Book Bag by Eyrea

You have to go check out Eyrea's book bag she made - it is fantastic!

TGIF - Foodie Fryday

I can't resist markets when we travel. These were taken in Chinatown in Honolulu last November.

Toronto Thursday - Landmark

The Corned Beef House has been a landmark on this corner for years. It is a 2 minute walk from the office so it is a mainstay of our lunch spots.
It is being torn down to make room for ANOTHER condo development. Tomorrow is their last day in these premises.
They plan to open somewhere close by but haven't finalized plans. He has also changed his website to "Under Construction".

Thirsty Tuesday - Toronto

Ad on sidewalk on Adelaide St.

Monday's Child

In honour of my niece who just recently turned 20!! Blanket knitted by her devoted aunr.

Toronto - Saturday Night in the City

Summerlicious ended last night, unfortunately. It is a great way to try different restaurants. We went last night to Fuzion on Church St.
Originally, the 120 year-old Victorian house was home to department store founder Robert Simpson. Sadly that  department store is long gone.


Maybe it's age but it was so dark in there we could barely read the menu!

There were 3 selections in each category and I have removed the items that were not selected by any of our party.
I don't have any photos as I didn't want to turn on the flash on my blackberry in these surroundings.

$35 Dinner- plus taxes and gratuity

Organic Arugula and Radicchio Salad, Roasted Acorn Squash, Mushrooms and Candied Pistachio, Warm Pancetta – Pomegranate Dressing

or

Spiced – grilled Calamari with Tuna Carpaccio and a Green Vegetable Agrodolce, Sweet Pepper – Chili Vinaigrette

Mains
Lavender and Honey Glazed Cornish Game Hen, Crispy Chevre Corn Fritter, Collard Greens, Peaches and Cream Corn, Cashew Butter - my sister had this and it was extremely good.

or

Duo of Wild Boar Tenderloin and Braised Shank, Sun Choke Chips, Ragout of Broccoli – Artichoke, topped with Apple Gremolata - DH really enjoyed this.

or

Crisped Potato – Wrapped Lemon Sole, Braised Endive – Leek “Coins”, Crab and Celery Slaw, Sweet Pepper Puree - my selection, good but not fantastic.

Desserts
Flourless Bitter Sweet Chocolate Brownie and White Chocolate – Lemon Pistachio Semifreddo, Spiced Blackberry Mole

or
Unbaked Vanilla and Buffalo Ricotta Cheese Cake, “Brulee” Lemon curd, House made Raspberry Jam

or

Fresh Fruit “Bruschetta” with Toasted Almond – Rose Water Pound Cake, Macerated Seasonal Fruit, Sweet Mascarpone Cream


My BIL didn't order from the set menu but chose instead the Artic char which he enjoyed very much.

Handy Household Hints - Coffee Filters

Just came across this interesting article for alternative uses for coffeee filters.

Smile

South Asia Festival

The weather last Saturday kept calling for rain, but it held off so around 6pm we headed down to the festival.
The plan was take some photos, hoping there would be good photo ops. There were some but not a lot.
And pick up take-out for dinner.
First stop - some samosas to ward off the hunger.

TGIF

The man in this ad used to be a VP at our company.

Toronto Thursday

Billboard across from the King St office. I love how it has the CN Tower on the ad up against the "real" CN Tower.

Thirsty Tuesday - Toronto

Really cool billboard on a pub near the office.

Full ad from across the street - tall green and white building in background houses our office.

How to take that photo without them knowing

This Super Spy Lens from Photojojo is perfect for when you need/want to capture that shot but are too shy or afraid to get caught!

Monday's Child - Beijing

Taken at the Forbidden City in Beijing.

TGIF - Gardening

Some random shots of my garden which I must admit I have been neglecting this summer. It's been hot and I do have to work full time to make a living!! It is overgrown and needs some major redesign. Maybe I'll work on it this weekend and devise a plan with some instructions for my gardener Manuel Labour to perform during the early mornings next week when it is cooler!!

Sadly the lavender is ready to be cut back.

Toronto Thursday

A small popular diner near the Coxwell subway station that has been around forever.

Thirsty Tuesday - San Francisco

Monday's Child - Egypt

Taken while visiting Luxor.

Scrapping - Great Wall of China

Toronto Thursday

No shortage of reading material for the subway ride

Thirsty Tuesday - Rome

Why oh why can I not get pizza like this???

Canada

Forget Rednecks...

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to
 say about Canadians:

If your local Dairy Queen is closed from

September through May,

You may live in Canada .


If someone in a Home Depot store

Offers you assistance and they don't work there,

You may live in Canada .

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time,

You may live in Canada .

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation

With someone who dialed a wrong number,

You may live in Canada .
If 'Vacation' means going anywhere

South of Detroit for the weekend,

You may live in Canada .

If you measure distance in hours,

You may live in Canada .

If you know several people

Who have hit a deer more than once,

You may live in Canada .

If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C'

In the same day and back again,

You may live in Canada .

If you can drive 90 km/hr through 2 feet of snow

During a raging blizzard without flinching,

You may live in Canada .

If you install security lights on your house and garage,

But leave both unlocked,

You may live in Canada .

If you carry jumper cables in your car

And your wife knows how to use them,

You may live in Canada .

If you design your kid's Halloween costume

To fit over a snowsuit,

You may live in Canada .

If the speed limit on the highway is 80 km --

You're going 95 and everybody is passing you,

You may live in Canada .

If driving is better in the winter

Because the potholes are filled with snow,

You may live in Canada .
If you know all 4 seasons:

Almost winter, winter, still winter,

and road construction,

You may live in Canada .



(this is my favourite, because how true)

If you have more miles

On your snow blower than your car,

You may live in Canada .


If you find -2 degrees 'a little chilly',

You may live in Canada .





If you actually understand these jokes,

and forward them to all

your friends,



you definitely are Canadian and proud to be.

Monday's Child - Dublin Ireland

Taken on Grafton St a few years ago.

Project 365 - February 2010

Slowing putting up this year's project 365. Theme was Food.

Happy 4th of July

Taken in Philadelphia

Project 365 - May 2010

I picked this month's theme - Blooming. I just learned how to create a contact sheet in Photoshop!

Saturday in the City

We decided that we would be tourists in our own city Saturday. We started with breakfast out in Leslieville at the OKAY OKAY (aka OK2) Diner.

Breakfast was delicious much to my pleasure as I had read some rather iffy reviews on several sites such as Chowhound.
This toronto blog did a review with some interior photos.
I had the Eggs Beatrice and John had fried eggs, hash browns, peameal bacon.

It is a very cute 50ish diner with antique telelvisions mounted over the counter.

The we took a leisurely walk around the neighbourhood.

On a spur of the moment we decided to take the car home and buy a day pass for us both at $10 in total. We took the subway to Union Station and then walked to the Waterfront to see The Tall Ships that are in town until tomorrow. What a sight!!

Grabbed a streetcar back to Union and subwayed it to Yonge and Bloor for the Pride Dyke Parade. What a difference a week makes! This time last Saturday in the same spot G20 protesters and hooligans were destroying property and police were wearing full battle gear. Today we got a chuckle out of the female police officer on her bike with her rainbow socks on - definitely not standard uniform nor was last week's outfits.

It was the first time we attended this parade, tomorrow is the large gay parade, and everyone had a good time. With this kind of weather who wouldn't be enjoying themselves?

Strolled down Yonge St which was closed to traffic due to the parade and dropped into the Elephant and Castle for a beer, some chicken wings and dried ribs.

Over to Dundas Square for some more photo ops. One of the best t-shirts I saw at the parade said "Don we now our gay apparel".

 Back on the subway to Chester to stop at Alex's Cheese shop for some cheese for dinner. Then a stop at the fruit stand and into Sun Valley for bread to go with the cheese. Ended up also getting more fruit, some lamb chops for tomorrow and hot Italian sausages.