Monday Mural

Posting at Monday Mural hosted by ODP!

July 2014 - Toronto ON

Unfortunately I couldn't get the whole wall as this damn truck was in the way.
This is off St. Enoch Square near  Massey Hall.
I love the cat! 

Perhaps the title could be "Making a Wish".

inSPIREd Sunday - Novodevichy Convent Part 1

Sally hosts inSPIREd Sunday!

May 2011 - Moscow Russia

I am going to break this post up into several as there are just too many photos!

The Novodevichy Convent was founded in 1524 to celebrate the taking of Smolensk from Lithuania, an important step in Moscow’s conquest of the old Kyivan Rus lands. From early on, noblewomen would retire to the convent, some more willingly than others. Novodevichy was rebuilt by Peter the Great’s half-sister Sofia, who used it as a second residence when she ruled Russia as regent in the 1680s. By this time the convent was a major landowner: it had 36 villages and about 10,000 serfs around Russia. When Peter was 17, he deposed Sofia and confined her to Novodevichy; in 1698 she was imprisoned here for life after being implicated in the Streltsy rebellion. (Legend has it that Peter had some of her supporters hanged outside her window to remind her not to meddle.) Sofia was joined in her enforced retirement by Yevdokia Lopukhina, Peter’s first wife, whom he considered a nag.


You enter the convent through the red-and-white Moscow-baroque Transfiguration Gate-Church, built in the north wall between 1687 and 1689.

The oldest and most dominant building in the grounds is the white Smolensk Cathedral, modelled in 1524–25 on the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral.

Other churches on the grounds include the red-and-white Assumption Church, dating from 1685 to 1687, and the 16th-century St Ambrose’s Church. Boris Godunov’s sister, Irina, lived in the building adjoining the latter church. Today, Irina’s Chambers hold a permanent exhibit of 16th- and 17th-century religious artwork such as icons and embroidery.

Weekend Cooking

Beth hosts Weekend Cooking where you can post anything food related.

November 2014 - Toronto ON

The Cheese Boutique is one of my very favourite places to shop. It is a five minute drive from us.
I took these photos last week just using my phone.
As we entered there was samples of baguette covered in melted raclette cheese.
You wander from room to room filled with goodies from around the world. Depending on the time of year and time of day you will be served either espresso, italian soda or tea.
We had another sample of butter tart as we strolled.
There is a butcher shop, which I didn't photograph although I have bought meat from there.

We picked up a duck terrine with orange, which we've bought before. We bought a German style liver sausage which we all proclaimed the most delicious ever and reminded us of Europe. 
For dessert a simple lemon tart that was so amazing.

Weekend Reflections

Posting at Weekend Reflections.


Toronto Ontario

Look UP Look Down - Travel Photo Thursday

Look Up, Look Down challenge hosted by Travel With Intent.



I'm posting over at The Budget Travelers' Sandbox 

November 2013 - Disneyland Orlando Florida

Morocco pavilion at Epcot.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

February 2010 - Toronto ON