RAKING LEAVES DOES COUNT AS EXERCISE

 Is it just me or do leaves have a villainous side?

The lawn can be beautifully raked.

Some leaves bagged. Other strewn on the garden for the winter.

The next day more have blown on the yard and more raking is necessary.

When it appears all the leaves have fallen off my trees, surprise!

More were still to come. Or one day when raking the wind was blowing leaves from other yards down the street to mine.

Maple, Oak and sycamore leaves!

The good news is raking leaves does count as exercise.

#rakingleaves#leavesblowingeverywhere#baggingrakedleaves#workinghardatrakingleaves#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambr

POEMS BY BARBARA- THE MIDNIGHT WIND AND WELL ENOUGH

THE MIDNIGHT WIND

Raged in the Early Hours.

Branches bending as they scraped the roof.

Blew the lid off the Rain Barrel

Leaves strewn

Some leaves made neat piles

Easy to gather and bag!

Did it blow away the issues.

The Concerns.

Did it blow some new hope and joy my way?

November 4, 2023

WELL ENOUGH

The rustling of leaves under my feet as if each rustle and leaf contains a memory.

Some days are easier than others.

But Fall seems to be a reminder that its season brings certain melancholy.

Remembering is often joyful

Remembering is often painful.

Remembering is often numb.

No feeling.

The numbness is easier as I do not have to feel.

Sometimes I do not want to feel anything.

Numb is a good thing.

I like going through the motions of being busy.

It takes any pressure off.

To the outside world I am coping.

Surviving.

Living on.

Busy,

As if being busy is so purposeful.

A wonderful external defense.

Oh she looks good.

She looks happy.

Fake it until you make it.

Well faking has become my mantra for living.

Be chatty.

Be polite.

Be nice.

It's okay to be not over it.

It's okay to contain the grief.

It's okay to be not okay.

So rather than I'm okay as an answer to how are you?

Well enough.

Confusing to some.

Others get it.

Well enough!!

November 4, 2023

I have been finding trying to write poems has become an outlet for some reflective thoughts. I am tired of reading experts and influencers and opinionate people trying to tell us all how to do, be, feel and live. I do not want to become one of those people.

So poems by Barbara is another way to challenge myself in this blog.

Enjoy!

#poemsbybarbara#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#wellenough#midnightwind#fakeituntilyoumakeit#okaynottobeokay#barbaradimambro#poemshelpwithlife'sprocessing

NOVEMBER BRINGS LOTS OF WORK TO BE DONE

 November has two significant birthdays for me.

A daughter.

A granddaughter.

Remembrance day functions. I usually like to go to the Service.

And Christmas preparations. I am behind in my shopping.

The main reason is most of the family just want money.

However I like to buy some small items for the grandchildren anyway.

There are community people and functions I make some gift baskets as prizes.

So to get the party started and shopping for what I need. 

How about you? Is November a busy time or not?

#novemberpreparationforChristmas#shoppingforChristmas#enjoyingfamilybirthdaysandfun#maybemorefamilystuff#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

HALLOWEEN FUN ON RESIDENTIAL HOMES

 So being at my daughter's home, the houses across the street had fun Halloween decorations.

I could not help myself. Needed to capture some fun pictures.

#halloween#halloweendecorations#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FOMO-FEAR OF MISSING OUT BUT ON WHAT?

 FOMO has become a source of contention for so many with the social media sites.

People see what others are doing and believe their lives are not great. Others have great lives and travel and social events.

Well don't always believe what you see on social media. Besides seeing 200 travel photos reminds me of childhood when family or friends would have a slide show of their vacation

I find my facebook page has some "friends" partying all the time. Eating out. Drinking. Travelling.

It is not necessary to post every day but some do. Okay for them.

For me FOMO raised its head when Adolph was sick and we did not do much.

But let me digress.

When we had money we did travel.

Circumstances changed so long trips became overnight trips. Like our 40th anniversary to Montreal and Ottawa. Others to Kingston and Niagara.

When we started the Granpalovestocook blog, our trips became farmer market day trips.

Our 45th anniversary was a boat cruise on the Toronto Harbour and a lunch with family in Kleinburg Ontario.

Adolph and I had our last market trip in 2016. As he became ill he only wanted to go to the Club to play cards.

Life changes. But does FOMO occur.

Not really. I had some community groups and some days out with friends here and there.

One friend thought I missed travel and told me the story of her friend who cared for her sick husband and when he died, she was happy to be able to travel again. As caring for her husband had been more of a burden of missing out on life. 

I did not respond as travelling with Adolph alive or even missing it was not in consciousness. 

Adolph did ask me a few months before he died what my first bereavement trip would be? I looked at him and said I had not even considered it. I think now he wanted me to be happy.

What I have stated often to friends and family, that being with Adolph loving, caring well just being with him had more purpose than anything else in my life. 

Travel is a luxury not a necessity in life. Travel with the right person does make the difference, doesn't it.

So from travel abroad or south to overnight to day to market trips and then bringing life to Adolph. No worry of FOMO.

The simplest events can be more rewarding than other events.

I have not had much travel in my life the last few year but I make the most of day trips, social events, movies, my community groups.

Lately attending as many of my Grandchildren's hockey games is good.  Movies with a daughter.

Life takes me where life takes me. 

I do have some bucket life items. Travel may be one of them one day.

But right now if invited I go. A birthday dinner. A coffee with a friend. Sometimes alone just to capture some photos.

So no FOMO in my world.

How about you? Does FOMO enter your life? Do others think your world is small because their world is great? Thoughts? Comments"

#FOMO#fearofmissingout#makingthemostofwhatisinyourworld#travelinaluxurynotaright#enjoyingwhatlifebringstoyou#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

POEMS BY BARBARA-DREAMS AND WAVES

 HE COMES TO ME IN DREAMS

His side of the bed

Where I lay my head.

Sleep.

Then.

Dreams bring him to me.

Well.

Walking

Talking.

His warm hands.

His warm heart.

With him in thoughts and spirit.

Morning arrives.

Planes go over. 

The Red Eyes from the west.

Reminder of trips taken.

And I return to the moment.

Before rising.

Remembering.

He is gone.

October 21, 2023

WAVES

Waves of an ocean

Some too high even for surfers.

Some easy to bounce joyfully. 

My waves

Are mostly in my head.

Come now and then.

Salt from the tears.

Stream down my face making them my reality.

October 21, 2023

#poemsbybarbara#waves#dreams#whatdowavesreallymean#dreamsbringhimback#earlymorningrealities#griefcomesinmanyforms#reflectivthoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

LOVE OF BARNS-ONTARIO'S HERITAGE

 My first picture of a barn. Dufferin and Langstaff. Took it with my Miranda SLR that I bought when I graduated from my MSW program from the University of Toronto in 1975. August at dusk.

I bought the wonderful barn book that I posted many years ago on this blog.

I still try to find interesting barns or not so interesting just barns in general.

St Jacobs area.

A barn I captured on high speed setting on my camera as Adolph raced by in our car.

Do you like barns? Any photos to share? Love to see them!!

#barns#barnsinOntario#barnsarewonderfultosee#photosofbarns#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro