This mural caused a controversy when it was painted in 2023. I took this photo as we drove by.
The artwork features influential rappers Sidhu Moose Wala, Tupac Shakur, and Biggie Smalls alongside acting legends Al Pacino as Tony Montana from “Scarface,” and Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone from “The Godfather.” Initial concerns arose from the portrayal of Sidhu Moose Wala holding a gun, leading to some community residents threatening to boycott the bakery. Red Moon promptly responded by removing the gun from the mural.
MURAL UPDATE
I cannot find if I had posted the previous mural here. I have looked, but...
Anyway, in 2017 I took these photos of the mural. You can still see some of the smoke in the mural above.
Painted by John Kuna in 2005, this particular mural offers a panoramic view of Islington Village during the time of Confederation in 1867.
We were on the road to Montreal at 9AM, we had packed and made sandwiches for lunch when we got up. It was a beautiful day to drive and traffic was so light.
We checked into the Hilton at 3 and headed to John's daughter's for the evening.
Sunday we lazed around after our complimentary breakfast at the hotel until 2 when we headed to his son's for dinner.
Monday it was -2 as we set out for home. We arrived home at 3PM.
Tuesday Signs from the pumpkin patch we visited a couple of weeks ago.
Tuesday I was busy in the kitchen, making COF (clean out fridge) soup, prepping dinner and baking oatmeal raisin cookies. Made egg and onion for John's lunch sandwich on Wednesday.
Wednesday we were up at 6AM (stupid o'clock) as John was golfing at 8!! He headed out after having scrambled eggs. It was already 16C! I tidied up and started laundry. Cleaned up plants.
I did some blog posts and then headed out at 10:30 to Winners (bought a jacket $50 and a tablecloth), $ store potting soil. Then to Longo's. Tablecloth is too big so I will return it.
Not much in photos.
Tourists snapping photos with the hockey players.
Union Station
We had a little visitor and she actually warmed up to us.
Thursday was also in the low 20s!!! Sunrise when I got up. John headed out to golf.
I headed out to Burlington to eat and shop with BFF. I bought a green knitted. striped shirt.
The city is gearing up for 6 Taylor Swift concerts!!
Today was Halloween, so the stores were very quiet!
When I got home our robot vacuum had arrived and John had already christened it after our last cat, Parnell!
Friday was brisk and cold!
I booked John's flu shot.
I returned the tablecloth for a smaller size and bought this mat as Parnell (AKA robot vacuum) didn't like the other one.
John went to Metro for groceries and got some good bargains. Then he took these bags to the charity shop.
COOKING
Saturday dinner Montreal - chicken asparagus, baked potato, Brussels sprouts
Sunday dinner Montreal - steak (bavette), baked potato, green beans
Tuesday cottage (ground beef) pie, mashed cauliflower/potatoes and turnips and carrots AKA cleaning out the fridge
Wednesday leftovers
Thursday chicken a la orange and salad (Andrew, the living one is still hanging in}
Friday steak and loaded smashed potato and broccolini.
WATCHING
Caught up on our recorded shows.
We watched Copshop - On the run from a lethal assassin, a wily con artist devises a scheme to hide out inside a small-town police station-but when the hitman turns up at the precinct, an unsuspecting rookie cop finds herself caught in the crosshairs.
We started the series High Country -A detective transferred to Victorian High Country investigates 5 missing persons. She uncovers a complex web of murder, deceit and revenge.
I found I could watch the latest season of My Kitchen Rules Australia!!!
READING
I finished The Teacher, it starts really slowly but finally picks up more than half way through. REALLY, the main character does this???? But the bad proof reading and bad grammar almost made it a DNF.
I read The Lawyer, decent plot. It shows how easy it is to get catfished!!
All His Pretty Girls was an excellent read, it kept getting better! I will definitely read more of this series!
