A Klondike Mystery

Last spring I was invited to housesit for a Canadian mystery writer new to Prince Edward County, Ontario.  Vicki had responded to my housitting ad and I accepted the invitation.  I spent two months enjoying the people, history and environs of Prince Edward County and before I left Vicki gave me a signed copy of her latest book release "Gold Digger, A Klondike Mystery" a fast paced murder mystery set in  Dawson City of 1898 in Yukon Territory of Canada. 

If you enjoy mystery and history you will love this book and from what I have read, the follow-up, "Gold Fever, A Klondike Mystery" being released on April 1st should be just as thrilling. If you'd like a chance to win a copy of this book visit Vicki Delany's Blog and answer the question....you won't be disappointed!

Weekend Reflections ~ This time last year

This time last year I was housesitting in Prince Edward County, Ontario

I still maintain a soft spot for this beautiful part of Ontario.

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SkyWatch Friday ~ Spring sunset

 

When you live in the city it can be hard to get a good sunset.

Work, family, commuting, and schedules often suck up time.

A couple of days ago I took my four-legged charge for a walk at dusk

on the edge of the Scarborough Bluffs and was rewarded with this beautiful evening sky.

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SkyWatch Friday ~ Blue Glorious Blue

The Toronto skyline from the Toronto Islands

Southwest Ontario and Toronto specifically has been the hot spot in Canada this week with blue skies and temperatures in the high teens.

Knowing that snow could still fall(it is still winter!)

Looking west along the Scarborough Bluffs

a daily hike has been on the agenda this week.

The trees are beginning to loose their starkness

and the ice has left the lake

Looking west from the Toronto Islands

and the dirty sky of industry creeps along the horizon

Guildwood Inn gates

but it is wonderful to feel the warmth of the sun.

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Watery Wednesday #79 ~ Way to nice to be in blogging...

Yesterday on the Toronto Islands

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For you are fearfully and wonderfully made....

We have been blessed with unusually warm beautiful weather.

 Long walks are a huge part of my day and as I was soaking in the warm blue day yesterday....

For you are fearfully and wonderfully made...

Psalms 139

grandson Hudson Daniel Smyth joined our world at 2:18 p.m. 

Big Box vs. small business

I read a post by Jenn at My Muskoka yesterday that has troubled me for years. Most of my travel across this country is done by train or bus and as I travel through small and large town Canada I have been witness to a blueprint for destruction of these communities with the invasion of the "big box" stores. Even in big cities like Toronto the big box stores are destroying the fabric of our economy....the small business owner.

Yesterday I was looking for a book, I checked online and it is still available but as I don't own a credit card and I am in a big city I should be able to go to a store and buy it.....wrong!  I went into Indigo/Chapters at the Toronto Eatons Centre thinking no problem....wrong again! The book was not in the store but they could have it there in three days, when I said "that's ok I'll go check out another store" the clerk said "don't bother it is not available anywhere else." Indigo owns Chapters, Coles, The World's Largest Book Store etc. etc!

In one keystroke I no longer have a choice unless I know where the few remaining independant bookstores are and in Toronto I don't!                   I remember when I could spend hours on a Saturday or Sunday sitting on the floor of book stores like Second Story Books in London, ON, Bollum's Books in Vancouver or Northwest Coast  Books in Queen Charlotte going through both old or new books , a pleasure that is becoming harder and harder to do as "big box" stores tear the guts out of the small business person.                      When I moved to Haida Gwaii formally know as the Queen Charlotte Islands I was a Tim Horton's addict. For those of you who do not know, Tim Horton's is a very prevalent donut shop in Canada named for a hockey player. My day didn't get started or keep going without at least three "extra-large-double-doubles"! As I waited for the ferry in Prince Rupert to go to the islands I realized this was it for

Tim Horton's! My life as I knew it was about to change forever and it did, for the better! Without Tim Horton's on the Island I brewed my own, better cup of coffee and patronize our unique independant island coffee pervayers and have never looked back! Even as I spend three months on the mainland I still brew the best cup of coffee and try little independant coffee houses! The chains and big box stores, with our help have taken the heart out of our communities because we don't want to pay for parking , or walk in the weather or it seems, know the people who are serving us, what a shame because that is what makes us community.

I am following with interest an article I read on CBC/Vancouver's website about a small community's effort to keep the chain stores out so they can keep their unique sense of community.

Why people come to the Queen Street East in the Beach Area of Toronto, Tofino or Haida Gwaii, BC is not because they are the same as every place else but because they are unique....

Support your small business owners!
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2010 Paralympics ~ Weekend Reflection #24

Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, David C Only and paralympian Jeff Adams

Yesterday I went to Toronto City Hall to watch the lighting of the Torch for the 2010 Paralympics which will begin in Vancouver on March 12.  The day was perfect unfortunately the media hype was minimal so the crowds were small however no less noisy.

City hall has a great ice skating rink so people had the opportunity to try Sledge Hockey...such fun!

(The photo was taken at 1 p.m. unfortunately the rink is in the shadow of the highrise towers.)

I took my time heading home and enjoyed what was around me!

The Delta Chelsea

Downtown Toronto is a feast for the senses on a sunny day!

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An IKEA sky

One of the things about being in the city(Toronto at the moment) is doing things that I can not do on Haida Gwaii. Like going to the Toronto Centre for the Arts to see Jersey Boys,so much fun; shopping at the St. Lawerence Market, an experience all it's own; walking Toronto's PATH, 27 kilometers(16 miles) of underground shopping and entertainment....27 kms!!!!

and shopping at IKEA! 
I went to the North York store which took about an hour on public transportation.   I was astounded to see the new construction go on around the store, 45 acres, 20 towers, 5000 suites...gotta be good for IKEA!

It was a fine afternoon, I had fun, lunch and I got out of the store having spent only $21.00!  Believe it!

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Snow Prints on the Beach

 

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