It's TIFF time again.....just about this time next week my pal and I will be heading to Toronto for a little 4 day holiday. A little holiday that includes a premiere film with Colin Firth "Easy Virtue"...who will be there I might add. Jealous anyone?

Where did I go and what did I do on my little trip to Toronto yesterday?

First I took the big blue ViVa bus to the Finch subway station. Yes it is a long ride to Finch, about 40 minutes longer than it takes to drive but the windows on the bus are huge allowing great views.

The subway REALLY needs some help, a bit of a spit and polish clean or a whole major redecoration. Honestly I don't think anything has been changed, improved and cleaned since I used the subway regularly about 30 years ago. I decided to get off the subway at Queen and walk north to Dundas Square; first inside the Eaton Centre from one end to the other and then outside. It used to be so much fun going to the Eaton Centre years ago but then the local Newmarket mall grew and grew and now has virtually the same shops at the Eaton Centre. We are not deprived. The only shops the Eaton Centre has that we don't, are those tres expensive and exclusive shops and I can live without goodies from them.

I shopped at H & M...yes we do have an H & M in Newmarket but I really think this one offered more variety. Can a girl ever have too many scarves? I don't think so. A quick walk-through "Forever 21" on the corner of Dundas & Yonge, showed that our new store is way better.

After that, I picked the movies for our holiday next weekend and decided to have lunch at the square, high up above, in Milestones. How smart of Milestones to put the single (or little double tables) right near the edge at the glass affording me entertainment. I don't mind eating out alone. I love to people watch and with the new scramble traffic light at this intersection, that opened that morning, there was lots of action and lots to see.

A fun day.

The summer is zipping by...and soon we will be into my most favourite season of all...autumn....fall...September - my favourite month...warm sunny dry days...cool nights...the 6th annual TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) holiday my pal and I take in Toronto...and golden colours

the boys from the 'hood all dressed up for a wedding (my boy is 3rd on the right) A fuzzy photo, but I do like how Daturas open up

Another silk fishnet lace scarf...still on the needles...this one has tiny little sequins attached within the yarn..subtle sparkles when the scarf moves.

A boy and his bike!

The costumes! Oh my Julia's costumes were beautiful. The hand painted dress you see above was my favourite. Cinematography was exciting and the sets...oh I could drool.

www.bridesheadrevisited-themovie.com

My new shoes.....Dansko "Professional" clogs...and I have to say they are one comfortable pair of shoes. The arch support is wonderful, there is a big fat toebox that fits my big fat toes perfectly, I slip them on and immediately my feet feel better. Despite their appearance they are surprisingly light. At my post-op check-up, 7 weeks after having both my knees partially replaced...the doc said "good shoes, good support, high arch - like my shoes - that's what you need"! If a surgeon standing for hours on end finds these comfortable, I thought I might too. And I do.

Ryan's Grad picture!

He wouldn't do the cap and gown ceremony "thing". His diploma arrived in the mail and what better time for a photo.! Ry was more excited about finishing the motorcycle safety course two weekends ago and passing his test yesterday.

Oh boy...a motorcycle!

Aren't these pretty? New chocolates from Laura Secord. From left-to-right was (hehehehe note: "was" past tense) white chocolate with cardamom and cinnamon. I was surprised that this one was a disappointment, maybe it was the white chocolate. In the centre was lime and pepper (I think) and it was good. More lime would have been nice and it had a hot after-bite! My fave was the chocolate on the right and I can't remember what this one is called "African somethingorother" and it was good.

I'm having so much fun...turning into a bit of a technogeek - for me anyway. On the Boxing Day sales LAST year, one of Bryan's purchases came with an iPod Nano. It sat and sat and sat in the box and I threatened "If I learn how to use it...it's mine".

Seven months have passed and the pod is mine all mine. I have been filling it with music, my favourite music. Fun. Fun. Fun.

I've gone back in time...way way way back into the '60's which was a great time...The Beatles, Carnaby Street, King's Road, Mary Quant, Portobello Rd., mods & rockers and absolutely anything London! It wasn't until 1970 that another friend and I got to visit all these places. Although the early '70's weren't quite like the '60's it was still great fun to be there.



It was a time of Pattie Boyd and Twiggy. When I was growing up I had a good friend who hailed from England. Christine and I devoured any English magazine, especially teen magazines, that arrived frequently from "home". We became attached to this pretty model, Pattie Boyd who frequently modeled for "Honey Magazine" - a fab teen magazine from England. Once Beatlemania hit America, Pattie Boyd had a column in another favourite (American) magazine of the time, "16". Christine and I read every single word from Pattie's "London Calling" column in that magazine.


And here we are from back then (around 1964 maybe)...that's me growing my hair to a "proper '60's length" and Christine who has the required full "fringe".




I found this picture of Pattie Boyd, and was immediately taken back to that time...I remember, we studied these pictures and poses and clothes and hair and everything we could to turn ourselves into "London Girls". I had this very picture cut out and pinned on my bulletin board!





And then the movie was released..."A Hard Day's Night" and much to our surprise...look who is in the film and who eventually gets "my" Beatle, George. Beatlemania was at such a height at that time, that we lined up to buy tickets to see a movie that wouldn't arrive for a few weeks later! The movie house was packed, Christine and I were ready to scream with the rest of them. It was a crazy time and I loved it...did I say that already?And now, the newest book on my table is "Wonderful Tonight". I have just started it and already I don't want to put it down...I want to leave work, snuggle in my swing outdoors and read and read. I'm happy that this sweet model from the '60's now is happy and a succesful photographer and author. I'm not yet even into the book really but I have a sneaky suspicion that both of these men - George and Eric - treated her badly.

http://www.pattieboyd.co.uk/ credit for the photo of Pattie Boyd and the photo from AHDN can be found here....don't want to step on any toes.

The first year for this beautiful clematis to flower.
That same clematis crowns this copper garden angel - like a flower child.
A calm and cool little spot

A blue hosta and dark coral bells surrounded by ferns.

Around the garden

Sab's graduation, York U., Faculty of Ed.
Sab's proud parents and my boy
That's me and Sab...she will be a fantastic teacher!

It was a beautiful day today, Father's Day. After gifts were opened and supper eaten...cooked perfectly by son #2...the rain came. I love sitting under the protection of the overhang on the front porch and listen to the gentle rain.

I sit here.....

And this is the view from here.... Poppy...isn't it beautiful?

Double peonies beginning to open I love June...the garden is bursting...the weather is perfect (most days)...no wonder my grandparents named my mother June, born on a perfect sunny June day. Even today with my boys all grown up, I remembered today, the joy I felt in June...beautiful early summer days that were quiet and lush...a time to savour before summer holidays!

Free for all Friday
TGIF
Friday the 13th


I just learned that the Italians view Friday the 13th as a lucky day! I'll take that view over the "others".


I just won the bidding on a singing bowl on eBay. The sound is beautiful and deep...I think this bowl was listed as a "G" - Throat Chakra sound...it's a lovely sound and gives me goose bumps and is calming...........all at the same time. I have been bidding on bowls from this site for a few weeks now and always, the prices went way too high, especially when you factor in almost $20 to ship...but yesterday was my lucky day.

Happy Friday.

On another note....I was thinking about the dangerous, exciting and exhilarating things our (grown-up) kids do that scare us. It's the job of parents to worry FOR-EV-ER I think. L's daughter treks through PNG and travels to exotic areas of the world - Thailand, Cambodia, etc. ON HER OWN!! LM's son is back planting trees deep in the interior of British Columbia and then heading to Spain to learn Spanish and teach English. We worry constantly about our kids and up until now I thought I was "SAFE". That feeling lasted until my son #1................just bought himself a motorcycle!!

I pinched this photo from a blog I frequent http://www.bohemiangirldesigns.com/ and it made me think of my best friend. Here's "boho's" picture:

The theme around blogland on Thursday centres on love....and the picture above of course made me think of my bbf...here we are, oh about 45 or 46 years ago:

....and now..well, last year at TIFF:

I would love to drive 3 hours to squeeze my best friend's butt!

Thank You Leslie my best bud! What a wonderful gift.

You may look at this spade and ask "what is so wonderful about this tool?" Well, for starters, look at where my hands are. A typical ordinary spade would have a long pole only and you would grasp the pole one hand above the other, place your foot on the spade and dig in. But, in that position you must twist your body to get around the spade. Not so with this dandy lime green handle. Also, one can use the strength of your arms as well as the big push from your foot to get into the dirt. It's brilliant. A fabulous tool for anyone with back problems and me with tender new knees.

Thanks and hugs to you.

Knitting...well I'm finishing up some socks...um, really, I'm finishing up one sock and then I have to do the other one!

The scarf...and it's a secret...I don't think Sab visits here...is for her grad. I think I had confirmation tonight that she loved the softness and the colours; when she saw the project laying about. It's cashmere and silk and to touch it is Divine.

Hahahaha very funny...new glasses....new hair way to short....and a picture way way to close.

Some pictures from around the back...........I love the lushness of this season

Jack..................................and................................the chicks birdbath

What will become of me now? "BEFORE" I was going to be a t-shirt. But, I really didn't think this shape was going to work for me; so...........

I bought a used copy of "Becoming Jane" and I pulled that whole t-shirt apart and this is what I got........"After"....just waiting for an inspiration.

Snowdrops...this photo was taken about mid-April. I want to photograph this same little spot of the garden as it changes over the season.


May 4...the snowdrops are all but little whispy bits now and the tulips have taken over. I can see a little fern beginning to uncurl. Who will put on the next show in this little spot? Wait and see. Today I "graduated" from physio knee class. 7 weeks of intense work and my knees are doing just fine. The left knee is fabulous, the right...well at times it gives me a bit of trouble and doesn't quite feel like my knee. Of course it isn't completely a real knee...it is difficult to explain the feeling...heavy, dull, empty, like that portion of my leg doesn't exist. Like the feeling of numbness AND sensitivity to the skin around my knees...these are all feelings that other patients are familiar with. How can something be numb and sensitive at the same time??? I don't know.

A milestone! Look at the flexion in that knee and the straight hips. Dare I say the stairs are becoming easier??