France.

April 9, 2016.

The most significant post was April 9, 2011.

So if interested go to the side links for the year and find the month then scroll to the post.

You can read my article above I also posted it in several places in 2017 like my facebook page, Durham Branch of OGS and Toronto Branch of OGS.

Our family story never gets old. As long as we remember them, they live.

#vimyridge#ernieatvimyridge#canadiansinwwone#106anniversaryofvimyridge#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MAPLE SYRUP FESTIVAL IN RICHMOND HILL APRIL 1 2023

 Being at a community event that was lots of fun.

Mayor West Maple Syrup Festival.

I was with the Richmond Hill Historical Society. We were selling Maple Syrup as a fund raiser.

The calm before the storm or the crowd wanting their free pancakes.

Many other people had their cameras snapping photos. I wore my Vimy Ridge Hoodie as it reflected history for our group.

#maplesyrupfestival#richmondhillmaplesyrupfestival#lotsofcommunityfun#richmondhillcelebrates150#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

EASTER-TIME FOR REFLECTION AND RENEWAL

 Eggs.

Flowers.

Church.

Family.

All words that tell us about Easter.

The Easter Lilly a flower of hope.

I like Easter as it is less commercial. It really is more simple. Although chocolate still is a given.

A family dinner. Calling friends. A walk in the Spring air if fitting.

Some of my best memories are the dinners. Lamb. Lasagna. Veggies. Cake and cupcakes.

Of course Adolph and his Canascione.

Our dinner was early this year as a grandson was going to a hockey tournament out of town. So my Holy weekend is easy and breezy.

I can craft, write, read, watch Hallmark movies and go for a simple local walk. Maybe take my camera, who knows.

Easter- time for reflection and family!!

#easter#eastereating#easterlillies#havingtimetoreflect#canascione#adolphlovedtocookeasterdinner#beingwithfamilyateaster#lovinglifeandeaster#beingwiththepeoplewelove#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

APRIL AND DAFFODILS-HOPE

 A Daffodil is the symbol for hope for cancer research and cure.

Cancer has affected everyone's family. Or at least in the friendship circle.

Buying daffodils.

Wearing the pin.

Planting them in your garden.

Mine are coming up as I speak.

Symbols of hope.

#cancer#daffodilssymbolsofhope#alwayshavehope#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro