Out with Winter and in with Spring, March 30,2010

I have often wondered about the images in children's books of the birds in the trees, the squirrels climbing the trees, cars, transport trucks and buses on the roads and airplanes flying in the skies, all on the same page. Well, that is how it is here on Rexdale Blvd, cars, trucks, buses and airplanes. On my walk to work yesterday I caught up to and began to pass an elderly white bearded gentleman wearing a lovely pink turbin on his head. I greeted him with "Good morning", and in Punjabby he greeted me. He put his arm around me and gave me a juicy kiss on my cheek. He introduced himself with a pat on his chest as he said - India, Punjab. That was the extent of the exchange before he crossed the street to the Casino at the Woodbine Race Track. In two days the race track will officially open for the Spring season of horse racing and harness racing. This is something I hope to see.

Last weekend we were invited by Brother Brian Bunn, the High Council representative responsible for the employment specialists from the Kitchener Stake, to attend a meeting there Friday evening. We accepted the invitation and decided that while we were in the area that it would be a good idea to stay over until Sunday and attend church in the Guelph Ward. We reserved a room at a Tynavon B&B, circa 1856. A lovely limestone home in Elora. Elora and the neighbouring town Fergus, (separated only by a corn field ) were both settled by the Scotts. We had our Friday evening meal in the largest old flour mill in Elora, it was four stories of limestone brick, the top three stories had been turned into an inn. Wonderful meal in a delightful setting. The River Grand runs through the town which provided the power for the mills. We spent several hours on Saturday walking along the river, taking photos and of course, in and out of the many quaint shops in Elora. The leather shop had purses the likes I had not seen anywhere, the leathers for jackets and coats were imported from England and Italy and then tailor-made to fit in their specialty store. Chris, one of the owners of the B&B where we stayed told us he had repeat summer guests for the art lessons and exhibits. Appaarently the town is a buzz in the summer time and if you don't like crowds you better stay in Fergus.

Brother Bunn drove us to the last operating covered bridge in Ontario. This was very close to the farms of the Minnonites. There are two orders of Minnonites, those who use nothing mechanical and no electricity and still get around in their black covered buggies. They are the shape of an old milk wagon. On a Sunday there will be 35 of them on the road going to church. The other order of minnonites use electricity and mechanics. We were so impressed with how clean and neat the farms were. No old broken down machinery, cars or delapitaded barns. We drove on a road that crossed over the "kissing trail", this is the asphalt trail through trees that stretched for miles where the young lovers can ride in their buggies and have private time together.

Just in between Fergus and Elora and right next to the corn field is a large impreseive limestone building on a hill that is now the museam and archives but which once was the 'poor house'. We walked around the limestone quarry and watched kyackers in their wet suits ride the falls down the Grand River.

We just returned from an hour with Maria, Christian and Katherine, visiting and listening to them read from the Childrens Friend. What a challenge to learn a new language. Today it is surely spring here in Toronto, the grass is turning green and the robins are surely chirping.
Elaine