Starts with R (BIGGEST/SMALLEST/LONGEST/SHORTEST/OLDEST)
ROCKER
FAVOURITE
RING
A Claddagh ring is a traditional Irish ring that symbolizes love, loyalty, and friendship:
Heart: Represents love
Crown: Represents loyalty
Hands: Represents friendship
The ring's design originated in Claddagh, County Galway, and the modern form was first produced in the 17th century. It's now popular around the world as a symbol of love and friendship.
The ring can be worn in different ways to indicate the wearer's relationship status:
Right hand, heart facing out: The wearer is single
Left hand, heart facing in: The wearer is committed, usually after marriage
All Beings Connected is a two-part art exhibit by father-son duo August and Luke Swinson. It speaks to our personal relationship and dedication to the land and its inhabitants, and the enduring strength of Indigenous peoples.The first art piece, called All Beings Connected, was created by artist August Swinson. The figure in the center is rooted and is drawing strength from the earth beneath, symbolizing our personal relationship and dedication to the land and its inhabitants. You can find this piece in Union’s Great Hall.
This second art piece, called The Original Treaties, was created by artist Luke Swinson. It represents the peaceful treaties Anishinaabe people made with the earth, sky and all living beings. Treaties allow us to work together, uphold our commitments and nourish relationships with creation. The hand holding an eagle feather symbolizes our connection to Creator and the enduring strength of our people. You can find this piece in Union’s Front Street Promenade Vitrine.
About the Artists
August Swinson is an artist and member of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, currently living in Kitchener, Ontario. August works in a variety of styles and uses a mix of hand drawn and computer generated illustrations. Influenced by the beauty of nature and the classic Canadian landscape, and memories of his childhood living on the Scugog Island reserve, his illustrations evoke a sense of fun, and something familiar that reminds us of a more innocent age but from a new perspective.
Luke Swinson is a visual artist with Anishinaabe roots from Kitchener, Ontario. A member of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation, Luke’s work reflects his desire to better understand and reclaim his Indigenous culture. He seeks to promote cultural education and preservation through his art projects.
Saturday was a beautiful fall day. Chores were on the agenda, along with lots of cooking. I started a pot of pea soup using the leftover bits of ham. I prepped dinner and made an apple crisp with some apples that needed using up.
Oh, the kitchen smelled delightful, pea soup simmering and apple crisp baking!
Sunday while I was having my weekly chat with my friend in a retirement home, John cooked bacon for delicious BLTs, using the Living Lettuce. I finished making the pea soup, cut the meat of the lamb leg and then put the lamb bone in a soup pot with onions, celery, some lamb meat that was a little too pink to make stock for lamb curry this week.
Monday I cleaned up the lamb soup pot. I also cut up the remaining meat and froze it for curry.
I decided to return the pasta attachment that came yesterday. As John was reading the instructions yesterday I realized it only made sheet pasta, so I ordered a 3 in 1 which includes spaghetti and fettucine, twice the price.
It did pi$$ me off, that I was charged $10 to return it. I dropped it off in Royal Bank Plaza.
Then on impulse I checked if I could do a walk in flu shot and got one. From there I went to Longo's where I remembered that their chickens were on sale at $3 a pound.
While I was out John booked our remaining accommodations for February.
Tuesday John headed out to golf with his new golf bag.
Yesterday and today the temperatures broke records at 25C.
I went for a haircut and some errands. Once home I cleaned the chicken and put the carcass in a soup pot.
For 100 years, the “Canadian Niagara Power Company generating station” harnessed the powerful energy of the Horseshoe Falls and turned it into a great source of electricity. Now, years after its turbines came to a halt, the wonder of this hydropower pioneer is coming back to life in an entertaining and educational experience that highlights both the remarkable history and unique architectural features of this 115-year-old engineering marvel.
I had bought our tickets and parking online. I had bought them before we saw the power station on the first episode of Amazing Race Canada.
John and I generating electricity!
No, thanks, I get enough static shocks.
