FAMILY FOOD STORIES

Growing up our meals were okay. But one time not so okay. 

1.Pierre Berton Baked beans and how Mom made them.

My Mom did not soak the beans so they were like little hard bullets. Since she would not accept any criticism regarding her meals we all had to choke the beans down.

Pierre Berton was a TV and radio personality as well as a writer. He really was not a chef.

2. First time I had roasted red peppers made by Adolph's mom, my future mother-in-law I thought I had eaten the most divine food. I still love them.

3. I was given a pasta making machine as a bridal shower gift. So I made homemade noodles for the first time July 1 1971 as Adolph was at his summer job. I had the day off but he didn't. So as a newlywed I thought it would be a nice surprise for him. 

4. Adolph's homemade lasagna and how he would use it to express his love in so many situations. 

For Larry's family when he was hospitalized. Larry was a dear friend of ours that did die from his accident.

For Cheryl's ( Andrew's Mom)  65th birthday. For Cheryl's wake, Adolph  made 3 lasagna pans, sausage, chicken, peas and roast potatoes as he was concerned about all the men attending that would be hungry. Sonya had said just make one pan of Lasagna but Adolph always did more.

5. My turkey dinners and all the trimmings for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have changed some of the vegetable dishes to suit the people at the table.

I thought it would be a good addition to family history to include food stories. We spend so much time at a kitchen or dining room table eating.

While eating, how many stories are shared.

So what are your family food stories? What do you share around the dinner table or even breakfast?

#familyfoodstories#pierrebertonbakedbeans#adolph'slasagna#makinghomemadenoodles#turkeydinnersandallthetrimmings.

SITTING ON THE FENCE IN THE POLITICAL ARENA

With the war in the Middle East and Ukraine, my heart hurts.

I want to be supportive of all sides.

To sit on the fence only means that one could fall off or be knocked off.

To take a side means that someone somewhere will be offended.

So off the fence I come.

I stand with Ukraine. I support all our efforts for the people to be free.

Bring them home. Bring the hostages home.

I know the war in Gaza is horrific.

I believe Hamas to be terrorists.

I believe Israel has the right to defend itself. 

Off the fence.

I stand with the Holy Land of Israel. As a Christian it is my holy land too. As it is with Muslim faith.

I do not tolerate terrorists groups or regimes.

Wherever they are in the world!

I want peace. But peace has always come with a cost. 

Ukraine and Israel are doing the work for us to have peace. 

There I have said it.

#warssuck#warinUkraine#warinthemiddleeast#peacecomeswithacost#israel#ukraine#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

NANA SAYS MOTHERHOOD IS NOT A JOB BUT A LIFE RELATIONSHIP

 With current controversy about how women really would rather be a mother and homemaker by a very derogatory personality, I wanted to set the record straight.

Being a mother is not a job. There are tasks involved to run a household like laundry, food, cleaning etc that are done whether you are a mother or not. Depending on the age of the child and your relationship with the Dad, the chores can be cumbersome and overwhelming at times.

I had a 43 year career as a Social Worker. I retired from my work life. A job.

Motherhood is life long. It is a life long relationship. You do not retire from being a mother like you retire from a job.

It can be said the relationship with each child can be challenging and rewarding. Unlike a job it is 24/7.

I dislike hearing being a mother is the most rewarding job you will ever have. No, no, no. 

However it may one of the most rewarding relationships you will ever have.

Changes as each child ages.

When your children leave home, the relationship prevails.

The proverbial questions? Why do men not get the label that being a Dad is the most important job they every had? 

#motherhoodisalifelongrelationaship#motherhoodisnotajob#beingamotherchangeswiththeageofthechildren#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

FIVE QUALITIES STRONG, INDEPENDENT WOMEN HAVE

 

Strong, independent women has similar qualities.

Even in a marriage the strength can be there. 

Not all single women or widows may be strong. Perhaps just surviving.

Thinking about my life and women I have known the following qualities surfaced.

1. They can be alone or in a crowd. They like their own company. They are social with the right people.

2. Caring, compassionate but tough and assertive when needed. Not a pushover but not aggressive either. They care about others. They are there when you need them. Make the best close friends.

3. Resourceful. They manage their own affairs. Know how to pump gas. Budget their finances. Read. Learn new ideas that can be applied to their lives.

4. Knowing when to ask for help even though they could probably do it on their own. They will carefully assess the help and determine if it can be useful.

5. Resilient. Life may have been a struggle but they rise from the depths of those struggles. Put one foot in front of the other to move forward and cope and survive. Usually in a positive way. 

Strong women do not have time nor the need for pity parties. Yes let them know you notice their strengths but know they can take it or leave it. 

Most strong women are fun. They like humour and yes they like fun. Being serious about everything is not their way to live.

So how many strong women do you know??

#strongwomen#5qualitesofstrongwomen#resilience#caring#compassionate#liketohavefun#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MAY WITH ITS GLORY IN FULL BLOOM

 I want to photograph the beauty around me.

Then I visit my photo files and find years of photos of May's glory.

Pink and purple with a blend of yellow.

Then when I look closer little bees and bumble bees are busy at work.

How are your spring gardens going?

#maywithitsbeauty#maygardensandcolours#tulipsinthespring#pinktreeseverywhere#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

REAL MEN HONOUR EVERYTHING ABOUT REAL WOMEN

 A week of controversy with one football player getting too much press for what he said at a commencement celebration.

Women are raging.

Men should be raging too.

Or Not.

I am not raging. I just think he is dumb. I said it. There are dumb men.

I am just glad he is not the man I love. 

The men in my life have been real men. 

Honouring and supporting the women around them.

Knowing that women belong where they want to belong- politics, hospitals, schools, writers,  corporate world, self employed, any profession they aspire to have and if they want to be homemakers fulltime. 

As a retired 43 year career Social Worker, I never would have missed the experiences I had.

And my husband Adolph supported all my endeavors as I supported his.

Real men share the world with real women. Educated, loving, caring women.

#realmen#realwomen#sharingeachothers'ambitions#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

MOTHER'S DAY 2024

 Being blessed with children and grandchildren makes life wonderful

Flowers and goodies. A lunch with a daughter and family.

#mother'sday2024#flowersandgoodies#enjoyingmother'sday#reflectviethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

TULIPS ARE A SPRING FAVOURITE OF MINE

 So I really love tulips and so do the squirrels.

So many of my tulips have the flower snipped off.

I have seen a rabbit in my garden but I think it is the squirrels.

Tulip Festival 2011 in Ottawa during the 40th Anniversary trip.

A white tulip after the rain in my garden.

How great was that Mother/Daughter trip to Niagara on the Lake. Such a special town in Ontario.

What are your favourite tulip pictures?

#niagaraonthelake#tulips#tulipfestivalinottawa#pinktulips#whitetulips#thesquirrelshavebeeneatingmytulips#lovemytulipsinthegarden#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro#tulipsinontario#tulipsinCanada

MAY-MY FAVOURITE MONTH FOR MANY REASONS.

 May- the start of the warmer months.

Oh the flowers.

The trees! Especially the pink ones.

The tulips. Always loved tulips. So more tulip pictures will come.

A regular tree trying to form leaves.

Opps the same tulip pic! Oh well.

#lovemay#myfavouritemonth#tulips#flowers#pinktrees#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro