MARCH AND ALL THAT IT WILL BRING-CAME IN LIKE A LION, WILL IT GO OUT AS A LAMB

 I think Zelensky is one of the bravest men we will ever know. He stood up to the tyranny in America by confronting the fat guy in the White House.

Canada loves him and want Ukraine to have a fair end to their war.

So with the trade tariffs starting last night at midnight Canada has tighten our seatbelt and we are ready for the rough ride.

March came in like a lion but we are hopeful it will go out like a lamb.

We will be the true north strong and free.

I hope my fellow Canadians and allies around the world, be very strong about the new order that has happened in the world.

America deserting Ukraine and just wanting their minerals is despicable.

I stand for Canada. I stand for Ukraine. I stand for love and freedom.

But if I must fight I will.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. So we are going to make it through all of this hard times.

How about you? How are you feeling about the world and all its calamities right now? If worried be with a loved one?

A POSTCARD FROM LA BEFANA

January 6- Ephiphany on the Christian calendar where Christians of Eastern Orthodox, Russian Orthodox and others celebrate Christmas. In my husband's home country- Italy, there is the legend of La Befana. The story goes that when the Magi- the three wisemen were lost they stopped at an old lady's house asking for directions to find the Christ Child. She was busy so did not go with them but then regretted her decision and forever after went searching for Jesus by visiting houses with children looking for him. Children in Italy put a stocking for La Befana by the fireplace or the door.She visits January 5 the night before Ephiphany. If they have been bad they get a lump of coal but if good some candies and other treats and presents! When our children were little, a local Italian banquet hall- Cassino Place- would have an annual Befana dinner/dance. It was fun to take the girls as well as my mother-in-law as it was another celebration for them. Of course I do not know where La Befana lives now and do not have a real postcard from her but I am certain she has probably made some "bambini" very happy today!

#labefana#january6#italiantraditions#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THE SUNFLOWER

As the summer garden has slowly died and made way for the last blooms, the sunflower is one of the flowers I miss the most. There are several varieties which have grown in my garden. It was featured in one of my favourite movies- Under the Tuscan Sun- a sweet film based in Tuscany, Italy. Vincent Van Gogh's famous painting of Sunflowers is etched in everyone's mind due to the enormous price tag it obtained in modern times.

Sunflowers are grown around the world and can be a national- Ukranie or state flower- Kansas. They are the source of food- sunflower seeds, cooking oil and even used to feed domestic animals in some countries. In our area there used to be fields of sunflowers as not all the farms grew corn. Housing developments have grown instead. Hopefully, the homeowners will plant some sunflowers and keep some local tradition. On many occasions I have observed bees pollinating our flowers, our little gold finches eating the nectar and once the flowers are mature our squirrels trying to eat them and if not stalked properly, they snap the heads off. I just like the flower as it can be the tallest flower in the garden along with the hollyhocks. It is a happy flower- gira a sole- turns to the sun. In a good year my husband, Adolph has planted a nice row to border the vegetable garden- before the squirrels attack, of course. Do you have sunflowers in your garden? Do they have any meaning for you? Is there another flower that brings joy to you?

Can there be too many sunflowers in our lives?