Saturday on a tear

I had breakfast with CCL and her good friends at a very pleasant restaurant at King and Spadina for 10am Eastern and Elijah time. Delightful to see the pals she knew in Vancouver, and now in Toronto. On the way back I took the street car going east along King and, by luck this one would turn on Parliament to go north to Queen. Practically on my doorstep. Got off and saw to my flat bread which was just right for baking.

All it took was 19 minutes under the broiler, 13 on first side and then 6 on the other. Then I was out to the R. C. Harris Water Filtration Plant, inspired by Christina's photos. I took the TTC bus presenting both my transfer and token but the driver accepted the transfer. Hey how far can you get on one fare? I got to the end of the line and there is the Waterworks. There was only sufficient charge for two pictures.

The R.C.Harris Plant featured in Skin of a Lion

                                                     The terminus at Neville Park                                                               
Back home again to get ready to attend The Royal Comedians at Soulpepper. Friday I saw an excellent performance of The Crucible.
       

Filming outside my window of "Cracked"

Some Equipment

Important Announcement

How many directors?

                                                             St. Paul Basilica as Setting 

Wednesday; Warhorse or not

There is a matinee on and  the price of a rush ticket is the same as that of a massage. It is not a case of either or but it is fun to make it so. Off to a brunch at My Marmalade and meandering at Leslie Ville. Munching on my sourdough bread this morning, I thought of Hillarie Belloc. I have not carry any facts about him except that he liked bread and onion. I shall try that when I am puttering solo this evening in the garden. On Friday, I shall go for my lovely massage.                                                                

We had walked east along Queen St and Courtney pointed out the Don Valley which prompted an agenda for me. I could take the Broadview street car, going north, to Danforth and see the bridge that was featured in  Michael Ondaatjie's In the Skin of a Lion. I did just that and took pictures of the valley, river and viaduct. Walked west, across the bridge, to Parliament St. I took the bus, a hybrid electric, going south to Queen St. Happy to be at square one.                                                                              

                                                               
                                The building of this bridge was fictionalized in Skin of a Lion

       
                               The Don Valley with river and roadway taken from the bridge

East-West and North-South

It is best to be out and about when it is this hot and humid. So I hopped on the street car going west to Nathan-Phillip Square where the Caribbean Festival took place from noon to 2pm. As there is ongoing construction I could only get to Church Street. At Yonge, Queen St. E becomes Queen St. W. A small crowd was in front of the stage but most of the onlookers were strung out in the shade. The original plan was to go north to Allan Gardens from the Square. However, I decided to go to Canadian Tire to get a stainless steel electric kettle. Success and I caught another street car going east. At Parliament I transferred to another going north to Gerrard. It has just occur to me that I don't know where south becomes north. Have to look into that. I bought another block of tokens for riding the grid, 5 for $ 8.75 for seniors.

The Attack of the Aphids

There is a garden on Power St. cultivated by twenty somethings. It is the size of an area rug, 6ft by 8ft, in which are planted kale, onions, tomatoes, zucchini, one Brussel sprout and herbs in pots Hanging around the bigger plot are flowering plants in baskets, which at eye level, soothe the senses. Some strays have landed here: germinating sunflower seeds in the potting soil used in the play "Dirt" and a potted geranium found, elbowed out, on to the street on Canada Day celebration.                                  

Routine maintenance of watering and weeding have provided little summer pleasures; small portions of herbs are available without being wasteful as with bought bunches, 2 leaves from each of the 9 kale plants have provided greens for a dozen meals and the thrill of the single sunflower bloom and the ripening of a tomato. Alas, the tomato had a rotten bottom. This is off set by seeing the zucchini fruits grow. However, the last few days a more hands on approach is required as aphids have shown up on the rose plant, the brussel sprout and a few kale leaves.

Toronto the Good

So far so good. All 3 of us, except me at 80%, kept to the schedules on the spreadsheet. Zoo, ROM, Casa Loma, CN tower and Science Centre. Also thrown in were movie shows, the musical Beauty and the Beast and the Pride Parade. Great Public Transport even with construction going on.
Today I saw Tiresa and Isabel off at the Union Station. It has been a long time since I am in a column of people marching as to work, at a little after 8am. Toronto, a good hive.                                          

And more importantly, I was able to get the last ticket to see "Kim's Convenience."