Look it’s a bird … no, it’s an interesting plane!

Today, Labour Day, was the third and final day of the Canadian International Air Show, held annually on Toronto's water front. Unfortunately the weather didn't co-operate and it was cancelled on Saturday and I wonder if the actual full show took place on Sunday and Monday, because it sure looked overcast. If I was a pilot I wouldn't have wanted to do twirly-tricks in that!

We know for sure that at least some of the planes were flying though because everyone who was downtown at the time could hear them, and occasionally catch a glimpse of one flying by in a flash. But since light travels faster than sound, a person holding a camera could not depend on sound to indicate when it was time to take the picture. I saw the Canadian Snowbirds fly by, 9 planes in full formation, so close to one another that it seemed an impossible feat. Without sound first I had no idea when to prepare to take a picture and where to point my camera. And by the time they had flown over and it was too late.

I was not actually at the airshow. There is a place where people pay to get in and have a seat, in full view of the show as it is intended to be seen. The rest of the people in the city were treated to the stunning sight of the planes flying overhead, after they'd done their tricks for the audience and were on their way back to the landing strip.

I did get this one shot of a jet though.

... And this squirrel ... admittedly out of focus. Alas the perfect squirrel picture has eluded me once again!

The CNE

The Canadian National Exhibition, (also known as The Ex), has been running in Toronto since 1879. It is open for the last two weeks of August, and any person who grew up in or around the city has probably got their own memories tied in with this fair.

For me, a trip as an adult without children was solely for the sake of nostalgia. Well that and we felt like some exercise after an early dinner and it was a really nice evening out weather-wise. Also Glen Campbell was playing at the Bandshell, where shows have always been included with price of admission. Glen wouldn't be my first choice of performer, but I thought it would be fun to see/hear him. Speaking of admission ... it was only $5 per adult after 5pm (versus $16), something I hadn't seen mentioned anywhere. Bonus!

There's no doubt that Nick obliged me in my desire to go. He didn't grow up around Toronto and has no emotional connection to the CNE, but he came because I asked him to. Love is ... taking your lady to the fair <3

What’s up in the Garden : August

Greetings! Well I guess if I were a better garden planner I would have selected a variety of plants that would have kept the floral show going throughout the summer. As it is, we had all kinds of things up in April, May and June. A few new flowers in July. And August? ... not so much! My garden is showing the results of my decision not to add any extra water and just let nature take it's course. Though I do admit to rescuing a few plants with a manual watering mid month, as it has gotten pretty dry out there. The grass thinks it's mowed hay and, well, this means we don't have to cut it, so it's easy-peasey on that front, but a little crisp under the bum for picnics on a blanket!

[caption id="attachment_1785" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="A hibiscus tree I put in a few years ago and a pink plant in the rock garden"]

[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1786" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Daisies"]

Peachy keen : Freezing Peaches

The peaches were so good this year so we decided to try to save some to extend the goodness throughout the winter. Peach-pie in January anyone? Yes please! So I set out to freezing a basket of them and got some photos of the process.

Jack Layton 1950-2011

No blog featuring stories about Toronto would be complete without mentioning the passing of long-time local politician Jack Layton on Monday, and the impressive effort made by the residents of the city to show him an honourable goodbye this week-end.

Mr Layton died of cancer at the age of 61, after more than 3 decades of public service, most of which involved local Toronto politics, but changed to the Federal realm in 2003, when he became leader of the Federal New Democratic Party of Canada (NDP). It was only 3 months ago that he was at the top of the world, having achieved an unprecedented win for his party, when they were elected as the largest official opposition in Canada in 31 years and the first formed by New Democrats. At this point in time he also believed he was a cancer survivor, having been diagnosed and treated for the disease last year. Then less than a month ago, he took the podium to announce to Canada that cancer had returned.

I never met Jack Layton myself, nor have I ever voted for his party. I cannot claim his death as a personal loss, as have the thousands of people who have waited in very long line-ups to walk past his casket or to attend his public state funeral today. But I did respect the man who worked so diligently to make this city and country a more equal and fare place to live. I watched the funeral on television and couldn't help crying for him and his painfully bereaved family. It is such a sad thing for him to have died at a relatively young age, so soon after achieving a taste of something he had worked his whole adult life for.

In tribute to Jack Layton, the city lit the CN Tower orange on Saturday night, which was the colour representing his party. I took a walk with my camera to see if I could capture this. It was dark and I didn't have my tripod, so couldn't get a focused shot but such is life with low-light photography. And while walking a route I've taken a hundred times before, I noticed other orange things along the way that had previously gone unnoticed.