In Italian culture the Christmas Even seafood dinner.
The seven fishes.
It was a favourite meal for Adolph and me.
Calamari at the Kerrs.
Fresh pasta with shrimp sauce.
This year I will be going to one daughter's house for the dinner.
#christmaseveseafooddinner#freshpastawithshrimpsauce#seafoodaappetizer#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
We all have dark days.
Some days are our darkest days.
But like the Winter Solstice the darkest day can change with the dawn of the next day.
To look for new beginnings.
The sun returning to us.
The days getting longer again.
Hope and light returns.
So in your darkest day, know that it will pass and a new day will begin.
#wintersolstice#thedarkestday#lifebringshopewithanewday#thesunwillreturn#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
Okay. I miss my spouse Adolph every day.
I live my life. I have moved forward without him.
But if I could have him back, I would have him back.
So Christmas.
So many memories.
The first Christmas Card he gave me. Such a treasure in 1966.
Engaged on Christmas Eve 1969.
Our First Christmas.
Our First Christmas tree.
Our First Christmas with our little baby Tash.
Our First Christmas in our First house that became a home.
Our First Christmas with our second baby Sonya.
Well you get it. So many memories.
Hosting large family dinners and yes they did occur at our house. Always taking in the stray family members. Always a place in our home.
Now my immediate family and this year a new member will attend.
During the last few years of Adolph's life we would have the Christmas Eve dinner for two with all the fish dishes.
I had him on Christmas morning. Opening presents. He hated opening presents. He really did not like getting presents. I know- I have no idea why. He was generous in giving presents however.
So for the last few weeks my thoughts of him have intensified. A lot.
So for all of you missing someone you loved. Missing a time gone by. Put the memory elephant in the room. Talk about your memories. Relish them.
We are told when we say a person's name they are remembered.
Adolph.
Christmas can be so bittersweet. So if you do not want to go over the top with it, do what is comfortable for you.
And if you need tissues to dab your tears, go for it.
#missingalovedoneatChristmas#missingAdolph#livingwithoutalovedone#movingforward#firstchristmasmemories#familydinnerswithfamilystrays#christmasevedinnerfortwo#christmasmorningwithadolph#sayinghisname#putthememoryelephantintheroom#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#granpalovestocook
Growing up in Canada there were many traditional trends.
The Christmas Tree. With ornaments and lots of tinsel. I used to get a real tree until a few years ago where it was just easier to use an artificial one. Now I put up two trees, have a small pink one with pink ornaments and a small table top one.
The Christmas Stocking. As a little girl my stocking would be an old nylon stocking of my Mom's filled with small items like a pencil, large orange and a delicious apple. For my girls when I played Santa a homemade stocking by my Mom with their name on it. Had to put big items from Santa to fill it. Now I put a variety of stockings on my fireplace.
Such an easy way to decorate adding festive colours to my family room.
Christmas lights. I love outdoor Christmas lights on houses. Now I just put some in my living room window on timers.
The Santa Claus Parade in our towns and city. The above photos are from the 2016 Aurora parade at night so the lights on the floats are more festive. Local businesses and community groups with bands and music.
The visit to Santa at the Mall or home Christmas parties.
Nana telling Santa the famous Christmas joke. Why is Mrs Claus mad at Santa? Well he only comes once a year and when he does he puts it in her stocking!!
Presents. Shopping. Parcels to family members.
Christmas cards.
The Christmas newsletter updating others on the year's events.
Donations to the Food Bank, Toy drives and other charities have been Canadian traditions. I give to the Police toy drive and they donate to the Salvation Army.
Lots of photos and often those wonderful group photos.
Porchetta on a buffet table.
We embraced the Italian Christmas Eve 7 fishes dishes.
The girls were allowed to open one present Christmas Eve. I pointed them to the box with the matching PJs.
Christmas day. Santa stockings. Coffee, toast and pastries as we opened the presents.
Of course the traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I would add some Italian sausage for my husband. Family and other invited guests. As a child it would be my Uncle Norman, Auntie Lynne and cousin Pam. One year an elderly neighbour. As boyfriends and girlfriends arrived they would join our festive table. As a little girl I would go to my biological Dad;s house for a few hours before returning home.
Boxing Day December 26 was a day to do discount shopping and trying to find Christmas items.
The beautiful floral centerpiece.
A child's Christmas angel by my daughter when she was five. It sits beside my Christmas angel.
Christmas parties with various groups and family.
The universal Christmas music. My favourite is Come all ye Faithful.
Christmas movies- It's a wonderful life, A Christmas Carol, A White Christmas. I watched those movies as a child. A Christmas Story that the kids love was filmed in Toronto 20 years ago. Of course- Home Alone is a favourite with all the grandkids.
Modern ones- Love Actually especially the scenes in the Airport with people greeting loved ones. The Holiday is a feel good movie too.
So Family, Food, Fun, charitable donations, contacting with family and friends.
Modern traditions with matching PJS made the Christmas of 2021 fun and easy to plan what to wear.
So as Canadian as the oak tree.
Merry Christmas. Joyeux Noel.
#canadiantraditionsatchristmas#canadianchristmastraditions#christmasturkeydinner#canadaatchristmas#matchingpjs#santaclausparade#picturewithsanta#visitingfamilyatchristmas#beingwithfamilyandfriends#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
Some of my best notes come from simple family gatherings.
Stories are shared so write them down.
My mother-in-law Concetta was good fodder for Adolph's family stories.
Little tidbits. A bit at a time.
Even during the last couple of years with Adolph he would tell me who people were in photos.
I learnt how he loved those velvet shorts he wore. If not for the picture I would not have known he loved those shorts.
So look at photos with family. Sometimes good stories are shared.
Adolph is the little boy on the left on the lap of someone I do not know. His Dad Guiseppe/Joe is with a little boy that may be a cousin.
I am going to post this photo on the Cassino Italian Immigrant Facebook page after Christmas.
I do need help with identifying them.
So share stories and ideas.
#barb'sgenalogytidbits#sharingfamilystories#rememberinglovedonesnolongerhere#reflectivethoughtsbarbara#barbaradimambro
Christmas is so much in our lives.
The parties.
The shopping.
The eating.
The planning of where we celebrate.
Memories are made.
But for many the missing of people no longer with us can be triggered.
Can't help it. No way to avoid it.
So put the big elephant in the room. Bring out the photos. Use some old traditions.
Make a family dish that was used by someone not here anymore.
Remember to be happy and sad at the same time.
Love the memories that we share.
But make new memories.
Dinner for two Christmas Eve 2019. Adolph and I celebrated the Christmas Eve seafood dinner alone.
#memoriesofchristmas#noteveryoneishappy#makinghappymemories#okaytobesadmissingalovedone#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
Okay. Not expecting several inches of snow when I awoke this morning.
But there it was.
So my first snow shoveling exercise of the season.
#snowsurprise#shovelingisgoodexercise#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
The planters by the library now have winter arrangements.
So pretty.
I tried to capture a variety of 150 images. I am sure there are so many more around the city,
#richmondhill150#richmondhill150planterswithwinterarrangements#richmondhill150plantersbythelibrary#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
Let's face it. The Moms make the best Santas.
But it takes a lot of work and effort to pull it all off.
So one community event finished and that's a rap for the Richmond Hill Arts Council annual Art Expo and Festival Market.
Not as good attendance as other years but some of the vendors did well.
So 120 pictures edited and posted to my Facebook page, I am ready for just my stuff and a couple of social events in the next few weeks.
Oh December the month of everything.
#December#richmondhillartscouncil#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro
