Our Thanksgivng Heart



Bob and Susan
Serving Thanksgiving - Farmingdale Church

OUR THANKSGIVING HEART
BY SUSAN MARIE DAVNIERO
PUBLISHED LONG STORY SHORT

Seeking to find our Thanksgiving heart

One Thanksgiving Day, we took our part

Volunteering to join the serving line

At the pantry for the needy to dine

The table is set with a Thanksgiving spread

Thankfully we pray to share our daily bread

Platter full of slice turkey in starring role

Co-starring cider, yams, gravy and rolls

The door is always open to serve all

Welcome everyone to come each fall

One Thanksgiving Day from the start

We’re thankful that we found our heart

Susan Marie Davniero



THIS THANKSGIVING DAY

Published Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Bulletin

This time of year during Thanksgiving season we should count our blessings.  Be grateful for the simple things in life.  You may not have all that you want yet you probably have all that you need. The best things in life are free after all.

This Thanksgiving Day let someone thank you as you give to others - share and share alike.  Share your feast, extend a heartfelt invite to the lonely, abandon, and set a place setting to just one forgotten neighbor, try to feed just one hungry person at a time. Do your part – nothing is too small. As Mother Teresa said; “If you can’t feed a hundred people, than feed just one.”

Make a difference.  Donate food or volunteer at a pantry or soup kitchen. Today is the day to give back.  A little bit of that goes a long way. Find a sense of usefulness and giving by helping others.  You don’t know how much you have to give until you give to others. 

Try to make the holiday better for others.  Helping is its own reward.  We get to heaven on the arm of the person we’re helping.  Give thanks for our blessings. Try to leave the world better than how you found it.

Perhaps this year’s Thanksgiving Day will truly be a day you are thankful for.

Susan and Robert Davniero





Happy Thanksgiving
Bob and Susan





Happy Thanksgiving
Laura and Dennis




"Old Country Buffet" Thanksgiving
Bob and Susan

GRANDMA'S THANKSGIVING

(In Memory of Grandma Bridge Cioffi)

by Susan Marie Davniero

Published Long Story Short  

You’re invited to Grandma’s Thanksgiving

Holiday feast with all the trimmings

Family love surrounds where they sat

All bridging the generation gap

The table is properly dressed

In its suitable Sunday’s best

China plates surround trim with roses

Sitting on bed of place mat doilies

Apple cider poured in stemware glasses

Antipasto debut as appetizer

Welcome platter of homemade pasta

The golden turkey bows a starring role

Co-starring yams, cranberry, corn and rolls

Mangia telling by Grandma’s call

Announcing Bon Appétite to all

Rich desserts spread closing act

Italian pastries, pies and snacks

Full of turkey and all of the above

But most of all – you’ll be full of love.

by Susan Marie Daviero

THANKSGIVING AT GRANDMA'S 

PUBLISHED NOV ISSUE - LONG STORY SHORT 
In Memory of Bridget Cioffi

Come with me to a past Thanksgiving at Grandma’s. You’re invited into Grandma’s (Bridget Cioffi) kitchen to savor the aroma of an authentic Italian-American Thanksgiving feast. Far from being a quiet holiday, Thanksgiving was bursting with the sounds of the holiday as relatives gather to come together. The Thanksgiving holiday was always done with family tradition, turkey and the trimmings, with little change from year to year. 

I invite you to sit down with me at Grandma’s table to share my nostalgic taste of my past Thanksgiving. The feast was always the high point of the day where tables were joined together accompanied by a second children’s table. I remember feeling grown up when I graduated from children’s table and sat amongt adults.

There we are at Grandma’s table as the feast begins with the entrance of a colorful tray of antipasto with assorted Italian meats, olives, peppers and cheese displayed served as the apple cider is poured into elegant stemware glasses.

I recall thinking when I looked at the table, how grand the table was set for the holiday with china plates, folded cloth napkins, alongside silver utensils gracing a lace tablecloth. We were taught to lay the fancy holiday cloth napkins along our laps as proper young ladies would.

I recall how my Grandparents made homemade pasta lay out on a sheet to dry prior to meeting the boiling water. After the family devoured each rich morsel of lasagna, the star of the meal made its appearance – the Turkey with all the trimmings; with a co-starring role of a baked chicken prepared just for Grandpa “didn’t like turkey.” 

The closing course was a display of tasty Italian delicacies surrounded by assorted nuts, pastries, pumpkin pie, with a bowl of fruit and Italian grapes plucked from the vine in Grandpa's backyard terrace. Thanksgiving feast is an American holiday. Every slice of turkey is a serving a tradition, a cup of apple cider is a cup of thanks, each slice of pie a slice of blessings, each ladle of gravy pours out American’s history. Americans eat it all up – it remains the same traditional meal throughout the years. 

Thanksgiving Day is a patriotic holiday from the new American citizens, like my Italian born Grandma, Bridget Cioffi, proud of her adopted country, to American born citizen like me.Thanksgiving Day will forever remain to be the holiday I am thankful for my blessings - from my early Thanksgiving roots to the present day. Today I am forever thankful to be born American, just as my Grandma was thankful to be a “born-again” American citizen.  Let us all count our blessings this holiday together. For Thanksgiving Day is the day all Americans are family. God Bless America.

Written by Susan Marie Davniero  

Susan's Balloons Creations
Front Door

 

Published Long Story Short

OUR THANKSGIVING HEART

by Susan Marie Davniero

Seeking to find our Thanksgiving heart

One Thanksgiving Day, we took our part

Volunteering to join the serving line

At the pantry for the needy to dine

The table is set with a Thanksgiving spread

Thankfully we pray to share our daily bread

Platter full of sliced turkey in starring role

Co-starring cider, yams, gravy and rolls

The door is always open to serve all

Welcome everyone to come each fall

One Thanksgiving Day from the start

We’re thankful that we found our heart

by Susan Marie Davniero



Susan's Balloons Creations
Front Door

 



THANKSGIVING AT GRANDMA’S

Published Pancakes in Heaven w/photo of Grandma

by Susan Marie Davniero

(In memory of Bridget Grandma Cioffi)

Come with me to a past Thanksgiving at Grandma’s. You’re invited into Grandma’s (Bridget Cioffi) kitchen to savor the aroma of an authentic Italian-American Thanksgiving feast. Far from being a quiet holiday, Thanksgiving was bursting with the sounds of the holiday as relatives gather to come together.

I invite you to sit down with me at Grandma’s table to share my nostalgic taste of my past Thanksgiving. There we all are at Grandma’s dining room table dressed for the holiday. The feast begins with the entrance of a colorful tray of antipasto of pepperoni, provolone cheese, black olives, mushrooms, and red peppers served as apple cider is poured into elegant stemware glasses.

I recall thinking when I looked at the table, how grand the table was set for the holiday with china plates, folded cloth napkins, alongside silver utensils gracing a lace tablecloth.  We never used cloth napkins at home, I thought.  

I recall how my Grandparents made homemade pasta lay out on a sheet to dry prior to meeting the boiling water to layer the lasagna baked in Grandma’s appetizing home-made sauce. The pasta was the opening act for the star – as the Turkey brings down the house. I asked for the leg although it was always too big for me to finish but Grandma would never say no, as she exclaims, “Manja, Manja..”

The closing act was a display of tasty Italian delicacies surrounded by assorted Cannolis, Biscotti, fresh shelled nuts, Aunt Renee brought her pumpkin pie, and surrounded by the bowl of fruit with Grandpa’s Italian grapes proudly plucked from the vine in Grandpa's backyard terrace.

After we all helped clearing the dishes, the family gathered in group settings to play games of poker or Monopoly. (I learned the realty business from Monopoly and apparently my Italian-speaking Grandma learns her English given that she often won.)  

Thanksgiving feast is a traditional American holiday. Every slice of turkey is a serving of tradition; a cup of apple cider is a cup of thanks, and each slice of pie a slice of blessings, each ladle of gravy pours out American’s history. Americans eat it all up – it remains the same traditional meal with little change from year to year.

Thanksgiving Day is surely a patriotic holiday from the new American citizens, like my Italian born Grandma, Bridget Cioffi, proud of her adopted country, to American born citizen like me. Thanksgiving Day will forever remain to be the holiday I am thankful for my blessings - from my early Thanksgiving roots to the present day. 

