Millie

 She's so darn cute!

Downtown Lion King

 Last week I realized that The Lion King musical that had been showing at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto was closing at the end of August.  It opened in November 2024, and it's been advertised on TV, in the papers, on the internet, on the buses and the subway, everywhere and I really wanted to see it. And everyone who has seen it, loved it.

But tickets were expensive and so it just didn't happen. But I found a last minute ticket on a single seat so off I went.

First, drive and park at the nearby GO station. (GO is Government of Ontario.) Then the GO train to downtown. Then the subway to the stop near the theatre. Then a 6 minute walk.

I had a great seat, 3rd row of dress circle, right in the middle. The Lion King is a breathtaking experience with stunning visuals, innovative puppets that are actually worn by the actors. The animals are so real! Elaborate costumes and wonderful special effects.

The opening number "The Circle of Life" was so emotional I found tears running down my face. I had to have a quick look around just in case anyone saw me being so silly.... but I think everyone reacted in the same way.

The story is fairly simple, and has a theme of identity and responsibility. Of course there are the good guys and the bad guy, and some very funny comedic parts.  Wonderful music, powerful performances, colourful visuals, I'm so glad I went, I would not have missed it for the world!

The Lion King was absolutely the best show I have EVER seen in a theatre!

A couple of shots of King Street... where the theatre is. I don't very often get downtown so I got a bit excited with all the big buildings!

 

Sunny

Do those sunny faces make you feel happy? Artist group gathering, drawing and painting the sunflowers. We had big smiles on our faces as we wandered through the fields, clippers in hand, looking for the perfect flowers to take home. 

Yes that's me, wading through those huge plants looking for the perfect bloom. Wow, those blossoms are heavy! And tough and scratchy. 

St Lawrence II

Grandson Callum is on an amazing maritime adventure.... cruising the Great Lakes while sail training on board the brigantine St Lawrence II. No phone, no TV, no comfy bed, just lots of hard work and exposed to whatever the weather throws at him for two weeks on board ship. The cruise started on August 17 in the port of  Midland on Georgian Bay, then through Lake Huron to Sarnia and Port Huron.  From there along the St Clair River, across Lake St Clair, then the Detroit River past the City of Detroit.

The ship has been caught on various web cams along the route.

From there into Lake Erie, and a stop at Erie, Pennsylvania, to take part in the Erie Tall Ships Festival August 22 -24.  Then with a flotilla of the other tall ships to Port Colborne and through the Welland Canal to Lake Ontario. 

There will be a stop at Harbourfront in Toronto and I'm hoping to be able to meet with Callum and sing a few sea shanties! Not sure what day that will be though. 

From Toronto it will be sailing the waters of Lake Ontario to the port of Kingston where the cruise will end on August 31. And then it's back to school!

St Lawrence II was built by Kingston Shipyards in 1953 to a design by the legendary Francis MacLachlan & Mike Eames. The ship is designed to create teamwork, community, and cooperative effort between participants; to connect people with the natural world through tactile experiences, to deliver an understanding of both the power and fragility of nature; and to foster the creation of lasting friendships.

Teatime and Lavender

Lavender seems to be a very fashionable flower these days. My Mum grew lavender, and harvested the flowers and sewed fragrant lavender sachets that were scattered in dresser drawers and given away to friends at Christmas. My grandma did too. Today lavender has a new use. It's used in cake flavourings, and you can wash it all down with lavender tea.

Vive Lavender is a lavender farm just a little north of where I live, and last week I went with a group of five other ladies (yes, I'm a lady) to have tea at the farm. A wander round the lavender beds.... getting near the end of the season now.  And a lovely garden of perennials, sorry I didn't take a pic.

It was another hot day so we sat in the shade of the big tent, white tablecloths and linen napkins. A choice of around 15 different teas, all served in china teapots, and fancy bone china cups and saucers. An array of sandwiches and wraps, fruit, vegetables, scones with jam and cream, and on the top layer, fancy cakes. Are you envious?

ISKCON

Last week the town park was buzzing with colourful activity, it was ISKCON day.  This is the celebration of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.  I know nothing about the Krishna followers, so I thought I would have a look.

The event was billed as ChariotFest 2025, also known as Ratha Yatra, and was well attended by hundreds of devotees. So many people there, many wearing their colourful clothes, to me it was quite a spectacle. The ladies looked so gorgeous in their saris. Food was being served, and I was invited to enjoy lemonade and some really good vegetable curry. 

The Chariot was carried through the street, and was displayed near the temple tent. There were dance and music performances on the stage, and everyone looked so happy. I was definitely in the ethnic minority, but I'm so glad I gatecrashed the party.