160 Unusual Things to See in Ontario ~ Eugenia Arches

In the Village of Eugenia, Ontario, an unincorporated municipality in Artemesia Township, beside the Beaver River at the top of Eugenia Falls in the Eugenia Falls Conservation Area, sits a lone stone arch seemingly serving no purpose.

This stone arch was once the entrance to a long-vanished tunnel intended to be used in conjunction with a long abandoned hydro-electric power project. Built by the Georgian Bay Power Company between 1906 and 1907, the tunnel was dug through the hill beside the top of the falls to the valley floor below. The plan was to divert the river through the tunnel in an attempt to maximize the drop, thus increasing the generation capacity of Eugenia Falls.

This was the second attempt at hydro generation at Eugenia Falls, the first being built in 1893 by local businessman William Hogg, the namesake of “Hogg’s Hollow north of Toronto. Unfortunately Hogg’s paddlewheel generator was only able to generate 70 kW, barely enough electricity to power Eugenia and nearby Flesherton.

Construction costs on the tunnel exceeded the million dollar mark (approximately $27.2 million today), due to problems with quicksand, but when completed, the tunnel was 867 feet long, 9 feet high and 8.5 feet wide, and was big enough to drive a buggy through it, which one person actually did.

A Roman-style stone arch was constructed at each end of the tunnel but in the end, all the effort was for nothing.

The Beaver River’s capacity proved to be insufficient and the tunnel was never used. The whole project was eventually abandoned and the Georgian Bay Power Company went bankrupt.

The provincial government assumed responsibility for all hydroelectric projects, and the Hydro-Electric Power Commission embarked on a new project in Eugenia that involved damming the river, creating a 490 acre reservoir north-east of Eugenia that is now known as Lake Eugenia.

The tunnel has long since been filled in, leaving the arch at the top of the falls standing as a monument to the failed hydro project.

https://militarybruce.com/monument-to-a-failed-hydro-project-the-mystery-arch-in-eugenia/

Journal Prompt ~ Three Words

What are the three words that describe how you feel right now?

Journal Prompt ~ Describe Yourself

Using 10 words, describe yourself.

introverted

curious

resourceful

creative

friendly

empathetic

happy

tolerant

anxious

humorous

Okay, now its your turn?

Movie Review ~ The Matrix (1999)

You know I don't like scary movies but I have to say I thought The Matrix was pretty cool.  Of course I like the stars of this movie -- Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, and Carrie-Anne Moss.  Humanity is being used as energy to keep machines alive.  They think they are having a real life but their minds are actually locked into an artificial reality known as the matrix.  Neo (Reeves) finds Morpheus (or did Morpheus find Neo?) and learns about the matrix.  Now the Machines are after them as they foment a rebellion.  There is lots of great CGI and larger than life cinematography.

Academy Awards, USA 2000

Won Oscar	Best Film Editing Zach Staenberg
	Best Sound John T. Reitz Gregg Rudloff David E. Campbell David Lee
	Best Effects, Sound Effects Editing Dane A. Davis
	Best Effects, Visual Effects John Gaeta Janek Sirrs Steve Courtley Jon Thum

Journal Prompt~ Perfect Place

Where is the most perfect place in the world?

In my world, it is my studio/office . . . where I can relax, create, chat

 . . . whatever I want to do . . .

Journal Prompt ~ Dessert

List your four favourite desserts.

There is nothing I don't love about dessert.  Dessert is happiness in a dish.

My four favourite desserts are

1.  cheesecake . . . any kind

2.  pie . . . especially blueberry and cherry

3.  yogurt with fresh fruit and granola

4.  cookies . . . any kind

Wow, that was easy.

Book Review: George Washington Carver by John Perry

I seem to be reading a lot of nonfiction and biographies lately.  When I was offered the chance to review George Washington Carver I was curious to find out about the person whose name I'd heard many times.  I didn't really know much about him except that he was educated.

John Perry did a masterful job of presenting Dr. Carver in a realistic way.  He didn't hide the man's many quirks, especially his need of constant approbation.  The writing is easy to read and contains a great deal of interesting information about the times and Carver's place in it.

Carver was born a slave.  After slavery was abolished George and his brother were raised by the couple who had owned them.  George received a basic education from his guardians and was encouraged to continue his education.  The author describes in detail how an African-American man had to struggle to achieve a decent education.  Carver managed to graduate from college and became a professor at the Tuskegee Institute where he taught black students methods of self-sufficient agriculture.

Carver enjoyed the role of teacher and scientist but avoided the administrative role in his department.  This created a great deal of friction between himself and the Institute's board.  One of Carver's greatest accomplishments, outside of the scientific, was in befriending his students, encouraging them and holding bible classes for them.

I really enjoyed this quick read, learning about a person in history whose name I have heard many times without really knowing who he was. 

Canadian Music ~ Guy Lombardo

The “sweetest music this side of Heaven.” That’s how the Chicago Tribune, back in 1928, characterized the music made by Guy Lombardo and his orchestra, the Royal Canadians. A native of London, Ontario, Lombardo was responsible for making “Auld Lang Syne” the definitive New Year’s Eve song and entertained countless listeners in a career that lasted more than 50 years.

The son of Italian immigrants, Lombardo was born June 19, 1902. Guy (violin) and his younger brothers Carmen (saxophone, vocals) and Lebert (trumpet) grew up in a musical family, establishing their first “orchestra” in grammar school. Together with Freddie Kreitzer (pianist), they played their first professional gig in Grand Bend, Ontario, in 1919. Engagements in London and Port Stanley, Ontario followed, and the group, now expanded to include a brass section, guitarist and drummer drove down to Ohio to pursue fame and fortune.

In 1924 Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians took up a two-year residency at the Cleveland nightclub, the Claremont Tent. There the band learned to slow down its tempos, play medleys to accommodate patron requests, and lower its volume, allegedly at the behest of club owner Louis Bleet. They also developed its patented sound, which included Carmen’s smooth saxophone and emotional voice, George Gowan’s barely-there drumming, the use of tuba instead of double-bass, and their fondness for schottisches.

Local radio exposure greatly expanded the orchestra’s regional popularity, allowing Lombardo to move his crew to the larger Chicago market. There they played at the Granada Café and broadcast over station WBBM.

In 1929 the Royal Canadians debuted in New York. There they took up a 33-year residency at the Roosevelt Grill and inaugurated their longstanding New Year’s Eve performances, which included “Auld Lang Syne,” a popular song from the days when the orchestra played in small Scottish communities outside of London. This was later moved to the Waldorf Astoria’s Grand Ballroom.

The Royal Canadians also played residencies in Los Angeles in the 1930s, and toured throughout the US and Canada. They were guests at the White House, playing a number of inaugural balls, and strengthened their cultural currency by appearing in films like the Gracie Allen/George Burns vehicle Many Happy Returns (1934).

Guy Lombardo and the Royal Canadians’ recorded output was also substantial, with more than 100 albums released throughout their career. They also had a number of million-selling singles, including The Thin Man movie theme, “Humoresque,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Easter Parade.” In total, their sales exceeded 300 million.

Lombardo passed away, aged 75, in Houston, Texas, on November 5, 1977. He was posthumously inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1978 and Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2002. His hometown of London, Ontario has named both a bridge and a street (Lombardo Avenue) after him, while his adopted hometown of Freeport, New York, has its own Guy Lombardo Avenue.

The Royal Canadians continued after Lombardo’s death under a number of band leaders, among them Guy’s younger brother Victor (b. 1912) and Art Mooney, and toured into the ‘90s.

https://canadianmusichalloffame.ca/inductee/guy-lombardo/

Journal Prompt ~ First Job

Write about your very first job.

My very first job, that wasn't babysitting or the one horrible day in a cucumber field, was at 13 when I spent the summer working for the Falkins at the Wendie Leigh Motel on Talbot Street in St. Thomas.  I remember that certain things had to be done exactly so . . . especially bed making . . . and that leaving a hair in the sink was a capital offence.  I don't remember what I was paid.

Journal Prompt ~ Running Away

Did you ever run away from home?

When we were really young a neighbourhood friend wanted to run away from home because her family weren't going to give her a birthday party and she was heartbroken.  So we made our plans and at the crack of dawn the next day (I believe it was a Sunday) my sister and I filled a garbage bag with clothes and books and food and sneaked out the back door.  When we arrived at our friend's home she informed us she didn't have to run away after all because she did get her birthday party after all.  Well, I suppose we could have returned home but since we were packed we decided to continue running away.  We ran away to a nearby gully (ravine?) with a huge old tree that provided excellent cover.  It was about 4 blocks from home, 1 block from our grandparents and right across the road from family friends.  But we were quite sure we were well hidden and would never be found.  I don't think we had given any thought to what we would do when the bread and jar of freezer jam ran out.  Needless to say, the family friend spotted us and called our parents and we were discovered and returned home.  I don't remember the consequences so it couldn't have been too bad.

