Garden Gnomes

Some new "gnomes" that I bought as my own birthday presents. This happens every year. I go out for breakfast with a dear friend and then we hit our favourite shops on the Danforth and then Bill's on Pape.

I should have cleaned the table first!

And some new solar lights!

Monday's Child - Buffalo

Taken at the Buffalo Food Festival which is one the the most awesome, organized events I havee ever attended. No lineups, super clean, garbage cans everywhere and lots of volunteers. Toronto Greek Festival should take note.
Would love to know how this conversation went.

Late Summer Garden

Here's some shots of our garden. It is time to start dividing some of the overgrowth and go shopping for new plants!

Taken on a very rainy weekend

Sunday Skies - LAX Sunrise

Taken while waiting for a flight home for LA.

Ohmygawd!! You have got to read this post about Taste of Melbourne 2010. KitchenWench's photos and descriptions of the food are to die for, my mouth was watering and wanted to literally climb into my PC and start nibbling!!

Toronto Thursday - Landmark Update

On July 29 I lamented the fact that The Corned Beef House was being demolished to make way for yet another condo development downtown.
Why can't they incorporate the facade of these old buildings into the new design?? I know, I've worked as a financial analyst so I can envision the business case that it wouldn't be worth the cost.

Well good news as we passed it the other day to go to another favourite haunt (also likely to fall under the hammer) for lunch, there is a poster on the door (you have to peek through the fence to see it, though) that they will be opening at 250 Adelaide.

This is the view of the condo being built from our office window. The pink walled building is our other haunt.

We are all curious how Champs manages to continue to be in operation. This place supplies all the street vendors with their street meat i.e. hot dogs and buns.

Wednesday's Words

Head scratching...

Monday's Child - King for a Day

In honour of my nephew who turns 16 this week!!! This was taken in 2005 in Dingle, Ireland.

And this is the frozen cake his Mom baked and will be sent to him at camp this week!

It depicts his summer camp.

Recipes to Try - Scones

Savory Cheese and Scallion Scones

Photography Ideas

Make a Light Box

Photoscape software

Sails Meeting - Mackinac Island

August 2010

You board the ferry either in St. Ignace or Mackinaw for a 20 minute ride to the Island. If you aren't a "day tripper" and have luggage then they will tag your luggage at the ferry and it will be delivered to your hotel either by bike or horse and cart, depending on your hotel. Of course if you are staying at the Grand Hotel then it will be transported by a liveried attired carriage driver. Ours went by bike.

There are many ferry lines available - we took Star Line. Mackinac Island is nestled in the Straits of Mackinac where the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan meet. It was a hot overcast day as we headed over.

The island is a national historic landmark and only horseback, biking or walking are permitted modes of transportation.

According to this site Mackinac Island of Michigan has been ranked among the top 10 islands in the world by Conde Nast Traveler. As an island without any cars, it can be a peaceful and relaxing way to take in some natural beauty. Whether on foot, bike, or horseback, visitors can enjoy this unique land filled with historic landmarks, golf courses, and beautiful parks. The island is also called "Makinaw" island which coincides with how Mackinac is pronounced.

The island is 3.8 square miles. The season is May to October and the hotels, shops and restaurants hire seasonal employees to accommodate the 15,000 tourists daily.

Our first impression of Mackinac Island when you step off the ferry was that we were in Disneyworld. It reminded me of being on Main Street with the horse and carriages and the swarms of tourists.


Of course the camera was very busy immediately. We walked to our hotel Chippewa Hotel, it was early and we didn't expect our room to be ready, but upon entering the lobby the Jason Mraz song, I'm Yours was playing (the first song on my soundtrack for this blog) so I knew it would be and it was!

Our room was facing Main Street and decorated in a very pretty old-fashioned yellow with an iron headboard.

Then it was time to explore and get some lunch. We chose Sinclair's Irish pub, it was crowded (as most places are during the day) but we grabbed a couple of seats at the bar. Over pints of Guinness and Irish Red we selected our lunches. Shrimp for me and an Irish club for DH which had corned beef as it's foundation.
Lunch was good, but nothing special.
This town is so pretty, everywhere you turn are quaint houses and inns, all gaily painted with flowers blooming everywhere. Will do a separate post for the houses and flowers.

We spent the rest of the day just wandering around. The day remained overcast with a colourless sky.

                                                            Stopping for libations

We decided on Goodfellows for dinner and munched on wings and sliders.

There's no shortage of pubs on the island. This was taken at Mary's - the sticker was on the freezer door.

Kite flying at Windermere Point on Mackinac Island

Taken at Fort Mackinac

So technically DH is wearing this T-shirt on Mackinac Island. I love the take on the Guinness label. We bought this at the Honolulu Zoo

The rest of the T-shirts were spotted on Mackinac Island.

As Katy over at my Facebook photos mentioned:
The next time I put my foot in my mouth, I want to be wearing one of these shoes. Just sayin'!!

Spreading nuts to make fudge.

Summer gardens in bloom. This island is a wonderful place for a short visit, stay overnight and experience the less crowded spaces when the day trippers have taken the last ferry back to the mainland. No cars allowed on the island!!!

I wanted to post some photos we took of all the bikes on the island. It is hard to imagine until you have been here, you take your life in your hands whenever you step out. There are so many tourists that haven't been on a bike in donkey's years and just start off on Main St.
There many bike shops to rent from on Main St.

This is one of my favourite photos from this trip.

All kinds of bikes and people enjoy the Island

My souvenir of the Island.

Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. ~W.C. Fields


It's always been and always will be the same in the world: The horse does the work and the coachman is tipped. ~Author Unknown

When on the island one must take a carriage tour. If you are staying on the island head over to the tour as early as possible in the morning as the daytrippers don't start arriving until around 11 in the morning. You will
start out in a carriage drawn by 2 horses. These horses weigh between 1000 to 1200 pounds each. The guides are very knowledgeable and quite entertaining.

I suggest if you want to visit Fort Mackinac that you take the carriage tour first as it will take you up behind the fort and you can enter through the gates there. This will save you the long climb up from Main Street!

The tour will take you through town, up past the Grand Hotel where the horses get a break to rest from climbing the hill. Then up to the Surrey Hill Museum.  You will disembark from your carriage (after the mandatory photos are taken - for purchase at the end of your trip) You can then visit Surrey Hills Carriage Museum displays of historic carriages including a horse-drawn hearse, still used today, and an antique fire department pumper.

Topiary on lawn of Grand Hotel

You will then board an open 3-horse hitch carriage for the second part of the tour.

The second part of the tour takes you past the graveyards and you will learn that the flag is always flown at half-staff at four locations in the United States. These locations are Post Cemetery at Mackinac Island in Michigan, Punchbowl in Honolulu, the Gettysburg National Cemetery, and Arlington National Cemetery.

Your next stop is at the Arch Rock where you will have a few minutes to take some photos.

Then you will stop at the fort and you can do your tour of the fort without the climb!

A very mellow yellow inn.

Although it is known as The Little Stone Church, the official title is Union Congregational Church. The church is an affiliate of the NACCC (National Association of Congregational Christian Churches). There are about 100 members, most of them summer residents.