Month: September 2014

Here’s the story … Scroll down a bit and look for this picture in Canada’s national newspaper, the Globe and Mail.

Not content with establishing their successful, popular and charming B&B in Niagara-On-The-Lake, our friends Kash and Carlotta Kashmeri have created the fabulous Il Gelato di Carlotta on the Queen Street main drag. They deserve all the kudos they get and you deserve to try their gelato. Drop in next time you vist NOTL.

This is a “bee hotel” I saw at Edwards Gardens the other day. I don’t know whether they do any good, but I hope so.

Something’s killing off the bees, and of course we need them. Ironic, because it’s probably us that’s wiping them out by using neonicotinoids as pesticides. Ontario is thinking about banning the chemicals.

Not only is the object tiny, the target is so flimsy and tippy …
http://youtu.be/f34wTu2uc80
Local forklift drivers have long earned my admiration for their fine motor skills, working magic on public road construction. They deserve applause, just for what they do every day. The Youtube star deserves a viral ovation.

Lloyd Cooke was called away from his scheduled art exhibit to attend a wedding out of town, so Danica and I stood in at his display.

Although the turnout in numbers was pretty good, few people came to buy. We didn’t get any sales for Lloyd, but Danica was a wonderful agent. I was impressed by how easily she conversed with interested viewers. It was a long day, but her enthusiasm remained buoyant and her commentary struck me as spot on. She even took notes of other people’s observations, to pass along to Lloyd.
We did get some email addresses and leads, for Lloyd to follow up. He’s back at his post today, so we hope he’ll have some selling success to go with the favourable comments we kept hearing.

[metaslider id=8981] 
Toronto Islands, of course. Bicycles all the way from our house, onto the ferry, around the islands and back home again. We had a leisurely lunch at the Rectory on Ward’s Island and went sightseeing.
Most of our photos are touristy, because that’s what we were doing. Postcard shots are everywhere. Next time (and there will be lots of next times, I hope), we can look for interesting details. Today we were just blown away by the vistas and views.
We visited the cottagers section, too. People actually live year ’round in the park and own their little homes on leased land. I think it’s a very good thing to have residents in the park, though their presence has been controversial. Dream location, and very quaint. The owners can maintain and renovate but they aren’t allowed to expand.
You’ll see a few of my close-up attempts, using my little camera’s zoom power. Workers covering huge piles of something (salt for winter roads?) caught my eye. And we zoomed in to find Sugar Beach, back on Queen’s Quay.

For a brief time, the occupants behind the windows get to look out at the sunshine. The old corner store has been demolished for a condo.

I have always loved “artist’s conception” illustrations. They are so rosy and fake. Looks as though the people behind those neighbouring windows have more to worry about than a disappearing view. Their whole building has disappeared and the condo-to-be stands alone!

Also missing are the hydro wires, the streetcar cables, a few rusty poles and the traffic signals. Even the streetcar tracks have vanished.

Our grand-nephew Carson is 5 today. When I asked him via Facetime if he was going to get his driver’s licence, he said “Pilot’s Licence!”

Carson has already flown. Really. Cockpit visit, taking the controls and pushing buttons. As you see, he is a natural.
Not far behind is Carson’s little brother Jackson.

Don’t these fly boys make a great team?

My favourite gallery/cafè got written up in the New York Times travel section this month. Other nifty new businesses along the Little India strip also got mentions, but Andrew Horne’s Flying Pony got a picture, too.

What the NYT said:

FLYING PONY
Amid bold works by emerging Canadian artists like Gilles Arsenault and David Irvine, locals sip double lattes (about 4 Canadian dollars) and munch oatmeal cookies (1.25 dollars) at this candy-colored coffee house and gallery, opened in August 2013.

Who doesn’t? We’ve taken a special interest in Monarchs since two of them emerged from their chrysalises in Danica’s sewing room. We’ve planted milkweed in the backyard (Monarchs lay their eggs on no other plant) and take note of them whenever we can. There are lots of them this year on the Leslie Spit.
Here’s some more good news. A great big cloud was puzzling meteorologists when it showed up on radar over Missouri today. Yup. Butterflies… on their way to Mexico. A whole lot of them.

So Monarch butterflies are not doomed and we can help them stay healthy and gorgeous. Plant some milkweed.
Here’s a video to show you what it looks like …

I recommend Magic Touch. Neat, thorough and affordable. The guy arrived on time for his scheduled appointment, did an excellent job and gave us a receipt for $158.14 including taxes. Flat rate. Cash or cheque. No credit or debit cards.