CANADA DAY 2022- LOTS OF CELEBRATING EH??

 Celebrations are back.

Maybe I will go to one and maybe not.

It has been a busy week with the graduations and arts event that I feel I have been around enough people for awhile.

Red and white.

Our flag.

Funnel cake.

Molson beer.

Marching bands.

150 years banners. Hard to believe 5 years have gone by. Now Canada is 155 years young!!

As a united country.

Of course the history and the land has been here for longer!!

O Canada. Our home and native land!!

Celebrate.

#canadaday#celebrations#flags#funnelcake#redandwhiteballoons#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MEMORIES OF A TRIP TO WEST KELOWNA BRITISH COLUMBIA

I took my girls for a vacation to my parents- May and Ellie Partk in West Kelowna British Columbia June/July 1989. Used to be called Westbank.

Staying at their home we had  a chance to visit areas in the Valley.

The girls fished with Dad one day and were excited to catch a fish.

They heard the story of Ogopogo and thought they would actually see the mythical creature.

Mountains from 1957 trip with my parents. The girls saw the mountains and loved them.

Bought lots of postcards for my collection. Sent a card home to Adolph.

We enjoyed Canada Day that year with a pancake breakfast sponsored by a local group.

A travel album with lots of pictures and memories.

What memories do you have of your travels?

#triptowestkelownabritishcolumbia#tripwestwiththegirls#rememberingtripswest#havingfuninbc#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NAAGAN AND CHEF ZACH IN OWEN SOUND

 I have had the second opportunity to eat the amazing cuisine of Chef Zach Keeshig.

Chef Zach forages from the land to make progressive Aboriginal cuisine.

Using the Owen Sound Farmers Market venue, the evening is peaceful near the Sydenham river and park.

As each course of our tasting was served he described what it was.

The first courses were cooked on the barbecue outside.

Served uniquely on anything but boring white plates, the food was delicious.

He paired each dish with a drink. I loved the Cedar Tea which was available throughout the meal. The menu did not include a description of each course as Chef Zach explained each one after we were served.

I love potatoes and this version of a fried potato with Chef Zach's own sauce was different and delicious. Well it was more than a fried potato as it was done Chef Zach style.

The main dish freshly caught trout.

Duck egg yolk ice cream.

Although the first course this sour dough bread with a topping was a good start.

My daughter Sonya takes better food pictures than I do. So visiting her House of Kerrs Instagram, Facebook and Blog pages will give you another perspective.

Chef Zach uses local producers of food and supports the pottery and ceramic artists in the area.

He belongs to the Indigenous Tourism Ontario initiative.

For me experiencing the ambiance of a country setting in small town Ontario was enriching.

Chef Zach entwines food stories with the dishes. He uses variations of the food his mother prepared into his cuisine. 

After the tasting Sonya and I had the opportunity to chat and catch up on all that has been happening since we saw him two years ago.

It was exciting to learn that a feature was written on his Aboriginal cooking by Suresh Doss in the Toronto Star Thursday June 16, 2022. Easy to find online and read if interested.

Chef Zach's information can be found in a variety of ways.

Click on this link to his webpage.

Chef Zach

He is on Facebook- Naagan by Zach Keeshig and Instagram- Chef Zach Keeshig. Check him out for a better description of all his  dishes.

I hope that another two years does not go by before I have another opportunity to have a food tasting.

What does Naagan mean? Well check out Chef Zach's information and discover for yourself.

#chefzach#aboriginalcuisine#ninecoursefoodtasting#indigenoustourismontario#feastingonaboriginalcuisine#owensoundfarmermarket#sydenhamriver#lovingthecuisineofchefzach#beinginthecountrywithgoodcookingisablessing#beingtreatedtofineeatinganddrinkswaswonderful#lovingdifferentfood#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

WHY DO WE SHARE PERSONAL STORIES WITH STRANGERS?

 I learned a long time ago not to talk too much to people I do not know well.

I used to talk to fellow passengers on a plane. Stopped many years ago as I realized I was sharing too much.

So why do we share with a stranger? Like a passenger on a plane.

Probably because we will not see them again.

People in our daily lives will know too much. So we keep information to ourselves.

For me it is because I am a Social Worker. People read something in my face and well tell me their whole life story. 

Even what we talk about such as our interests, our hobbies, our political views.

We can reveal so much about ourselves.

So the best thing is to sleep, read a book or watch the TV screen. Then no concern about sharing too much.

How about you? Do you share a lot with strangers??

