610 - Interior Landscaping

Met with an interior landscaper and our Wellington designer this morning.
Wellington is bustling with activity - 400 lb stairs being put in by 4 men as we discuss where gardens will be,
and consider the best type of aquarium for the space...

All is progressing well at Wellington...and I am truly grateful.

Grateful today for
the incredible amount of natural light at Wellington for our gardens,
and all the energy and work gone into Wellington by G and S - and all the people working on it.

609 - Beef Stew

The weather is giving us hints of the next season to come...
with cooler weather comes warming foods.

The beef stew fills the house with wonderful aromas, and is comforting.
Glad to have K-dramas to watch as the stew simmers for hours....

Grateful today for
a delicious beef stew,
and a mate that is supportive and appreciative of my cooking.

608 - Welcome Home!

After a 6-week separation from his family,
my brother's wife and son Justin arrive from Korea and come to visit.

Justin clings to my brother as he takes in all the sights of this new place.
Amazing to watch Justin and consider what goes on in his mind at 2 1/2 years old...

Conversing with my brother in English upsets Justin...
Having quickly learned Korean, now a new language?!?

Grateful today for
all the miracles along the way that got the family safely here,
and for time with Justin...way better than skypeing!

607 - Restful

Made it to the farmers' market in the morning.
Returning home, the day is spent reading and lying about - recovering from the birthday celebrations of last night...

Grateful today for
a quiet restful day with my Kindle.

606 - Happy Birthday to me!

Uncle Stu joins us for a Maylee session - special birthday request for a stretching session...
Somehow we lost track of time and stretched for an hour and a half.
From there, my mate and I went to the spa for a massage.

Ready for an evening birthday celebration in PJ's yard!

Grateful today for
the friends that shared in the birthday celebration,
and all the facebook friends that filled my wall with Birthday wishes.

605 - Spicy Day

A day of spicy foods...
Lunch with B at the Owl...and an Indian food dinner.

Sharing meals with friends - one of my favorite things to do!

Grateful today for
the spicy meals with friends,
the surprise birthday cake,
and the unexpected birthday gifts!
Thank you to the Huron crew...and dawgy too!

604 - Lightning

Reflections on the ceiling from the sunlight hitting a mosaic bowl make the room feel magical...

Visits in the afternoon from mom and R+B are enjoyable and fun.

As my mate and I have dinner, the skies start to light up...we watch the lightning for hours...What an incredible storm!

Grateful today for
the visits from family,
being in a safe place to watch the storm from,
and for the awesomeness of nature.

603 - Grange Park

A beautiful summer day...
and a surprise picnic lunch with my mate - Sandwiches from Bonjour Brioche on the boat. Yum, Yum!

In the evening, we go for a walk and sit in Grange Park - watching a group exercising as we eat our frozen yogurt...hehe...

Grateful today for
picnic lunches,
and walks in the park with my mate.

602- Transit

Took the transit today to meet with Cuba photography workshop friends.
A smooth ride out and back - can't imagine being able to travel that distance any faster.

A productive afternoon reviewing, and discussing photographs for our soon to be completed book of Cuba.

Grateful today for
public transit,
the shared experience of Cuba,
and for the friendships that continue on...

601 - Bowling at the Ballroom

A lively and fun afternoon...
visit from R+B and an trip to the Ballroom to go bowling!

Lots of laughs, and cheers - quite a jolly time.
Back home to barbeque the roast pork from the market...dinner is a great feast.

Grateful today for
fun times with family / friends,
and an entertainly ballroom around the corner.

600 - Saturdays with Matie

Our Saturdays together are special days.
Starting with the farmer's market and breakfast - then back home to put all the produce away...

Today was a relaxed and loungy day with my mate...including an afternoon massage.

Grateful today for
a saturday of relaxation and hanging out with my mate.

599 - The Neighbour we almost never met

Amazing to think that we almost never met.
Happy that we did meet in our last summer in the neighbourhood.

A spontaneous afternoon drink shared at our neighbour's home, before he leaves for Germany on new adventures- it is quite interesting to sit on the patio and be looking at the side of our house.