160 Unusual Things to See in Ontario ~ Corduroy Trails, Awenda Provincial Park

I have been struggling to find information about the Corduroy Trails in Awenda Provincial Park. I'm sure it exists because I can find photos of it. But which trail is known as the Corduroy Trail. Perhaps its a nickname?

A photographer named Snuffy has posted photos on flickr. You can use this or the link that follows to see his photos of the Bluff Trail which he identifies as part of the area where the Corduroy Trails existed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/snuffy/263345038/in/photostream/

Logs were laid side by side on some of these trails during the pioneer time to allow horses and wagons to travel. Over time, the logs rotted and disappeared.

For more information . . . https://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trail/bluff-trail

Movie Review ~ Inception (2010)

I would like a survey of the type of people who rate IMDB's top movies.

I watched Inception.  While I enjoyed the acting and the special effects, the story itself was unnecessarily complex and odd.  My son must have thought that my cool reception to this movie might be because I didn't understand it so he tried to explain it . . . LOL.  I got it, I just wasn't crazy about it.

Having said all that, I would watch it again if I had to . . . it just wouldn't be my first choice.

It seems the Academy agreed with me . . . 

Academy Awards, USA 2011

Won Oscar	Best Achievement in Cinematography Wally Pfister
	Best Achievement in Sound Mixing Lora Hirschberg Gary Rizzo Ed Novick
	Best Achievement in Sound Editing Richard King
	Best Achievement in Visual Effects Chris Corbould Andrew Lockley Pete Bebb Paul J. Franklin
Nominated Oscar	Best Motion Picture of the Year Christopher Nolan Emma Thomas
	Best Writing, Original Screenplay Christopher Nolan
	Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score Hans Zimmer
	Best Achievement in Art Direction Guy Hendrix Dyas (production designer) Larry Dias (set decorator) Douglas A. Mowat (set decorator)

Journal Prompt ~ Cheap Family Fun

How do you entertain your family without spending any money?  I'd love to hear your ideas.

Boxing Day 2013

When we have the family over we generally play board games or card games.  For snacks we usually make pots of tea or hot chocolate and munch on big bowls of popcorn.  Sometimes we watch favourite movies such as Oscar.

Journal Prompt ~ Favourite TV Shows

What are your 3 favourite TV shows.

Book Review: Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

I loved reading Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua.  It is definitely a controversial book, but it is written in an honest and humorous fashion that is appealing and easy to read.

Amy Chua is determined to raise her two daughters in what she considers the stereotypical Chinese style.  She points out that you don't have to be Chinese to parent this way.  Chinese style parenting is about discipline and focus, preparing your children for the future, instilling excellent work habits and confidence and self-esteem resulting from accomplishment.  The Chinese parent stresses accomplishment in academics and extra-curricular activities.  This is extreme parenting.

Chua compares her style to Western parenting in which parents nurture their childrens' individuality, allowing them to find their own passions and creating a soft, entitled, untalented child unprepared for life.  Western parents believe self-esteem comes first and then accomplishment.

Chua has certainly created some controversy with these extremes.  But she learns that there has to be some compromise when her second daughter turns out to be very opinionated and stubborn, creating a collision of wills which, I am happy to say, ends in compromise.  Chua shares what she has learned about the rewards and costs of raising children the Chinese way.

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is funny, honest, shocking, controversial and a great read.  Perhaps somewhere between Western and Chinese parenting we will find the compromise which will lead us to parenting happy children who are ready to face the world when they are grown.

Canadian Music ~ The Guthries

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Guthries were a Canadian country rock band based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They released two albums in the early 2000s.

The Guthries formed in 1998 in Halifax. Originally formed by vocalist Ruth Minnikin and Dale Murray, the band included their respective siblings Gabe Minnikin and Brian Murray, as well as high school friends Serge Samson and Matt Mays. Early line-ups included Nick Bevan-John and Tim-Jim Baker.

The band's first album was Off Windmill, released in 2000. Mays subsequently left the band in 2002, just prior to the release of the band's second release, the self-titled The Guthries. The band toured extensively throughout Canada and the UK. Following that album, however, the band members each began pursuing solo projects, and have not released another Guthries album.

Journal Prompt ~ Favourite Clothes

What are your favourite three outfits to wear?

This is an easy question for me.

1.  pyjama pants or leggings and tank tops (but only at home)


2.  flip flops (I hate socks)

3.  earrings (I feel naked without them)

160 Unusual Things to See in Ontario ~ 3 Castle Ruins

Ruins: The Corran, the Hermitage, Osler Castle

The Corran Ruins

Spirit Rock Conservation Area
92 HIGHWAY 6, WIARTON ON,

Spirit Rock & McNeil Estate is a popular site in Bruce County where you can take in an impressive view of Colpoy's Bay and hike over 5 km of trails. A must-see feature on this property is the spiral staircase that winds down the escarpment to the shoreline. The Corran ruins of the McNeill Estate offer a glimpse into the past and are a highlight for history-lovers!

The ruins of the McNeill Estate provide a glimpse into some of the history of Bruce County and its settlers.

In 1881, this site became home for Alexander McNeill who developed the land into beautiful garden, manicured lawns and productive orchards. The heart of the estate was the Corran, a 17-room mansion lavished with carvings, ancient weapons, tapestries and book-lined walls.

The Gaelic meaning for Corran is ‘point of land running into the sea’. McNeill’s mansion was modeled and named after his childhood home in Northern Ireland.

Alexander McNeill was born in Northern Ireland and served as the Federal Member of parliament for the North Bruce Riding, 1881-1901. He was a supporter of Britain and its empire and one of the ‘Noble 13’ who opposed Sir John A. Macdonald on a number of issues.

McNeill was a quiet man, fond of reading and a lover of flowers. He lived on the estate with his wife Hester and their son Malcolm. Hester died quite young, before the estate was completely finished. Unfortunately, after McNeill died, Malcolm was more interested in parties than managing the estate, and the family fortune dwindled away.

Following Malcolm’s death, the housekeeper, who had been willed the estate, sold it in 1960 to a Toronto resident. Without fulltime occupancy at the mansion, the site frequently experienced vandalism. The property was sold in 1976 to the Conservation Authority. Shortly after, a fire destroyed the mansion, leaving only a stone shell, which is still visible today.

The Hermitage Ruins

The Hermitage was a large residence situated in Ancaster, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, which now exists as ruins and is part of The Hermitage and Gatehouse Museum maintained by the Hamilton Conservation Authority. The location is a popular destination for hikers and people interested in the paranormal.

The Hermitage was originally built in 1830 by the Reverend George Sheed. The property is about two miles west of Ancaster, in the Dundas Valley.

Otto Ives (1801–1835) was the third land owner. He was an English officer who had fought in the Greek War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire. He met Magdalene Diamanti, a daughter of the Governor of an Aegean island. They married in Corfu in 1824, and had arrived in Ancaster by 1833. They brought her sister or niece with them to act as a companion for Mrs Ives. It was here that Otto Ives purchased the Hermitage from the heirs of George Sheed. Ives had hired a coachman by the name of William Black. Although it is said that Black was also a tutor in the English language, evidence exists that this post was filled by Mary Rosebeury (later Mrs Peter Filman of Hamilton).

The ladies of the household spoke only Greek, and it is said that Black fell in love with the sister or niece. Black asked Otto Ives for his niece's hand in marriage, but Ives was very upset by the thought, and rejected the proposal. The next morning, Ives and his wife were due to go out for the day, but the coachman was not at the front door with the carriage as planned. Ives went out to the barn to see why the coachman had not appeared, and discovered Black's body hanging from the rafters in the barn near the first Hermitage.

Although this story has become legend in Ancaster, and although Otto Ives owned the Hermitage in the 1830s, there is little other information from the time to substantiate the legend of the coachman and the niece's love affair. There is also a note appended to deeds of sale, mentioning that a family friend had hanged himself from a tree in the bush, because of love for the niece.

In 1853, the Hermitage was purchased by George Gordon Browne Leith (1812–1887) and his wife Eleanor Ferrier (1814–1900). Over the next several years, a large stone house, attendant outbuildings, a farmhouse, barns, and entrance lodge were constructed.

After Mrs Leith's death, the property was purchased by her youngest daughter, Eleanor Alma Dick Lauder (1854–1942). She lived here until the house was destroyed by fire in 1934, and afterwards, in a small house constructed inside the ruins.

The Osler Castle

Osler Castle (Kionontio) is located near the Town of Blue Mountains, Ontario. Osler Castle was built on Blue Mountain in 1893 by Toronto lawyer Britton Bath Osler (the Crown Attorney at the trial of Louis Riel and founder of the law firm Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt). Osler built this 15-room all-stone manor for his ailing wife Caroline in hope that the ‘fresh air’ would improve her health. Caroline named this summer house ‘Kionontio,’ a Petun Indian word for 'top of the hill'.

Unfortunately, after enjoying only a few summers at Osler Castle, Caroline succumbed to her illness and died in 1896. Osler remarried and continued to spend time at the Castle, but when he died in 1901, the empty manor was left to deteriorate. Vegetation, weather, vandals and evidence of many a bush party took their toll, reducing Osler Castle to ruins by the 1950s.

Today the property is owned by Castle Glen Development Corporation and is slated for residential development. Perhaps the ruins of the historically significant structure will be saved from demolition.

Please note that this is private property. Do not leave the trail or enter the ruins.

Journal Prompt ~ Fear

What's something you were afraid of as a child?

When I was a kid I don't remember being afraid of much of anything.  If I was, I probably wouldn't have done as many crazy things as I did.  I was quiet and very shy around new people though.  My sister was generally the instigator of any crazy we did.

As an adult I have a disturbing list of things I'm afraid of.  I'm assuming it is because I have an understanding now of pain and mortality and consequences.  It could have a lot to do with the fact that anxiety seems to be a family trait.  Who knows?

Movie Review ~ The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)

I probably would not have watched this movie and the sequels if not for the Top Movies of All Time list.  Otherworldly fantasies with scary stuff and violence are not generally my cup of tea.  And it would have been my loss.  The story is wonderful and vivid and exciting . . . 

Starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, and many more, this is the story of a very dangerous ring found by a Hobbit named Frodo and the epic journey to destroy the ring and save Middle Earth.  He is aided by a powerful wizard, his best friends, and joined by others on his journey.

This movie is filmed in New Zealand and is worth watching just for all the lush exotic scenery.

Excellent edge of your seat entertainment.  Just be careful.  If you watch one you will want to watch all the others in the series . . . and you might even want to read the books by J.R.R. Tolkien.  They are on my reading list.

Academy Awards, USA 2002

Won Oscar	Best Cinematography Andrew Lesnie
	Best Makeup Peter Owen Richard Taylor
	Best Music, Original Score Howard Shore
	Best Effects, Visual Effects Jim Rygiel Randall William Cook Richard Taylor Mark Stetson
Nominated Oscar	Best Picture Peter Jackson Barrie M. Osborne Fran Walsh
	Best Actor in a Supporting Role Ian McKellen
	Best Director Peter Jackson
	Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Fran Walsh Philippa Boyens Peter Jackson
	Best Art Direction-Set Decoration Grant Major (art director) Dan Hennah (set decorator)
	Best Costume Design Ngila Dickson Richard Taylor
	Best Film Editing John Gilbert
	Best Music, Original Song Enya Nicky Ryan Roma Ryan For the song "May It Be".
	Best Sound Christopher Boyes Michael Semanick Gethin Creagh Hammond Peek

Journal Prompt ~ Colour

What is your favourite colour?  How does it make you feel?

My favourite colour is actually a palette of colours . . . autumnal . . . greens, reds, oranges, browns.  They are so pretty and remind me of fall which is my favourite time of year and they are also very soothing.

The beautiful young woman in this photo is my daughter-in-law enjoying Waterworks Park.

Journal Prompt ~ What Kind of Writer?

What kind of writer are you?  If you use journaling prompts, you're a writer (perhaps a journalist?)  Are you a poet, a novelist, a copywriter?

I am a journal writer. I blog. I write tankas. I write books about scrapbooking.  My books are how I pay for my crafting habit.  If you are interested in seeing my books, click on this link . . .

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/afreshstart.

Tanka ~ Snowdrops

snowdrops are often 

the first flowers to bloom in 

Canada's gardens

they bud and bloom even when

there is still snow on the ground

Canadian Book Review ~ The Meaning of Leaving by Kate Rogers

Happy publication to Canadian poet Kate Rogers, whose collection, The Meaning of Leaving has been released by AOS Publishing!

The poems in The Meaning of Leaving explore the broad theme of departure—from an abusive marriage, a homeland, and an adopted home. The themes of the nature of home, homelessness, and belonging run through the poems as the speaker reflects on returning from Hong Kong to her Canadian birthplace.

With unflinching tenderness and insight, Rogers reflects on our hardest edges and most vulnerable soft spots, bringing the painful and unspoken parts of ourselves to brilliant, shattering light. The effect is transfixing, unsettlingly, and explosive. 

@aos.publishing

@river_street_writes

@kate_rogers_writer

#poetsofig #canlit #endthesilence #canadianbooks #bookstagram #bookstagramcanada #canadianpoet #booksforchange #poetry #socialchange #poetsforchange #canadianpoetry #canadianpoet #hongkong #booklover #bookishcanadians #nature #departure #movingon #relationships 

Book Review: Velvet Whispers by Joan Elizabeth Lloyd

If you enjoy reading very poorly written soft porn, than this is the book for you.  I'm not a prude.  I love "sex in long skirts books" (you know the ones I mean) where it takes pages and pages of delicious prose to describe a passionate encounter by the naive but secretly wealthy girl and her arch-enemy turned lover.  

In Velvet Whispers the delicious pages of prose have been replaced with two pages that basically say we came, he went in a very juvenile way.  The writing is the worst sort of corny porn imaginable.  The story is totally unbelievable.  I couldn't finish the book.  In fact I didn't even make it half-way and it is only 200 pages long.  I don't know anyone I dislike enough to give this book to so the book is now in the garbage because that is where it belongs.

Canadian Music ~ The Guess Who

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Guess Who was a Canadian rock band formed in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1965. The band found their greatest success in the late 1960s and early 1970s, under the leadership of singer/keyboardist Burton Cummings and guitarist Randy Bachman, with hit songs including "American Woman", "These Eyes", and "No Time".

During their most successful period, The Guess Who released eleven studio albums, all of which reached the charts in Canada and the United States. Their 1970 album American Woman reached no. 1 in Canada and no. 9 in the United States, while five other albums reached the top ten in Canada. The Guess Who charted fourteen Top 40 singles in the United States and more than thirty in Canada.

The Guess Who officially broke up in 1975, although a nostalgia-oriented lineup organized by former bassist Jim Kale has toured and recorded under The Guess Who name since 1978, often performing as a ghost band without any original band members on stage.

Journal Prompt ~ Plan

Happy Monday! What's your plan? For the week, for the month, for the year, for life...?

What do you have planned?

This week is going to be very quiet, I hope.  My plan is to attack My Dreaded To Do List, get my feet prettyfied, a couple of classes and an online crop, chatting with friends, a mammogram (sigh) and find my creativity wherever I can.

What are your plans for this week?

One Minute Journal Prompt ~ Important Lesson

What's an important lesson you've learned from an adult in your life?

I could probably write an essay on this topic . . . but the purpose is to say something in one minute.  I like to surround myself with intelligent women who all have something to teach me.  From my grandmother I have learned how to behave like a lady and how to knit, crochet and sew.  My mother taught me grace under fire and how to be a giving person.   

160 Unusual Things to See in Ontario ~ Bruce Peninsula Grotto

 

The Grotto Waits for You to Discover Its Wonder

https://explorethebruce.com/the-grotto/

The Grotto is Bruce County’s most popular attraction, a bustling hot spot visited by hundreds of thousands of people every year. It’s one of Ontario’s most scenic destinations. Its turquoise pool of water and intricate cave structures are mesmerizing! 

First things first, reserve your parking with Parks Canada before you visit.

The Grotto at Bruce Peninsula National Park in Tobermory, Ontario is Bruce County’s most popular attraction. Hidden away along the rugged shores of the Bruce Peninsula, the Grotto is a geological marvel. Picture crystal-clear waters, dramatic caves and limestone cliffs overlooking Georgian Bay.

The Grotto is one of our premier destinations and visitors travel from all over the world to hike out on the Bruce Trail to see this iconic feature.

The Grotto is located at the Cyprus Lake Road entrance to the Park. 

Prepare for your trip so you can have the best adventure to the Grotto.

If you have questions about parking at the Grotto, Halfway Log Dump or within Bruce Peninsula National Park, please contact the park directly at 1-888-773-8888 or by email at bruce-fathomfive@pc.gc.ca.

The hike through the park to reach the Grotto in Tobermory takes about 45 minutes each way. Along the way, you’ll see diverse wetlands, ancient cedar trees spiraling from cliff-edges, a multitude of orchids and ferns, birds, and so much more! The cave itself is stunning, carved from ancient limestone and filled with the crystal clear, pristine turquoise waters of Georgian Bay. You can walk along a ledge inside its cavity or, if you’re brave enough, even take a swim inside!

Remember to wear comfortable clothing, pack essentials like sunscreen and water, and be prepared for changing weather conditions.

Visitors love seeing the Grotto during July and August. This means, the Grotto parking reservations fill up quickly in the summer. Be aware of the summer crowds and how to plan for the best memorable experience.

Better yet, we suggest fall, winter or spring as it is the best time to visit the Grotto and the Bruce Peninsula.

It’s our responsibility to leave nature untouched and preserve its beauty for future generations. When visiting the Grotto, let’s prioritize sustainable travel practices. Here are a few tips to help you leave no trace:

Pack in, pack out: Be mindful of the waste you generate. Bring reusable water bottles, food containers and bags to pack out any trash and minimize your impact.

Stay on designated trails: Stick to marked paths to protect fragile ecosystems and prevent damage to flora and fauna. Resist the urge to venture off-trail.

Respect wildlife: Observe wildlife from a safe distance and never feed or disturb them. Remember, they are the rightful inhabitants of this land, and our presence should not disrupt their natural behaviour.

Capture memories, not souvenirs: Take plenty of photographs but resist the temptation to collect natural souvenirs like rocks or seashells. Leave them where they belong, as each element plays a vital role in the delicate ecosystem.

By adopting these sustainable practices, we can ensure that the Grotto remains a natural wonder for generations to come.

Movie Review ~ Psycho (1960)

I can't really have a serious opinion on this movie . . . because it looks to be very very very scary.  I don't do very very very scary.  Seriously, I've never watched it and probably never will.

Would you like to write a review for this movie?

  

Academy Awards, USA 1961

Nominated

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Janet Leigh

Best Director
Alfred Hitchcock

Best Cinematography, Black-and-White
John L. Russell

Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Black-and-White
Joseph Hurley
Robert Clatworthy
George Milo

Journal Prompt ~ Six Words

Today's Journal Prompt:  Six Words

Describe your day or current situation in just six words.

Going to Not Windswept this week.

Journal Prompt ~ I'm sure

You look outside. Ah, it's snowing! But look closer. Those aren't snowflakes falling from the sky! What's it snowing at your house?

Journal Prompt ~ Tanka Tuesday

Tanka is a form of poetry similar to haiku. It's short, and the lines don't need to rhyme. The just must have a set number of syllables: 5/7/5/7/7.

Today's tanka prompt is: food.

 

I love food good food 

not fast food not boring food 

happy food prepared 

with care food exciting food

seasoned food and different food

Canadian Book ~ You Break It You Buy It

 

It’s National Child Day—a day to recognize, amplify, and honour the rights and dreams of children. Who can tell them they’re not beautiful?

 

Poem by Canadian poet Lynn Tait: @lynn.tait.355 

 

#NationalChildDay #WorldChildrensDay #Poetry 

Journal Prompt ~ Spring Cleaning

In contrast to yesterday's prompt, is there anything in your life that you just can't wait to get rid of?

Diabetes is one of the things I would love to get rid of.  I have to constantly be vigilant about diet and medication.  It gets frustrating and I fall off the wagon which makes me feel awful and I have to jump right back on the diet and medication train.  Yep, I could definitely do without diabetes.

Canadian Music ~ Grimes

 

Claire Elise Boucher, born March 17, 1988, known professionally as Grimes, is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Her early work has been described as extending from "lo-fi R&B" to futuristic dance-pop, and has incorporated influences from electronic music, hip hop, and rock. Her lyrics often touch on science fiction themes. She has released five studio albums.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Grimes began releasing music independently after moving to Montreal in 2006. She then released two albums, Geidi Primes and Halfaxa, in 2010 on Arbutus Records and subsequently signed with 4AD and rose to prominence with the release of her 2012 studio album, Visions. Visions includes the singles "Genesis" and "Oblivion" and received the Canadian music industry Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year. Following this, her fourth studio album, Art Angels, was released in 2015 and several publications named it the best album of the year. Her fifth studio album, Miss Anthropocene, was released in 2020.

Outside of music, Grimes had a voice role in the 2020 action role-playing video game Cyberpunk 2077 and is a judge on the music competition game show Alter Ego.