#sharinginformationwithstrangers#talkingtoapassengeronaplane#stayingprivate#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NANA SAYS CELEBRATING OUR CHILDREN IS ESSENTIAL TO ALL OUR WELL BEING

 Each family celebrates in their own way.

But attending two Grade 8 graduation ceremonies, everyone takes lots of pictures. Lots.

So when receiving the diplomas, there was a pause for each one so family could take the pictures.

After two years of covid and no real celebrations it seemed extra special.

Just to sit and see and clap was a good time.

Celebrations are back. 

Big or small! It helps all the family members.

#familycelebrations#grade8celebrations#grade8graduationcelebration#beingwithourchildrencelebrating#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FUN AT THE BEACH- SAUBLE BEACH LAKE HURON

 

An overnight trip to Sauble Beach on Lake Huron with family was very peaceful.

Especially my time alone in the early morning when the crowds were still asleep.

Just me and some seagulls for company.

#timealoneonthebeach#seagulls#thescenerywasbeautiful#stoppingtoenjoythesceneryalone#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

DRIFTWOOD ON THE BEACH- SAUBLE BEACH

 I always love beach finds.  During a recent overnight trip to Sauble Beach on Lake Huron with family I discovered this beautiful piece of driftwood on the beach.

It stands alone in beauty.

Good spot to take pictures.

#beachfind#driftwood#beacheshaveinterestingitemstophotograph#lovingbeingonthebeach#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

BARB'S GENEALOGY TIDBITS-THE DI MAMBROS CAME TO CANADA JUNE 29 1959

 

63 years ago Adolph's family decided to leave Italy to live in Canada. They left aboard the ship Queen Frederica..

They ate well/ 

Original photo in black and white. My Heritage has a colorization process that I had the photo done in colour.

Adolph is the boy in the middle looking at the camera. His Dad Joe, Nonna Adelina and Mom Concetta are on the other side of the table. Charlie his brother is smiling at the camera while Tony is eating.

Enjoying a good dinner. 

Adolph said they did not come over in steerage like others in previous centuries. He loved his time on board the ship.

Adolph- far left on bench, friend and brother Charlie on the ship.

Details of their family. Good for genealogical purposes isn't?

Group shot on ship. Charlie boy far left. I do not know the other people in the picture. Not sure if they came from the same area or were picked up in Genoa.

June 29, 1959 they arrived in Canada through Pier 21 in Halifax.

When I first started writing family history, I asked Adolph for his story about his arrival in Canada.

I posted it on Pier 21 website. I think about 1985.

Pier 21 

The link for Pier 21.

The site is so valuable for anyone who came through Halifax to settle in Canada.

Adolph's or Adolfo story came be found at this link

pier21.ca/culture-trunks/italy/stories/adolfo-di-mambro  or click the following link.

Adolfo's story 

There are story trunks so anyone with Italian roots and had a family member who actually wrote a story on the site can search it under Italian trunks. Take the opportunity to write your own family story for Pier 21.

The beautiful picture of the Queen Frederica was a gift to me in 2000 for writing the story. Now I believe they charge a fee like $25.00 for your ship's name and the date your family arrived.

One of my grandson's used the story on his Grandpa for a school project and he was excited there was an online link.

I had many personal conversations over the 30 years ( 1968-1998)  I knew my mother-in-law Concetta about the family's time in Italy and the Cassino, Frosinone, Lazio region. But for another time as this post is just honouring the story of coming to Canada.

#dimambrofamilycometocanadajune29,1959#dimambrofamilytocanada1959#queenfrederica#leavingitalyforcanada#adolfowriteshisstoryonpier21#pier21wherepeoplearrivedincanadafromitaly#funaboardtheship#dimambrofamilyonthequeenfrederica#rememberingcomingtocanada#adolph'sstory#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

JUNE 22 1922-SHE WAS BORN-MY MOM MAY INA ARLINE ELLIS

 Although my Mom has been gone for 10 years, I thought of her today.

She was born June 28 1922. 100 years ago.

With her Auntie Ina in Toronto as a toddler.

Alone and with her sister Bernice.

A different time for sure.

#mayinaarlineellis#mayellis#mymom#intorontoin1920s#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

A DAY AT THE RICHMOND HILL PLAZA

 The Richmond Hill Arts Council had an event.

Tea and Art at the Plaza.

It was a good day with vendors and performers.

Hot but the committee was under a tent. 

Taking pictures and conversing with as many people as possible were my duties.

It was a 12 hour day. 

Tired.

More activities coming up.

#richmondhillartscouncil#dayattheplaza#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro