A valuable address

 

Last weekend, Heather and I hooked in the garden of this lovely house that was on the Horticultural Society Garden Tour. One of Christine's favorite addresses: the corner of Silver and Gold.

The weather forecast called for storms (that never materialized) so we set up under the gazebo. These were the examples we bought with us and we both spent 3 hours hooking and chatting to people who were touring the gardens.

To stretch my legs, and because it was beautiful,

I also toured the garden.

Some plants that I was not familiar with

but also lots of Coral Bells and

Hostas.

As most of my Iris do not flower

I had major

Iris envy.

Decorated porches,

a very organized garage,

a pond,

a water feature, bird houses, bird feeders, mature trees, colourful shrubs, birds, squirrels and chipmunks. A very pleasant way to spend an afternoon.

Now for some catch up photos:

Spellbound during our first Wednesday Night race of the season. Hit a mark, had to do 2 full rotations as a penalty and came in 4th.

 

Unusual to see them fishing this close to my shoreline. (Taken from the sunroom)

Typical cat behaviour; Rick installed a new fan in my bedroom and Rasta adopted the box. I put his bed in there and he slept there for a day then abandoned it.

Evening clouds and

another night capturing the Whirlpool Galaxy.

Change of Seasonal Hobbies

Racing starts next week for the Port Dover Yacht Club Racing Division. Last week was the practice race and Spellbound was the committee boat so I got the first boat pictures of the season.

Rick handled the radio and the horn, Fi and Gord managed the flags going up and down and I had the lovely job of sitting by the mast and ensuring that no boats went over the start line early (and took pictures)

 

There were far fewer boats out than usual. The cold wet spring has meant that many owners have not yet finished the spring boat chores and some boats aren't even in the water yet.

We conducted three practice starts for each of the 3 fleets (that's a lot of flags up and down and horns going off)

On the final start they raced to a windward mark and back.

A gusty strong wind kept things interesting.

These two, "Sheets and Giggles" and "Dolce Vita" are both J80s

and they had some fun harassing each other

and taking the competition seriously. Afterwards we all headed for the Yacht Club for drinks and dinner.

While sailing is just starting up, rug hooking is winding down. J.J. Ruggers final meeting of the season included these "mug mats" which we all made in memory of member and rug hooking teacher, Cheryl Krug-Wiltse. They are to be donated to the Brantford hospice but some of us bought them and we donated the proceeds.

I ate far too much at the pot luck portion of the meeting.

We also discussed ideas for "program" next year and held a silent auction with proceeds from that going to the Paris food bank. Our meetings will start up again in September.

Kinky Boots

 Chris and my birthdays are 4 days apart so, to celebrate them together, we went to see Kinky Boots in Toronto. I hate driving in Toronto (I also hated the $45 parking fee that the hotel wanted to charge me) so I drove to the GO train, parked there

and took the GO in to Toronto. You can park for free for 48 hours. If you can find a parking spot that is. I couldn't find one at Aldershot and ended up embarking at the Appleby station. The train was comfortable and  wasn't crowded so I had a nice hour long commute.

 

Union Station used to be a bit of a madhouse and confusing but since the renovations it seems more efficient and spacious.

I always feel like a tourist when I am in Toronto. I am not comfortable there, don't know my way around or the city culture. I just accept this and act like a tourist, stopping and taking pictures of random things.

It was about a 20 minute walk along Front St and up Yonge to get to my hotel.

Not a lot of trees in downtown To.

I love the juxtaposition of new and

old. Side by side, one on top of the other.

I checked in to Yonge Suites Apart Hotel, right across from the Eatons Centre.

I was impressed; a full kitchen including a little dishwasher, washer and dryer, living room,

bedroom and 2 bathrooms. Nicely decorated and well equipped and no more expensive than any other downtown hotel - that is to say, ridiculously expensive!

There was also a little patio area

that overlooked Yonge St.

I walked up Yonge St 

to meet Chris at her workplace. We ate at a falafel place (excellent  falafel and salad, I couldn't finish it all) and then went back to my hotel. I needed Wifi to download the tickets.

Even so the box office had to print my tickets because my phone wouldn't display them.

Beautiful theatre and Chris and I worked out that we hadn't been there since seeing Phantom of the Opera when she was in High School. She, however, saw Harry Potter there.

We also took a joint selfie but, luckily, that one was very blurry.

It was an excellent show, great sets, fabulous choreography (how can they dance in those stilettos?) and some great voices. We thoroughly enjoyed it. Chris walked me back to my hotel before Ubering home. 

I slept surprisingly well, helped by all the walking I had done, had coffee in the room, baked goods from a bakery across the street and returned the way I had come.

Recent visitor - a Flicker digging for bugs in the lawn.

 

Rick's most recent photo - the Whirlpool Galaxy.