Grateful today
that we did meet our neighbour,
the moments shared in conversation,
and for new friendships.

598 - Korean Restaurants

Growing up, dinner out was always at the same restaurant - Korean Village Restaurant on Bloor Street. While we lived in Etobicoke, Korean restaurants were far and few between.

I find it amazing that I live within a 5 minute walk of now 8 Korean restaurants.
So far, they are all quite similar in cheap dishes, lack of service and blank environments. Korean Village Restaurant is still my favorite.

Nonetheless, in the midst of watching k-drama, "Fantasy Couple", where they are constantly eating Jja Jang Myun - it was a perfect fix for my hankering...

Grateful today for
close access to Korean food,
and very appreciative of homemade food.

597 - Sheepish Tiger

This afternoon I had a late lunch with family - over lunch, conversation went from catching up to heated words. The real issue not particularly addressed or identified - individual points being attacked and no real communication happening.

Reflecting on the lunch afterwards, I am the sheepish tiger - wishing I had caught myself and stopped the tiger from rising. Had I only observed the conversation and not fed it, perhaps there would have been a different outcome?

Apologies made, we part - seemingly in peace.
Yet, it is hours before I am calm again...

Grateful today for
my mate and his wise observations of the lunch,
my own reflections of the 'tiger' within,
and for new understandings.

596 - City Lights

A special evening out - at the top of the city...
Dinner with guest from Miami at Canoe, followed by a drink at the top of the Thompson hotel.

The Miami style design of the Thompson made our guest feel right at home. A great evening catching up, sharing food and vodka cocktails.

Grateful today for
business contacts that become friends,
the night views of the city,
and for a lively and fun night.

595 - G Returns

G is back from a few days at Shouldice Hospital.
Good to have him home again.

A farm fresh meal of pork chops, corn and salad.
Pear/plum salsa and Salsa verde as accompaniments to the meal.
A jolly meal shared with the Huron crew and Uncle Stu.

Grateful today for
G's return home,
the wonderful fruits of the season,
and Alice Waters' great recipes.

594 - Pickling

The fresh cucumbers at the market yesterday were irresistible...Had to try my hand at pickling.

Four stores visited to pick up all the spices and seeds needed for the pickling spice...yielding 4 jars of zesty bread and butter pickles...Yum, yum!

Grateful today for
the fresh cucumbers,
finding all the spices,
and for zesty pickles.

593 - Bobby in Brampton

From the farmers' market to the korean supermarket, Galleria - onto Longo's and up to Shouldice for a picnic with G - a lovely picnic in an idyllic setting.

Following a brief rest at home, we are off to Brampton to see Bobby McFerrin. An incredible show, one of the best performances I have seen....

Grateful today for
PVS - thank you for the tickets,
and the delight and enjoyment experienced.

592 - The Londoners

A beautiful sunny morning at the dock, cleaning and getting the sails ready...
Lunch with my mate at the market and then home.

A visit from Semil, the early arrival home of my mate and a spontaneous visit from Jim.
The afternoon is quite lively. As we visit and enjoy the summer day from the kitchen window, the first Londoner arrives to hang out with us. So great to catch up, hear of adventures and get a list of new music to add to the library!

Dinner is at the club, a barbeque with 2 more Londoners where Mark Wilson meets Mark Wilson?!
The night is clear and beautiful...perfect for a full moon sail.

Returning home, thinking we will enjoy the night view before bed...we have a nightcap with Semil and friend....

Grateful today for
both spontaneous and planned visits,
summer days and nights to share conversation, food and drink with friends,
and for the magical full moon over the lake.

591 - De-Charging

Drove more today than I have in the last few months...
Up to Shouldice Hospital in Thornhill to drop off G, then across the 407 to Cambridge to visit with a friend.

Away from the city, it is good to de-charge in order to recharge...
Slowing down is good.

Grateful today for
a new experience driving,
a great visit with friend,
and for a recharge.

