High Park in Toronto & Downtown Mississauga

Another day (July 24th) with the cousins visiting us in Mississauga was spent at High Park in Toronto (not far, according to my Mom, from where my family lived when I was little).  We drove to the nearest train station and took the subway into the city ( . . .  well, took a bus to the nearest station with running trains, then took a subway train in to the city - maintenance was being done on the tracks that Sunday).  So we wandered into the park and explored a trail or two by Grenadier Pond, stopping to admire various baby duck families and pretty plants, etc.

View back towards Grenadier Pond

An Emu, resident of the small zoo at High Park (he likes green leaves and carrots).

Girls investigating a possible site for a Fairy House 

Next day  (July 25th) , we stayed closer to home, as we had to pack and prepare for an early start in order to catch the early flight back at Buffalo airport.  So we took a walk into downtown Mississauga, stopping at a little creek just around the corner.  Emily, Laurel and Averi found quite a few snails, as it had rained earlier.

Girls enjoyed splashing about in the new reflecting pool at the new "Celebration Square."

During the Winter, the pool will be frozen for ice skating.

The building with the greenish pointed roof is the Central Library

View over the reflecting pool towards the outdoorAmphitheatre

Girls posing by our favorite Bison sculpture

Heading back towards home, passing by the City Hall

Last Cool & Sunny Day in Mississauga

Just reminiscing about the lovely days of mid-July in Mississauga by Lake Ontario, when the temperatures ranged from the mid 70's to low 80's, the breezes were plentiful, the sun shined, and the lake water was . . . well, refreshing.  :-)  These shots are from the last cool day we spent in Mississauga, before the heat wave set in. The record-breaking, not-supposed-to-be-this-way, high temps and humidity, which nearly made conditions almost indistinguishable from an August in NC!

Can you tell I feel a bit ripped off?  I mean, cooler summer weather was one of my major "pros" in my pros-and-cons list about this whole year-long stint in Canada!  Ah well!  What can ya' do?

Almost Finished - the Marilyns in Downtown Mississauga Near Completion

These buildings are a sight that I am going to miss when we finally move from our year-long stint in Ontario, Canada, back to NC.  I don't know exactly what it is about these huge shapes that I like (I'm not typically a fan of modern architecture.); but I like these buildings.  Took some photos while walking back to our house from an appointment one July (the 17th) afternoon.

Waaaade In the Waaa-ter: Enjoying Lake Ontario

OK, here's an interesting fact about the Great Lakes (of which Lake Ontario is one): Today less than one percent of the water of the Great Lakes is renewable on an annual basis (precipitation and groundwater). The rest is a legacy from the last ice age, or “fossil” water.

So, Emily, Andy, Alex and I spent a nice day last week (July 3rd, to be exact) wading in a very large, very ancient, puddle of water!  And that water was still pretty darn coooooold!  The kind of cold that numbs your feet and makes your calf muscles ache . . . well, at least until they get numb too; and then you can relax for a bit and enjoy it.

But clearly some people aren't as bothered by the cold water.

Downtown Toronto is just visible across the lake (easier to see in person)

It's also a luxury to enjoy a beach, yet still have shady trees nearby.  Soooo nice.  :-)

A Snail

Today Emily found a snail.

Erindale Park on the Credit River

The Credit River runs through Mississauga, and there's a really nice "greenbelt" park along it called Erindale.  We spent a nice afternoon there on Victoria Day (May 23rd), walking around exploring, making fairy houses (well, that was mainly Emily), and giving the ice cream truck some business.

It had been raining quite a bit prior to the weekend, and the river was really, really running fast.

Lots of pretty mushrooms and dewy vegetation around.

I don't know what these thistle-like plants are, but they're neat looking . . .  and very prolific at this park.

Black Creek Pioneer Village - Gives Old Salem a run for its money!

Oh meeeee . . .   I've gotten rather behind since I last posted to this blog. We have been doing tons of stuff every weekend and we also took off to spend a couple of weeks in Dorset with the family.  And as a result of all this travel, I have gotten rather behind on my little "reports" on what we're doing here in Canda . . .

Just so you know, these photos are from May 22nd, when we visited a great place about an hour away from where we live in Mississauga, called Black Creek Pioneer Village.

Black Creek

Emily was most interested in carding wool and gathering dandelions to dye it.

A very pretty working mill.

Soon this girl will have a bonnet and dress all her own.

Anyway, Emily and I have signed up to participate in a week-long program at Pioneer Village.  We will both have to be in costume the whole week and will be learning how do all kinds of things.  I guess more photos and details will follow.

Jack Darling Park (And Rattray Marsh) on Lake Ontario

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Just some photos from Mom and Evelyn's last full day with us.  We drove to nearby Jack Darling Park (between Port Credit and Oakville) and drank in some more Spring weather.

Trilliums were growing all over the Marsh!  Brilliant!

Emily and Alex making up a game?

Nothing like a Crepe filled with Nutella and Bananas, after a long walk along the Rattray Marsh Trail.