BACK TO SCHOOL EVOKES SO MANY MEMORIES AND THOUGHTS

 Watching the news of students arriving for residence in Toronto's universities.

Back to school supplies in flyers and email ads.

Thinking of my grandchildren going back to school.

I liked school and missed classes when I finally graduated in 1975 with my Masters degree.

November was different. There were no exams or essays needing to be written.

First day in class. First days on campus.

I hope all the children and big children enjoy their school year.

#schoolmemories#backtoschool#firstdayinclass#Ilikedschool#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS!!

 Always loved the song from the Sound of Music. A few of my favourite things.

One of my favourite movies. Out of Africa

On my Sunday walk by the library one of my favourite buildings

Elephant.

Colour purple.

Quiet Sunday walks.

Peaches with chocolate ice cream.

#favouritethings#elephants#sundaywalks#reflectivethingsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MUSKOKA CHAIRS FROM THE SUMMER OUTINGS 2025

 

A pink chair in Unionville

At the Dairy Queen in Richmond Hill.

Richmond Hill- Mill Pond.

Richmond Green in the spring.

I think I like the pink one the best.

#muskokachairs#richmondhill#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

A SUNDAY MORNING WALK-A POEM BY BARBARA

 QUIET MORNING WALK

MY FAVOURITE DAY TO WALK

SUNDAY

THE STILLNES IN THE AIR

REDUCED TRAFFIC

THE EARLY MORNING VIBES IN MY SOUL

EMBRACING THE WALK WITH LITTLE DISTRACTIONS

REDUCED HUMANITY

IS WHAT I CRAVE SOMETIMES

THE LIBRARY, THE CONDOS, THE HOMES

WITH PEOPLE SLEEPING

I STRUT ALONE WITH MY WEIGHTS AND BACKWARDS BASEBALL CAP

RELISHING IN MY PACE AS EACH TIME I WALK I BECOME STRONGER

UP THE HILL

AROUND THE LIBARY

ALONG MAJOR MAC

THROUGH THE LITTLE PARK

I KISS ON THE PLAQUE ON THE BENCH

ALONG HARDING 

DOWN ADDISON 

THEN HOME

Barbara Di Mambro

August 17, 2025

VE IN EUROPE- 80 YEARS SINCE THAT DAY

 August 15, 1945.

Victory in Europe after a gruesome 6 years of war,

To remember. To honour all who fought. To remember the atrocities.

Adolph's folks saw the war in Italy.

Family friends had people who were there.

My Dad fought in the war.

The rebuilding that had to occur.

We must learn from history. We must remember all that it brought.

#veineurope#august151945#rememberingallwhofought#rememberingallwhosurvived#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

HOPE FOR A BETTER DAY IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER-STANDING UP FOR ALL THE GOOD IN THE WORLD

 Yes support the underdog.

Keep hopeful about all that presents as bad.

Don't let the Social Media Billionaires take away our hope of a better day.

Vote for good.

Support all people.

Be like the sunflower. Gira al sole.

Be strong. Shine.

Demand justice for all.

#hope#justiceforall#sunflowersofhope#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

AUGUST- TIME TO REV UP SUMMER ACTIVITIES

 So time to do some publicity for two groups.

Garden cleanup starting with the big overgrown sections. But leaving some plants for winter for the bulbs and bees and other critters.

Planning for September activities in a small way.

Calling friends so visits can occur.

Needing to decide what can be thrown out from my garage. May do a Free Stuff sale. LOL

Easier than hauling it to a charity location.

And read and read and read. Behind in my reading.

It is still summer so must enjoy the summer.

#augustactivities#read#planning#gardencleanup#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

RICHMOND HILL- COMMEMORATIVE BENCH FOR MAHSA JINA AMINI

 I had noticed the bench on my walks up the hill and around the library. I thought it was just for someone's loved like I did for Adolph.

So yesterday I decided to park at the library P parking and sit on the bench.

It is a commemorative bench.

In Memory of

Mahsa Jina Amini

when passing on September 12, 2022 sparked

"Women, Life, Freedom" demonstrations around the world.

including on this site October 1, 2022.

A Persian woman.

Untimely death in Iran.

So on October 1, 2022 up the hill from my house on Addison Street at the corner of Major Mackenzie and Yonge/ Hopkins and Addison, more than 30,000 people of Persian descent walked up Yonge Street from Rutherford coming to the area around the Central Library to demonstrate and give speeches.

I could hear the chanting from my house. The neighbourhood was lined with cars on every street near the library.

Two hours or more then they were gone.

So sitting on the bench overlooking the area where the demonstration took place.

Facing East to Yonge Street and very far in the distance- Iran.

A peaceful spot for quiet reflection this Tuesday morning.

#richmondhill#benchforMahsaJinaAmini#commemorativebench#apeacefuldemonstration#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FARMER'S MARKETS ARE A FAVOURITE ACTIVITY OF MINE- FRESH LOCAL PRODUCE

Miss going to Farmer's Markets with Adolph.

But I still find a small local one at Hillcrest Mall that gives me some good fresh Ontario and Canadian produce.

 

Cherries from BC. Tasted like the ones I would pick at my parents' home in West Kelowna. They had two cherry trees in their backyard.

Peaches from Ontario. Tomatoes and celery from a farm in Southern Ontario.

Shabatura Produce from Windham Centre Ontario.

Cheese from a company from Barrie at the Meat, sausage and cheese booth.

Rosemary/garlic cheddar cheese that was so tasty. Superior Cheese company from Barrie Ontario

I buy the smaller sizes. Shopping for one means to limit what I buy so there is no food wastage. 

I made bruschetta with the fresh tomatoes.

Chopped tomato, chopped garlic pieces, fresh parsley from my pot on the porch, oregano, little olive oil mixed all together. Enough for a couple of meals. I had some with two pieces of toasted sour dough bread.

So supporting Canadian farmers and workers while having a tasty Sunday at the same time.

Oh Canada.

#localproduce#cherriesfromBC#ontarioproduce#superiocheesefromBarrie#shabaturaproducefromwindhamcentreontarior#peaches#tomatoes#celery#cherries#reflcetivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro