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Gather Your Wits

May 24, 2020 / by Tina Powell / 2 Comments

Toward the end of last year I set the stage (table?) for an important 2020 goal I hoped to accomplish. My goal was simple. To create an environment in my home where folks would love to gather. To facilitate this gathering I made a bold move that would impress the stars of HGTV. I converted my living room / dining room combination into one honking big dining room. We already had a large family room adjacent to the living room. It seemed silly to me to have two sitting areas so close together — when what I really needed was a place for people to gather… to break bread… to share stories.

In order for a goal to be reachable it must be specific and measurable. As such, my 2020 Gathering Goal was to host a dinner party once a month. My husband and I actually made lists of the people we would invite each month to gather around our table. (Yes, of course, you were on the list!)

The year was off to a great start. On January 1st, I hosted a dinner for nine. In February, I hosted a very special intimate dinner for three. Invitations were out for a casual pre-concert dinner in March, an Easter dinner with the family in April, and an Italian-themed potluck with my husband’s workmates (I called the Big Chillini!) in May. The future looked bright. There were birthday parties, graduation celebrations, and an engagement party planned.

The only ‘gathering’ we did this Easter included these two Covid-19 appropriate bunnies!

You know what happened. Nothing like a global pandemic with physical distancing to spoil the party.

Sadly, all of us have missed important events, celebrations and occasions with those we love. It truly breaks my heart. I think I feel the most for the children and for the seniors. The former because they don’t quite understand. The latter because they do understand just how precious time is.

A ‘Love Actually’ Mother’s Day greeting from my son.

Yes, we can Zoom, or Skype, or FaceTime. We can make calls, write emails, and send texts. And it is vitally important that we do all these things… But it’s not the same. When I think of what I miss most, gathering is at the top of the list. (Followed by eating sushi at a restaurant and not having the constant desire to bake and eat bread.)

That being said, I don’t miss gathering enough to go out and gather when there is not yet a Coronavirus vaccine, testing is still inadequate, and not enough people are wearing masks or physical distancing. From the Trinity Bellwoods Park debacle in Toronto to the Lake of the Ozarks Memorial Day party in Missouri, I am so discouraged by the selfishness of these people.

No one wants to gather more than me… but it MUST wait.

Until then… gather your wits. Be smart. Stay safe. Stay two metres (six feet) apart. Wear masks when out in public. Only then will we all have the opportunity to gather again at someone’s table.

My new dining room waits patiently for the time when we can gather again.

Low Hanging Fruits & Vegetables

May 8, 2020 / by Tina Powell / 6 Comments

Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes. — Author Unknown

I am a third generation Italian Canadian… which basically means I am a kitchen Italian. I can feed you in Italian — or swear at you in Italian. Your choice.

My grandfather, Giovanni D’Alessandro, was a farmer from Pisticci, Italy. When he immigrated to Toronto in the summer of 1921, he did not leave his farming roots far behind. Despite becoming a labourer in Toronto, his labour of love was the gigantic vegetable garden in his backyard.

My family and I would visit my grandparents every weekend and the highlight of our summer visits would be a tour of the vegetable garden. I can still remember the pride my Grandpa exuded as he showed us his fresh tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, cucumbers, beans, zucchini and more.

I realize now what a gift it was for me as a child to see where food actually came from.

My father, James D’Alessandro, carried on the tradition. Although our vegetable garden was a little smaller than my Grandpa’s, the harvest was just as rich. Nothing could compare to a toasted tomato sandwich with one of my Dad’s tomatoes — BUT my absolute favourite was (and still is) the fried zucchini blossoms. (If you have not yet experienced the amazing taste of a fried zucchini blossom, it’s high time you did!)

*My mouth is watering as I just look at this photo of fried zucchini blossoms.*
*A link to a recipe is below.*

Traditional Italian Fried Zucchini Blossoms (Courgette/Squash Flowers)

This is a very long and roundabout way of me saying that I’ve never had a vegetable garden. I’ve talked about having one. I’ve dreamed about having one. I promised myself that I would have one. But I never did it.

That is why one of my 2020 plans was to finally grow a vegetable garden.

After many weeks of staying at home during this global pandemic, I have come to realize two things:

Food should not be taken for granted or wasted. Those who grow, distribute, and prepare our daily bread, vegetables, fruit and protein should be honoured and appreciated.
There has never been a better time for me to grow a vegetable garden. Why spend the summer watching the grass grow when I can watch the tomatoes grow?!!!!

