OCTOBER-A MONTH OF MEMORIES FOR ME

 When grief comes visiting, the memories hidden away in the far corners of my mind come to the forefront.

Apples and apple picking always remind me of the first time Adolph and I went to an event. A High School mate had an apple farm on Dufferin Street. So she had an apple picking party. Her Mom was quite surprised we actually picked several bushel baskets of apples. And at the end of the evening-well the first kiss or kisses. 

Halloween parties and Thanksgiving dinners come to mind.

Going trick and treating with the kids. Later Adolph would take them out while I dished out the candies.

Trips to farms in recent years with family to find the pumpkin.

Farms trips are the most fun. I always try to buy a product the particular farm makes. Like the bread and butter pickles. Love them on a burger.

So what are your October memories??

#octobermemories#tripstothefarm#applepickingandfirstkiss#pumpkins#veggiesinthefall#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SOMETIMES WE NEED TO BE POLITICAL-I STAND WITH ISRAEL

 All everyone who knows me knows I love history.

But history teaches us we must make a stand sometimes.

What happened in Israel is not tolerable!

I stand with Israel yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Hatred does not belong in Canada.

I stand up with peace in our country.

I stand up with supporting our Jewish community.

I stand up with all our Canadians.

#standupforIsrael#supportallourJewishcitizens#supportallourcitizens#hatredoesnotbelonginCanada#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

THANKSGIVING-A TIME TO BE THANKFUL FOR ALL THE JOY IN ONE'S LIFE AND YES PREPARING A BIG MEAL IS HARD WORK

 Thanksgiving brings family together.

Lots of good food.

Lots of work for the hostess/host.

Every family has the person that prepares the big meal.

In our family for now it is me.

It gives my working girls and families a break from meal preparation and cleaning on a long weekend.

For me it is an opportunity to clean my house in a big way after the slack cleaning of the summer.

This year however Thanksgiving came earlier due to October starting on a Sunday so the second Monday was early.

I had to scramble to get ready for the earlier meal.

Can I say I exhausted myself? Age really shows when major cleaning and work needs to be done.

Not as much energy as in my earlier years. Or maybe I was tired but it just did not bother me.

So the house is cleaner. The basement looks great and smells clean. So having the furnance on means less dust gets collected from the basement.

Meal preparation is a routine. Lots of preparation of veggies on the Saturday for the Sunday dinner.

But I think I will reduce the appetizers again and only one potato dish. I had mashed potatoes and small roasted potatoes. No one really ate the small potatoes. So just mashed at Christmas.

My daughters do some appetizers and desserts. So I no longer do baking for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

I know. One day I will have to pass the torch for someone else to do the big meals. Right now I still do Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter with the girls inviting me to meals and other events in between the big ones.

So thank you Lord for giving me strength and the ability to host and be there for my family.

#thanksgivingishardwork#beingthereforfamily#preparingforfamily#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

POEMS BY BARBARA-THE COUNTRY LANE

 THE COUNTRY LANE

                                             (Photo by Barbara Di Mambro)

Colourful

Fall at its best

Listen

Listening

Do you hear Indigenous ancestors?

Settlers struggling?

Farmers lament then joyful for their harvest home!

Modern cellphone chimes and Tic tok clamour!

But softly the rustling of the leaves under my feet.

Quiet reflection of past , present and what the future will bring me.

Autumn of my life ending.

Heading to Winter.

What will that laneway bring?

October 2, 2023

Barbara Di Mambro

(Copyright-2023)

OCTOBER- ORANGE, PUMPKINS, CELEBRATIONS, EATING AND LOTS OF FUN

 October can be warm with an Indian Summer.

Full of fall veggies and apples- love the pumpkins, squash, and the variety of apples.

Fall flowers and a pot of Mums to celebrate.

Thanksgiving preparations. Cleaning the main floor. Arranging the front porch area with pumpkins and a Fall arrangement.

Apple picking.

Finding the perfect leaf to photograph.

Those Fall scenes.

Picking out the perfect pumpkin.

Loving the array of sunflowers everywhere.

October at its beginnings and discovering the Canadian countryside.

#october#octoberthefavouritefallmonth#sunflowers#fallpumpkins#fallveggies#applepicking#goingforacountrydrive#thanksgivingprepareations#cookingforthanksgiving#lotstoeatinoctober#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS, FALL CLEANUP AND PREPARATION FOR THANKSGIVING

 September has been productive.

More garden cleanup. The front area looks better with the dead plants gone.

Shopping for our big feast next week. 

One birthday celebrated and another today. A grandson and a son-in-law.

Hockey games. Art Walk. And more community events to come.

Another opportunity to take lots of photos.

How is your September going? Are you getting ready for the Autumn months ahead? 

I will revisit some of my better Fall photos. I really do not need to drive around the country snapping photos.

#september#septemberactivities#gardencleanup#gettingreadyfortheFall#gettingreadyforThanksgiving#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

RICHMOND HILL ART WALK SEPTEMBER 23 2023

 So another booth at a community event for the Richmond Hill Arts Council.

The Art Walk featuring Richmond Hill talented artists. Put on by the City of Richmond Hill, what a fun day.

You can see the 150 sign in the background.

So many tables and tents.

I was able to chat with several artists new and old. Some new faces and some familiar faces.

I could take breaks and go and watch my grandson play hockey at the Elgin Barrow Arena.

Such a beautiful first day of Fall.

#artwalkrichmondhill#artistsofrichmondhill#richmondhillartscouncil#supportingtheartsinrichmondhill#takingphotosofalltheartists#havingfunattherichmondhillartwalk#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro