Fire...

It's strange to be driving along in the city... and to suddenly see smoke billowing high in the sky.

Terry and I were heading in the general direction of the smoke and couldn't help but wonder what was on fire!

Later we discovered that the building housing a coffee shop had burned down. The fire may have been started by roofers working with tar to the roof!

Art... With Alan

I haven't been doing much painting in the past year. Without weekly classes, I got out of the habit. I guess I needed motivation... and inspiration!

Then, my neighbor Mary introduced me to "Alan"! I guess I should explain!

Alan Owen is a British artist with quite a few tutorials on You Tube! My neighbor Mary told me about him and sent me a link to one of his instructional videos...

I followed along with one (here's the link) - and here is the result! A British country scene...

Painting along with Alan has inspired me to try a few painting on my own - based on photographs I've taken here and there.

I'm really enjoying my free at-home "classes" - and the inspiration they provide!

Carriage Rides

The other day, I noticed a carriage drawing up at the nursing home where my mother lives...

The activities team comes up with interesting activities for the residents. I'm sure that many of them will enjoy driving around the neighborhood in a horse-drawn buggy.

Too bad my mother's vision is so poor that she wouldn't see anything. Getting into the buggy wouldn't be easy either.

She grew up on a farm - and, in fact, rode a horse to school her last year of high school.

But I don't remember her ever looking back nostalgically on those horse and buggy days.

Colorful Afghan

I have a lot of afghans I've knit and crocheted over the years... so many, in fact, that I donated a few to my mother's nursing home a few years ago.

Imagine my surprise when one of them showed up on her bed!

Her vision isn't very good these days, so she can't see its bright colors - but I hope she's enjoying it, nonetheless.

(Here she is, looking pensive, waiting for her bath.)

Firemen... in Training?

We live near a college and often walk through the grounds. Recently, cutting across the parking lot, I stopped...

Was that water spouting up in the air?!

I pulled out my camera - a fire, perhaps?

Or were they testing a hydrant?

Then the spouting water stopped - and I noticed a group of firemen standing around.

It didn't look urgent... No fire to be seen... Were these firemen in training, perhaps.

I know the college offers police and paramedic training... But I've never noticed student firemen before.

I considered wandering over to explore further - but decided against it. I didn't want to risk getting drenched!

Goodbye Toronto...

Our weekend in Toronto ended all too soon... Time to get back to Ottawa.

But first, a stop for breakfast at a Portuguese bakery... which has to include pastry!

My breakfast was yogurt and a delicious Portuguese rice cake - which tastes a lot like sponge cake. A real treat!

Then we made a quick stop at the shop where my daughter works...

(Admired a cute cat scarf, but didn't get it.)

Then the five-hour drive to Ottawa - which is lovely, especially at this time of year...












Now that the leaves are changing colors!

Lawn Bowling... in Toronto

My son and his wife have taken up lawn bowling...

There is an active club near their home...

People there love their summer sport!

In winter many of them curl - which is apparently similar to lawn bowling, only it's done on ice.

I learned a few things: Lawn bowling balls are actually called "bowls"... A set costs about $450 new, though there are often used bowls to be had...

Each player has his or her own. (I love the bright colored ones!)

They are oval rather than round - and one side is heavier than the other, to encourage bowls to curve.

The object of the game is to get close to the white ball. (The woman with the pink bowls plays in provincial championships!)

Traditionally lawn bowlers dress in white and wear white hats, but this was "crazy hat day."

My favorite was this "turkey"!

The day was lovely - but this Thanksgiving Day tournament was the last of the season. They have to protect the grass. 

















On this last game of the season, a few family members came along to watch.