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Friday, July 15, 2011

Stopped to smell the Roses and other perenials

Usually when I travel the trails that wind around the Don River I am trying to burn as many calories in as short a time as possible.  While I appreciate that running on the trails surrounds me with a more pleasing setting than a treadmill, or sidewalk stands on Danforth, I don't have time to actually stop and smell the roses.

Monday I was feeling ill, weak and wobbly, by Tuesday I was feeling a bit better and had watched all the programs on the PVR and frankly cabin fever was setting in.  I was out of Tylenol and was wondering if popping expired Iron tablets was a healthy choice so I headed to the drug store to replenish my stock and clear my head.

The walk really helped clear the cobwebs; after convincing the pharmacist that I was not going to OD on Iron I decided that I was not ready to go home.  I grabbed a  free newspaper and headed to Riverdale park to sit in the shade and do the Sudoku.

My mind got to wandering and I thought that I would take the long way home and walk along the trail beside the Don River so that I could check the progress of catnip.  I harvest some every year for my cats, well this time it will just be Sooty, and also for friends who have cats. 


I didn't have to go too far to find catnip ready to harvest.  I plucked it and put it in the bag with the Iron tablets, Tylenol and water, thinking that was all I would see ready for harvest.  Being as I was not moving very fast I found myself appreciating things that I usually only notice in my peripheral vision.


I'm not sure what this is....the tree it was growing on looked like a Sumac (what I call weed trees) but the weed trees in my neighbors yards don't have pretty red things.

I rounded a corner and came upon kitty heaven.  I have heard that colony's of feral cats inhabit the valley.  I have never seen any but don't doubt it with so much catnip growing wild.  I stopped and filled up my shopping bag.  If I were not feeling the effects of anemia I would have skipped home excited to see Sootys reaction to my harvest.


But this was to be a leisurely stroll where, low and behold I would, in all honesty "stop and smell the roses".  As lovely as they are to behold I must say that this particular bush was not a fragrant one.


I am not sure what these flowers are called, bees love them, for some reason I think it is Honeysuckle but am likely mistaken.


I have an instinct to stay away from yellow perennials, that stems from an allergy that is sometimes mild and sometimes sever to the dreaded "goldenrod". But that does not come out till the fall so I got close to this.  Don't know what it is called but love the color.


Humm I was looking forward to writing this post until I realized how many times I was going to have to type "I dunno what this is"  My mother used to call them snake berries and told us they were poison.  I have never seen a snake eating them but our mother had 5 kids to cook for, if those berries were not poison she would have encouraged us to fill up on them.


More snake berries...if anyone can identify them that would be neat.


Tiny Daisy flowers but these are not your typical "he loves me, he loves me not" daisy's.  The flowers are tiny and the petals like little eyelashes around the yellow centre.


Finally something I can name, your everyday ordinary Daylilys.  Such a brilliant orange blossom but only for a day. So thankful there will be another one tomorrow.


LOL another something that I cannot name. Might be sage.



Getting tired of admitting I don't know the names of things so....tada. Ladies and Gentlemen may I present to you "The Don River"

And before our fat mayor spends a zillion dollars cleaning up all the dirty graffiti in the city...one of the rail bridges over the Don River.


Okay it was my Grammie and my other Grammie AND my mom who told me that these are purple thistles. So don't nobody tell me they are anything else.


And because I am on a roll of being able to name things with assuredly; this is the Don River


Now this is weird.  I decided to move off the main trail cuz there were too many crazy cyclers. There is a footpath that runs directly beside the river but it was blocked with this.


I went around it and met up with this


Not sure what the intent is but this is a trap or barricade or spooky Blair Witch warning that is man made from dead wood.  I have heard that first Nations People live in the Valley and are allowed to fish and hunt in accordance with their culture.  Maybe I stumbled upon something of theirs.  Eventually I had no alternative except to crawl up the escarpment or turn back....I crawled up, I'm not as evolved as some people I like a monkey challenge.


At the top of the escarpment there was railing that I could grab onto....and another flower that I know the name of....this is Queen Annes Lace, bunny lovers know it as wild carrot. (although I have never found a carrot attached to one).


Nearing my exit from the trail I take another look at the Don River



And look in the other direction


And then trudge through the construction on the veichal escarpment that is Pottery Hill Road.


Looks like they are digging to decrease the incline.


Its still a steep walk





And my own savage garden


Needs to be watered

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Old Nick

Living in an area of Toronto where some of the best restaurants in the city are only a few blocks away I have never felt inspired to write about any one or another in a positive or negative light....after all if you don't like it there is an alternative right next door.  Not to mention the fact that there are countless others who will tell you where to dine in Toronto, I usually feel like my 2cent endorsement is pretty worthless.

But just in case someone has not read Tena In Toronto , or is reading a years old NOW endorsement, or thinks that the rainbow on the door mean something good, let me prompt you to look for the alternative.

I have been to the Old Nick on several occasions.  For those that are not partial to Greek food but want to meet on the Danforth, I have recommended it more than once on the grounds that the beer selection is pretty good and the menu has a few standouts, the service was friendly and attentive...back in the day.  The downfall began with less attentive service which has kept me away for some time.

This evening, post pedicure, I was feeling special and wanted to treat myself; so skipped across the street to Nicks. ...being as nobody came to seat me I crawled onto a barstool (I don't usually like being perched on a barstool) and ordered a  Boddington. After a while some live talent showed up.  The first act was nice enough so I decided to stay and ordered some of the homecut onion rings that I considered a sinful treat.  When they showed up it was a basket of rings that I could have got from Burger King and the live talent was guitar singer/songwriter who was syncing to his MP3 player.  

Shame that what used to be a great place is no more....but if you like Jazz come a few blocks north and get honest live music at Whistlers.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

If the cats dont like me I have options

Everybody knows about my outdoor kitties.  We are on our fourth generation of fereal cats. Old Daddy White Kitty has been captured and sent to reform school to be rehabilitated, three of the females have been spayed, via the Trap Neuter Release program and we are hoping to get they whole gang set on the straight and narrow.  My next door neighbor and others of us on the street put out food for them,  in the back of our minds is the hope that they will come to us looking for love in addition to food.

Tonight I sat on the front step and threw primo treats.  The three kittens and three adults showed up.  For about an hour I threw treats and they ran for them and squabbled over them but would not come close enough for me to touch them.  When their bellies were full they moved on and I moved to the backyard.

Sitting in the backyard for a few minutes while the sprinkler ran, I read some of my book and eventually the raccoons showed up.  This was mamma and babies.  Unlike the kitties, this family was willing to beg, roll over and look adorable for a few leftover bits of kibble.


These guys appreciate my efforts.  I'm wondering if I should switch sides.