I never did do a second post of the murals we found in 2019 in the lane at Euclid and College. In the link below there is also another link to more of the sights around College, a great area to wander.
We have 9,500 streets that require clearing. Not that they've needed any clearing so far this year.
Spent the long weekend relaxing at home. Monday was a holiday to make up for Saturday's Boxing Day, a legal holiday here in Ontario.
Tuesday I had had enough, and ventured on the shuttle bus (only passenger both ways) downtown to Longo's, $ store (only store allowed open as it carries a couple of aisles of food) and a special errand for John's son. See below.
Royal York Hotel windows were festive. Union Station reflected.
F for Fairmont as they own the Royal York these days.
Wednesday was warm and dark and gloomy. We took the shuttle downtown and checked some sights, staying well distanced.
The man sitting at the corner at the traffic lights on the right, with his dog, has used this corner to panhandle for as long as I can remember. He packs up at 5 PM tucks his dog and bag under his arm and takes the subway home.
Sadly, the lockdown interfered with the Thirsty Elf's intentions. We had been looking forward to sampling his seasonal libations (only as a show of support, of course).
Such a shame these businesses did so much to add to the festivities as well as providing some income under the difficult circumstances when dining/drinking inside was not an option and still they were closed down at the end of November.
The cows didn't seem to mind the snow.
TD Centre had a great looking tree.
Making a snowman out of the little amount of snow that had fallen overnight.
City Hall was disappointing. The skaters have to book online, the lineup is just to the right of the photo.
Parked on Queen St. West outside City Hall.
Food trucks are still going.
Huge video billboard at TD corner Bay and Queen.
As we headed to Longos to pick up NY Eve's dinner it started raining harder so we cut indoors. It didn't get cold enough for it to turn to freezing rain, luckily.
Intrigued/curious about the McDonald's commercial for the spicy habanero chicken sandwich as the actors proclaimed how spicy it was we said we would have to try it.
New Year's Eve we ventured out at lunchtime to a drive through and each had one, even John, although it is not gluten free. A little spicy and it was good. John suffered a little in the afternoon but he said it was worth it and it's not like we had anywhere to be.
NEW YEAR'S DAY was spent relaxing and chatting with family.
I got a spurt of cleaning/organizing frenzy in the afternoon and did a proper cleaning of kitchen and bathrooms! Organized a couple of shelves. It wore off quickly though.
John got a surprise gift from his son, I had played elf picking it up on Tuesday.
COOKING
Saturday was Christmas leftovers, no cooking involved.
Sunday leftovers again, John was happy with more tourtiere and I had a hot turkey sandwich. I made more gravy from the turkey carcass that was simmering for soup/stock.
Monday I took out part of the ham I had frozen and served it with potato/cauliflower au gratin.
Tuesday we went with leftovers from last night and added Brussel sprouts.
Wednesday chicken legs and kale salad.
Thursday New Year's Eve
Happy Hour - tequila anejo
Crab legs and lobster tails. Crab was fabulous but wouldn't buy the lobster again.
I made a cheddar jalapeno soda bread.
FRIDAY NEW YEAR'S DAY
Used this gluten free Yorkshire pudding recipe. I cut it in half, used a muffin tin rather than my usual bowls and bacon fat instead of oil. It was a major fail, will go back to my usual recipe.
Prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, roast potatoes, mushroom gravy made from scratch, carrots and turnips, broccoli.
I didn't use the cold oven method, because you can't open the oven therefore you can't make the roast potatoes or the Yorkshires (in this case it wouldn't have mattered). I used the traditional 500 F for 15 minutes and then reduced to 375 and 15 minutes per pound.
Abandoned, at the moment, but it will be incorporated into yet another condo in Yorkville.
Four low-rise homes on the property, built in 1890 and designated as heritage buildings, will be re-positioned to the east and integrated into the design as retail, office and restaurant spaces.
