GRANPA LOVES MAMA'S PEAR TREE

When we bought the property in 1986 from our mother- Concetta, there was a pear tree on our side. She was concerned that we would want to cut it down. No I loved trees and Adolph loved pears.
So to see it blooming so well this year is very endearing. Visible from the family room and kitchen.

With the white blossoms lasting through some wind and rain, maybe there is hope for lots of pears this year.
#peartree#mama'stree#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#barbaradimambro#pears#springblossoms

GRANPA LOVES HIS TOMATO PLANT

I visited Valley View Gardens to buy a plant or two. Adolph's cousin Rita gave him a big tomato plant for the back garden.The family has operated the greenhouses for over 50 years.
Valley View Gardens

It has a good spot in the sun. Adolph can see it growing from his chair in the family room.
Sicilian Heritage. It will have big tomatoes.

the pole beans on the other hand will be awhile before there will be a dish!
The back porch garden is coming along.
#tomatoplant#pokebeans#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#barbaradimambro#valleyviewgardens#cousinsarekindtous#growingsomehomevegetables#herbsgrowwellinpots

GRANPA REMEMBERS THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLES OF CASSINO

May 18th is significant in Adolph's  hometown of Cassino. It was the last day of the battle of Cassino. No marking the 75th anniversary. My mother and father lived through these battles in Cassino. They hid up in the mountains.

I am writing Mama's memories in the Facebook page of Cassino. 

#anniversaryofthebattlesofCassino#granpslovestocook#adolphdimambro#CassinoFacebookgroup

GRANPA LOVES ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

So Adolph and I celebrate 48 years of marriage. Not wedded bliss but a real life.
I love this picture from our honeymoon. It was Adolph's love of cooking. Pancakes but a good breakfast on a honeymoon.

He also cooked some scrambled eggs for another breakfast. Spaghetti for a quick dinner. He started our marriage with cooking.
#honeymooninhawaii#adolphmakingpancakes#granpalovestocook#adolphdimambro#pancakesforahoneymoonbreakfast

GRANPA SAYS HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Adolph learned to cook from his mother. She was a good cook and great baker. Her butter tarts were the best.

A collage of Mama cooking and being with people. So to all the mothers we miss.
#concettamatrundola#granpalovestocook#buttertarts#greatbaker#inthekitchenwithmama#familyhistoryincludescooking#rememberingallthemotherswhocooked

GRANPA SUPPORTED MCHAPPY DAY

May 8 was McHappy Day. A day McDonald's contributes to the Ronald McDonald houses across the country. A home away from home for families with children in hospital.

Usually Granpa has a big mac on Fridays. But to support the cause life was changed up a little to support this wonderful event.

If Granpa wants, I can still buy him his McDonald's lunch on Friday. What do you think?
#mchappyday#mcdonaldsburger#mcdonaldssupportschildrenandfamilies#may8mchappyday#granpalovestocook#granpalovestoeatabigmacwithextrasauce

NICE WEATHER BRINGS MORE FOOD CHOICES

Both Adolph and I are looking forward to home grown and local food. The Farmers' Markets are starting. So time to review what will start to be grown near us.
Meanwhile enjoying the continued variety in the stores.
Adolph is partial to canned peaches right now. He can't wait for the summer peaches to arrive.
We will having a small back porch potted veggie garden so he can help with it if he wants.
For me the old veggie garden will be dug and compost strewn on it. I am experimenting with a wild kind of crazy quilt approach. You know how some plant will grow from your compost in various parts of the garden. So I am hoping those seeds in the compost may just find a new home. I know the gardeners out there are cringing but my wild garden last year attracted birds and butterflies that made it nice for Granpa. So if I grow a wild squash or couple of tomato plants it will be fun and fill the empty bed with something useful.
Check our daughter's House of Kerrs website and instagram as she is posting fun food ideas for family.
House of Kerrs

2018 beginning garden. At least we have the pots now and do not need to purchase more.
#granpalovestocook#talkingabouthtesummergarden#backporchpottedveggiegarden#tryingtogrowawildveggiegarden

GRANPA PROMOTES THE FEED IT FORWARD CAMPAIGN

I attended a charity function with my daughter.
The caterer was a local chef who " rescues" food to avoid waste and to feed hungry people.

His card tells it all. The food was good and tasty. Such a good cause to promote an international agency and local citizens concurrently.
#feeditforward#chefjaggergordon#feedingthehungry#tryingtoreducefoodwasteinCanada#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro