Take 19 vibrant young people between the ages of 11 and 18, put them on the stage and give them a list of songs and some very creative choreography, and it's a wonderful concert. The performers are all part of Sarah's Singing Studio, and they showed their many talents at our local theatre yesterday.
Random ramblings from the cluttered brain of a Brit ex-pat North Devonian trying to keep cool in the steamy summers and warm in the frosty winters of The Great White North.
Thursday, 31 July 2025
Let's Sing!
Saturday, 26 July 2025
R & J
The Dream in High Park..... each year the outdoor auditorium in Toronto's High Park is the setting for one of Shakespeare's plays. This year it was the romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare wrote this play some time between 1591 and 1595. It was one of Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime along with Hamlet (last year's play), and is one of his most frequently performed.
Shakespeare contrasts some of his very serious scenes with comedy, and as female roles were normally played by men in the 16th century, some of the scenes must have been very funny to audiences of the day.
This summer theatre tradition of Shakespeare Under the Stars has been running for 42 years. I took Older Son to the park to see Romeo and Juliet when he was just a kid and even though he decided he wasn't going to enjoy it and wouldn't understand it, he loved it. And now I'm going with him and Oldest Grandson to see it again. We took folding chairs and sat high up at the back. a great view, and I didn't want to sit on the ground, I'm too old for that!
Wednesday, 23 July 2025
Mural
What's going on? Why is that road closed? What's that cherry picker equipment doing in the road? Who's that guy with the hard hat?
Our small town is getting a new mural covering up some ancient walls. Lots of older buildings in the downtown area that could do with a facelift and this is a great idea. This is the second large scale mural in town, the first one is here, although that photo was when the work was unfinished. I'll have to take another photo.
Painted by local talented artist Colin Whitebread, the mural is bright and full of fun.
No doubt there will be grumbles about the waste of town money, but I think it's great! This is painted on the wall opposite the entrance to the Funeral Home. I hope it will bring some cheer to the mourners.
Wednesday, 16 July 2025
Pop My Top
Sunday, 13 July 2025
Wildflower Meadow
The wildflower seeds were supposed to include evening primrose which is yellow, but mainly red field poppy and blue cornflowers appeared.
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Photo by Sarah. |
Friday, 4 July 2025
Nipper
On the way to Cape Cod, we spent a night in Albany. Albany is the capital and oldest city in the State of New York. It was claimed by Henry Hudson for the Dutch in 1609, and has been a chartered city since 1686.
Lots to see in an old city like that, and a local guide came on the Big Red Bus to take us on a tour of the sights. We travelled the old streets through the city centre, passing the Dutch Reformed Church, the Dutch Church, the Van Rensselaer Manor House, and the large homes of many of Albany's business leaders. And there's a crazy theatre shaped like an egg!
But the sight I really wanted to see wasn't on the tour. I wanted to see Nipper!
Apparently Nipper can appear with pink bunny ears at Easter, or a Santa hat at Christmas. Our only view of Nipper was from the highway as we left town. A big cheer went up from the riders of the Big Red Bus.
Monday, 30 June 2025
Travel Across the Border
One of my bloggers recently remarked that I must be the only Canadian he knows crossing the border into the USA these days. Well, not quite the only one, there were 26 of us on the Big Red Bus. (Although it seats 48 I believe. There were cancellations.)
We crossed into USA at the Peace Bridge at Fort Erie/Buffalo, no problems at all with the Customs Officers, everything went smoothly in spite of all sorts of stories about people being refused entry. We stopped at the Duty Free, and it was interesting to note we were the only bus in the big parking lot, along with 4 or 5 cars..... usually the place is thronging with shoppers. Nobody is travelling to USA.
When our Big Red Bus drove into the driveway at our hotel on Cape Cod in Eastham, Massachusetts, this is the scene that greeted us.
What a wonderful welcome! The Cape Cod area exists on tourism during the summer months, and although there were loads of Americans enjoying the area, Canadians are sorely missed. In many restaurants we were asked "Where are you folks from" and when we replied Toronto Canada, we heard lots of "Welcome! So glad you are here! Tell all your friends! etc etc" We heard heartbreaking stories about hundreds of hotel cancellations, and loss of income. And all because of one person. Sad.
Saturday, 28 June 2025
Whale Watch
Last week I was on a 6 day bus trip to Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Base camp was a hotel in Eastham, and we explored the Cape visiting as many interesting places that we could squeeze into 4 days. The other 2 days were travel days.
The highlight of the trip was the Whale Watch boat out of Provincetown. I used my little Nikon camera, but it was hard to see what I was photographing, so eventually I gave up, and just watched this group of five magnificent humpback whales as they swam by the boat. I'm convinced these intelligent creatures were just as interested in seeing us, as we were to see them.
Tuesday, 17 June 2025
Black Locust
Thursday, 12 June 2025
Homeward Bound
Driving home from the Blue Jays baseball game.
Sunday, 11 May 2025
Magnolia
It seems to be a bumper year for magnolia blossom around here. There are trees on every street absolutely loaded with the blossoms, all variations of purple and pink and white. They don't last long.
This yellow magnolia grows beside the pond near my house. It had no blossoms last spring as an early ice storm killed the flower buds. But this year it's making up for the loss.
Note: That heron beside the pond looks intriguing but sorry, it isn't real, it's made of metal. But a real heron arrives most evenings and walks around the water's edge hunting for dinner.
Wednesday, 7 May 2025
Art Show 2025
Our annual Lemonville Group of Artists 2025 Art Show and Sale is over for another year, and was considered a success, even though the economy isn't flourishing right now. A total of 23 paintings were sold over the 2.5 days.... actually a good number considering we are 14 people, a mixture of amateur artists, some have been painting for most of their lives, and some are beginners.
Saturday, 3 May 2025
Coltsfoot
The first dash of golden sunshine after the snow has melted. Coltsfoot. Tussilago farfara. A flower in the daisy family, flowers appearing before the leaves. Claims that a tea made from Coltsfoot can treat respiratory infections, sore throats, gout, flu, and fever. I haven't tried it so far, and probably never will.
The leaf is supposed to be the shape of a colt's foot, hence the name. Some other names are tash plant, ass's foot, bull's foot, coughwort, farfara, foal's foot, foalswort, and horse foot.
Monday, 28 April 2025
Sugar High?
I filled the hummingbird feeder with sugar water and hung it up a couple of days ago, probably a bit early, but I see there are already some Ontario sightings of Ruby Throated hummers according to the Hummingbird Migration Map (which suddenly isn't working properly, I don't know why). EDIT UPDATE: now it's working!
But guess who decided to take advantage of a free treat, yes, Billy the tree rat er.... cute fluffy squirrel. I think he's addicted to sugar, I'll have to send him to Sugarholics Anonymous. He deserves a bad tummy ache after draining the feeder dry. I hope he doesn't tell all his friends. So far he's the only one showing up.
Saturday, 26 April 2025
Wall Art
The local Art Gallery's current exhibition is one of the most important exhibitions of the year. It's when the students in all the elementary schools in town get a chance to show their talents.
Saturday, 12 April 2025
Beware of Dragons
I was at the local supermarket and noticed a young man picking up 4 of these alien looking fruits, so I accosted him (I don't make a habit of addressing strange men in the grocery store but he didn't mind) and asked what they were and what he was going to do with them.
He told me Dragon Fruit...... these were imported from Vietnam according to the label. Just slice in half and scoop the innards out with a spoon. So of course, I had to buy one, just to experience the taste.
It's supposed to taste like a combination of pear, kiwi and watermelon. I'll let you know.
Sunday, 30 March 2025
Ice . Ice . Baby
Lots of neighbourhood tree damage from the layers of ice, but all OK here. March is going out like a lion this year.... the same way he came in.
Saturday, 29 March 2025
Up North
Would you like to live in this little house? The neighborhood looks a bit bleak, probably a long trek to the nearest grocery store for supplies. But lots of fresh air!
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Syrupy Sweet
It's been syrup making time at Younger Son's house country estate, with lots of help from the rest of the family. Not maple syrup.... it's walnut syrup! The driveway is lined with mature black walnut trees, so a full tap line was set up back in January with 48 taps, ready for the spring sap run. It takes 40 litres of sap to boil down to 1 litre of syrup. The home made wood fired evaporator got lots of use!
20 litres of finished walnut syrup this year, I'm hoping one of those jars might have my name on it!
Wednesday, 19 March 2025
School's Out
One more from the Altered Board Book.
There's always an individual who insists on swimming against the current, isn't there? I'm sure we all know someone like that.
Image created using acrylic paint, potato bag string, home made stencils printed on rice paper using the gelli plate, Japanese washi origami paper, and Goldfish Crackers ad from a magazine.
Saturday, 15 March 2025
Mega Mansion
I pass this enormous building site every Thursday as I drive to my artist group meetings.... the house gets bigger and uglier and more ostentatious each week. Domes and turrets and what-not. I think this is just a single dwelling and it's hidden away on a narrow country road. But I suppose it won't be a narrow country road forever, the city is encroaching.
Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Listen to the Music
Open House and a free concert at the Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra. All the familiar orchestral hit parade pieces.... Beethoven's Fifth, excerpts from Swan Lake, some Strauss waltzes, Pomp and Circumstance of course, Offenbach's "Can-Can", lots of foot tapping themes. Finishing up with a rousing chorus of "O Canada", Elbows Up!
As well as the familiar classical music, North Atlantic Drift played some Celtic selections. Dan Macdonald on fiddle, Brian Taheny on guitar and banjo, Ross Griffiths on Uilleann pipes. The concert hall was full, I was there with Older Son and 17 year old grandson.
It was a Petting Zoo for instruments! Grandson tried out the drum kit, I investigated lots of different percussion rhythm instruments, and we both had a go on the trombone, it sounded pretty awful! I'm sure the trombone player's ears were hurting. There were lots of instruments to try; violin, cello, clarinet, trumpet, oboe, French horn. This all took place at the Chinese Canadian Cultural Centre so some Chinese instruments were available too.
Sunday, 9 March 2025
My Furry Neighbour
Meet Billy the Squilly... sunning himself on my deck railings on one of the first above freezing sunny mornings for a long time. He's enjoying the warmth of the sun through his furry coat and through the wooden railing.
The cheeky chap's hoping for a yummy handout, better luck next time, Billy, nothing to spare today.
Tuesday, 4 March 2025
Traffic Jam
Another one from the Altered Board Book.
A map of.... where? Looks like a busy place with all those vehicles heading across town. Streets printed on rice paper using string from paper potato bags. The cars were cut from the CAA magazine that comes in my mailbox. Sort of like the AAA but further north.