Archive for the ‘Family’ Category
Cover Reveal
Posted on: March 27, 2023
- In: Books | Family | Memories | short stories | Writing
- 85 Comments
I’ve been working on this project for quite some time and finally have a cover to share. This may or may not be the final cover. Let me know what you think.
This is the blurb for You Can Take The Girl From The Prairie
A collection of short stories inspired by growing up on a prairie farm in the fifties and sixties. Some humorous and others sad, but all heartfelt. Stories about family life, cowboy wisdom, immigrant grandmothers, an inspiring teacher, and the arrival of a new sibling are part of this collection of tales from another time and another place. Proof that you can take the girl from the prairie but you can’t take the prairie from the girl.
I am hoping to publish this collection of short stories soon. Watch this space.
More Memories in Photographs
Posted on: March 11, 2023
- In: Family | History | People
- 108 Comments
The best way to remember the past is through photographs and I’m fortunate to have some great ones. I shared a few here and promised to share more from my collection. These all feature my dad and his friends and family over the years.
Family life often centred around the kitchen on the farm. This is where we ate, chatted, played cards and board games, and often took pictures.
A typical get-together on the farm in the 1960s, with the men visiting over coffee. My dad on the left and my cute little brother hanging over the back of the chair.
Happy family, early 1960s. Another kitchen picture.
Dad as a young boy on his father’s the farm n the 1930s
My dad, (centre holding a bowl) worked at Medalta Pottery in the late-1940s
My dad, far right, with his parents and younger brother, mid-1940s.
My favourite picture, taken in the early 1940s. Dad is on the right with his younger brother and best friend. These three were buddies to the end.
I had to include this picture from 16 years ago of the same three when they were in their eighties. My dad is in the middle, his brother to the right, and his friend to the left.
Dad on his horse in the 1940s
Just a snippet of life on a Canadian farm in the ’30s, ’40s, ’50s and ’60s.
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Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Posts from Your Archives 2022 – #Christmas #Santa Darlene Foster
Posted on: December 16, 2022
- In: Books | Christmas | Family | Memories
- 13 Comments
I’m over at Sally Cronin’s blog today, sharing a Christmas memory. Hop over and say Hello. I hope all your Holiday preparations are going well.
Since this series began in January 2018 there have been over 1200 Posts from Your Archiveswhere bloggers have taken the opportunity to share posts to a new audience…
The topics have ranged from travel, childhood, recipes, history, family and the most recent series was #PotLuck where I shared a random selection of different topics.
This series is along the same lines and is a celebration of Christmas and New Year.
I do appreciate that this is not a religious festival for everyone but it is a time of year when families and friends come together and our thoughts turn to our hopes and wishes for the coming year. At the end of the post you can find out how to participate in this festive series.
Today children’s author Darlene Fostershares a delightful true Christmas story….do you believe in Santa?
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com
The Year I…
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Pets on My Travels
Posted on: November 28, 2022
- In: animals | Dot | Family | Travel
- 90 Comments
As much as I love to travel and visit my family and friends, I always miss my two doggies Dot and Lia. Fortunately, there are pets at many of the places I visit. Here are a few pictures of the pets I spent time with while in Canada in September.
Brandy, a Golden Labrador/Rhodesian Ridgeback mix. A real sweetheart.
Brandy in her yard playing ball.
Come on, throw the ball.
Grandpuppy Petite on Mudge Island
Grandkitty, Bimbay on Mudge Island
Lexi, the oldest of my Granddaughter’s pets, enjoying a sunny day.
Mandy the Newfoundland dog. A big cuddly teddy bear.
Mandy, the guard dog.
Roni, another of my granddaughter’s pets. Those eyes!
Me and my buddy Roni
And there are many cats as well. This is Earl Grey. The coolest cat ever and I love his name.
We can’t forget the goats. Did I mention my granddaughter loves animals? I didn’t get pictures of all of them either.
Beelzebub, my grandson’s newly acquired pet who seems very happy with his new home.
Lola, my son’s family pug. Another cutie.
Willow, an Australian Shepherd. A special dog for a special girl in Vancouver.
Well, not really a pet, but my great granddaughter’s badger Halloween costume.
How about an awesome cake that looks like a pet?
So you can see I had many pets to keep me company until I came home to these two.
- In: Family | guest posts | Memories
- 26 Comments
I am pleased to be featured on Judith Barrow’s blog where I share a memory of a different time and place. Judith is an accomplished writer of family sagas and runs this wonderful “places in our memories” series on her blog.
There are places that remain in our memories, the details may become slightly blurred, nostalgia may colour our thoughts, but they don’t fade. And how those places made us feel at the time is the one thing that remains.
Today I’m welcoming Darlene Foster, a friend I’ve known online for quite a while, and had the great pleasure in meeting and getting to know her in real life at Barb Taub’s writing retreat on Arran, a few weeks ago.
Darlene is here to tell us about the time her baby brother was born during the blizzards at her near Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada.
I remember when my brother, Timothy, was born. It had been a typical cold and snowy prairie winter. Blizzards created impassable road conditions. Mom expected the third member of our family to arrive in early February. Dad was concerned that when the time came, the…
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So Much To Be Thankful For
Posted on: October 9, 2022
- In: Family
- 67 Comments
The second Monday in October is Canadian Thanksgiving, typically a time for family. Although I’m thankful every day, this is an opportunity to reflect on the many blessings that I have in my life. Since I just returned from a fabulous visit to Canada, I am especially thankful for my many friends and family. I thought I would share some recent family moments with you in honour of Thanksgiving.
You can click on the images to enlarge them.
Spending time with my daughter on her island in BC is always special.
Spending time in Alberta with my son and his amazing family is always fun!
And then there are the many cousins I was delighted to see, as well as a dear aunt and uncle
Yes, I am blessed with many cousins and these are just a few of them.
I am so happy and thankful to have a huge, loving and supportive family.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Memories in Photographs
Posted on: July 7, 2022
- In: Family | History | Memories
- 103 Comments
My blogging friend, Beetley Pete, has been running a series of posts featuring photographs from post-war Britain. They are fascinating, a great look back at another time and another place. I would suggest you check them out here.
I love old photographs and am so pleased that my family is a family of picture takers. Over the years I have accumulated some wonderful old pictures from the Canadian prairies. So I thought I would post a few of them from time to time as others may enjoy them too. Many will be of family and some will be poor quality. The following are from the 1950s.
This four-generation picture is one of my favourites. Seated is my great-grandmother, and on the left is my grandmother holding little me (and teddy). My mom is on the right. These three women were a huge influence in my life. The shadow of my dad taking the picture makes it even more special.
Another favourite with special women in my life. From left to right, my aunt with my cousin, Mom holding my little brother, me (with teddy), my paternal grandmother, a close family friend I called Aunty and her two children (who I’m still friends with).
Now here is one I just love. I am on the right with my aunt and my brother. We were playing wedding and needed a bridesmaid so we put a dress on my younger brother. He looks so happy because we actually let him play with us. We look a bit guilty, I think. He is not fond of this picture but has forgiven us. I think he looks so cute!
Two farm kids from the 1950s at Hilda, Alberta. One now lives in Thailand, the other in Spain. Who would have thought?
Here I am on the farm with my brother and a snowman we had just built; our dog lurking in the background.
My next little brother with my mom’s teenage sisters, my dear aunts. Another favourite picture.
There you have it, six pictures from another time. I have more to share later.
Thanks for joining me on my trip down memory lane.
Do you enjoy looking at old pictures?
- In: Family | Food | guest posts | Memories
- 44 Comments
I was invited to share my mom’s pierogi recipe over at Bernadette’s New Classic Recipe blog. A great blog filled with fabulous recipes and stories to go along with them. I love recipes with a story connected to them. Check out the blog post and let me know if you try the pierogi recipe.
Mom’s Pierogi by Darlene Foster
One of my favourite memories about growing up on the farm is when Mom would make pierogi. It’s my ultimate comfort food. After mom passed away last year, I was determined to make them in her memory. Mine are never quite as good as hers were, though. As you mentioned, mothers seem to have a secret ingredient. I think that the ingredient must be love.
Pierogi are from Eastern Europe and are called by a number of different names. In Russia and Ukraine, they are called varenyky and in our German Canadian home we called them case knoephla, but they are mostly known by their Polish name of pierogi. Here is mom’s recipe. I’m so glad I got it from her. Whenever I start to miss her, I make a batch.
Click here for the rest of the article and the recipe.
What is your comfort food?
PS I had some pierogi last night!
Season 4 Episode 10: Marcelle Glock on The Wood Fired Ceramic Tradition Part 2
Posted on: March 4, 2022
- In: Art | Family | Inspiration | podcast
- 24 Comments
The second part of Madmudslinger’s interview with Rebecca Bud. Hear about her creative process, ekphrastic art, and messages for future archaeologists. I hope you enjoy this as much as I did.
45 Years of Adventures
Posted on: January 22, 2022
- In: Family | Memories | special occassions | Travel
- 111 Comments
An emotional bond is more binding than any chain could ever be.
by Pamela from https://butterflysand.com/
45 years ago in York, England, a girl from the Canadian prairies married her handsome Yorkshireman. And there has never been a dull moment since! We´ve taken risks, travelled much of the world and had lots of laughs. We´ve lived through happy and turbulent times, collected amazing friends and have some wonderful memories. Not willing to be conventional, we even had a Dougal the Dog wedding cake. A few snaps of our wild and crazy life.
May the adventure continue!
Darlene Foster's Blog 