Cheese Boutique

Quite a few years ago, our daughter introduced Terry and me to a "Cheese Boutique" in Toronto. 

We were there on a weekend. The place was bustling. I remembered it as a crowded shop on a small industrial street, surrounded by trees.

I recently reminded my daughter of the place:  Is it still around?

Yes! 

Then, let's go back and see if they sell "chocolate cheese" - one of my favorite flavours.

They did! Also several other flavoured goudas I was curious to try. I bought chocolate, lavender, Dubai chocolate - and a very sharp "Old Amsterdam."

We then discovered that the Cheese Boutique had expanded into a bake shop and deli a few doors down...

....so we headed over.

Lots to choose from!

I wanted to try everything!.

After buying a few European-style Christmas treats, we sat down to rest in their outdoor courtyard attached to the bake shop - where we  could have bought a sandwich and coffee.

Maybe next time!

Hopefully we can come back soon!

Leaves are Falling!

First they turn colour...

Then they begin to fall.

That's the stage we're at now!

They're so beautiful - and then they're gone. 

All it takes is a strong wind to sweep them away!

I'm so thankful that I can watch this annual cycle of nature here where I live.

Missed It!

My son texted me this on Saturday evening...

Oh no! I missed it! 

I'm obviously not aware of everything going on in our neighbourhood! This is an event I would probably really enjoy!

Beautiful Drive Home!

On our return trip home from Toronto last week, we took the back road - along Highway 7 - through Tweed.

We wondered if most of the leaves would be down...

In some places there weren't many fall colours...

A strong wind must have passed through, pulling the leaves  off!

But by and large, the scenery was stunning!

Lots of trees and lakes...

It was a tranquil ride home.

Kingston Farmers Market

A few days ago, Terry and I passed through Kingston...

It was market day, so we stopped in at the downtown Farmers market.

Terry likes to chat with vendors, especially local maple syrup producers... 

Which is how we met Todd Vader, many years ago. Now we often stop by his market stall, whether we need maple syrup or not.

And finally, before leaving town, we enjoyed some White Mountain ice cream!

Breath of Fresh Air

There's a lot of politics in the media these days. I recently sat through half a TV debate of four middle-aged men running for mayor in our city. Nobody cracked a smile... Everyone was angry... None of them spoke as well as I had hoped.

That's why I was excited to read this story of a young man running for city counsellor in my former hometown, Kelowna BC.

His signs made me smile...

His instagram account was full of details of how he'd like things to change in the city.

He seemed approachable. 

(Hopefully his enthusiasm won't wane now that he's been elected.) 

He's a breath of fresh air in city politics... I wish him well!

Silver-Golden Beaches

My current daily exercise is (virtually) hiking along the east coast of Australia...

By virtually hiking, I mean that as I walk (here and there in Canada), my cell phone walking app counts my daily steps, calculates the distance of those steps and moves me that distance along the path I have chosen.

Much of my current trek has been through forest - though occasionally I head down towards the beach. 

The sand is a lovely silver-gold colour...

I am reminded that boat-loads of this sand was once transported from Australia to Hawaii - to cover the black volcanic sand that occurs naturally there.

When pineapples were shipped from Hawaii to Australia, sailors hunted for cargo to send back on the boats, to weigh the empty boats down. What better cargo than beautiful golden sand?!! 

This created an interesting connection between Australia and Hawaii: Many of the beaches in Hawaii are covered with golden Australian sand!