590 - Positive thinking

Last night, my mate spoke of the importance of positive energy.
This morning, the Dalai Lama tweeted,
"My own experience, and that of others, has shown me the degree to which positive mental attitudes bring happiness to oneself and others."
During our workout with Maylee, as we did our repetitions, we counted by calling out positive words - first starting with A, then B, etc.

As I had lunch, I could overhear a conversation at a nearby table.
The two Asian church going young ladies were discussing a church organization.
In their discussion, it was quickly noticed that any person mentioned was spoken of negatively.

As I listened, I thought of comments I could pop into their conversation.
Reminders to see things positively, not to judge another...
until I realized that I was not seeing this conversation positively.

Grateful today for
my mate,
positive energy, thoughts and words
and for being able to laugh at myself.

589 - Any Given Day

Downpour of rain during the morning.
Perfect for a Maria day!

After some cleaning, and removal of clutter,
I go out for a walk in the rain.
A stop in the neighbourhood Chapters and then lunch at Khao San Road.

By evening, the rain has ended and it is a beautiful summer evening.
A quiet dinner made for two, followed by a walk.
On our walk, we encounter a marching band and follow them for a while...

Grateful today for
the warm rain,
music in the streets,
and all that can happen on any given day.

588 - Kickstarter

Back at it with Maylee today.
Up and down on the sofa, on the floor and working it.
Feels good to get the body kickstarted into workout mode.

A new book to read, 'The Year of Magical Thinking', and some study time on camera controls and settings.

A meeting on Wellington in the afternoon leads us to a perfect table / chair solution.

Grateful today for
kickstarters - for body and mind.

587 - AKR

Second photo shoot of AKR today.
4 months old, it has been 2 months since the last photo shoot.
The changes in her are amazing.

E+C make a lovely brunch for me and my mate after AKR goes down for a nap.
A lovely start to the day.

In the afternoon, we ride our bikes to the boat - just missing the downpour of rain in time to have a beer at the club. Our ride home not so dry...

Grateful today for
photo time with AKR,
the bike ride with my mate,
and summer weekends.

586 - Peaches

Morning visit to 2 farmers markets - first stop the brickworks, second stop at the St Lawrence market. Loaded up on fresh produce - kale, chard, onions, strawberries, peaches and sugar pears...Yum, yum!

Inspired to cook by all the great ingredients - pork chops with peach salsa + gremolata, corn and a kale salad.

Grateful today for
the fruit to make a salad for Pauline,
fresh ingredients,
and happy bellies.

585 - Happy Birthday Uncle Stu!

Uncle Stu returns from vacationing in Spain on his birthday.
A short drink and brief catch up at Huron before going to dinner at Toca.

A lovely birthday celebration - not too intense a party...perhaps we are growing up a bit?

Grateful today for
Stu's safe return from a good holiday,
and warm summer nights.

584 - Sanford

Today I was called Sanford by my mate...

This afternoon, Mitch was here to finish the garage.
We both wore bandanas as we worked.
Not much work to do - more sorting and throwing away...

In my garage cleanout wear,
we head out for dinner out...
original destination requires an hour wait - and Sanford ends up at La Fenice.
Yikes!

Grateful today for
a cleaned out garage,
the people who have taken away items,
and for my mate.

583 - Home

A lazy day at home.

Time spent on my smile project,
angry birds and lazing about.

Grateful today for
a quiet, lazy day,
smiles,
and home.

582 - The Garage

A day in the garage - clearing and cleaning out.
Fortunate to have Mitch helping me out - much braver and less squeamish than I - he went into the darkest corners and brought items hidden away for years.

At the end of the day, the bagster is almost full and items line the driveway as giveaways. Books, electronics, fans, and all kinds of other stuff are skimmed through and taken away. Yay!

Grateful today for
working and hangout time with Mitch,
a cleaner garage,
and passerbys that have been taking the stuff on the driveway.

581 - Liberty Village

On our bicycles this morning,
wandering through different neighbourhoods.
Liberty Village - no longer a dark, warehouse area...
Amazing to see how much it has developed.

Grateful today for
long weekends with my mate.