Blog
Wildflowers
Our Northern Ontario home is situated on a part of the Canadian Shield known as the Ontario Shield. Summers are short and warm and winters, long and cold here. There are countless varieties of Wildflowers on our country property that bloom from early spring to late...
Pietrina Lima and Joseph Ignoffo
Pietrina Lima was the older sister of my maternal grandfather, Pietro Lima; hence, my grandaunt. She was born on April 5,1887 in Trabia, Sicily. Joseph Ignoffo was born on September 1, 1879 in Trabia, Sicily. He emigrated to the USA on June 11, 1893 and was...
Surname Confusion: Mandia, Lamantia or Mantia? Part Two of Two
Rose Lima (September 14,1898 Termini Immerse, Sicily, Italy – October 17, 1982 Toronto, Ontario, Canada) was my late maternal grandmother. Her family including my late mother, Dorothy Lima Perry believed that her maiden surname was “Mandia.” According to several...
Surname Confusion: Mandia, Lamantia or Mantia? Part One of Two.
My late maternal grandmother, Rose Lima was born on September 14, 1898 in Termini Imerese, Sicily, Italy. She emigrated to Canada via Ellis Island, New York, USA on June 26, 1900 with her mother, Giuseppa Bova. They joined Rose’s father, Antonino in Ottawa, Ontario...
Michael Mandia Marriage Documents
Michael Mandia was my maternal granduncle. The younger brother of my grandmother, Rose Lima, he was born on November 11, 1902 in Ottawa, Ontario. Their father, Antonino Mandia was born on May 4, 1873 in Termini Imerese, Sicily. He married Giuseppa Bova on January 31,...
Jigsaw Puzzles
After retiring from a business career, my husband began tackling jigsaw puzzles of one thousand plus pieces. Regardless the difficulty or time required to assemble, he has achieved success. In good humour I have gifted him with a few that I felt certain would defeat...
Beautiful Seasons in Northern Ontario, Canada.
The seasons begin on the following dates in the Northern Hemisphere: -Winter: December 21-Spring: March 20-Summer: June 21-Autumn: September 22 The photo of the fawns was taken in mid-September. I hope you enjoy these photographs, too.
Genealogical Reference Books
I have collected genealogical reference books over the years. Though I search for information on the internet and relevant websites more now than compared to the past, they continue to prove invaluable resources. The photograph introducing this blog is of my late...
Italian Genealogical Reference Books
I have collected several Italian genealogical reference books that continue to prove invaluable resources in my quest to learn about my Calabrian-Sicilian ancestry. Please note that I purchased the plate introducing this blog on my second research trip to Calabria, a...
Genealogical Books: Immigration Records
My maternal and paternal grandparents emigrated from southern Italy to Canada during the period 1898 to 1916. I have verified that all four departed Italy and sailed across the Atlantic Ocean on separate voyages. They landed at Ellis Island, an immigration inspection...
The Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are approximately three hundred miles/four hundred and eighty-three kilometres east of South America and seven hundred and fifty miles/twelve hundred kilometres north of Antarctica. The Southern Atlantic archipelago includes seven hundred plus...
The Punta Arenas Cemetery
The Punta Arenas Cemetery is located in the Port of Punta Arenas, Chile. The Port is situated on Brunswick Peninsula, the southernmost region of this South American country. It is on the western side of the Strait of Magellan. Punta Arenas was founded in 1848 and has...
The Amalia Glacier
The Amalia Glacier is situated in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park, a protected area of 8,000 plus acres in the South American country of Chile. It is on the Sarmiento Channel and an estimated 21 kilometres/13 miles in length. A glacier is generally defined as a large...
La Recoleta Cemetery
La Recoleta Cemetery is located in Recoleta neighbourhood in the city of Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Approximately fourteen acres in size, it opened in 1822 and is considered one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the world. Given my interest in...
Favourite Garden Sanctuary
Garden memories from last summer. Hope you enjoy the photos, too.
Memorabilia
What do you think constitute memorabilia? a). a piece of jewellery b). an ornament c). photographs d). cards and/or letters e). collectables such as coins, stamps, old books, etc. f). set of dishes g). an artifact Quite simply, memorabilia refers to objects cherished...
Favourite Animal Photos
Here are a four of my favourite animal photos from past travels. Hope you enjoy them.
Peonies and Our Family
My father's parents were born in Calabria, a southern Italian region. They immigrated to Canada via Ellis Island, New York, USA in the 1900s and settled in Northern Ontario. My late Nonna and late father were avid gardeners. According to them, Peonies represented a...
The Showrunner by Kim Moritsugu
The novel is a behind-the-scenes exploration of the twists and turns drama of those involved in the production of a Los Angeles television show entitled The Benjamins. The central characters include Ann Dalloni, the sixty-two year old head of production. Aging...
The Prince Township Library
Prince Township is located in the Algoma District, northwest of the city of Sault Ste. Marie, in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has a population of approximately 1,000 residents. Gros Cap is a community within Prince Township. It is situated on the shores of Lake...
Book Musings: A Gathering of Secrets by Linda Castillo
A Gathering of Secrets is a crime novel taking place during the current time in Painters Mill, an Amish community in Ohio. It begins with a grisly Prologue during which Emma Miller, a seventeen year old Amish girl, hangs herself in the family barn. Chapter One occurs...
Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh, Scotland.
My husband and I travelled throughout Scotland to learn more about his ancestral roots. As part of our adventure, we spent time in the capital city of Edinburgh. Located on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth, it has a population of approximately 500,000. Our...
Blue Lighting by Ann Cleeves
Ann Cleeves and The Shetland Islands, Scotland My husband and I explored Scotland to learn more about his ancestral roots. As part of our adventure, we travelled to the following Scottish islands: Isle of Iona, Isle of Mull, Isle of Lewis, Orkney Islands and The...
Greyfriars Graveyard, Scotland.
Greyfriars Graveyard Greyfriars Graveyard is located in the Old Town section of Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital. Established in 1601, I explored the burial site with my husband, Bud Carruthers on a recent trip. Given his Scottish heritage, he’d travelled to Scotland on...
Book Musings: The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens
Mt. Lefroy, 1930. Oil on Canvas. Lawren S. Harris.