CONCRETE - ONE WORD SUNDAY

 One Word Sunday

Best.Coffee.Ever.

 Linking up at Marg at The Intrepid Reader 

Weekend Coffee Share

Sunday Salon

July 2022 - Toronto ON

Queen St. W Toronto ON

Saturday we left early for the 5 hour drive to Montreal. Checked into the Doubletree (meh, terrible customer service in dining room) at the airport. Have I mentioned how expensive hotels are nowadays? Astronomical! And you do all the work on an app, check yourself in, open parking garage ($25 a night), open hotel doors, open room door. But I have to ask for my breakfast coupons at the desk, why not load on the app too?? 

We then spent the rest of the weekend dining (brunch, snacks, drinks, Trivia Pursuit, and dinners), chatting, laughing with family.

Monday we left after breakfast for the drive home. 

Leaving Montreal - click here to see more of this mural.

We made an unplanned drive around Prince Edward County for lunch at one of the many wineries (22) in the area. It is a pleasant break from the monotonous highway 401 or Trans Canada.

Referred to as 'The County' by those in the know, Prince Edward County is one of Ontario's most treasured holiday spots, with world-class beaches, wineries, resorts and inns, sticky summer treats and an abundance of places to cycle or paddle.

Click here for a meander around the area, a great spot to explore as you drive between Montreal and Toronto.

When you enter the county you are on Mohawk Tyendinaga Territory. The community takes its name from a variant spelling of Mohawk leader Joseph Brant's traditional Mohawk name, Thayendanegea.

We stopped for gas, always cheaper! Cannabis is a booming business.

Our first stop, hoping for lunch. Not a pleasant experience, first the host greeted us by saying we are not seating anyone at the moment because the kitchen is totally working at capacity. We left and went into the building, the winery. Standing there was a totally disinterested, unmotivated, bored young girl. We looked around for bottles of wine, nothing, just a counter selling tastings. As we left we were saying we couldn't understand why there were no bottles on display for purchase. She muttered, under her breath, there is a store. We walked out.

What a different experience at Sugarbush! The owner greeted us and when we said we were hungry she said they only had snacks but could recommend the place across the street. Snacks are fine, in fact we shared a cheese board (gluten free crackers) and a glass of wine. She also had her homemade rhubarb chutney on the board - delicious. The other server also stopped by for a chat (she had rowed for U of T and knew exactly where we lived). When we were paying our bill we chatted with the owner about food in France and what we loved. She mentioned that her parents had emigrated to Canada when she was small and had grown up in Montreal (as I did, also brought over by my parents). 

The final leg home on the Gardiner.

Tuesday was an at home day. Laundry etc. John received his latest scotch order. Finally the post office has dropped its ridiculous pandemic mandate.  Previous to the pandemic the PO would deliver to your home provided there was someone 19+ to sign. During the pandemic it was delivered to a local PO, a delivery notice would be sent and you would have to drive and pick it up. This came to the condo loading dock!! I know, first world problems.

Me thinks I need to repot this plant!

The only reason I discovered the roots it had, was because I wanted to put this one somewhere higher as it has tendrils. 

Oh joy! I have been selected for jury duty eligibility. This is my 4th summons. I did the first three while working so a great excuse off work. Never got selected for a jury those times. How come John never gets selected??

Wednesday John golfed and I went to Winners, $ store and Longo's for some groceries.

Thursday my BFF and I met for lunch at the Loose Moose, new for both of us. We had a great extended gabfest over sliders.

They had all kinds of items all the walls. 

Another wall had speakers.

Thursday evening we attended a zoom presentation that the building had arranged for Atrens-Counsel Insurance Brokers to provide us with a presentation on Condominium suite insurance. It covered for the condominium insurance policy includes ($360 million) and then what your owner's policy should include. We took notes to check our own policy to ensure we are covered. He did some very good scenarios on how a claim would be processed as well. They also offered to review any of our policies (of course to offer their "golden" policy with their company that covers the building and only offered to residents of the building), however might be worth it. 

Surprisingly enough of 430 units only 21 signed in.

There was an older woman signed in on her iPad with no conception of how to use Zoom so we could hear her make phone calls (before meeting started and facilitator muted everyone). Most  of us also turned off video so we couldn't be seen but not her, so we were subjected to her every move, totally unaware she was on camera. 

Friday John golfed. I thought I might go out but decided to veer towards caution and stay home. Fridge needs cleaning, plants repotting, laundry done, dining room table cleared of clutter. 

The city is busy this week as this weekend is the first Caribana since 2019. It is currently North America's largest cultural festival and over a million tourists are expected!!

We are also going away again this weekend, Stratford ON to see a play (Chicago see below) and stay overnight. 

COOKING

Saturday (family) BBQ pork loin, roast potatoes, carrots, peppers and coleslaw.

Sunday (family) sushi

Monday homemade pizza (focaccia)

Tuesday hamburger patties mashed cauliflower and potatoes, beans and gravy

Wednesday pork lettuce wraps I added 5 Chinese spice, curry miso and soy sauce.

Thursday curry chicken

Friday Philly cheese steak sandwiches

WATCHING

Respect is a 2021 American biographical musical drama film and is based on the life of American singer Aretha Franklin. The film stars Jennifer Hudson as Franklin, with Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, and Mary J. Blige in supporting roles. The film follows the first three decades of Franklin's life, from being born as a musical prodigy in an affluent African-American family, the repercussions of losing her mother at age 10 to her arduous rise to international musical stardom, while enduring an abusive marriage, ultimately concluding with the recording of her influential live album Amazing Grace (1972).

Chicago - how have we never seen this either on stage or screen???? The original play was 1975 and the movie 2003. In 2001 right after 9/11 we had gone to NYC (remember their campaign to get tourists back to the city?) with friends. They went to see Chicago while we went to see Rocky Horror Picture Show (no regrets!). OMG the stars in this movie and the incredible job they did!! Queen Lafitah and 
Renée Zellweger were my favourites along with Richard Gere!!

We are going to see the play at Stratford this weekend and I am so excited.

We also watched West Side Story.

New expression to me - don't let the door knob hit you where the good Lord split you.

READING

I tried to read Reckless Girls, but honestly I gave up. I was not interested in a bunch of shallow 20 somethings full of angst and drama bored me to tears.

I read Five Days Missing instead, which I enjoyed although it did drag out a little!

I started The Nurse by Claire Allan, so far so good.

Weekend Roundup

Welcome to The Weekend Roundup...hosted by Tom The Back Roads Traveler


1. Starts with "D"
2. A Favorite
3. DOUBLE - CHOSEN BY TOM

Starts with D

St. John New Brunswick

FAVOURITE

DOUBLE

Egg yolks

Tuesday Treasures

 Tom the backroads traveller hosts this weekly meme.

Travel Tuesday

Image-in-ing

My Corner of the World

Postcards

Charlottetown PEI

The tower of City Hall has a belfry from which hung the fire bell. Prior to 1888, city residents relied on the Town Crier to sound the alarm for a fire. His warning was passed by word of mouth as quickly as possible - not a very efficient way to warn citizens of a fire.

When the fire bell arrived, it was a great boon to the city and was first located in the old market building. It was referred to as "Big Donald" after the fire chief of 1875, Donald MacKinnon. When this bell cracked in 1877 it was returned to Boston to be recast. In order to receive some compensation for the cost of recasting, the foundry owners recast it somewhat smaller than the original. The bell was returned and put back in place, and at some point cracked again. Then, when it was rung to sound an alarm on the morning of February 20, 1884, it fell to pieces. It was sent away and recast a second time and again replaced in the old Market building. It was moved to the City Hall tower in 1888. The bell was used to alert the volunteer fireman of an emergency. In September 1952 an air horn, which is still used today, was installed for sounding fire alarms. The fire bell was retired in1966, to its present location, the front lawn of the Kent Street side of the building.

T for Tuesday

 T Stands For is hosted by Elizabeth and Bleubeard

Click here to see more of the Point Prim PEI bottle house.

PEI is known for Anne of Green Gables.

Signs

 Joining Tom at Signs2.

Random-osity

Wordless Wednesday Wordless Be There 2day

Toronto ON

I like collecting all kinds of signs. Here are some "warning" signs I've found.

Monday Mural

  I'm linking up at Monday Mural

June 2022 - London ON

The final murals from our couple of days in London ON.

183 King Street is an impressive building; however, the years have not been kind. It was built in 1892 in front of the Marcus Holmes House (c. 1850). It was first known as the St. James Hotel, changing its name to the Fraser House Hotel & Tavern in 1895. According to the city directory, it became the Royal Alex Hotel by 1953 until 1975 and Kelly’s Hotel opened in 1977. In the 1990s, the owners divided the building into offices, commercial spaces, and apartments in the upper levels.

Eight Ball on King, the billiard club advertised sign, called 183 King Street home from 2001-2003. 

After Eight Ball on King closed, the building continued to be home to several bars and nightclubs, including Salt Lounge, Club Noir, and Rehab. 183 King Street currently sits vacant. The rear portion of the building and its neighbour, 181 King Street, have both been demolished. The owner has been trying to demolish the building’s remaining portion to build condominiums; however, City Council denied a request for demolition.

Painted by T. Denomme who dies in 2005.  

Bud Gowan passed away in 2015.
He became a clothing store owner in the early 1950’s, when he opened a store on Dundas St.
That store was closed in 1970, when the land it was on was expropriated in order for the Bell building to be constructed.
In the mid-1970’s, he opened Bud Gowan Formal Wear, where generations of high school students rented tuxedos for prom and grooms were fitted for the clothes they would wear on their wedding day.
He turned the business over to his son Paul in 1985, before opening an antiques store a few years later.

Morrissey House is a pub with this massive Fuller's ESB mural.

George Gardner held his first auction in London, Ontario in 1922. One of his early sales was selling horses for the City of London when they switched from horse-drawn to gas-powered trucks. Some of his major auctions include Tecumseh House, at one time the largest hotel in the British Commonwealth, as well the contents of many of London's finest homes in the 1930's, during The Great Depression.
Shortly after serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II, George’s son, Jason, became his partner in the business. When George Gardner passed away unexpectedly in 1952, Jason carried on as an auctioneer and appraiser. He purchased his first permanent auction house at 2 Langarth Street West, London in 1960. He also sold for Fyfe's of Edinburgh throughout Canada and made international headlines, including Time Magazine, when he was hired by a Toronto syndicate to auction antiques from Castro's Cuba in the mid 1960's. Jason purchased 186 York Street in 1971, an historic building located in the heart of downtown London directly across from the Via Rail Station.

Grant Gardner, Jason's son, joined in 1975 and changed the direction of the business from a general auction company to one specializing in estate furnishings, namely antiques and fine art. Some of Grant's major sales include the contents of Castle Kilbride in Baden, Ontario and the Dr. Alan Law estate of Toronto whose antique furniture collection realized over a million dollars.

Originally built in 1908 by James Granger & A.T. McMahen as their warehouse. It is a unique building due to its terra cotta facade & the fact it hasn't been altered much inside or outside since it was built 108 years ago.
 

Located near the Banting House.