580 - Smiles

This morning, we take a walk to the AGO to see the Abstract Expressionist exhibit and the Haute Culture - General Idea exhibit. Always so inspiring to go to the gallery!

After a few hours of walking, we rest for a moment before going to Clairville for dinner.
Always a delightful time.

Continuing on my smiles project - I am enjoying looking at the collection of smiles...

Grateful today for
the abstract expressionist artists,
and for the inspiration of smiles.

579 - Morning Coffee

Morning coffee over our laptops...
How is it that only my laptop is having wireless connectivity problems? Technology...great when it works.

The day is spent looking through the 100,000+ photos in the library for good photos of smiles.
After the first day on this, I came up with 200...
Interested in seeing how this idea will unfold.

Grateful today for
the photo memories of fun times,
Lightroom for making it easy for me to find smiles,
and for smiles! :)

578 - Friday

Caught up on the vacation's blog entries today.
Found it much easier to work backwards than to start at the beginning...

The days have been hot - mul naeng myun on my mind constantly...
Dinner on my own - had to make some...not much to add other than the cucumbers...still, completely satisfying and tasty.

Grateful today for
a restful day and evening,
the package of naeng myun and the fresh cucumbers.

577 - Rainy Morning

A romantic rainy morning breakfast with my mate at the farmer's market.
Unexpected and delightful to share the morning together.

The produce is beautiful and ripe...berries, apricots, and plums are absolutely delicious...
as are the green leafy lettuce, swiss chard, tomatoes and peppers.

PVS shares dinner and a few TED sessions with us in the evening.

Grateful today for
farmers - for their hard work,
the delicious produce,
and for the TED sessions watched this evening.

Thandie Newton: Embracing Otherness, embracing myself

576 - Home

Our vacation was a great time. Very nice to visit with friends at their cottages, and spend time on new waters.
Always great to return home.

Cycle to the doctor to check out a few odd looking bites...thankfully, it is an allergic reaction rather than anything serious...
From the doctor to have lunch with my mate...and then home again.

Good to be home.

Grateful today for
friends who urged me to check out the bites,
an easy resolution to my bites,
and for home.

575 - Returning Home

A fantastic vacation comes to an end.
The most stellar of captains brings us back to our starting point, gets it back on the trailer and drives it back downtown in rush hour.
Arriving home, we are treated to a wonderful meal...and rest in our bed.

Grateful today for
all our vacation adventures,
the friends who hosted us at their cottages,
and for my mate, the best captain EVER!

574 - Sunshine and Rain

Rained all night and through most of the morning.
First opportunity to test out the iphone's personal hotspot - worked beautifully and let us see the weather radar to plan our return to the cottage on the river.

Captain Matie brings us to the cottage dock moments before the thunder and lightning arrive.

The evening is jolly and filled with laughter.
Thank you B+B for your hospitality!

Grateful today for
getting to the dock before the storm,
a place to warm up and dry off,
and for the belly busting laughter!

573 - Summer Sunday

A beautiful summer day at La Vignette.
BBQ King works all his barbeques today...for sliders, corn and the spaduccis!

It has been a wonderful weekend at La Vignette.
Thank you all!

Grateful today for
sunny blue skies,
great barbeque,
and summer weekends.

572 - Kingston by Limestone

After breakfast, we head out in the Limestone for Kingston.

The farmers' market is delightful and the streets of Kingston are lively.
At the Toucan for lunch, followed by shopping and then we head back.

It is a perfect summer day.
The islands are busy with boats, swimmers, picnics and kayaks.

Grateful today for
a summer day with friends,
the breezy dock at La Vignette,
and for the late night board game fun.

571 - La Vignette

Waking up on the water to a beautiful day, I realize our french press is not on board.
Thankfully, paper towels are available for our morning cup of coffee.

Coffee in hand, we pull up the anchor and set out to visit friends at La Vignette.

Great to visit friends,
all are ready for a cottage weekend.

Grateful today for
meeting and sharing time with Catharine,
the delicious bbq pizza,
and friends, P+C.

570 - Anchored

Headed out from the Marina after breakfast to find a spot to anchor.
The day is incredibly hot with little breeze.
5 attempts to anchor in a bay surrounded by islands result in pulling up mud and plants.
Moving onto another bay, we are successful on the first attempt.

The water instantly refreshes - a truly glorious thing!

A brief moment of worry when the battery does not start...luckily Captain Bri fixes it.
Alcohol stove works perfectly for us to make dinner,
And Velcro Boy's sealing of the bug nets keeps them all out.

Grateful today for
a night out on the water,
and all the preparation and work my mate has put into our sailing trip.

569 - Transient Dockage

After a lovely breakfast at the top of the hill with B+B,
a power wash of the boat and other preparations,
we leave in search of transient dockage.

Arriving at Peck's Marina, they have a spot we can dock for the night,
and someone who fixes our fuse box.

Grateful today for
power on the boat,
bugnets to protect us,
and my problem solving mate.

568 - U12

The dock is not really set up for overnighters. Grateful that the restaurant is open early for breakfast.

A stop in at the marina for gas and then off to marker U12 to visit B+B.

It is a lovely day - Bri goes golfing in the islands, and ladies hang out together.
Dinner is fabulous. Great to reunion!

Grateful today for
showers and a bed,
and to B+B for their hospitality.

567 - Golden Moments

The boat is on the trailer and we are on the road in 2 hours.
A good day for a drive, we head to the 1000 islands.

Quick look at the launch area in Rockport - we decide to launch at Mallory town.

Mast raised, boat prepared and the launch is successful.
Rain begins as we load the boat with our food, clothes and other stuff.
Fortunately it is a brief shower.

On the water and heading to Rockport for a night at the Boathouse Country Inn's dock.

Grateful today for
the golden sunset on the water,
and precious golden moments with my mate.

566 - Getting Ready

The day is spent getting ready for our sailboat vacation in the 1000 islands.

Coolers, food, items for cooking etc...
all packed up and ready to go.

Part of getting ready includes a review of Havana photos.
Nice to find one that was missed previously.

Grateful today for
memories of Havana,
and our upcoming vacation.

565 - Dinner Party

This evening's dinner party was a delightful time.
From signature cocktail, table setting, to the menu - all was enjoyed and appreciated.

Loved the asparagus as the table centerpiece, and the tied chives on the salad!
Thank you Princess for a wonderful evening.

Grateful today for
meeting new people,
a delicious dinner
and dinner party invitations.

564 - Last Day

TEDGlobal 2011 comes to a close today.
Catching up on the sessions through the archive provided..still have the final session to watch.

B+G watching a car fly...or is it a plane driving?
Amazing!

Grateful today for
the inspiration and hope I have experienced during the sessions,
friends that have shared some of the sessions with me,
and for TED.

563 - Neighbours?!? For HOW long?!

This afternoon, I shared some of the TEDGlobal conference with an old/new neighbour.
7 years living around the corner from one another...meeting by the peony blooms in our front yard this summer...
a blind, theoretical mathematican exploring new worlds...

A week or so ago, I reconnected with friends from 15 years ago through LinkedIN.
This evening we had a date for catching up over food and drink at NYC.

A perfect summer's evening for a cycle down to their location.
My mate sails over with Uncle Stu to meet us.
In sharing the last 15 years...we find out that we had been neighbours for 18 months?!?
How curiously bizarre!

This summer has had the most activity for us with our neighbours... randomly meeting over the peony blooms, re-connecting online to discover we had been neighbours, and more frequent friendly encounters with known neighbours...
I cannot help but see this last summer at Huron and all of its experiences as the stuff of life.

Grateful today for
neighbours,
TEDGlobal,
and the stuff of life.

562 - Change

A business meeting to start the day...
It is a busy day with TEDGlobal in progress,
a brother returning to Toronto after 6 years in South Korea...

"Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly flow the days..."

Grateful today for
change...
- heard about from TEDGlobal speakers - from so many disciplines and backgrounds,
- that brings family together
- in nature with each sunrise and sunset.

561 - Moonlight Sail

First day online of TEDGlobal 2011 - The Stuff of Life.
Three incredible sessions - Beginnings, Everyday Rebellions and Coded Patterns.

A beautiful end to the day, sailing during the sunset and moon rise.

Grateful today for
the talks today that shifted my perspective,
inspired and moved me.

560 - In the Kitchen

A hot and humid summer day.
Happy to stay cool in the kitchen today with my laptop.

Grateful today for a cool kitchen.

559 - Visit to Black Beauty

Frittatta for breakfast as we listen to the birds and the race cars at the Honda Indy.

In the afternoon we cycle past the Indy to visit friends aboard Black Beauty.
The day is hot and muggy. After our visit, I am feeling drained.

Chinatown 90 minute massage desperately needed, and slightly tortuous.
A summer weekend comes to an end.

