Search This Blog

Sunday, January 30, 2011

A walk to Evergreen Brickworks

For some reason I thought that Evergreen Brickworks Farmers Market took place on Saturdays and Sundays between 9am and 1pm.

Grumble grumble grumble, some of us like to sleep in on the weekend.  But today I pulled on my new super duper warm winter coat and decided to brave the cold weather alert and take a walk over to see what they had to offer....





As the crow flies it might be 1/2 k to the Brickworks Grounds.....but as the roads and trails wind it is 2km


When I got there I realized that the Farmers Market is only on Saturday....grumble grumble.  I wandered the buildings a bit...as previously mentioned there is an ice area for skaters...there was an area where a fella was selling a handful of what I assume was vegan organic wares to the skaters. No hot chocolate, french fries, and potato  chips.  $8 chili, something that looks like a light brown brownie. I think there was coffee but I did not stop to find out.  There was a child's birthday party going on....the building is concrete and the squeals of delighted children and bursting balloons was reverberation of walls and ceilings.....I really don't know what the intent of the new building is.  It is four stories of empty building right now.....I don't want to knock it cuz it is an Environmental organization which is a good cause. Maybe there is something more to it that I don't understand.

I decided to keep on going.  I didn't have my skates or a shovel with me but I wanted to check out the ponds.  There is something about walking over frozen water that is always a bit thrilling.  The ponds were all frozen solid.  The main pond had been trampled and snow has melted and refroze.   The result has left the ice lumpy and bumpy but the big pond at the back is in excellent condition.  I was wishing that I had my gear. 


But on this day I had to content myself with a walk on the crisp sunny day.  Today I would have to stick to the main trails for the most part because I was not dressed for rolling in the snow.  Good thing there is a road that goes up the escarpment and some beautiful winter foliage along the way.

Some brave souls risked the Poison Ivy LOL

When I got to the point where I would go going down the other side of  the escarpment I came upon this abandoned wagon.  I pondered as to how this sidewalk method of transportation had come to be abandoned next to the old railway track...the answer will remain a mystery. 



Would I make it down the steep hill without falling....I really did not want to wet my bottom.  Yeah I made it....then there was another steep winding trek up Pottery Hill Road..I was feeling pretty good about my walk as I crested the top of the hill and faced the final challenge of my walk....

Yes I kept on going.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Skating at the Evergreen Brickworks

I finally got to skate at the Evergreen Brickworks.

Last year I skated behind the Brickworks buildings.  There is a series of Ponds that freeze. It required a shovel and an ability to skate around protrusions (branches, weeds, bricks thrown on half frozen ice) or to avoid less than perfect ice (leafs caught in the freeze) and a knowledge of priorities (eventually I realized I just needed to shovel a track to skate on and not clear a rink. 

I was not the only one who showed up with a shovel, I think some of the Dads took more pride in their shoveling than in the skating accomplishments of their rugrats. There was something thrilling about skating on 100% natural ice in fresh clean air....but lets be honest it is not Zambonied ice.

Back in the day all of the bricks that built Toronto came from the Don Valley Brickworks, but times change and the Brickworks fell into disrepair. The ruminants of the Brickworks have been operated by Evergreen a group that advocates environmental issues, sells organic plants and vegetables.  When I seen the sign on Bayview Avenue inviting skaters I initially thought that the ponds were being cleaned and flooded naturally. When I called to inquire I was told that the rink is in one of the dilapidated buildings.  the concrete floor has been flooded and the ice is maintained with shovels. As far as I can discern there is no Zamboni.  The concrete pillars would make it impossible for one to maneuver as far as I can see. 

The skating area is partly open air but most of the roof and walls is intact.  This prevented my GPS tracker from keeping track of my workout, but allowed the snow falling outside to fall on the ice.  I went on Thursday evening after work, not sure if it was timing or the fact that this is rink has been operating for just over a month but there was no crowd. The structure was very informal. Some practiced their figures, some skated in circles, some weaved around the pillars.  One or two speed junkies shooting up snow.  I practiced skating backwards between the pillars.

I have been curious to try this skating area since I became aware of its existence.  Next time I go to skate at the Brickworks I will take a shovel and skate on the ponds behind the buildings

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Skating under a full moon

Since doing the resolution run on New Years Day, I have been totally lax about running.  Yesterday it was half snowing/half raining as I left work so I thought I would skip skating and get back to running...that was till I opened the car door and slid.  All the sidewalks were covered in a sheet of ice.  No way I could run on that.

Today everything was frozen solid, sidewalks and streets had been salted to the extent that I could rim my Margarita glasses on them. Nothing to keep me from running....but I chose to skate instead.

For the time being I have to say that my favorite place to skate is at the Shops of Don Mills skating track.  It is small but not many people utilize it.  There are the residents of the condos or the shoppers or people like me.  For the time being that is a small demographic. Because it is a track instead of a rink the intent is to skate in circles no hockey sticks are allowed, no chairs for rugrats to lean on as they learn the basics.  No room for fancy twirlers.  Just straight skating counter clockwise and I have seen these rules enforced. 

Because it was so cold tonight the rink was pretty empty, I got to skate full out (pretty much) for my entire allotted hour.  While lacing on my skates I had sat on a bench covered in a block of ice....the heat of my bum melted the ice and....honestly I did not pee my pants!!!!! But I was left to skate in sub zero temp with a damp bottom.



In the hour that I skated I covered 8.6 km and used 353 calories according to Runkeeper.  But most impressive of all I breathed in fresh air and for half of the time watched the full moon rise in the frigid night air.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Saga of the Kitties

A while back i wrote about White Kitty and Beat up Kitty/Grizzabella.

I have surmised that Beat up Kitty had two kittens.  One was a bit of a piggy and would wait on my doorstep for me to put out food so I called it Gorgie.  Then when Gorgie had 4 kittens I changed it to Georgie Girl.  The other kitten was more skittish and would only come to eat after I had gone into the house.  I called this one Other.  Just as Georgies kittens were getting big Other had a litter of  3 of her own.

The only Tom that we ever seen coming around was White Kitty.  In spite of the fact that White Kitty was a deadbeat dad and he was a bully towards all the other cats he was a very sweet and affectionate to people.  In fact he is the only one of the lot who has ever allowed himself to be petted.  Because of this and the fact that he always wore a collar, I assumed that White Kitty belonged to somebody. I have discovered since, that he is a street cat that one of the neighbors put a collar on in an attempt to protect him if he should happen to get into trouble with the authorities.  A couple down the street were going to take him in but for reasons I don't know they changed their mind, another neighbor wanted to take him in,  but she already has a cat with feline HIV that has to be isolated from other cats.  I found out just over a week ago that everyone else on the street calls White Kitty, Jake and that he is homeless.

The past summer we had 5 little kittens, two bigger kittens and Grizabella living in hideaways, under steps, sheds or decks.  White Kitty and the occasional neighborhood cat, and raccoon would come around looking for a handout too. My next door neighbor puts food on her front step and I put food on my back deck.  I know there are others in the neighborhood that feed them too. 

When the weather started getting cold I put an old comforter under the bench in the backyard and put a sheet of Styrofoam to block the wind.  In the front I put a basket with some old towels.  By the time the weather got very cold only three of the kittens were coming around daily and utilizing the sleeping quarters.  White Kitty still shows up every now and chases everyone off.  Grizabella shows up rarely (looking like she has found someplace to care for her),  Georgie and Other have been missing for a very long time,  Georgies 4 kittens too.  It was confirmed that one had been hit by a car. 

My  next door neighbor has created a kitty house that makes my makeshift basket look like low income projects.  A Rubbermaid storage container with 4 inches of hay and a lid.  she has cut a cat size opening to protect as much as possible from the elements.  The three little ones switch between our doorsteps.  They are almost always hanging out when I get home from work chowing down on their dinner but they still expect a cup of dry food from me too.

Just over a week...or maybe two weeks ago I came home to find the three and one who I thought was Grizabella.  When I got closer I realized that the big cat was more white than Grizzie,  but had the same size and demeanor.  New Beat Up Kitty stuck around when she realized this place was good for some grub.  On the weekend, when White Kitty dropped by, New Beat Up Kitty let out that kitty howl that every ally cat responds to.  In spite of the call there was a scuffle between White Kitty and New Beat Up Kitty. (cats don't fall in love the way that people do).  One morning I went to fill up the backyard bowl and New Beat Up Kitty was staying under the bench.  She ran when I came out but she looked like she had been in a ferocious fight.  On my way out to work my neighbor flagged me down to tell my that White Kitty had been in a fight and was hurt.  She decided to call the Annex Cat Rescue to ask that they rescue White Kitty.  I had to agree that it was a good idea.  Unlike the other kitties, White Kitty was catchable, if he was injured he would need some real care.  They will clean him up and "fix" him up and I feel confident that he will finally find a forever home where he will get the love that he craves.

White Kitty has been gone for almost a week.  I have not seen New Beat Up Kitty.  I hope that she is okay somewhere.   For all I know she may have a home.  I may be mistaken but I think that now that the bully cat is gone the others are settling down and seem less skittish.  Perhaps in time they too will be rescued and find loving homes off of the streets.

My Prada Handbag

A couple of things that I cant deny about my nature are 1) that I am frugal (I am one of those crazy people who will stand in line for 45 minutes to buy Tide 1/2 price) 2) that I am pretentious (I only use Tide not the no-name brands of laundry detergent.3)I can lie well, but I am mortified when I eventually get caught...so I save lying for special occasions.

My frugal nature will likely ensure that never while I have breath in my body will I walk into a Prada store and buy (or likely you have to order) a purse.  My pretentious nature would love to own one.

Before Christmas while driving home from IKEA I happened to notice a sign advising of a contents sale.  I was not in a rush to be anywhere so I figured "why not".  I don't usually do yard/garage/contents sales but have friends who do, who walk away with some pretty sweet stuff so every now and then if the timing is right I will check one out.  Contents sales are fun cuz you get to snoop inside peoples homes and this particular sale was on an upscale street.

I meandered around and seen a wicker storage chest that I thought would be perfect for stowing all of Stu's ruggies, hay and pellets in $7.00 I was thrilled....then I remembered that I had very little cash in my wallet and doubted I could use my Credit or Debit Card.  I looked in my wallet and found a $10.00 bill and another $10.00 in change. So I continued shopping.  Upstairs I came across a nice handbag, I slung it over my shoulder while I browsed and was pleased that the straps were even and one was not sliding off my shoulder. I had noticed when I picked it up that it was quality leather and upon closer inspection I noticed the Prada label on the front.  My pretentious heart skipped a beat...I asked the lady how much it was and she told me $20.00, when I went to set it down she offered it for $15.00.  I explained that there was a wicker trunk downstairs that I wanted to buy and I only had $20.00 cash.  Not sure if it was the season or if it is the way contents sales go, but she accepted my $20.00 for both items.

It was several days later when I was doing a closer inspection of my new bag  that I noticed the "Made in China" tag stitched into the interior.  It became obvious to me that my Prada is likely a Pruda.  But my disappointment is pretty minor, I really like the bag, size, color, compartments are all to my liking and the manufacturing is very good.  I expect this will still look good in 5-10 years (and I am not kind to my handbags).

Anyone that comments on my Prada is now being subjected to the tale of its true nature.  I would be mortified if somebody discover the dirty little tag inside and turned me out for a liar.
Looks real

Very Real

Dirty little secrect

Still I am very pleased with my 20.00