A Tesla coil is a radio frequency oscillator that drives an air-core double-tuned resonant transformer to produce high voltages at low currents. Tesla's original circuits and most modern coils use a simple spark gap to excite oscillations in the tuned transformer.
Once you are in the tunnel, it is a good 20 minute walk to the viewing platform. Water drips are everywhere.
There is light at the end of the tunnel!!
WOW what a way to see the Falls!!!
Look at the people on the American side overlooking the Canadian falls.
Bridge to the States and the American falls.
While we took the elevator back up he showed us the ladders that the workers used. It was eeither freezing cold at the bottom or roasting hot at the top!
Next stop! This is what prompted this visit, a WagJag discount coupon for a wine tasting at the Monastery! We had driven past this monastery a few years ago and I learned it had a winery!
Mount Carmel, the first residence for the Carmelites in Niagara Falls was originally a simple rectory for those priests serving the parish community, Our Lady of Peace. The monastery was then constructed in 1894 as a training center for young Carmelites, as well as a hospice to welcome pilgrims to the majestic beauty of falls to encounter God’s creative presence.
In 1925, the chapel and another section of building were added to accommodate an increasing number of Carmelite students. The chapel, in its elegant simplicity, contains many symbols of the Carmelite tradition.
Surprisingly for me, I didn't really go into the chapel for more photos.
The winery is in the gift shop, strangely.
Monastery Cellars focuses on small lot vintages of premium VQA wines with the first vintage of wines from the on-site vineyard planted in 2012. Planting predominantly includes Vidal grapes, perfectly suited for the production of world renowned Icewines. The first recorded Icewine harvest dates back to 1794 in Franconia, Germany, when local monks were faced with winter much earlier than expected. The monks, facing the adversity of mother nature, are credited as being the inventors of Icewine by pressing juice from the frozen grapes. At the time, these new wines were touted to be nothing short of “nectar from the gods,” or so the legend goes.
We sampled the pinot, cabernet and syrah, bringing home two of the syrah.
Friday and this was our view. The shadow on the right is our building. It was chilly as John headed out to golf.
John's new Nexus card arrived.
Interesting, as I waited for the bus.
I ran into one of our concierges who is on maternity leave, and we had a good chat.
Pics from the golf course.
COOKING
Saturday roast leg of lamb, roast potatoes, mashed turnips and carrots, cauliflower. Apple crisp with raisins.
Sunday lamb leftovers, gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots and turnip
Monday leftovers liver roast chicken, roast potatoes and orange cauliflower
Tuesday lamb curry
Wednesday chicken (leftover) Alfredo
Thursday chips eggs beans
Friday steak, Greek roast potatoes and fried onions
WATCHING
Matlock cute
I finished season 2 of Sorry for your Loss and am disappointed that there won't be a season 3.
I started watching The Great Canadian Baking Show.
Catastrophe - During a business trip in London, an American named Rob meets Sharon, an Irish teacher with whom he shares incredible chemistry. While the two plan to have some fun with no strings attached, things go awry when Sharon learns she is pregnant. The unexpected news inspires the recent acquaintances to try and make it as a couple, despite nonstop complications that include hailing from different countries and a pregnancy that is not without risks. Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney play the starring roles and write the series. Rotten Tomatoes 100%
Fun, entertaining while I am in the kitchen. Plus Mark Bonnar is in it!
Stage Fright
We started the series Special Ops: Lioness - CIA operative Joe attempts to balance her personal and professional lives as the tip of the spear in the agency's war on terror.
Caught up on favourites.
READING
I read Long Island and I preferred it to Brooklyn. I thought Brooklyn, the movie was better than the book, which is very unusual for me. My problem is that I never felt any empathy for Eilis in either book. I realize she is a complicated character and I recognize her mother in my memories of my paternal Irish grandmother. The ending is a cliff-hanger, so I am guessing there will be a third book.
Funny aside, Brooklyn was an answer on Jeopardy the other night.
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