Hale Coffee Roasters

 Linking up with Marg at The Intrepid Reader

Weekend Coffee Share
Sunday Salon

July 2025 - Toronto ON

ADELAIDE ST. TORONTO

Saturday we finally unpacked our suitcases, we really didn't need anything in them, as it has been hot here in Toronto. So laundry was required. John cleared out his drawers. The charity pile is growing.

I made us afternoon date shakes!!

Sunday lazy day, worked on recapping blogs, prepped some posts. Watered plants, I made them a promise to be more faithful.

Monday 

Monday Mural - Reykjavik

We were all set to go out, but then there were storm warnings and we determined we didn't really "need" anything. Tomorrow is Canada Day so the stores are closed. We have plenty of food that we can work around.

I was doing a Tuesday Treasures post and came across a 2023 post where I mentioned buying a small camera for our Arctic trip. HUH??? We just bought one for Portugal!! That led to us cleaning out our multiple electronics (cameras/extra cables/travel adaptors etc.) drawers and getting rid of a bunch of things, including John's old Nikon camera. BTW we never found the 2023 camera, I'm guessing we gave it away as it didn't take very good photos.

I also realized I had never done a recap of our 2023 Arctic trip so I did that. When we returned we were a little underwhelmed by that tour so I never really did anything with the posts, but in retrospect it wasn't that bad!

Tuesday Canada Day

We spent the afternoon with popcorn and cokes and binged on MasterChef Australia S17 which led us to "buying" (using CC points) a new air fryer. The dials on ours (also bought on points) are going a little wonky. That's what happens when there is an episode featuring air fryers.

Wednesday John golfed. 

I went to St. Lawrence Market and took these photos along the way.

As the WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) strike enters its third month, members of the Ontario Compensation Employees Union (OCEU/CUPE Local 1750) held an information picket at Toronto’s Union Station.

The action aims to educate commuters returning to work after the long weekend about the ongoing lockout of more than 3,600 WSIB workers, the impact on injured workers and employers, and the need for WSIB leadership to return to the bargaining table with a fair deal.

Union Station opened its summer patio, I've never understood why it runs for such a short time, June 25 - Aug 10.

Cute little set up.

The Market Gallery latest exhibit is At Home in Toronto. What does home mean to you? Discover rarely seen artifacts from the City’s collections and items from community members. Explore the many ways we define, create and carry home with us. From a First World War soldier’s return ticket home to a precious family object stewarded by multiple generations, encounter belongings, voices and stories of Toronto artists, makers, entrepreneurs and community leaders as they share their unique perspectives on belonging, identity and place. These powerful objects offer fresh, heartfelt perspectives on what it means to find, make or remember home.

Going into the market.

I bought 3 lbs of ground steak $20, a couple of steaks and corned beef. I usually can only find corned beef around St. Patrick's Day. I also picked up onions, tomatoes and cheese slices, I couldn't carry anymore!

Filming was taking place inside Breczy Tavern, couldn't track down what exactly.

Royal York Hotel

Thursday John did a Costco run. Our current favourite ice cream bar was 10 for $15 = $1.50 each.

Longo's, when not on sale is 3 for $8 = $2.67. WalMart is 3 for $5 = $1.67. 

I noticed this plant at the building next door, I don't think I've ever seen one flower.

After lunch, we headed to Market St. for their advertised weekly buskers' event, which turned out to be a non-event. Instead we went back to St. Lawrence Market and got 3 lbs of ground pork for $10, 3 lbs of ground lamb $20 (John loves it in shepherd's pie) and $11 worth of vegetables (asparagus, cabbage, potatoes and green beans). Then we enjoyed a cold caramel macchiato on the patio at Au Pain Dore.

 We're now pretty well stocked for a while.

More info on the protest above.

My birthday gift to myself, an Irish bracelet. I always declare July as my month to treat myself.

Ireland, Iceland, Greece, Australia, Mexico, Mexico, Canada.

Friday John used the golf simulator while I went out. I picked up a delicious lobster sandwich at Longo's only $10!

The new air fryer arrived. Now I'll rearrange the kitchen.

COOKING

Saturday ham au gratin potatoes and Brussels sprouts.

Sunday chicken curry with chips/fries and Shanghai curry gravy. This curry was excellent, I did doctor it a bit (chicken stock and curry). I will definitely buy it again, as it would be great for curry in a hurry!

Monday pasta  (bowties for me and GF fettuccine for John) and homemade (frozen) meat sauce

Tuesday ham and leftover au gratin potatoes with carrots

Wednesday burgers and potato chips. 5 oz patties, I think I'll make 4 oz for myself next time.

Thursday rotisserie chicken lemon parmesan Alfredo with mushrooms

Friday steak roasted asparagus baked potato

WATCHING

Trouble  Conny, a divorced salesman, gets wrongfully imprisoned for murder. There, he meets criminals who mistake him for a pilot like his ex-wife's new boyfriend. Chaos ensues as he navigates life behind bars while separated from his daughter.

Waterfront As their storied North Carolina fishing empire decays, the damaged Buckleys grapple to revive their imperiled maritime heritage. This was a good series.

Medusa is a Netflix drama thriller series focused on the attempted assassination of Bárbara Hidalgo, the newly appointed CEO of a powerful Colombian business conglomerate. Didn't love it.

iHostage  When a gunman enters an Apple Store in the heart of Amsterdam, the police face a delicate challenge to resolve the standoff. Based on true events.

Missing You  Detective Kat Donovan's world unravels when she finds her estranged fiancé on a dating app. Leading her to reopen her father's unsolved murder. Harlan Coben stories are always interesting.

Heads of State is a 2025 American action comedy film. When the UK Prime Minister and US President become the targets of a foreign adversary, they're forced to rely on one another to thwart a global conspiracy.

READING

I started Canadian Gail Bowen's Deadly Appearances. I gave up.

I also read Over a Hot Stove; Life below stairs in Britain's great houses: the charming memoirs of a 1930s kitchen maid. This short memoir brings us Flo Wadlow's life as a cook in service. Fans of Downton Abbey would surely enjoy this read. Flo was born in 1912 and lived until she was 100. She started her work in service at the age of 16; she went on to marry and had children. Her husband was in WWII and she was quite active in the Women's Institute and Red Cross.

I really enjoyed Canadian Hotline. As an English immigrant who grew up in Montreal, I can attest that this book is true. My parents faced the same issues when they arrived. 

Another Canadian writer, Peacocks of Instagram was a delightful collection of immigrant women short stories.