Grateful today for
summer days on boats,
bicycles to travel around the city on,
and my bed.

558 - Sailing

Breakfast with EQ in the market, pickup of yummies for lunch and we are off to the boat.
A beautiful day for a sail - endless lines of cormorants passing overhead, hot sun and cool breezes.
In through the eastern gap, we pick up 2 more friends in the harbour.

Anchored at Hanlan's Point, we have lunch. I can't resist jumping into the freezing water...glad for the hot sun to warm up and dry off. A super day on the lake.

After sailing, we cycle over to Afrofest in Queen's Park. Summer time! Yay!

Grateful today for
a perfect sailing day,
a visit with EQ,
and summer in Toronto.

557 - Bright Gray

A delightful surprise this afternoon when my mate takes me out for a lunch date and afternoon sail.
The water on the lake is beautiful, with slow undulations...no wind to sail so we motor along and enjoy the beauty of the lake.

An unexpected need to return to dock takes us into an unexpected evening in a hospital emergency department.

It is challenging to patiently wait endlessly for a brief visit with the doctor, tests, and results.
Shortly after midnight, it is good news that we can go home.

Grateful today that the unexpected return to the dock made it possible for us to be at the hospital.

556 - Art Show Opening

A 5 star review and Ins Choi on the cover of Now Magazine for Kim's Convenience. Hurrah!

More art and culture with an art show opening in the evening.
Great paintings, and nice to see friends.

Grateful today for artists, their art and successful openings.

555 - Recent and Past Remembrances

Spent the day in the world of HDR.
Processing photographs taken of the weekend's sunsets on the lake -
remembering the cool refreshing jumps into the water.

In the evening, we cycle to the Bathurst Street Theatre for the opening of Kim's Convenience. The show is fantastic. Many moments are uncomfortably intimate portrayals of my own youth...
capturing my personal experience and making it a shared and universal one.

Running into friends not seen for 15+ years, we catch up over wine and food. It is amazing and delightful to have an opportunity to share conversation.

Grateful today for
the talents, hard work and success of Ins Choi,
running into old friends,
and for the cool downhill night cycle home.

554 - HDR

Back home and the day is busy.
Photography Gig of corporate interior branding elements takes me driving west, north, east and south through the city...grateful that the flow of traffic moved smoothly.

Meals continue to appear, by the magic of B+G...delicious, enjoyed and appreciated by all.

Missed my jump into the lake today...the photos taken inspired my first attempt at HDR.

Photograph Taken:


HDR:


Grateful today for
new experiences,
past experiences,
and for everything that happens along the way...

553 - On the road

The perfect summer weekend comes to a close.
In the early morning J+S leave, a few hours later we are on the road.
Energized by a cup of coffee and breakfast sandwiches - thank you cosmic girl! - the drive back is smooth.

On the way back, we stop in for lunch at Smuggler's Cove - taking in a preview of our upcoming sailing vacation. A check into Wellington, a stop at Huron and dinner by the water at Ashbridge's...

Thank you to my friends for a perfect weekend. Love to you all.

Grateful today for
an easy drive home on a beautiful day.

552 - Community

Another day, and we make it to the dock once again...

It is a lively day on the dock,
visitors coming by car, kayak and boat...
C+C are back and were missed by their community.
A happy afternoon of meeting people and friends catching up.

Precious times with the best of all things...

Grateful today for
the cool silky lake to jump into,
relaxing days that recharge the spirit,
and for a wonderful weekend.

551 - Perfect Summer Days

A morning trip to the Farmers' market in Chelsea,
more yummies for us...

Cookies, Scrabble and Balderdashing on the dock,
capernoited and maffled...
and an evening sunset canoe ride.

A perfect summer day...

Grateful today for
the beautiful lake Glimmermere,
and relaxed, lazy, loungy summer days.

550 - Happy Canada Day!

Champagne to start the day...Celebrating J+S's anniversary.

After breakfast, I am quite moved by the crowds of people in red + white, celebrating Canada's Birthday on Parliament Hill....And with special guests, Will + Kate.

After watching some of the celebrations, a bike ride to town for bread and a beer break...
On the way home, we are passed by the PM's entourage of cars...Will + Kate off to visit at the PM's cottage, perhaps? Thinking they might have more fun with us! ;)

The lake is a perfect place to cool down after the ride...
Villa C+C on Lac Glimmermere....a perfect place to be.

Grateful today for
a warm July day,
incredible meals that seem to magically appear,
and for this special group of friends.