Month: May 2012

Despite the handmade sign, wishes for a Happy Mothers Day are in vain at the East End Garden Centre. Soon “Mother” Tate’s 30 year old business will be facing a very closed Queen Street East. Crews are tearing up the road to replace streetcar tracks. “What am I going to do with all these plants?” she asked on TV news last night.
This has to be one of the worst possible times to hit her business with a road closure… right at the height of the planting season sales period.

Pardon my obsession with Toronto’s very homely garbage receptacles, but where else can you see this stuff? Someone left the door ajar so I could examine the inner workings,

First, the Ashbridge’s house on Queen Street East. The family once owned 300 acres of prime land, lake shore to Danforth, and ran a big farm. The grounds on the east side of the house are still large by today’s standards…very attractive and park-like.

Of the many such gingerbread houses that still exist in Toronto, this one at 28 Coxwell is one of the best preserved (restored?) that I have seen. Cute.

We’ve been getting our offices crown moulded and repainted. Next step: go through all of the pack ratted stuff that has accumulated, yard sale some and give away or dispose of the rest.
It feels good to lighten up, but some things need to be recorded before they disappear… like this response to a vacation memo I sent around the office when I was working at an ad agency on the McDonald’s account.

We haven’t been to the Riverdale Art Walk for about 3 years. Don’t know why exactly…just busy doing other things. This year, we’ll make a point of it. June 2nd and 3rd. You’ll find Lloyd at Booth #14. Hope the weather is good!

Waterfront Parks Manager James Dann took a crowd of us for a stroll starting at the Balmy Beach Club and ending at the Kew Gardener’s Cottage.

Photo by Danica
As we wait for news of Chrissy’s latest newborn in England, a patient robin sits upon her nest above our front porch.
My closeup shot below.

A short walk to the bottom of our hill joined us up with a large crowd of Jane’s Walkers who were gathered to enjoy Gene Domagala’s tour of the 35 acre cemetery. Many of Toronto’s earliest citizens are planted there. We know 7 occupants who went in more recently.

I feel the need for a symbol to express my feelings about the upcoming Olympic Games in London. Here’s a free copy, without the words, for anyone who may find it useful.

The spokesman explains to a TV reporter that it takes a train 20 football fields to stop. Mayor Ford says a Toronto Star reporter was one football field away from the parkland he claimed to be investigating.
I do not find these measurements helpful. Would someone please tell me what these distances are in metres or, perhaps, badminton courts.