Foto Tunes

 Tom the backroads traveller hosts this weekly meme.

December 2014 - Las Vegas NV

Song is from A Star is Born (latest) which I thought was quite boring.

Bradley Cooper - Alibi

Don't ask me 'bout tomorrow
Or tell me about my past

My heart is yours to borrow

Ain't nothing meant to last

I ain't lyin'

I don't lie
Without an alibi

Don't ask too many questions

You don't want answers to

You don't like my direction

Hell, I won't follow you

I ain't lyin'

I don't lie
Without an alibi

I told my dyin' daddy
That I had to run away
Looked him in the eyes
Said, "there ain't no other way"
So woman, if I tell you that I love you, be ok

'Cause I ain't lyin'
I don't lie
Without an alibi

I love you in the morning
And when the day is done
But if you want my freedom
You know I'm bound to run

I ain't lyin'
I don't lie
Without an alibi

'Cause I ain't lyin'
I don't lie
Without an alibi

Monday Mural

 I'm linking up at Monday Mural

May 2026 - Toronto ON

Harbord St.

This mural is titled "Alex Bacon Mural" , created by Bacon and features artwork by Cinema613.

The colorful artwork, featuring stylized candy characters and a "Willy Wacky Snacks" logo, was painted in 2025 by Stephanie Avery.

 The mural is located on a laneway garage off Harbord and was created by artist Ted Hamer, a member of the "Wall Expressions" group.

Hamer created the piece to highlight the critically low population number of Siberian tigers.

The mural features the text, "There are less than 600 Siberian tigers left".

This is a promotional mural for Steam Whistle Brewing featuring their iconic green bottle and the company motto, "Do one thing really, really well".

Foto Tunes

 Tom the backroads traveller hosts this weekly meme.

May 2019 - Paris France

Ella Fitzgerald - I Love Paris

Every time I look down on this timeless town

Whether blue or gray be her skies

Whether loud be her cheers

Or whether soft be her tears

More and more do I realize that...

I love Paris in the spring time

I love Paris in the fall

I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles

I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles

I love Paris every moment

Every moment of the year

I love Paris, why oh why do I love Paris

Because my love is near

I love Paris in the spring time

I love Paris in the fall

I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles

I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles

I love Paris every moment

Every moment of the year

I love Paris, why oh why do I love Paris

Because my love is near

Morning Meditations

 

ANIMAL

  One Word Sundays         

   Cellpic Sunday      

Lake Chapala Mexico - link

Forthcoming One Word Sundays            

13 September: Blue

20 September: Geometry

27 September: Power

October: taking a break

1 November: Back

8 November: Laundry

15 November: Afloat

August Recap

 AUGUST 2026

JULY 2026
JUNE 2026

L'Amour du Pain Aug 8

The Lazy Barista Aug 15

Harumama Aug 22

Birdie Aug 29

TRAVEL

St. John's Newfoundland and Labrador 4,212 kilometers 2,618 miles 

Day 1 LINK

Day 2 

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6

Day 7

ACCOMMODATIONS

Doubletree Hilton St. John's NL

We saw everything that was on our agenda that we hadn't covered in 2022.

We ate great food at a variety of places, Oliver's, Yellowbelly's (2), Cojones (meh), Hilton Sparo, Ye Old Goat, Cupids (bay trip), Mallard Cottage.

We had cod tongues with scrunchions, salmon, lobster roll, cod bites, fries with dressing and gravy, red curry mussels, pizza, pasta with shrimp, scallops and salmon,smoked salmon, sweet potato and carrot soup, fishcakes (2 Mansard Cottage the best), fish and chips, Spanish tapas, crepes with ice cream and local berries.

We had incredible breakfasts at the Hilton.

MURALS

TRAVEL YEAR TO DATE

✈Toronto to Charlottetown (return) 1,654 miles ·2,663 KM 5 days

🚄Toronto to Montreal (return) 680 miles 1,090 KM 4 days 

✈Toronto to St. John's Newfoundland Labrador (return) 2,618 miles 4,212 KM  7 days

TOTAL DAYS 11

TOTAL DISTANCE 4,952 miles 7,965 KM

ACCOMMODATIONS

Rodd

Doubletree Hilton Place Desjardins Montreal QC

Doubletree Hilton St. John's NL

EATING OUT - TORONTO

Pigeon Pigeon for brunch, Pizzaioli, Jason George Pub, Pizza Olive, Fancy Burger (not worth a mention), Cherry St, BBQ, Box Car Social coffee.

.

YEAR TO DATE FAVOURITE FOOD

PIZZA - Pizzaioli

BURGERS -  Cabano's (3 years running)          WORST Fancy Burger

COFFEE - Neo

SUSHI

DINER

THAI - Senla

MEXICAN - 

THEATRE

Ones - The Beatles

SHOWS TO DATE

ONES The Beatles

Candlelight Leonard Cohen

A Beautiful Life Neil Diamond

Inside American Pie

AROUND TOWN

We checked out the newish Sutton Place Hotel.

The feature film adaptation of Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, directed by Sarah Polley and starring Billie Eilish, Carey Mulligan, and Connor Storrie, was filming on Bay Street on August 3, 2026.

Beaver Quest - we did it! Found all 51 plus the bonus Maple Leafs. The Quest was in Old Town Toronto so we spend some time around there.

While looking for the last two beavers, I took photos of historical buildings that I posted for a Tuesday Treasures.

MIRVISH VILLAGE

Mirvish Village is a new, mixed-use rental and retail community at Bloor and Bathurst Street. Built on the old site of the famous Honest Ed's discount store, it features residential towers, restored heritage houses, public spaces, and local shops.

Housing: Nearly 900 purpose-built rental apartments, including affordable and family-sized units.

Retail and Food: Commercial spaces for restaurants, micro-retailers, a food hall, and local shops like Book Bar and Pizzeria Badiali.

Public Space: Pedestrian-friendly alleyways, restored heritage buildings, and the newly opened Honest Ed’s Park.

KOREATOWN

We definitely need to go back for a meal!!

BIIDAASIGE PARK

Biidaasige Park (pronounced bee-daw-sih-geh) means "sunlight shining toward us" in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwemowin). Located in Toronto's Port Lands on the island of Ookwemin Minising ("place of the black cherry trees"), the name reflects the hopeful light of a new day shining on waterway restoration, reconciliation, and ecological healing.

Spans roughly 60 acres along the newly renaturalized mouth of the Don River on Toronto's eastern waterfront.Ecological Purpose: Serves as a vital flood-protection infrastructure project while restoring natural wetlands, habitats, and traditional medicine plants.

FAN EXPO

MURALS we found this month

Monday murals can be found in the weekly recaps.

We found so many murals in August it would be impossible to show them all, so this is a sampling. We had been in the lanes around Bloor and Bathurst, which were a treasure trove.

AROUND HOME

John took several walks around Lake Ontario.

I thought I had written a post about the Air India crash memorial.

 A large Air India Flight 182 Memorial Sundial inspired by the flag of India, featuring the 24-spoke Dharma Chakra wheel on its face.

Honors the 329 victims of the June 23, 1985, bombing that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland.

We replaced our 14 year old mattress from Sleep Country.

We found the Skechers' factory outlet and got a good deal on shoes, BOGO 50% off. I also found a sweater at Winners.

We had an unexpected visitor! Luckily, it managed to fly away on its own.

COOKING

I didn't cook for a week while we were away!

We bought Argentinian steaks at the market along with bavettes, changing up our Friday Steak Night! We really enjoyed the bavettes.

I made another lasagna, had pizza a couple of times, made spaghetti and meat sauce, and a chicken Alfredo, me, who was never an Italian food fan!!!

MY RECIPE BOX YEAR TO DATE

Ice Cream (updated)

Spicy Thai basil pork

Pork Tenderloin

Gingerbread my mother's recipe. This has been lingering in my drafts forever!

Classic lasagna

Caesar salad

Look who's 60!!