Aug31-279.jpg
[48k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-280-02.jpg
[33k, 480x323]
|
Aug31-280-03.jpg
[40k, 480x324]
|
Aug31-280-04.jpg
[28k, 480x324]
|
| Lisa, my mother and Zia Incoronata. My mother is carrying bags of cheese. Lisa kindly offered to vacuum pack them for us, so we could pack them in our luggage. Lisa used to run a butcher shop in Incoronata, which she had to give up so she could care for her aging dad and in-laws. Many of her things are still at the shop, which is located in the back part of the church. |
We stopped by my mother's old house, as the owners had promised us a tour. They were away, however. I took the opportunity to snap some shots. This is the back of the house |
An old crumbling building off to the side of my mother's old house. |
The back of ma's old house. |
Aug31-280-05.jpg
[38k, 321x480]
|
Aug31-280.jpg
[48k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-281.jpg
[51k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-282.jpg
[51k, 480x360]
|
| I'm determined to get some good quality pictures of old stone buildings. I hope to blow them up and fill a living room wall with them. |
I don't remember their names, except for Stella, the lady my mother has her arm around. We didn't receive a warm reception from these people at first. In fact, Stella was quite rude and said she didn't want to hear what we had to say. After a bit of confusion, it turned out she thought we were Jehova's Witnesses. She was so very apologetic, poor thing. But one good thing came of it, my mother stopped making people guess who she was. |
We went on a tour of my dad's old house. The house is owned by my mother's cousin now, Petronilla. That's her son Giovanni (my second cousin!) and his wife Maria. They have a wood fired furnace, as well as a regular gas furnace. |
Aug31-283.jpg Maria showed my mom an ancient contraption for winding wool. My mom think's it's my grandmother's and was probably made by my father. (My father actually made a loom for my grandmother. She had to leave it behind when they moved out of my great-grandfather's house, and she really missed it. So he made one for her. I can't imagine how one can make a loom by hand, but knowing him, I'm not surprised.) |
Aug31-283.jpg
[49k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-284-01.jpg
[31k, 480x321]
|
Aug31-284-02.jpg
[29k, 480x320]
|
Aug31-284.jpg
[41k, 480x360]
|
|
The old cantina. It's hard to see, but way in the back, there's a huge wine barrel that my parents/grandparents used to use. |
Maria told us they found an old chest when they moved in, and didn't know who it belonged to. They pulled out all the stuff stored in front of it, and I almost cried when I saw my grandmother's initials on it. Wish there was some way to bring it back with me. I would have happily paid for it. |
The back yard. |
Aug31-285-01.jpg
[27k, 480x321]
|
Aug31-285-02.jpg
[27k, 480x321]
|
Aug31-285.jpg
[49k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-286.jpg
[40k, 480x360]
|
| Under the arch, looking towards the street. The house was actually split into 3 homes when my parents lived there. My grandfather had the left side. There was a middle, and my grandfather's brother had the right hand side. The middle and left side are both bought and joined together as one house. |
This is actually the other side of the house, owned by others. Nice looking stone, though. Maria said she regretted having the stone all covered up. It's what everyone did years back when they had their houses fixed up. The mortar betweeen the stones was all crumbling, but now she wishes she had it re-pointed. I'd have to agree. The stones would have been lovely. |
The kitchen. Most of the kitchens in the homes we visited seem to look very similar. They're all quite beautiful, but not as much variety as I'm used to seeing in kitchens at home. |
The stairs to the second floor are incredibly steep. And once you get to the top, you still have to step up a very tall step into the bedrooms on either side. Had to take a picture of this room. It's where by brother was born. |
Aug31-287.jpg
[38k, 360x480]
|
Aug31-288.jpg
[49k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-289.jpg
[49k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-290.jpg
[56k, 480x360]
|
| There used to be another steep stair to the attic. They actually removed the bottom half of the stair case in order to have enough space in their bathroom. The top half of the stair case is enclosed behind a door, half way up a wall. Very wild. It's a little unexpected - when you open a cupboard located in the top half of a wall, and find a staircase up there! |
Michele, ma and her cousin Petronilla. Petronilla has a very hard time walking. I can't imagine how she handles such steep staircases in the house. |
|
Later in the day, we went to visit more relatives of our friends in Thorold. This is Angela's mother Domenica (Angela is married to my second-cousin, Biase), along with Angela's brother and his wife. |
Aug31-291.jpg
[42k, 360x480]
|
Aug31-292.jpg
[44k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-293.jpg
[50k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-294.jpg
[53k, 480x360]
|
| Across the street, is Gino's brother's place. Gino is another close family friend who lives in Thorold. |
Ma, with Gino's mother, Maria. We met with Maria the week before, out by the fountain washing clothes. Lovely lady. Although she's bent almost double, she's a happy lady. |
Gino's brother, Antonio, his wife Mirella and zio Nicola. They have a very beautiful home. Mirella loves to collect antiques. Their yard is beautifully landscaped, absolutely stunning. |
Ma, teasing Zio Nicola. I think he was always a favourite of his. She's older than he, and she remembers spanking him because his laces were always undone. He puts on a gruff air, but everyone sees right through it. He's a big softy. |
Aug31-295.jpg
[52k, 480x360]
|
Aug31-296.jpg
[46k, 480x360]
|
