Monday, August 29, 2011

The Dog Days of Summer

We've been really busy enjoying the last few days of summer. A few of the activities we have been up to:
  • Biking on Toronto Island
  • Niagara-on-the-Lake bicycle winery tour
  • AGO- Abstract Expressionist show
  • Visiting the tribute to Jack Layton at City Hall
  • Sailing on the Bay of Quinte


While I work on posts please enjoy this little guy with attitude that we met at the Starbucks last week. Even his outfit has attitude!




Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Book Club: Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage

A friend gave me this book many years ago and I finally just got around to reading it this summer. I generally don't like short stories as I find I am always left wanting more.




Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro is an exception to this rule. These stories are just the right length and I felt satisfied when they were done. I also enjoyed the Canadian Content.


I enjoyed almost all of the stories, as they were all rich in the everyday of human relationships. The general theme through out was forbidden love. Whether that be to an older or younger lover, a fling outside of marriage or an old childhood sweetheart showing up to tempt you. The secondary theme is suicide. It makes only a mention in some stories while it is a focal point in others.


Stories:
  • Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage
  • Floating Bridge
  • Family Furnishings
  • Comfort
  • Nettles
  • Post & Beam
  • What is Remembered
  • Queenie
  • The Bear Came Over the Mountain
The Bear Came Over the Mountain was made into the film Away From Her directed by Sarah Polley and produced by Atom Egoyan.


Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage, the opening story is also being turned into a movie.


I would recommend this book of short stories.


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Jack Layton

Yesterday, Jack Layton succumbed to his battle with cancer. This news is hitting the Canadians hard and I am no exception. After all, we are in Jack's riding and had the opportunity to vote for him personally.




Jack was the Leader of the Opposition (first time ever for the NDP).
Jack was a fighter and never gave up.
Jack was hopeful and optimistic and looking to make change in this country.
Jack was Canada's most charismatic politician. Agree with his politics or not I can't think of anything bad to say about him.
Jack's contribution to this city, province and country have been significant and a lifelong work.
Jack was 61 and a husband, father and grandfather.


A state funeral will be held on Saturday here in Toronto.


He left Canadians with this heartfelt letter and his closing words are so inspirational. I have already seen a few different versions of the posters.


My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton







The Posters above of Jack's Words are from Stuart Thursby and high resolution printable versions can be downloaded here.


More info on his life and contributions:

Monday, August 22, 2011

Lawn, Garden & Vine Update

In the front, our Rudbeckia (Brown-Eyed Susan) are in bloom. These flowers kind of take over as they seed themselves, but we like it since they are a match to our door. They are late bloomers and stay in bloom until fall. These were already in the garden when we bought the house.











In the back yard the Annabelle Hydrangeas are getting stronger and fuller. We won't have any blooms this year as they concentrate on building hearty roots to make it through the winter. They get stronger every day! I planted some Merlot Dazzler Impatiens this year to add a little colour. Impatiens seem to do really well for me where ever I put them in our yard. The great thing is they do really well in the shade.




Well, our lawn is not doing so well despite daily watering.


For one the raccoons are doing number on it! I think it is so easy for them to dig up for 2 reasons. 1) we have grubs that we need to take care of. 2) the root system is still very weak despite our efforts. I think we made need to add new nutrient rich soil. So we'll like do some fall lawn care and then deal with the grubs come spring.





Remember that weed tree we cut down (here)? We still have to remove the trunk and roots and in the mean time it is attempting a come back. I don't think so. Your days are numbered weed tree.






Our little vine (here and here) seems to be doing well. We also had a few other strands start to grow in. What do you know.








Our neighbours butterfly bush REALLY attract the butterfly's. It's a non stop butterfly show over here. She has several Butterfly Bushes in white and various shades of purple. They are very pretty this time of year.









And just for fun. This is what our backyard looks like at night when the Raccoons activate the motion sensitive light.






Friday, August 19, 2011

Desktop Calendar

What to see in a desktop calendar application
By Jared E. Ingram

In the modern world, bustling with people busy with their lives quickly, planning, events and even to-do lists have become a necessity rather than an effective accompaniment to keep time, and the organization. Indeed, the effective time and keep the organization itself has become an essential skill for, if not all professions. And thanks to modern technology, there are programs that go to the calendar as handheld PDAs and laptops, and desktops, we use that to help us with that problem.

The problem is to find the correct application of the Calendar on your desk. There are thousands of applications across the Internet like the organizer, but too many features or too much is sometimes defeats their charm. What people usually want a simple, no nonsense program for Calendar only do what is necessary to effectively do that without much effort. So, what are you looking for the agenda. What are the features one could want. Usually it will depend on how you use it and for what purpose, but there is a general expressions of a calendar program, which you always look for.

Event Planning




Desktop Calendar



Desktop Calendar



Desktop Calendar
Calendar on the wall can be written so that you can be reminded of a particular period or event. Calendar program should be able to do the same: Sometimes it is the only feature that people are looking for, it is necessary to have a calendar, you can not only see but also to scribble.

Sticky notes and memos

Memos and other things that you really just want to be reminded and not delegated to certain terms, in general, something is written on the agenda. Such features are useful as a desktop calendar: Virtual sticky notes are also nice features, that feeling of a real sticky notes.

Alerts

Hand in hand with planning for the event for alarms. Alarms can come from a number of different methods for a ring tone or alarm notification for a song. Notifications and graphics on the screen, or even audibles, that makes it feel that you live in a state event.

To-do list or daily planning

A calendar date is made up of 24 hours, and most people will be reminded of how this should go within 24 hours. So, the busy people out there that may subsequently spread into their daily planners Calendar dates are convenient. Of course, the alarms must operate this additional factor, such as multiple alarms, which can be set for a date.

Synchronization

For people who really need to keep track of too many things at a time, and tend to bunch of tools and equipment for use with Web-based calendar program, calendar, which is available anywhere Sync This is reflected in the Web-based access to desktop calendar the calendar, and vice versa, making it the most calendar applications.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Tweet, Tweet

I have finally joined twitter.
I'm a little sporadic with my posting right now as I am still getting comfy. I don't know why I was so slow at adapting to this social media but I am finally getting it. I think it was all the @'s and #'s etc.


If you would like to follow along please join me by clicking the link below or on my side panel.


okaynowwhat_


Follow okaynowwhat_ on Twitter




Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Cottage Vacation

This year our summer vacation was a little closer to home. Our teaser photo may have had you thinking that we were in some far off tropical location. Did we trick you?


We were just a mere 3.5 hours north of Toronto on the west side of Georgian Bay. The photos have not been doctored, it truly is this magical and the water really is clear and turquoise.


Our secluded beach, reachable only by boat


Lucky for us we have a fabulous location that we can escape to, the family cottage. We feel extremely blessed that we have the opportunity to play in this magical place.


the cottage


We loaded up the car with all kinds of goodies, including our bikes on our new bike rack!


creative packing




bike for sale


I love this barn! It's called the story barn


sunset relaxing. There may have been some wine sipping involved


roasting marshmallows by the camp fire


by the light of the moon


We made the effort on the first day to get the small boat on the water. It's been 5 years since it has been out! The engine needed a bit of a warm up but then we were good to go for the rest of the week. It was definitely worth the effort! Check out the amazing views of the Niagara Escarpment from the water.















The highlight was when we stopped at this secluded beach, reachable only by boat. We felt like we were on a tropical island.








I love how these trees are growing right out of the rock








We visited Tobermory, a lovely little summer town. It's the Scuba Diving capital of Ontario as well as the deepest fresh water harbour in the world. It's also the gateway to Manitoulin Island via the Chi-Cheemaun Ferry.












scary tower with see through stairs, but check out the views below.








While in town we played a round of golf at Cornerstone Golf.






We did a lot of biking! We hit some trails and a lot of country gravel roads. It was awesome!






The endangered Massasauga Rattlesnake-the only venomous snake in Ontario


Flowerpot in the woods-There are more to see in the Fathom Five Marine Park which you can take a glass bottom boat to.












Cabot Head Lighthouse



Flintstone style chairs & ottoman




We already miss it and are wishing are back at the cottage already.


Previous cottage posts here, here, here and here.


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