Going Squirrelly

I really like to watch squirrels. I know they are rodents and aren't loved by everyone, but the worse a squirrel has done to me is to eat every new crocus bulb I planted last year before they had had a chance to bloom. But I'd gladly trade some flowers for a year-round silly squirrel show.

Here are some pictures I've taken recently ...

The Maple Key Eater :

Shopping for Toys on Queen Street West : The Toy Terminal

Bits and Pieces : November 2013

Hi. This is the monthly post where I put photos that I took during the month, which didn't find a home in any other story. I try to pick only good and/or interesting shots to show. I hope you like them.

Hot Dogs for Sale

An Eye Catching Sign

Rendezvous at a Fancy Hotel

One thing that rarely, if ever, happens is a person sleeping in a hotel room in the city they live in. Well, that would be unless they were having an affair, I suppose. Suffice it to say that I have never stayed overnight in a Toronto hotel room.

But I used to have a job that involved quite a bit of travel, so I've had the chance to stay in some fancy hotels. The business trips were tiring for sure, usually involving being at the airport at some ridiculously early hour, arriving at my destination and then sitting through a long day of meetings and meals. But they were also exciting, breaking up the monotony of the regular day-to-day. And the experience of entering a beautifully appointed room and shutting the door for the night was something that never got old.

Now, that's not to say that we stay at The Shabby Inn when Nick and I travel for pleasure, but let's just say that we aren't staying at places like The Royalton in New York City. I got to stay there for a couple of nights once and it was my most memorable hotel experience ever, based on the decor and cool vibe of the place. And the smell ... I'm not sure if they still have, but when I stayed there they had a subtle aromatherapy thing going on and I still distinctly remember how it smelled.

Snapping back to the present ... When we were invited to a casual honourary dinner for a friend recently, held at The Intercontinental Hotel, one of Toronto's swankier addresses, we took our time leaving after the event, soaking in some of the ambiance and taking a few pictures.

Dog Spotting While Out and About

I'm taking this week's pet related post to the streets. Here are some dogs I've seen lately.

This shepherd was spotted waiting and relaxing in Kensington Market on Friday.

The part I like the best about this picture was a complete fluke I only noticed when looking at the it later. I had no idea I was being watched by the dog's person. As least I assume that is who is looking out the window at the top left. It's almost as though the mural on the wall is a painting of that same person.