SOCIAL WORK WEEK 2017

Celebrating a profession that advocates and supports social change. Facilitating support for individuals, families, communities and collaboration with other disciplines has been the mandate for Social Workers for hundreds of years. The history in Canada is long. Part of the humanitarian efforts for all new immigrants since the early 1800s. The Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto where I obtained my Masters of Social Work is well over 100 years. Other Canadian universities have faculties training modern day Social Workers. Real Experts facilitating real change in the lives of people. Social Workers are found in schools, welfare offices, mental health clinics, child welfare, services for special needs, doctors' offices, wellness clinics, private practice-often practising family therapy and psychotherapy and of course health care in the community and in hospitals. Many Social Workers have joined the business community with combined degrees in Social Work and Business or Social Work and Law. So celebrate the week. For me, an Open House at our workplace to showcase what the Social Workers do.

SPRING-TIME TO CLEAN AND DECLUTTER

With longer days and warmer weather around the corner, it is easier to get ride of those items in one's house no longer in use. Donating to charities and some even pick up from the house. Selling items- using those online sites and even local ones like Varage sale. The curb invites neighbours who may like your items that can not be sold but are still functional for someone else's home. I enjoy seeing people taking my stuff from the curb! As an aging baby boomer, everywhere one looks one sees-your kids will not want your stuff! So keeping my treasures but cleansing the larger piles is giving me some joy. A couple of community garage sales to rent a table is in the future months so will see how that goes. Areas of my house are enjoying the cleanse! How about your place? How is it going?

#22 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- THE GREAT LAKES

Living in the GTA for my whole life, Lake Ontario has always been a significant part of my living. The Great Lakes in Canada are a bit of a misnomer. They are actually larger than any sea in other parts of the world. The St. Lawrence Seaway connects the lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. So the lakes are a major transportation route as well so important in our country's history. Major cities like Toronto grew because of Lake Ontario's great natural resources.

As can been seen from the map, we share the lakes with the United States. A source of water is vital to both nations. Beaches-fun, fishing, boating and many other industries depends on these lakes.
The largest is Lake Superior. A treacherous lake as our history has stories of many ship wrecks there. Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario make up the 5 bodies of water. Ships that use the water system are delayed in winter due to the freezing of large portions of them. There are many lock systems that make interesting visits for tourists.
Environmentally it is important to protect them.
There are many sites that inform about the history of this great water system. It rranscends several subject groups such as history, geography, culture, natural reasources. So pull out a map and have a look.
#GreatLakes

#21 BARB'S REFLECTIVE 150- MAPLE SYRUP

Maple syrup is so Canadian and so good. On pancakes, in fudge and baking and even snow cones dipped in it, no one leaves without a smile. March is Maple Syrup month.

It can be found in many locations. The farm, the markets and even the supermarket. The PC brand costing $10.00 for the bottle in the picture is an easy find. Depending where it is bought there are a variety of containers.

On a farmer's market trip to Cambridge we bought the 2 Litres jug from this sweet company.
#ShadyGroveMapleCo.
Shady Grove Maple Co
During a family trip to St. Joseph's Island, we discovered it was the largest producer of Maple Syrup in Ontario.

Thompson's Maple Products was a fun jaunt with family.
#Thompson'sMapleProducts
Thompson's Maple Products
Thompson
We came home with some products from this wonderful location.
Other market trips like St. Jacob's yielded wonderful jugs of the product.
#stjacobsmarket
St.Jacob's Market
Although lots of maple syrup comes from Ontario, Quebec is the largest producer in the country and I believe in the world. Calls for a trip to La belle province to visit some locations and buy their syrup.
For those that love maple syrup, it does comes in lighter and darker versions.
Some of the best maple syrup I have used comes from my brother Ron and wife Sheila who live on St. Joseph's idea. He has a small sugar bush and bottles his own syrup for personal consumption. It is dark and very tasty.
In our area here in York Region, there was the Baker sugar bush at Bathurst and Highway 7. Gone now but there is a street name after them. The Baker family was an original Pennsylvania family that settled in the area in 1790.
The conservation areas in the province have special days for obtaining the sap to make the syrup. Bruce's Mills near us has school trips for young people to learn about this important heritage.
Thanks to our First Nations people who introduced it to the White Man, it is definitely a very Canadian tradition. Yes it does come from the sap in a Maple tree!
There are lots of sites that have history and information on the process of gathering the sap and boiling it to sugar. Try visiting some sites then go to an actual location. Lots of fun for the whole family!

#maplesyrup#stjacobs#thompson'smapleproducts#shadygrovemapleco#visitstofarmersmarketswherelotsofmaplesyrupissold#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#onpancakes#makefudgefrommaplesyrup#maplesyruponoatmeal#lovemymaplesyrup#averycanadianitemshowntousbytheindigenouspeople

CHOCOLATE-HELPS US COPE

Dark chocolate is supposed to be good for us. A hot chocolate on a winter's day after an outing sure tastes good. With some little marshmellows! Good chocolate from a favourite place. Even bad chocolates are good too! Chocolate chip cookies! Brownies! Cake for any occasion with chocolate icing. Big or little chocolate bars! So if having a bad day, have a chocolate!

CHANGE IN SEASON-CHANGE IN MOOD

Although we all look forward to the change of seasons, it can bring some mood issues as well. With the time change around the corner, our sleep patterns will be disrupted until we are used to the new time. More accidents happen at that time as well. More sunlight- yeah the days are getting longer means more time to be outside. For those with bipolar disorders, it can be a season that brings some mania. So understanding that change brings some anxiety is important. One of the big dilemmas is what to wear. When do we put away the boots, scarves and big coats to wear the thinner spring jackets. In one day we can be cold, warm, hot then cold again as the temperatures dip. There can be an urgency to get things done. Spring cleaning, garden cleanup, get the extra junk out of the garage then comes the sore muscles. So to work efficiently without hurting one's body is a good thing. Usually warmer weather puts people in a good mood. So here's to March and all the wonderful days ahead.

NANA SAYS GET READY FOR MARCH BREAK

Many families go south or away for the break. But there is so much to do in and around the country if one is staying home. Big cities like Toronto, for example, have great venues. Royal Ontario Museum and the downtown core will bring many adventures for the children. The Art Gallery of Ontario has activities. I remember taking my girls there several times. Kleinburg with the McMichael Collection can help your children learn about Canadian art. Of course depending on the weather, the slopes for skiing, snowboarding and tubing/tobogganing bring outdoor fun. Movies are a great standby- get out of the house. But chores and some spring cleaning can include children of all ages. Those lists for new clothes- what fits and what doesn't.
#ROM #ArtGalleryof Ontario #Toronto