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Drinking in the ambience
I am sitting outside on a terrace as the sky turns deep blue. The sky darkens and the ornate sconces turn on, adding a soft glow to the weathered plaza. The air is warm. Church bells ring. A man walks his dog across the cobblestones. It’s quiet but for the animated chatter at the tables around me. At the table next to me sits a family with three little girls. Their three scooters, nestled together, are leaning on the table. It’s getting late. Except this is Madrid. The night is young. This scene seems to repeat every night. People of all ages come together for drinks, a tapa, a meal.…
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Canine University
I don’t like to brag. I don’t want to make a lot of noise, or howl, or stick out my chest (except for a belly rub). But listen up. I know things. Life affirming type of things. You may have heard that having a dog can make you happy. Do you know why? I do. I live by it. It’s me Caramel. You haven’t heard from me in a while. Sorry about that. I would say I have been busy, but that’s not true. I’ve just been living. Quite happily. This is why it’s best if I take over today’s post: how dogs make you happy. For starters, I will…
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White trail markers
I do enjoy an outing that combines a walk with a tasty destination. A Bruce trail hike PLUS a winery EQUALS one fine day. On one of these fine days, I was looking quizzically at a Bruce trail marker (cover photo) trying to figure out which way to go. I heard someone holler, “Are you looking for the trail?!” Well yes I was. The gentleman kindly pointed me in the right direction, which also happened to be the driveway to a winery: Locust Lane Winery. Perfect. The trail head was at the end of the winery’s driveway. From there, the trail passed by abandoned vines, alongside a small pond, across…
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Forest bathing invitations
“Place your feet firmly on the ground and feel the connection with the earth. Think of all the roots twisting and stretching out underneath you,” says Beth in her soothing voice. I am sitting in the forest on a collapsible stool. Beth is a certified Nature and Forest Therapy guide. Our small group has paused here, among the trees, to sit, close our eyes and allow ourselves to open up to the forest. She encourages us to slow our breathing and take note of any smells and sounds around us in the breezy forest air. It’s like we are prepping our senses, getting them ready to engage with the forest.…
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Bellissima
Gosh the peaches and nectarines have been excellent this summer. We have eaten baskets and baskets of these delectable stone fruits. Freestone. Clingstone. Baby gold peaches. White nectarines. Give me a moment please to wipe the nectar off my chin. To make the most of the short season I have taken several trips to Niagara’s Twenty Valley. I like to get close to the source. The fruit out there is beautiful. Rows and rows. Acres and acres. Bunches and bunches. Oh hang on. Let me have a closer look. I suppose peaches aren’t the only reason to drive out to Niagara. The vineyards are at their peak! The vines are…
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A tour of Europe in Bronte
To feed my travel appetite I have been listening to Travel with Rick Steves from time to time as I walk. In his entertaining weekly podcast he talks to tour guides, travel writers and other travel enthusiasts. It’s fun to hear their stories, get inspired and discover interesting travel themed books (this is how I heard about Eric Weiner’s Socrates Express). There are hundreds of episodes and I have merely scratched the surface. Anytime I listen though, I am ready to book a plane ticket to Europe. Maybe not right now. My appetite for travel inspired foods however, can be satisfied. I love trying the local cuisine when I travel.…
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Director’s cut
It was an ordinary street sign: a green rectangle, fixed atop a metal pole, white letters indicating the street name. A common sight. But special to me. Meaningful. It was at the end of the street I grew up on: Seagram Ave. And in the summer of 1991 I had to move from this safe and familiar street. As distraught as I was (as teenagers can be) I was determined to apply my surly energy to taking down that sign to stow it with me. Dressed in black, in the dark of night, I met my best friend at the street corner (she also lived on the street and empathized…
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Back out there
“The first couple days I felt like I was stuttering and stumbling over my words. I have basically been talking to only three people for months. It’s like I had to warm up,” our server at Back 10 Cellars said this about her first days back at work. “I’m good now.” She was smiling behind the mask. My husband and I were sitting in the stylish new Smit-ten Summerhouse. A gentle breeze wafted through the airy open structure that affords lovely views of the vineyards. The pavilion sits alongside rows of Riesling and Chardonnay. Up close I could see the tight bunches of green grapes taking shape and getting bigger.…
