HALLOWEEN FUN ON RESIDENTIAL HOMES

 So being at my daughter's home, the houses across the street had fun Halloween decorations.

I could not help myself. Needed to capture some fun pictures.

#halloween#halloweendecorations#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FOMO-FEAR OF MISSING OUT BUT ON WHAT?

 FOMO has become a source of contention for so many with the social media sites.

People see what others are doing and believe their lives are not great. Others have great lives and travel and social events.

Well don't always believe what you see on social media. Besides seeing 200 travel photos reminds me of childhood when family or friends would have a slide show of their vacation

I find my facebook page has some "friends" partying all the time. Eating out. Drinking. Travelling.

It is not necessary to post every day but some do. Okay for them.

For me FOMO raised its head when Adolph was sick and we did not do much.

But let me digress.

When we had money we did travel.

Circumstances changed so long trips became overnight trips. Like our 40th anniversary to Montreal and Ottawa. Others to Kingston and Niagara.

When we started the Granpalovestocook blog, our trips became farmer market day trips.

Our 45th anniversary was a boat cruise on the Toronto Harbour and a lunch with family in Kleinburg Ontario.

Adolph and I had our last market trip in 2016. As he became ill he only wanted to go to the Club to play cards.

Life changes. But does FOMO occur.

Not really. I had some community groups and some days out with friends here and there.

One friend thought I missed travel and told me the story of her friend who cared for her sick husband and when he died, she was happy to be able to travel again. As caring for her husband had been more of a burden of missing out on life. 

I did not respond as travelling with Adolph alive or even missing it was not in consciousness. 

Adolph did ask me a few months before he died what my first bereavement trip would be? I looked at him and said I had not even considered it. I think now he wanted me to be happy.

What I have stated often to friends and family, that being with Adolph loving, caring well just being with him had more purpose than anything else in my life. 

Travel is a luxury not a necessity in life. Travel with the right person does make the difference, doesn't it.

So from travel abroad or south to overnight to day to market trips and then bringing life to Adolph. No worry of FOMO.

The simplest events can be more rewarding than other events.

I have not had much travel in my life the last few year but I make the most of day trips, social events, movies, my community groups.

Lately attending as many of my Grandchildren's hockey games is good.  Movies with a daughter.

Life takes me where life takes me. 

I do have some bucket life items. Travel may be one of them one day.

But right now if invited I go. A birthday dinner. A coffee with a friend. Sometimes alone just to capture some photos.

So no FOMO in my world.

How about you? Does FOMO enter your life? Do others think your world is small because their world is great? Thoughts? Comments"

#FOMO#fearofmissingout#makingthemostofwhatisinyourworld#travelinaluxurynotaright#enjoyingwhatlifebringstoyou#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

POEMS BY BARBARA-DREAMS AND WAVES

 HE COMES TO ME IN DREAMS

His side of the bed

Where I lay my head.

Sleep.

Then.

Dreams bring him to me.

Well.

Walking

Talking.

His warm hands.

His warm heart.

With him in thoughts and spirit.

Morning arrives.

Planes go over. 

The Red Eyes from the west.

Reminder of trips taken.

And I return to the moment.

Before rising.

Remembering.

He is gone.

October 21, 2023

WAVES

Waves of an ocean

Some too high even for surfers.

Some easy to bounce joyfully. 

My waves

Are mostly in my head.

Come now and then.

Salt from the tears.

Stream down my face making them my reality.

October 21, 2023

#poemsbybarbara#waves#dreams#whatdowavesreallymean#dreamsbringhimback#earlymorningrealities#griefcomesinmanyforms#reflectivthoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

LOVE OF BARNS-ONTARIO'S HERITAGE

 My first picture of a barn. Dufferin and Langstaff. Took it with my Miranda SLR that I bought when I graduated from my MSW program from the University of Toronto in 1975. August at dusk.

I bought the wonderful barn book that I posted many years ago on this blog.

I still try to find interesting barns or not so interesting just barns in general.

St Jacobs area.

A barn I captured on high speed setting on my camera as Adolph raced by in our car.

Do you like barns? Any photos to share? Love to see them!!

#barns#barnsinOntario#barnsarewonderfultosee#photosofbarns#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

OCTOBER-A MONTH OF MEMORIES FOR ME

 When grief comes visiting, the memories hidden away in the far corners of my mind come to the forefront.

Apples and apple picking always remind me of the first time Adolph and I went to an event. A High School mate had an apple farm on Dufferin Street. So she had an apple picking party. Her Mom was quite surprised we actually picked several bushel baskets of apples. And at the end of the evening-well the first kiss or kisses. 

Halloween parties and Thanksgiving dinners come to mind.

Going trick and treating with the kids. Later Adolph would take them out while I dished out the candies.

Trips to farms in recent years with family to find the pumpkin.

Farms trips are the most fun. I always try to buy a product the particular farm makes. Like the bread and butter pickles. Love them on a burger.

So what are your October memories??

#octobermemories#tripstothefarm#applepickingandfirstkiss#pumpkins#veggiesinthefall#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SOMETIMES WE NEED TO BE POLITICAL-I STAND WITH ISRAEL

 All everyone who knows me knows I love history.

But history teaches us we must make a stand sometimes.

What happened in Israel is not tolerable!

I stand with Israel yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Hatred does not belong in Canada.

I stand up with peace in our country.

I stand up with supporting our Jewish community.

I stand up with all our Canadians.

#standupforIsrael#supportallourJewishcitizens#supportallourcitizens#hatredoesnotbelonginCanada#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THANKSGIVING-A TIME TO BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THE JOY IN ONE'S LIFE AND YES PREPARING A BIG MEAL IS HARD WORK

 Thanksgiving brings family together.

Lots of good food.

Lots of work for the hostess/host.

Every family has the person that prepares the big meal.

In our family for now it is me.

It gives my working girls and families a break from meal preparation and cleaning on a long weekend.

For me it is an opportunity to clean my house in a big way after the slack cleaning of the summer.

This year however Thanksgiving came earlier due to October starting on a Sunday so the second Monday was early.

I had to scramble to get ready for the earlier meal.

Can I say I exhausted myself? Age really shows when major cleaning and work needs to be done.

Not as much energy as in my earlier years. Or maybe I was tired but it just did not bother me.

So the house is cleaner. The basement looks great and smells clean. So having the furnance on means less dust gets collected from the basement.

Meal preparation is a routine. Lots of preparation of veggies on the Saturday for the Sunday dinner.

But I think I will reduce the appetizers again and only one potato dish. I had mashed potatoes and small roasted potatoes. No one really ate the small potatoes. So just mashed at Christmas.

My daughters do some appetizers and desserts. So I no longer do baking for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I know. One day I will have to pass the torch for someone else to do the big meals. Right now I still do Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter with the girls inviting me to meals and other events in between the big ones.

So thank you Lord for giving me strength and the ability to host and be there for my family.

#thanksgivingishardwork#beingthereforfamily#preparingforfamily#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

POEMS BY BARBARA-THE COUNTRY LANE

 THE COUNTRY LANE

                                             (Photo by Barbara Di Mambro)

Colourful

Fall at its best

Listen

Listening

Do you hear Indigenous ancestors?

Settlers struggling?

Farmers lament then joyful for their harvest home!

Modern cellphone chimes and Tic tok clamour!

But softly the rustling of the leaves under my feet.

Quiet reflection of past , present and what the future will bring me.

Autumn of my life ending.

Heading to Winter.

What will that laneway bring?

October 2, 2023

Barbara Di Mambro

(Copyright-2023)

OCTOBER- ORANGE, PUMPKINS, CELEBRATIONS, EATING AND LOTS OF FUN

 October can be warm with an Indian Summer.

Full of fall veggies and apples- love the pumpkins, squash, and the variety of apples.

Fall flowers and a pot of Mums to celebrate.

Thanksgiving preparations. Cleaning the main floor. Arranging the front porch area with pumpkins and a Fall arrangement.

Apple picking.

Finding the perfect leaf to photograph.

Those Fall scenes.

Picking out the perfect pumpkin.

Loving the array of sunflowers everywhere.

October at its beginnings and discovering the Canadian countryside.

#october#octoberthefavouritefallmonth#sunflowers#fallpumpkins#fallveggies#applepicking#goingforacountrydrive#thanksgivingprepareations#cookingforthanksgiving#lotstoeatinoctober#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro