A POSTCARD FROM OTTAWA-GLAD IT IS FREE AGAIN FOR ALL CANADIANS

 Ottawa strong and free. 

Anyone who has visited Ottawa loves it.

Our nation's capital.

Museums and art galleries and lovely Rideau Mall.

The canal for skating in the winter and viewing in the Summer.

The Tulip Festival. A reminder of our participation in sheltering the Royal Family from the Netherlands.

Photos from an Anniversary trip in 2011.

A place where students visits, where politicians from coast to coast to coast debate, laws are passed, the Supreme Court, people honeymoon and couples celebrate anniversaries.

For this Canadian to see the yahoos in an occupation? looking more like a Frat party.

What were children doing at the event?

What was a Confederate flag doing in Ottawa?

What was a Nazi flag doing in Ottawa?

Canadian flags, Provincial flags were visible.

Using honking as a torture technique. 

Harassing citizens. Making a mockery of all that is Canadian. Yet pretending with Canadians flags and telling reporters we are doing this for all Canadians.

Not this Canadian. Your efforts in Ottawa never represented me.

Gaslighting Canadians who wear masks, get vaccinated, trust the medical and scientific community worldwide that have been on the front line of this pandemic and every opinion that does not agree with a Far Right perspective. Some comments I made on Twitter were met by those individuals calling me many names and even equating my thinking to Nazi Germany. For wearing a mask and vaccination following Public Health Protocols. Oh Yeah. Whatever!!

Peaceful protests have been, are and will continue to be part of our democratic process. Both Toronto my provincial capital and Ottawa my nation's capital have hosted many protests over my lifetime. 

So Ottawa you are free again. My Nation's capital-  a beautiful city and a representative of Canadian democracy.

Maybe it is a time for another trip there!

#ottawa#nation'scaptial#democracyalwaysallowsforpeacefulprotests#anniversarytripin2011#honkingasatorturetechnique#don'tletfarrightgaslightpublichealthprotocols#wearmasks#getvaccinated#stopthegaslighting#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

#31 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- THE TULIP FESTIVAL IN OTTAWA

Starting today and running for 2 weeks the Tulip Festival starts in Ottawa. Millions of bulbs are donated each year from the Netherlands as a thank you to Canada for keeping their Royal Family during World War Two. So to celebrate our 150, we have a Dutch royal visitor in Ottawa today.

#20 BARB'S REFLECTIVE150-OTTAWA OUR NATION'S CAPITAL

Ottawa is a beautiful city which happens to be the nation's capital. For the 150 there are many events planned. Just visit any website about Ottawa and the 150.

Several trips over my life to Ottawa. This postcard is from a class trip in 1964. Adolph and I took an anniversary trip in 2011.

Love those tulips during the Annual Tulip Festival.

The big spider street art is such a favourite with all the tourists. So what are you waiting for? Go visit Ottawa during the 150!!!

TULIPS IN A MAY GARDEN

Taking a few pictures of my tulips in the garden has given me some inspiration to find larger beds with these beautiful spring bulbs.

The variety and colours are always inviting.

Of course, many purple varieties!

One of my favourite pictures from the trip to Ottawa during the Tulip Festival in 2011. A gift from the Dutch- the many tulip bulbs for every spring. So if you can't get to the Netherlands then go to Ottawa in the next couple of weeks or just walk around your neighbourhood looking for the beautiful tulips. Do you have tulips in your garden?

CANADIANS LOVE TO SKATE

An old pair of skates can give so much winter fun. All my grandchildren are skating-some taking hockey lessons and playing on little teams. It brings back of memories of learning to skate as a preschooler on a patch of ice in the local school parking lot. Then older on the ice rink  at my school. There are very few outdoor rinks at schools now. Locally, the Mill Pond in central Richmond Hill freezes and welcomes skaters. Nathan Phillip Square in Toronto has a wonderful rink. Or go to Ottawa with the Rideau Canal used by skaters in the winter. Skating is an affordable winter sport. If a child can not afford new skates there are many second time around places to get used ones. Or if you are lucky there may be older children in the extended family system that will share and hand down skates to their younger members. One of my sons-in-law has made a back yard skating rink. I have the skates but now need to get a helmet. As a youngster, like everyone else-who used a helmet! But as a role model, this Nana should get one! And maybe one for the Granpa too!  

OH CANADA-HOW COLD IS IT?

So how cold is it Canada? The weatherman tells us Winnipeg is as cold as Mars. The city teams that help with the homeless want them to come off the streets and go to shelters with this Cold Alert in the GTA. We are told that our skin can freeze in a very short time if exposed to the elements. Running into work from a warm car is the norm these days. I succumbed due to the icy sidewalks to take a ride for a few days so my family would not worry about me. I need to replace that 2 miles of walking every day! Back to the cold. How come the little squirrels can scanter around in the snow and not worry about the cold? Where do they live in the winter? Do they have little squirrel mittens? With a warm indoor job, one's thoughts goes to those folks who actually work outside in this weather. The Hydro workers that reconnected people in the GTA after the Ice Storm must be thanked. And those still working in New Brunswick! With all the downed trees and branches there is a huge task ahead of clearing all the debris for the next 8 weeks in Toronto with weekly pickups of the wood. More outside work! Even the skiing is not great with the ice on the slopes and not snow! Can not toboggan on ice and enjoy the time. Leaves skating doesn't it! My kids built a small rink in their backyard so ice is a good thing. With the cold temperatures, it will be good ice. We are told the Rideau Canal in Ottawa opened early this year. It is the longest winter skating surface in Canada and perhaps the world. 3KM long, I think! Staying warm is important. But the cold can be braved with the right clothing. Bascially, layers so the natural body heat can help to keep us warm. Of course, the head to be covered. 90% of body heat can go out of our heads! Many seniors go south for the winter to avoid cold spells such as this one. A third generation of ownership is occurring. Many of my parents' generation bought places in Florida in the 1950s and 1960s that the grandchildren are now enjoying without any cost to them! Not rich kids just lucky kids to be able to take advantage of family properties! But if there is no southern property, there is still lots to enjoy in Canada. The cold will not go away for awhile. So finding some way to cope and survive will help with the winter. I love walking so maybe I need to embrace the Mall walking that many people do year round! Right then no fears about slippery sidewalks! Just super fit seniors! Oh the cold! How are you coping these days?

A POSTCARD FROM THE WAR MUSEUM OTTAWA ONTARIO

When Adolph and I travelled to Ottawa on our anniversary trip two years ago, one of our stops was the War Museum.

At the museum there is an incredible history of all the wars that Canada participated. If a school age child does not know our history, then he or she will by the end of a visit. The art collection is enormous. Most of it is the Beaverbrook Collection of War Art. The poster postcard are self explanatory. The men on horses is by Alfred Munnings- Fort Garrys on the March, around 1918- from World War One.

These postcards depict the woman's role in war.  The top card by Henrietta Mable May- Women Making Shells, 1919 and the bottom one depicts a painting by George Agnew Reid- Women Operators, 1919.

Top left- Maurice Cullen- Tents at No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station, 1918, middle one is the statue of  Breaking of the sword- by Walter Allward 1925-1930 and the bottom one is by Arthur Lismer- His Majesty's Transport Olympic in Colours of Peace, 1919.

The top postcard is by A.Y. Jackson, 1914- A Copse,Evening and the bottom one is by J.W. Morrice- Canadians in the Snow. Do you see a pattern? Isn't  it interesting how art tells a picture and a reality of war? These are not depictions of photos but an artist's view of what has happened. Do they stand the test of time? Before digital and tweeting, art really tells a story, doesn't it?

The postcard of the original headstone of Canada's unknown soldier, 1920 is very typical of the headstones of our armed forces that were buried in Europe. I visited the cemetery in the Cassino Italy area and found the headstones with our maple leaf to be very endearing. It lets us know who the Canadians who died in Europe were and from what region/city/ or area of Canada.  The bottom  postcard is by C.R.W. Nevinson- The Roads of France 'C'. 1917.
The visit to the War Museum does not glorify war. It reminds us and makes us reflect on the campaigns  throughout the ages and many generations of the sacrifices made to have the peace we experience here in Canada.. Ottawa has many museums and galleries and tourist attractions. The war museum is sure worth a visit.

STREET SCULPTURE-IS IT ART OR JUST A PILE OF METAL?

Wherever I go, I look for images and well- art. During a recent trip to Toronto, I photographed this street sculpture.

Was it pieces of metal left over from a construction job and cheaper than going to the dump for the contractor? Does it conjure up any thoughts or ideas about life, relationships or the environment?
How does it compare to other street sculpture you have seen?

Like the big spider in front of the National Gallery in Ottawa Ontario- our captial! I love the size. In other countries there are huge pieces of art displayed in public places. Sometimes a major theme like a statue of a famous person is the centre of an area!

Here's Sir John Alexander Macdonald- the first Prime Minister of Canada,1867- in a park in Kingston Ontario! He actually had a huge long cobweb hanging from his nose to his hand. Does it tell us something about how people are old history? Can not say ancient about Sir John! Or are there just a lot of spiders making webs? What art and images do you see and like in your community?

A POSTCARD FROM BARBARA-OTTAWA

Postcards are fun to receive when family or friends are travelling or just need to keep in touch.

With the invention of social media and emails, many people do not bother to send one anymore. I like to keep in touch with many people by using postcards. Little children love to get mail with their name on it. On our recent anniversary trip to Montreal and Ottawa, due to the timeframes, I only sent to the grandchildren, parents, 2 cousins in Italy and siblings- about 12 cards. I usually print the address labels prior to any trip so it saves time with the writing. I have saved postcards all my life. Many people sent me a card because I have been a stamp collector so it served a double purpose. In reviewing my cards lately I realize many tell a story. The cards here from Ottawa are from two different time periods- one is the only souvenir I could afford on a class trip in May 1963 while the others were bought in May 2011. Do you have postcard stories to share? As a recurring theme on my blog, I will be posting postcard stories regularly. If you want to send me a postcard so I can put it in my blog- email me at abdm@rogers.com and I will send you my home address. If you have older postcards, do not throw them out as there may be a market for them. Remember people that could travel a hundred years ago had money! So their cards may have a dollar value.

NOT ALL ROADS ARE DIFFICULT

Too often in life we can concentrate on the
negative, the problems in any situation. Positive,
optimistic people try to see the silver lining even when
there are many dark clouds. If we actually kept a list
of all the events in our lives, we may discover there are
many neutral events- neither good nor bad, just life!
My recent trip is a case in point. Try to prepare and think of all the possible crisises. Guess what- a good trip with some highlights- like the torrential storm on a part of the drive- of course it was my turn driving! Otherwise, went away safely and returned safely- and the house was still standing and the basement dry! All family members were just fine!
Sometimes the old memories of difficult times resurface and the anxiety plays tricks on us. Preparation is good but letting life happen is better. Can you even tell from the picture it was rainy day in Ottawa? Of course, I was juggling my camera with one hand while I held the umbrella with the other one. Can be positive and prepared at the same time, eh?

THE CANADIAN TULIP FESTIVAL

In Ottawa was one of the sites I wanted to see on our recent trip. Although it was a rainy day, it still was worth the tour. We only visited one park- Major's Hill Park- that featured the festival. Lucky for us, it had a amazing viewing area of the back of the parliament buildings and Hull across the Ottawa river. Sometimes we can be lucky and have more than one tourist attraction to see.

I was also glad we picked that park. Artists had painted large tulips in various artistic expressions. Previously, other cities have had a similar theme. Chicago several years ago had local artists decorate usually with paint- the same cow shape sculpture. In Toronto, about 10 years ago there were the moose sculptures all over the city with various designs. In both previous exhibits, the items were actioned and were bought by private collectors or businesses.

We saw the tulip sculptures at various locations throughout Ottawa. It is a neat way to help local artists show their creativity and very colourful.

Have you seen a similar theme where you live? Is there a special animal or item you think would make a wonderful project in your community?

A CANADIAN ROAD TRIP

Returning from several days to Montreal then Ottawa reminds me of the many road trips I have taken. Canadians coast to coast take road trips. Some a few hours away to a favourite campground. Others to see family in other parts of the country or in the United States. Some to see areas of Canada that are so beautiful. Why did we chose Montreal and Ottawa? It is on my bucket list to see Paris in the Springtime. Could not afford it this year so Montreal has French speaking people and a certain- je ne sa quoi! Want to see the tulips in the Netherlands one day. Love to visit nation's capitals. Well there was the Tulip Festival in Ottawa and it is our nation capital. It was a region of Canada that Adolph and I have not seen together so a short trip- 6 hours to Montreal and 5 hours to Ottawa was manageable for a few days. Besides we could use Canadian money and knew all the Canadian places to eat- Tim Hortons, Swiss Chalet, but in Montreal there is the smoked meat. Ate at a famous place- Reubens on Rue St. Catherine. Adolph had his smoked meat! Me- I had the Reubens, what else! There will be more tales on our trip. Now after putting the main accessories and clothes from the trip away, the conculsion of any road trip is to enjoy one's own bed again! Tell me your tales of your road trips. What are your favourite places? Do you have something planned for the summer?

TULIPS-THANKS TO THE DUTCH

Canada has had a linkage to the Netherlands since World War Two when the Dutch Royalty was housed in Ottawa. Thus, the big thank you to Canada of tulips and the annual Tulip Festival there. I just love tulips. They come in an array of colour, shape and sizes. Some start to bloom in April and others throughout the month of May. Along with the other spring bulbs they are such a welcome site in the garden. Over the years I have taken many, many photos of my tulips. It is my oldest daughter's favourite flower. So here's to the Dutch!! Do you have tulips in your garden? Have you been fortunate to be able to go to th Netherlands to see the Spring Flowers? It's on my bucket list to go there one day.