VINTAGE BUTTONS FROM THE RICHMOND HILL WINTER CARNIVAL

 Posted on Facebook to try to sell my vintage Richmond Hill Winter Carnival buttons.

No takers yet. The cost would be a charitable donation to the Woman and Child Program at Mackenzie Health in Adolph's memory.

Why did I buy 4?

                                                           1994- 5- really!!

                             1969- the first year of the carnival. I think we were given

                              these buttons at our High School- Langstaff Secondary School.

                                                                1991

                                                                1983

                                                                1992

My bunch of buttons.

Any takers. Email me at abdm@rogers.com if interested.

#richmondhillwintercarnival#buttonsfromthecarnival#1969aretherealvintageones#abunchofcarnivalbuttonsforcharity#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

COVID PART OF OUR LIVES-HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE IT?

 New routines were necessary with COVID-19.

I have my little center by the front doo.

Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, boxed masked, homemade masks, face shield and some plastic gloves. 

Handy for coming and going or if anyone comes to the door.

Do you have a center in your house? 

#covid19centerbythefrontdoor#masks#handsanitizer#clothmasks#boxedmasks#faceshield#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#beingreadyforcovid

JANUARY NEARING ITS END-DID YOU GET EVERYTHING DONE?

The winter blahs compounded by COVID lockdowns are not very good for mood.

Limiting family contacts is difficult when living alone.

So phone calls, texts, emails and some masked door visits. I am trying to phone long distance family and friends.

My favourite thing is to make some goodies to take to the grandchildren.

They are on home schooling right now until they can return to virtual learning. I feel it breaks up their day a little.

Besides when I bake something the house has a good aroma in it. Tantalizing the senses helps with the mood.

I had some plans for January. I did not get everything done.

Restrictions so could not skate at my daughter's house.

Muddling my way through a couple of books.

Slowly knitting and crocheting some projects. 

Bills are done. Yeah!

Working on some personal family stuff.

Trying to finish some family history stories. We want to add certain documents and do you think I can find them? NO. Driving me crazy.

I am watching too much TV but I try to have something in my hands to keep me busy or at least productive.

Pushing myself to do things. Even walking to get the mail. Once outside I feel better. It is about 200 yards each way to my mailbox so a little outdoor exercise.

Celebrating my birthday was good- flowers, edible fruit, presents, homemade grandchildren cards, few pictures- hard when door visits occur, and take out food by both daughters and families.

I must admit I do feel down. It is hard to be rah, rah and positive. Usually I see the silver lining but not so much these days. 

I just feel numbed. Get up. Do some tasks. Keep going. Keep doing. Find meaning in every day.

Then I sit and watch the activities near my house. 

How about you? Has January been hard? Do you have bummed out moments, hours, days? Share your thoughts. Would love to hear from you!!

#januaryandtheblahs#hardtostaymotivatedduringcovid#whatactivitiesareyouworkingon#howisyourmood#areyoutryingtofinishsomeprojects#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#lotsofgoodbirthdayeating#tringtostaypositive

UNFINISHED BUSINESS AND HOW TO PROCEED

 When we talk about dreams and goals, the mark can be missed when life gets in the way.

Bucket lists.

5 year plans

Retirement plans

Places to visit

Celebrations missed

Well there can be unfinished business. People with whom we did not take the time to continue a friendship. Interests put on hold. Books unread. Phone calls not made.

Sometimes unfinished for a variety of reasons. 

So what stops us from finishing. Again a variety of reasons.

Deciding to finish or put the activity to bed can help us to get going with what really matters.

So do you have any unfinished business? Do you want to finish? What do you think is stopping you?

#unfinishedbusiness#tryingtocompletelife'stasks#bucketlistoutofdate#retirementplansdidnotpanout#whatdoyouwanttocelebrate#barbaradimambro#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara

A NEW DAY- NEW BEGINNINGS

 As we continue to struggle with the pandemic, it is always important to see some light at the end of the tunnel.

Staying home.

Wearing a mask when I venture out.

And of course hand washing that should have been part of a hygiene routine.

Now with a change in the White House, life seems more hopeful.

America is divided! Let's not kid ourselves. But maybe battling the pandemic will bring some unity to all.

If someone has lost a loved one to this terrible virus it does not matter what political party, what colour, what gender- the loss is a huge loss to everyone.

So a new day with new hope.

New beginnings.

#newdaynewhope#newbeginnings#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY- WE NEED HIS WORDS MORE THAN EVER

 Growing up through the 1960s and seeing Dr. King on TV often brought the views of racism to the forefront.

Hard to believe the racial divide in the US is so prominent today.

As a Canadian we have our issues too. We need to continue to foster racial equality and justice.

Listening to some of his speeches today brings the awareness for us all to be tolerant, to be aware and show in our words, deeds and actions how important it is to continue forward.

#martinlutherkingday#rememberingdrking'swords#beingtolerant#showingthroughdeeds#reflectivethoughtsbybarbaradimambro#barbaradimambro

JANUARY AND STAYING HOME

 With a stay at home order due to COVID-19, it is hard to decide what can be done or not.

It is funny that I can stand by people in a grocery store with a mask. And not with family with a mask.

As a single I can gather with one other household. But I have decided to limit any outings even for groceries.

Bless online shopping.

Bought myself some birthday presents. I know the kids will come by with masks and physical distancing to wish me a happy birthday. Yes it works. I can sit outside with a parka.

Christmas was more stressful with the need to see people. Not so much now.

I find I look out the window at the back that lets me see across to the Esso station. I can watch cars coming and going.

I feed my birds and squirrels and watch them.

The natural light everywhere in my house.

My little jaunt- 200 yards each way to my mailbox makes me get outside daily.

I decided to use this stay at home time to get little projects done, read some books and well exercise with my home weights for toning.

Zoom meetings coming up this week so some intellectual stuff can happen as well.

It is hard for everyone so it is not personal. Although it feels personal sometimes.

So emails. Texting. Phone calls. Short walks around my house every hour or so. Told sitting too much is the new smoking. TV with a project in my hands to use the time wisely. 

How are you doing during these COVID times? How is your Mental Health? 

#januaryandcovid#covidtimes#stayhome#stayinghomeiskindoftough#beingsingleduringcovid#hardtobesingleduringcovid#doingsmallprojectsduringcovid#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro