IS SNOW SHOVELING GOOD EXERCISE?

 Well a new year brings goals of more exercise.

So after a snowfall, time to shovel the driveway again.

Is it good exercise?

I sure hope so.

#snowshovelingasgoodexercise#gettingoutside#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JANUARY- TIME FOR RENEWAL

 A new month. A new year.

Time for renewal.

Time for reflection!

Time for change.

Time to move forward from the COVID virus.

How many people are looking forward to the vaccine?

I know I am. The sooner the better.

So hoping for a good year for everyone.

#virusvaccine#newyear#newhope#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WILL 2021 BE BETTER? BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR!!

 2020 with all the health issues, disasters and yes COVID-19.

Just a year. The good, the bad and the ugly.

The toil on humankind.

The worst year in history. Probably not. But a bad one, none the less!!

Most people I know can't wait for the new year! Will it be better?

Well with vaccines coming for everyone, perhaps the threat of COVID-19 will in check. Not gone but in check.

So evaluating what 2020 taught us can be an end of year task. Many lives changed forever. Many lives lost forever.

Looking at 2021 for me just means moving forward. No great expectations. No big plans. Just small manageable goals. Activities that will bring me some pleasure. Activities that include family especially my precious grandchildren.

Why I say be careful what you wish for is the fact that the year is starting the way it ended? COVID is not over. 

So keeping expectations in check may help with the mood. It is good to get excited about the new year.

Hope is a good thing. 

I know I hope for the better. But I am realistic and know it will take time. So using the months of slow recovery, yes slow recovery wisely. 

My main wish is not to get COVID-19. Nor any of my family. Second wish is not to give it to anyone else.

Third wish to keep on trekking in this thing we call life.

Fourth wish to do things in Adolph's memory. Like a better version of our cookbook for example.

After that I will just see what comes along.

So what are you wishing for in 2021?

#2020#2021#becarefulwhatyouwishfor#whatare2021goals#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#hopeisagoodthing#remembertokeepontrekking#

WINTER PHOTOS CAN BE BEAUTIFUL

 If it has to snow might as well snap some photos.

Now if I actually went for a drive to find other scenery.

#winterphotos#takingpicturesathome#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WINTER FUN

 With proper winter wear, the outdoors is the best way to get some relief during COVID-19,

So waiting for my trekking poles. I had trouble finding them as I had put walking poles in my online search. They are called trekking poles. Hum.

I will be walking with them for safety. Not really trekking very far.

So I will have no excuse to be outside and walking a little each day. 

The old fun of walking around a mall or going to a movie are not on the agenda right now. 

But a change of scenery is necessary. Looking out the window does not count. Should I be spying on my neighbours!! I think not!

#winterfun#trekkingpole#properwinterwear#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THE DAY AFTER THE WINTER SOLSTICE

 So after the shortest day and longest night, the sun is starting to return to us.

It feels like the pandemic in some ways.

Darkness.

Sadness.

The never ending pandemic.

No matter what positive twists I try to put on the season, it is harder and harder.

Another bloody lockdown. Are you kidding?

So many of us followed the rules. All the rules.

Now we are being made to feel guilty if we want to share a meal. 

We are told it is just one Christmas. Well it was one Easter, one Canada Day, no concerts, no sports, no Halloween, stay away from each other.

We did not even have a funeral service. 

So for many it could be the last Christmas together.

So is it just one meal, one Christmas?

So many emotions. Why do politicians and public health think it is okay to guilt us?

#wintersolstice#whydowehavetofeelguilty#somanyemotionsaroundtheseason#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#

CANADIAN CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS

 Everyone likes to talk about their traditions. 

I have always taken many things I do at Christmas for granted. 

So what are my Canadian Christmas traditions.

Family. Being with family. Connecting with family.

Christmas lights outside. Some people make amazing displays. Others a string of lights or two. This year I put my lights in my living room window so it is easier to turn off with my convenient switch. Then some solar lights in the garden that need no work.

Christmas Cards. Always loved the way my mother would find a spot for the cards. So I do the same now. I have a large Christmas Stocking with pockets in my doorway to the Family Room. Yes I still send cards and love to receive them. I love the messages in them.

Christmas decorations throughout the house. The variety that people can do is endless.

The Christmas Tree whether real or artificial. With saved decorations. One of my favourite is the little angel my daughter made in Kindergarten. 

Presents for family near and far.

Stockings for Santa's gifts. In my childhood It was a real silk stocking from my mother. We would get a large delicious apple and big orange along with little Santa gifts. The big Santa gift would be beside the stocking. I loved buying all the little stocking stuffers for the girls when they were little. Often along with fun stuff, new socks and underwear.

Lots of goodies in the house during December.

The music. Radio or CDs. My favourite- Oh come all ye faithful

And oh the movies. A Christmas Carol. Miracle on 34thstreet. It's a Wonderful Life. My modern favourite is Love Actually. Now there are lots of cheesy Christmas movies on TV. Like the Hallmark ones.

Loving some snow and walking in it. With children around making snow angels or a snowman. 

Local charities- food bank, toy drives and others. Canadians are very giving and generous. Toys are given to those needy children. Not just Christians.

We included Adolph's Italian tradition of a seafood dinner Christmas Eve. Lots of seafood dishes.

Christmas day the big turkey dinner with all the trimmings- bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, peas, corn, brussel sprouts. In my childhood, turnip. But now I have sweet potatoes and squash usually acorn. Desserts have varied through the years. My Mom would make a plum pudding with real rum sauce. I used to bake but now depend on the girls bringing desserts. So yule log, cookies and lots of other goodies. Vanilla ice cream to add to the dessert table.

A festive Christmas table.

My parents often invited someone who had nowhere to go over Christmas. Over the years Adolph and I had his and my extended family and others. His brother alone would be bring 5 extra people to the table.

Now it is just our kids and grandchildren.

There may be some phone calls on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

Ways to connect. Now everybody has some new traditions. Posting on Facebook for days with Merry Christmas to everyone. 

So Canadian traditions are abundant. Different regions may have a different one or two. 

I like making place names so this year is no different.

Stars for some. Trees for others. And on the back 2020 to show the year.

What are your traditions? Do you have some from your childhood?