Last Day of the Vacation

An afternoon on the Toronto Islands with a dear friend. Reading poetry under trees, later looking at the lake on the far side of the islands (where you'd never know there was a city behind you). Finally, back on the - er - mainland, a really excellent burger on the Against the Grain patio.

Second-Best Fortune Cooke Ever

Sigh. Yep.

Haliburton Days

The hols continued with three lovely days in Haliburton, on a motor-free lake just 10 minutes outside Huntsville. The days were cooler, but the swimming just as good as it had been in the depths of July. The company was... DA BEST.

Purging

My holiday this year really was a time to refresh, replenish and recharge. Pleasure and curiosity were satisfied, friends were hugged, sights were seen, and I breathed deeply. I didn't paint walls or stuff like that. But... I did take two and a half days and purge my ENTIRE HOME. Granted, this isn't saying that much as my home isn't large, but... still... it was needed.

As you might imagine, things got worse before they got better, as I pulled books off shelves and emptied out drawers. I find the experience necessary and cleansing, perhaps every couple of years. I didn't document the process photographically, but I do wish I'd taken one shot of the six huge bags of stuff I donated. It was a good feeling. What I did document, because I was literally laughing out loud, was what I found in my linen cupboard.

I'm one of those who likes to put new soap in the cupboard, unwrapped, so that the pillowcases and towels become sweetly scented with my two favourite soaps: lemon verbena and lavender. But, the linen cupboard is pretty full, and soaps had slipped around and behind, and, taking everything out, I was delighted to discover I won't have to buy soap for quite a while.

Back from a Holiday Hiatus

What a holiday.

Here's a taste from last week, a few days in Haliburton. It's another of my slightly goofy, rather dreamy videos. There are photos to come of my ENTIRE time off... you heff been varned! :)

Eleven Moving Pictures

A couple of years ago, I took a picture of dawn from the train leaving Montreal. This time it was sunset. Gazing out of moving windows is one of my favourite things to do. When the crescent moon appeared high up, I watched it almost all the way back to Toronto.

Quote of the Day

"Seldom, very seldom does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised, or a little mistaken."

Jane Austen, Emma

Here's a little disclosure... I'm blogging remotely from a train en route to Montreal for a weekend of much-needed pleasure and relaxation. And I've just started reading The Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler.

Colours

Summer is still with us, but with those signs that it hasn't long to go. Still-hot days give in to cooler nights, and I have turned my mind to warm-weather food and clothes.

But just now, still, I am in love with the sun and heat and colour all around me. I wear turquoise and eat curry tofu, or salmon, and lots of tomatoes. I walk past Cirque du Soleil's big top on my way to Cherry Beach. And there are always flowers, some out, some in.

I'm lake bound again for another week, starting tomorrow morning. But I worked late tonight and I haven't started packing. My brain is already on vacation and can't make a decision. It's a good dilemma.
  

Two More Cutes

Two more shots from our travels to the cottage that I couldn't resist.

Norwood has a great little music store that also serves good espressos. It's right on the main street (Highway 7). You can pick up your campfire instruments here if you've left them at home! While there, Bruce the Bat made a new friend. This bear was indescribably soft.






















And this chipmunk. Check out the position of his little feet!
 

Shadow Portrait

Apsley Country Bakery

Remember this bread?

Well, the excellent bakers of Apsley Country Bakery have an updated website and I urge you to visit it and then them, in person, if you're within, say, a day's drive. :)

Reading their pamphlet I see that their breads are naturally leavened and they use local, organic, stone-milled flour. As usual we bought the ciabatta (shown below), heavenly dipped in melted butter.

The seed bread was as amazing as ever and it's my personal favourite.

This time we tried the E49, so named for Ezekial, 4:9: "Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches [spelt], and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof." A delicious way to consume some protein.

We also bought a large scone, scored to be cut into individual pieces. The rest of the party consumed it with whipped cream and jam. I had mine with butter and good, aged cheddar.

Yum!

Some Cottage Pictures

QUIXOTIC... not

There's no television at the cottage and, two laptops in tow, we still avoid watching movies or anything else related that might remind us of the real world. But there's a lot of music. And usually Backgammon.

But this time it was Scrabble. A LOT of Scrabble.

We spelt out "QUID", "QUIT", and "QUIZ", but no-one got to spell out "QUIM" which always makes a game worth playing, in my coarse opinion.

 

What in Sam Hill..?!

 I had these tiles, but... DIDN'T GET TO USE THEM BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE PUT THEIR FLAMING WORD IN BEFORE MINE AND THE OPPORTUNITY WAS GONE. But, I'm pretty sure I won that round. Heh heh... Did you know that if you can spell out one word using all seven tiles, you get a 50 point bonus? I did in a later game, with "NOXIOUS."

 

Cheekiness

I spent a lot of time laying in the sun, so was at chipmunk level with my camera handy.

In Which the Film Student I Never was gets Indulged

I've already been teased that I'm in my Ingmar Bergman phase. Well, this video is moody and gentle, and takes me back to that happy place I always find in the Kawarthas.

As for the music, I first listened to the Schindler's List soundtrack while driving through Muskoka (remember that, Dave?) and so the connection is strong for me. I can imagine it might not work for others.

Off to the Lake for 10 Days

Me and my 10 toes and three of the best companions are off to the lake, the same cottage as in many years gone by. There'll be a gazillion trees to hug. City life is great, but - oh - how I need this too. I hope you enjoy this video I made. The sunset at the end is real. Such is the joy of a westerly view over water.

Shyeah, I'm Back!

I expected to be blogging before this. But a hectic week in New York City and Montreal, eight shows in two weeks, getting sick, and catching up at work kept me busy. Tonight I whittled the photos down to 112. Stand by for lots and lots of piccies.

Best Sensations

“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.”

Freya Stark

It was a hectic spring, working, spring spring cleaning, decluttering, getting the yearly appointments out of the way (eyes, doctor, taxes, etc.) and so, as I stretch out my toes to find a cool spot in a comfy hotel room, it's with a delicious sense of freedom.

Freedom. Nothing like it.

As for being alone, not quite. I'll be catching up with an old friend, meeting up with an old friend, and doubtless making some new ones.

Hols

“Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone.”

The Dhammapada

Ready, Bruce?

Sunrise

I've been leaving my (William Morris "foliage" pattern) curtains open at night so that I see the sunrise as I wake up. This view, facing somewhat east, is not the skyscraper, downtown view of Toronto, but points towards Riverdale.

This morning I enjoyed the twinkling lights as the city awoke, and I blinked my way into day five of my vacation.