USING YOUR RESOURCES AT HAND-PROJECTS THAT COUNT

 I have so many supplies in my home.

From food to craft items to business supplies.

So deciding to use my resources at hand I am making my way through those supplies.

I have knit 4 toque hats using some of my supply of wool. Feels good in the dismal days of January.

I am dividing my extras in my stamp collection into 6 small collections for my grandchildren. 

Sorting through my various piles of documents I am working on downsizing some of my family history binders. I can scan and upload to my Evernote files so do not need duplicates of everything.

My photo albums will be another project. There are photos of people that I can send to those people. Years ago I sent one nephew most of his baby and childhood pics. I felt he and his daughter would enjoy them more. I only needed a couple.

I know retail therapy can help in these dismal days but using up stuff is the opposite of shopping and feels very good knowing I can use up supplies. So therapeutic in its own way.

Of course all those meals I froze over the last month are being eaten. On those days when the thought of cooking is burdensome, having a nutritional meal ready to heat in the microwave saves the day. Like the Sheppard's pie pieces I made from leftover Christmas dinner mashed potatoes, carrots, peas and used fresh ground beef.

I confess though I made a deliberate trip to Longos( a wonderful local supermarket with many products and an amazing bakery) yesterday to buy a steak, Caesar salad-just have to mix the precut ingredients and a piece of cake- better than buying a whole cake- for Friday night dinner. I had a baked potato from another meal. I really wanted to eat out but it sufficed for me. Plus a few other grocery items.

So what other resources do I have in my home. Probably I have just touched the tip of the iceberg.

How about you? Do you have resources to use in your home?

#usingyourresourcesathand#makingprojectswithitemsaroundthehome#usingfrozenfooditemsforaquickmeal#stampcollectionbeingdividedforfamilymembers#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SNOW SHOVELING IS A WINTER ACTIVITY

 Sometimes I feel badly that I do not do real winter sports. Skiing in my youth. Used to skate but now not very good at it.

I decided that snow shoveling is a real winter activity. 

I use several muscle groups that I am now feeling.

Our snowfall last night of several inches became very heavy wet snow.

So shoveling it off the driveway into little snowbanks gave me a good 30 minute workout.

Neatly shoveled.

I am on the corner so end up with a band of snow on the curve that the City of Richmond Hill clears after the main streets are snowplowed. It is a little back hoe guy who does. But see that nice curb. Well when he finishes I have to go out and clear the little row of snow he leaves me. 

I do have a system that I push the snow and do not lift as it is probably not good for my heart.

My arms feel like I have done a minor weight workout.

So I feel that I can now brag. Yes I have a winter activity. Shoveling and salting my 6 car driveway.

#winteractivity#snowshovelingcountsasawinteractivity#workingthosemusclesinthewinter#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NANA SAYS EMBRACING THE NANA ROLE

 Grandparents love their grandchildren.

Some are more hands on than other grandparents.

For some it is a show. Look at me and all my grandchildren. Talk is cheap.

I like to be part of their lives.

So looking for ways to be engaged. 

I took one granddaughter to see the Nutcracker. Lovely day out. Subway ride and being in the City.

Wanting to take the older boys to the PWHL first game. But it was sold out. Then I found a way to do it. Bought tickets for the NHL All Star weekend. Tickets had already been bought so I have two extras for the event.

For the littles I bought some tickets to the local theatre for a Spiderman movie during their March break.

Of course ordinary sleepovers, going to hockey games, drives from school and to appointments keeps me embracing the nana role.

They are my people and  I love them.

Nana says embracing the Nana role is really special.

#nanarole#embracingthenanarole#beingpartofthegrandchildren'slives#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JANUARY 7TH- A SPECIAL DAY IN OUR FAMILY

 January  7th will always be a special day in our family.

Sonya and Andrew were married this day. They started dating on the 7th of January so wanted to be married on the day.

It is also Adolph's birthday. I always think that his Mom was pregnant at the same time my mother was pregnant with me. Opposite sides of the world.

Celebrating always shoos away those January blues.

Having cake is never a bad thing. 

So wherever you are have some cake today to celebrate whoever you want!!

#januarybirthdays#january7thaspecialdayinourlives#rememberingaspecialdayinJanuary#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NANA SAYS-ADVICE TO PARENTS-EMBRACE THE CHAOS

 I was watching a segment on Breakfast TV.

The guest a fitness instagramer with 4 children- Phil Mackenzie said he embraces the chaos of having 4 children.

It reminded me that my daughter says the same thing about her family.

Roll with the chaos.

So families with many children seem to feel the same way.

The family chaos.

As a Nana, I must admit it is is good way to parent.

All the parenting advice is good.

But life can have some chaotic moments and well with children in the mix it simply can not be helped.

There are so many ways to parent positively.

Consistency.

Love.

A positive safe home.

Parents that love each other.

Healthy choices in food, environment.

But knowing that chaos can occur so why not embrace it.

#embracethechaos#positiveparenting#rollwiththechaos#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

RICHMOND HILL- 150 CELEBRATION IS OVER-BUT I DID SNAP SOME 150 PICTURES

 The 150 sign moved around Richmond Hill or the Hill as we call it.

My First encounter at the City buildings on East Beavercreek.

January 2023.

I did take a selfie but it sucked.

Sign at the Maple Festival in April

Some of the 150 banners along Yonge Street.

Banners at the Spring Fair in May.

July music festival in the park.

Sign on Richmond Hill Center for Performing Arts.

Richmond Hill Heritage Summit September 10, 2023. A collaboration between the City of Richmond Hill and the Richmond Hill Historical Society.

Art Walk and the amazing City crew helping with the Plaza sign and set up.

The sign made it to the Central Library at Yonge and Major Mackenzie.

Grandkids with the sign.

Flower pots near the path from Major Mackenzie to the Library.

View of path to the library.

So the year has ended but some memories created.

Do you have any pics of he 150year

#150yearinrichmondhill#photosbybarbaraofthe50year#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024

 Happy New Year everyone.

A quiet celebration with a married daughter and family.

Then watching TV at home with a sweet vermouth. 

Tried to stay up but the fireworks and cheering in my neighbourhood woke me up.

A text from another daughter was good.

Okay back to sleep and up at 530 to start the New Year.

Funny but I have already done some January planning.

I had said that I would enjoy the Christmas break and I did.

Along with Christmas celebrations, I took my littlest granddaughter to see the Nutcracker- National Ballet of Canada.

Subway ride, downtown Toronto- what a fun day.

Not great photos as I could not use my Nikon but at least I took a couple from the day.

It was raining outside so not an outdoor pic of the theatre right at University and Queen Street. There is an underground walkway that goes from the subway right into the theatre.

So 2024 a time to get going and doing and being. Time to embrace all in my life in a different way. 

It is what Adolph would want for me and his family.

#2024#embracingallthatlifegivesme#nutcrackerballet#downtowntoronto#beingwithfamily#embracinglife#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro