Monday, July 21, 2025

Breaking News


If I wait until Friday to post, some of this will be old hat.






Dear Alberta, 
Pierre Poilievre owns 2 houses in Ottawa and rents them out for income, he chooses to live in a taxpayer funded mansion called Stornoway, with a chef, a chauffeur, a house manager, fully staffed servants. He pays no rent, no utilities, no property tax. Kick him out.




From a Canadian blogger friend - tRump Funniest Stories on the Graham Norton Show.




No worries, we have no plans to step foot. You couldn't PAY US to visit.
BTW we don't want any unvaccinated visitors either.





















Holy shit, I’m actually rooting for Rupert Murdoch!!
Rupert Murdoch wouldn't have published Trump's creepy birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein without some proof Trump drew it, not after losing $787 million to Dominion.
TRUMP IS REPRESENTING HIMSELF IN THE LAWSUIT AGAINST MURDOCH!!!







PRECIOUS







 


CBS = Cowardice - Betrayal - Shame.




Monday Mural

  I'm linking up at Monday Mural 

June 2025 - Reykjavik Iceland

On the right side of the street, on the side of Skólavörðustígur 22, you can find a fun little ode to the famous cats of Reykjavik (or we would like to believe that it is). It is by Selur.


Sara Riel was one of the first graffiti artists to be commissioned to make graffiti in Reykjavik
An opening in the wall is used as the starting point for the artwork.


From the artworks, go back to Hverfisgata. Turn right up to the next crossroads. You must cross the street to the left and walk down Ingólfsstræti. Follow the road through the right turn by the ocean. On your right will be a large white building with a row of columns on the ground floor. This is the Ministry of Fisheries. On the far side of it is another mural by Sara Riel.


At Bergstaðastræti 24, on the corner of Bjargarstígur, is an artwork by Kids don’t float.


This appears to be another Sara Riel.


Artist: Geoffrey Þór Huntington- Williams
Address: Bergstaðastræti 13



Saturday, July 19, 2025

My Recipe Box - Foil Potatoes

 July 2025

Prince Edward Island Canada

My mom often made this in the summer. I never thought to post it as it is so simple.

Simply combine sliced potatoes with onion, Italian salad dressing, seasonings (onion and garlic powder), salt and pepper, and butter/olive oil for the perfect effortless side dish!

Add any other vegetables such as peppers, mushrooms, squash.

Mix it up with other seasonings such as chili or Montreal steak spice. Drizzle some lemon juice.

You can cook on a grill, over a fire or in the oven (350° 40 - 60 minutes)

Serve with scallions and a dollop of sour cream. You could also add salsa, cheese, jalapenos, bacon bits.


  1. Slice potatoes about ¼” inch thick. If adding additional veggies, wash and slice them as well.
  2. Place one whole sliced potato and some sliced onions in the center of each foil square and top with Italian dressing, butter and seasonings.
  3. Seal, grill and serve!


Friday, July 18, 2025

Coffee At Carltons

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

ADELAIDE ST. TORONTO

We had a lovely but hot Saturday, summer in the city. Temperature 31 C feels like 34 C - heat warning in effect.
We caught the streetcar at 10 right to the door of Bready's (Canadian) downtown at Adelaide and York.
Taken from the streetcar.


I had tried Bready's yesterday and had to drag John back this morning. It was quiet yesterday with lots of tables available on the patio, but on a Saturday it was very busy.
CROISSANT BENEDICT  Two poached eggs, butter croissant, avocado, pesto, hollandaise, side salad. 🙋


.Blueberry pancakes

We decided to check out the Arts Show (I had briefly yesterday) before it got too hot. Why is it that this weekend is always so hot?














I'm going to try making one like this.




I would love some of his work (white t-shirt) for our kitchen but at $400 a pop, I'll pass.









We hopped on the streetcar at University and then got off at Shaw to check out the flower market.









These dahlias came home with us.

.

Sunday morning, it cleared later but still hot.


Monday, another hot one, with smoky air from Manitoba's fires.




That was a new one, I was in Metro (grocery) and I could see a security guy following an obvious thief, he  got him steered towards the door when the thief suddenly veers towards the guard who picks up a shopping basket and then the guy takes off through the mall and the security guard gives chase!

I saw this in Farm Boy! Matthew James Matheson is a Canadian chef, restaurateur, actor, musician, and internet personality. He portrays the handyman Neil Fak on the FX series The Bear.


More mural progress, but I attributed the wrong name to the artist.




My Winners' purchases at College Park, more Talbot Ts for me $15 each. I found another two later in the week.

My new cushion cover came and it blends in with the ones we bought in Istanbul. Cushion covers are a nice easy decor change. 

I changed up the pictures in our bedroom, living room and hallway. It makes me happy just changing things around. I got the shredding done.

The heat and smoke are still with us.
I was excited to meet my BFF for lunch downtown. She suggested lobster rolls, YES! $23 worth of deliciousness, it comes with two sides. I can't believe we sat talking until 5 PM!!


My 50% off Cleo order came!

I think the mural is finished.


John took care of a multitude of chores, two bags of clothing and household goods to charity, some shopping and some administrivia (cancelled US credit card) along with car wash and gas. He also got rid of his squash and golf stuff from the locker.

My BFF mentioned looking for picture frames, I had some so John will take them to her husband (golf - Wed).

Wednesday John headed to golf and I went to Dundas Square.
Royal York


Thursday
No smoke! But incredibly windy by the lake.
John went to Costco while I tried to catch the 9:35 bus downtown. I wanted to mail my completed Irish passport renewal. The Bus didn't arrive until 10 and it was 10:40 when we finally got downtown. The problem - Lakeshore is closed in front of the CNE grounds due to the Honda Indy this weekend...from today until late Sunday night. Nuts!


How windy was it?
Dear Tenants,
Please be advised that an exterior window pane on the 18th floor of 160 Front St W, on the north-facing side of the building, has spontaneously cracked and we expect with the incoming storm, this is going to fall. For your safety, please do not walk outside along Simcoe St.
Toronto Police Services is on route and we expect that Simcoe St will also be closed to vehicular traffic.
Unfortunately this may impact the Loading Dock. We apologize for any inconvenience.




So I messaged John to just catch the 11:20 and we'd meet up. 



Look what I saw walking through FCP (First Canadian Place). I sent it to an American friend who replied "disgusting!  All I can think is how he would feel being given a "vacation" there involuntarily.  Or maybe his family members "enjoying" the resort!"


I got my passport papers registered $38, it better get approved.

Summerlicious is still on so we went to Biff's, $41 three course menu, a great way to try new places/foods. 

TOMATO TARTE TATIN  Heirloom tomato, arugula, puff pastry, balsamic glaze, pine nuts
PETITES MOULES PROVENÇALES Chardonnay-steamed mussels, garlic, shallot, grilled baguette (substituted gluten free toast)


BŒUF BROCHETTE Merguez-spiced beef skewer, Moroccan couscous, mint yogurt, fennel salad (couscous (not GF) replaced with fries)
SAUMON Atlantic salmon, charred corn risotto, garlic chips, corn crema


MERINGUE honeysuckle berries, cardamom crème anglaise, toasted almonds


It was HOT walking to the market!


Pretty, they are doing Summerlicious too but I didn't care for their menu.


We found lactose free cheeses at the market, we have visitors coming next week. 


Friday John went to Metro to get some more lactose free items, yogurt, margarine. I did some chores. We had plans to go out after lunch but then decided to stay put. Traffic was heavy again due to the Indy. We have no trouble keeping ourselves entertained.

I had these gluten free ladyfingers forever so I decided to use them up making tiramisu ✅ (first time). Delicious!

My salute to Paris in July!




COOKING



Sunday lamb doner, pitas
Monday hamburgers and chips
Tuesday leftover cabbage rolls
Wednesday fried chicken quarters and potato salad
Thursday hot dogs and potato salad
Friday steak steak spices foil potatoes and broccolini

 

WATCHING 

Ad Vitam is a 2025 French action thriller film. A former GIGN operator, dismissed from his job after a tragic accident, gets mixed in a dangerous conspiracy when his pregnant wife is kidnapped.

Rebel Ridge  is a 2024 American action thriller film.  former Marine grapples his way through a web of small-town corruption when an attempt to post bail for his cousin escalates into a violent standoff with the local police chief.

Rotten Legacy (Monarca) is a new Spanish drama series 2025, starring Jose Coronado (love him) as a media mogul battling his children for control of his empire. The series explores themes of family, power, and betrayal. Federico Seligman, the patriarch, returns from an illness to find his children have changed the direction of his business, leading him to fight to protect his legacy. Think Succession.

The Last Showgirl is a 2024 American drama film staring Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Billie Lourd, Dave Bautista, Brenda Song, and Kiernan Shipka. Its plot focuses on a middle-aged Las Vegas showgirl who is faced with an uncertain future after learning that the revue she has performed in for three decades is scheduled to close. The screenplay was adapted by Gersten from her own play, Body of Work, which she based on her visits to the Jubilee! show shortly before its closure in 2016. We really enjoyed it. It premiered at TIFF - Toronto International Film Festival.

Spinning Man  is a 2018 thriller film directed by Simon Kaijser based on a novel by George Harrar and adapted to screenplay by Matthew Aldrich. It stars Guy Pearce, Pierce Brosnan, Minnie Driver, Alexandra Shipp, Clark Gregg and Odeya Rush.
Evan Birch (Guy Pearce) is a family man and esteemed professor of philosophy at a distinguished college. When Joyce Bonner, a high school student, goes missing, Evan's previous off-campus dalliances cause his wife, Ellen (Minnie Driver), to question his alibi. Meticulous police detective Robert Malloy (Pierce Brosnan) has even more reason to be suspicious when crucial evidence makes Evan the prime suspect in Joyce's disappearance. Suddenly, the questions Evan faces are not merely academic – they are a matter of life or death.

The Order A series of bank robberies and car heists frightened communities in the Pacific Northwest. A lone FBI agent believes that the crimes were not the work of financially motivated criminals, but rather a group of dangerous domestic terrorists.



I read  The Mistake, meh. And looking at my ratings for a couple of her other books, I obviously don't like her writing.
I started In the Blood, a legal thriller with good female characters.