Not quite knowing how green my thumb actually is, I decided to start small. I bought and had delivered a portable, snap-together garden box.

*My beautiful little garden boxes in the morning sun.*

Next I ordered seeds and seed germination trays. Yes, I could have purchased plants from a nursery, but I had this incredible desire to create something from nothing. I wanted to create life and to create food. No shortcuts.

Although it is still the very early stages, I am pleased to report that …

IT’S WORKING!!!!

Despite being amazed that the seeds actually grew, I can’t describe the joy I feel every day when I see how my little plants are doing. When there is so much wrong with the world right now, these little seedlings give me hope. Life will go on. Growth is still possible. The power is in our hands.

What power is in your hands? What baby steps can you take toward a 2020 goal dormant in your heart? Where are the seeds of joy in your life?

Wish me luck with my little seedlings. I am hoping for a delicious harvest!

My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece — Claude Monet

It’s been four years since my Mama Lily gave me this sign. I’m finally using it.
The lettering wore off, so I had to add my own. It’s never too late.

Rising to the Occasion

May 1, 2020 / by Tina Powell / Leave a Comment

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” — Lao Tzu

“Necessity is the mother of invention.” — English Proverb often attributed to Plato

“Put one foot in front of the other.” — Kris Kringle, Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town

Last week I shared a rambling list of 2020 goals that thanks to the Coronavirus had to be locked down and quarantined. From the feedback I received, many of you had similar lists and felt similar feelings of disappointment and loss. (Thank you for your comments and shares.)

Indeed, we are all in this together.

Here’s something else I realized… on top of the disappointment and sense of loss that we’re feeling, we also get to feel guilty about our disappointment and sense of loss. After all, what right do we have to mourn our 2020 plans, when hundreds of thousands of people around the world are mourning their loved ones? What right do we have to hunger for opportunities lost, when food bank lineups are miles long? How dare we complain about having to stay at home, when essential workers risk their lives every day by going out?

The problem is that when you are one of the lucky ones (and I hope you will continue to be one) you aren’t permitted to complain. You’re not sick. You’re not hungry. You’re safe at home. Your worst day is better than a lot of people’s best days. So you’re expected to keep smiling, keep giving, and keep your mouth shut.

The trouble is some days are easier than others — and it’s the other days that are the hard ones. No matter how lucky you are … The sadness is real. The grief is real. The suffering is real.

Last week, I talked about how KINDNESS, GRATITUDE, and JOY are essential to our survival.

YES! Be kind and give as much as you can to charitable organizations, your local retailers and restaurants, healthcare providers, and other community groups. But also be kind to yourself.

YES! Be grateful for all that you do have and share what you can with others. But also be thankful for still having hopes and dreams.

AND WHATEVER YOU DO… DON’T DENY YOURSELF THE JOY OF LIFE!

Plans, goals, hope, and a sense of purpose can bring us great joy. So dust off your list of 2020 plans and start thinking about how you can safely, slowly, carefully achieve some of those goals.

As you may recall, my list of goals included rekindling my passion for cooking, starting a vegetable garden, practising more yoga, reading more reliable news sources and books, learning piano, finishing writing two novels, and giving more back to my community.

Thanks to the stay at home order, the first goal took care of itself. I have been cooking up a storm! I’ve been making family favourites, such as spaghetti and meatballs, pineapple chicken, and shepherd’s pie. I’ve dusted off my old slow cooker and made Moroccan lentil soup, savoury pot roast, and ham and bean soup. To my absolute shock, I’ve been making cookies, pies, squares, and homemade bread — all from scratch!!! With my hair pulled back in a ponytail and my apron on, I’ve stirred and blended, boiled and fried, roasted and baked.

I imagined I was channeling Laura Ingalls of Little House on the Prairie.

I also imagined that I must be the only one. With the convenience of Uber Eats and other food delivery apps, surely others would be ordering in, driving thru, or buying packaged, convenience foods from the grocery store. With so many having to work from home and home school their kids, who would have the time or the energy to cook?

Then I checked my social media feed… and I was inundated with photos of amazing meals created by friends and family, fabulous new recipes I couldn’t wait to try, and inspiring theme night ideas.

Families were cooking together and eating together!

But surely no one else was making their own bread.

To my amazement, yeast was sold out at every online grocery store I tried!

I finally found some at a bakery supply company.

Anybody want to borrow a cup of yeast?