Today I am forever thankful to be born American, just as my Grandma was thankful to be a “born-again” American citizen. Let us all count our blessings this holiday together. For Thanksgiving Day is the day all Americans are family. written by Susan Marie Davniero  

HAPPY THANKSIVING DAY

Blessed are we

In God’s family

Sharing our bread

This Thanksgiving spread

The holiday fare

Made with care

Place setting for all

The dinner call

A holiday mood

Sharing food

The occasion raise

Our thanks and praise

We all agree

We’re in good company

Wishing to say

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Susan Marie Davniero

Laura, Susan and Bob
Serving Thanksgiving - Circle of Love Church



SHARE AND SHARE ALIKE

This Thanksgiving Day

Let someone say

Thank you

To you

As you live

And give

To others

Sisters and brothers

Feed the hungry

In poverty

A heartfelt invite

Kind and polite

Ask the forgotten

To come ‘on in

Holiday mood

Donate food

Serve and volunteer

Far and near

Soup kitchens

Pantry inns

Do your part

It’s a start

See the light

Share and share alike

Susan Marie Davniero

MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE
Published Great South Bay Mag

Macy’s seasonal tradition

 Since 1924 a celebration

 Sponsored by Macy’s trade

 The Thanksgiving Day Parade

 By way of Herald Square

  The crowds gather there

 Coming out to celebrate

 This Thanksgiving date

 Giving thanks it reasons

 Welcoming in the season

Floats, bands, and clowns

 A show parading down

 Balloons fly in the sky

The parade is passing by

 A national event is made

 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Susan Marie Davniero

THANKSGIVING MEMORIES

Published Daily News

At the first Thanksgiving in the New World celebrated in 1621, one year after Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, early settlers have given thanks for the land’s rich good earth’s abundance they found here.  

Since the first National Holiday of Thanksgiving mandated by President Lincoln in 1863 was proclaimed, Americans have come together to offer thanks for our many blessings. Americans are a grateful people.

On this Thanksgiving Day let us remember to pause and set apart time to observe the day for which we give thanks. Essentially, Thanksgiving Day is a day to be truly thankful for.

Let the Thanksgiving memories out remembering past holidays. Memories improve with age. Also, achieving distance helps us to comprehend what the holiday means to us. Looking back across the years gives us another Thanksgiving feast to enjoy with others long gone.

Hold onto those moments and give to others a part of your special day wishing others Happy Thanksgiving. Sometimes a greeting is enough for a bankrupt life as paid passage back to join the world this blessed Thanksgiving Day.

Susan Marie Davniero  

Our Thanksgiving Heart

By Susan Marie Davniero

Published Long Story Short

Seeking to find our Thanksgiving heart
One Thanksgiving Day, we took our part
Volunteering to join the serving line
At the pantry for the needy to dine
The table is set with a Thanksgiving spread
Thankfully we pray to share our daily bread
Platter full of slice turkey in starring role
Co-starring cider, yams, gravy and rolls
The door is always open to serve all
Welcome everyone to come each fall
One Thanksgiving Day from the start
We’re thankful that we found our heart

By Susan Marie Davniero

My neighbor gave me a Pumpkin
In our yard 

Our front door

Pine Cones in my window 

Bob and Susan
Serving Thanksgiving - Farmingdale Church

OUR THANKSGIVING HEART

Seeking to find our Thanksgiving heart

One Thanksgiving Day, we took our part

Volunteering to join the serving line

At the pantry for the needy to dine

The table is set with a Thanksgiving spread

Thankfully we pray to share our daily bread

Platter full of slice turkey in starring role

Co-starring cider, yams, gravy and rolls

The door is always open to serve all

Welcome everyone to come each fall

One Thanksgiving Day from the start

We’re thankful that we found our heart

Susan Marie Davniero

ONE THANKSGIVING DAY

One Thanksgiving Day my husband, Bob, and I volunteered at a local Church charitable Thanksgiving Dinner for the needy in the community. We join with the other volunteers preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

Far from being a quiet room, the soup kitchen is busy with volunteers preparing the turkey and trimmings; the aroma of turkey baking pervades the air, as we all get to work. We’re handed aprons and instructed to join in the line to pack wheels-on-meals delivered to the shut-ins.  

The door is open as the quests arrive. All are welcome. Bob and I are now serving to the quests arriving to sit down and eat their Thanksgiving Meal at the panty. We stand at a table with platters of turkey, jams and cranberry jelly. I tried to be neat and dish out generous portions. The quests are remarkably polite thanking us for their meal. I was taken aback by the children with their parents. I just didn’t think there would be children. 

After dinner is served we sit among the guests and mingle. I talked with a guest who lost his job unable to find work beside a mother who brought her specialty stuffed mushrooms to share with others. A young military son in the Marines (with the regulated military crew cut), came with his single mother. She announces to me how proud she is of him and how her family comes every year.

A kind hearted gentleman, dressed in worn jeans and red plaid shirt looking in need of a shave and haircut, makes it known to me he came to eat with someone “Otherwise I would be alone in my room.”

This Thanksgiving Day as volunteers surpassed the usually family tradition at home among family. The day spent as volunteers extend beyond kinship reaching out to share our daily bread with our neighbors across town remembering we are all one family under God. 

Let us remember to give thanks for the blessings we can share with all people - “share and share alike.” This one Thanksgiving Day as volunteers was a day we were truly thankful for.

God Bless,

Susan and Robert Davniero

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY

Blessed are we

In God’s family

Sharing our bread

This Thanksgiving spread

The holiday fare

Made with care

Place setting for all

The dinner call

A holiday mood

Sharing food

The occasion raise

Our thanks and praise

We all agree

We’re in good company

Wishing to say

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Susan Marie Davniero

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Published Nov 25, 2013

Lindenhurst, L.I.:

Thanksgiving memories are all about the leftovers — a gift that keeps on giving. Every slice of turkey is a serving of tradition, and each slice of pumpkin pie a slice of family. A cup of cider is a cup of love, just as each ladle of gravy pours out history. Americans eat it all up.

From our pilgrim roots to the present day, we shall be forever thankful to be Americans on Thanksgiving Day.

Susan and Robert Davniero

THIS THANKSGIVING DAY

This Thanksgiving Day

A blessed holiday

As you live

And give

To others

Sisters and brothers

Holiday mood

Donate food

Serve and volunteer

Far and near

Soup kitchens

Pantry inns

See the light

Share and share alike

Susan Marie Davniero




Published:  Newsday
Long Island, NY newspaper

Grandma’s Thanksgiving

(In memory of Grandma Bridget Cioffi)

You’re invited to Grandma’s Thanksgiving

Holiday feast with all the trimmings

Family love surrounds where they sat

All bridging the generation gap

The table is properly dressed

In it’s suitable Sunday’s best

China plates surround trim with roses

Sitting on bed of placemat doilies

Apple cider poured in stemware glasses

Antipasto debut as appetizer

Welcome platter of homemade pasta

The golden turkey bows a starring role

Co-starring yams, cranberry, corn and rolls

Mangia telling by Grandma’s call

Announcing Bon Appétit to all

Rich deserts spread closing act

Italian pastries, pies and snacks

Full of turkey and all of the above

But most of all – you’ll be full of love.

Susan Marie Davniero

Thanksgiving November 2013 

 

Take Out Thanksgiving

At thanksgiving we're thankful

There's more than enough

Turkey trimmings overstuffed

Give the wish bone a break

Spare the bird for goodness sake

Let them eat cake

Pass the turkey pizzazz

And shut the zipper

Send out for pizza

Everyone will be thankful

Not to be overly full

The turkey will be thankful too

Susan Marie Davniero

Attachment Send Out for Pizza card from my sister, Teresa

Published Daily News 

Thanks for Thanksgiving  - Let us remember American history when in 1941 Congress passed a law officially sanction Thanksgiving to be on the fourth Thursday of November, to answer our questions why Thanksgiving is on the fourth Thursday. 

In memory of President Roosevelt, sharing and celebrating the Thanksgiving meal that year with polio patients (stricken with polio himself) at the Warm Springs Foundation  Paralysis Sufferers. This is  the true meaning of Thanksgiving - sharing our bread with the less fortunate.

Remember the less fortunate, in memory of President Roosevelt as a role model, in your path of life - the sick, needy, and poor. Be Thankful to share our daily bread with others less fortunate this Thanksgiving - it is a day to give. 

Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful to give.

Susan and Robert Davniero