realia

a gap in the clouds

I get home from the long work day after a weekend of fun, after riding in the rain and wet streets, and as I'm locking up my bike I see this rainbow showing itself between a gap in the clouds.  It's kind of like the universe is saying, "Aw c'mon, it's not so bad!  You get a short work week, and it's autumn!  Autumn is nice!  Happy up kid!"

more sky drama

The changeable weather continues to create wonderful drama in the sky, right over there in little ol' Toronto Harbour.  All these photos were taken with minutes of one another.  So many people walked under that double rainbow, oblivious to its existence.  It got me to imagining how many times I might have walked under a rainbow without noticing it.  It's kind of a nice thought.

rainy

Neither the heavily overcast sky nor PhotoShop can disguise those dirty windows.

not raining

I'm enchanted by this marbley warped-glass look of the water between rains.  One drop and everything changes...

 

post-rain show

The rain intrudes on our rooftop picnic, so Mom, Cathy, Elaine and Mia and I take the party down to my apartment.  We still have a good time, and are joined by Kelsey later.  Anyway, you have to forgive rainy skies that can produce post-event shows like this.

changeable

 

Some headlines said, "get ready Toronto, Queen and Spadina is shutting down for two weeks." Yeah, it is a pretty astonishing sight, to see this very, very busy intersection being transformed with new streetcar tracks.

 

It's a hot and humid day when Elaine and I walk up to Queen Street to get her birthday present and to find a particular item she's looking for. The air is thick and heavy, and we feel sorry for these busy beavers working to renovate that corner.

 

A couple of hours later, we're meeting up with Kelsey and Ceri at the Harbourfront where we're intending to wander the international vendors and try some of the foods featured this week. "The rain will blow over" I keep saying.   Wrong.  The heavens open and we take temporary shelter, until we can make a dash to this covered patio, where we watch the rain and the soggy people. Carly joins us after the ball game and we're all pretty wet, but its fun camping out, watching the weather drama on what was an oppressively hot July day.

 

Raining buckets.

 

home and thunder

A home.

Today I take the GO train to Mississauga to meet up with Cathy  and Elaine before the three of us go to have dinner with Mom in her new place in Oakville.  She moved in on Monday, and today it looks as if she's been there for years.  I love my mother's sense of order; she finds Zen in simplicity and spareness (though she wouldn't call it Zen).  I don't have that sense of order, but hers gives me comfort.  

Mom gives us a beautiful cold summer dinner to suit the steamy weather: Greek salad, green salad, baguette and butter, chicken salad, grapes and grape tomatoes.  I shoot photos of the place to send to Jane.

Stormy looking clouds had started rolling over the landscape while we were still at Cathy's, and the rain started in earnest by the time we get to Oakville. There are a couple of thunderclaps while we're having dinner, but the storm is otherwise benign.  

We go home feeling happy that Mom's place, and the neighbourhood, seem great, and are confident she'll be happy there.

all wet

Somebody rode her bike to work today.  Somebody didn't check the weather forecast before doing so. 

it was a fierce competition...

 

 

... between the looming thunderstorm, the pink clouds and the cerulean sky. 

Can't call a winner, but it was sure nice being out there.  Summer, I'm so glad you're here.

out riding: bathurst street, wychwood barns, st. george street, king street

Like yesterday, the weather report isn' t cooperating with our plans.  We briefly consider an alternative but the sun comes out periodically and things don't look too threatening so we grab our raincoats and go with Burger Day at Wychwood Barns as planned.

I'm feeling a little smug after my 30K re-entry into cycling yesterday; other than being mildly saddle sore, I feel great in the morning.  When I get back on the bike, however, my legs complain.  Kinda loud.  But I soldier on; the ride to St. Clair via Bathurst isn't real far, but it's a mild upgrade most of the way, and at one point a steepish hill that has me huffing and puffing as I walk my bike up that hill. I love my seasoned-cyclist boyfriend for walking up with me.

Rain starts as we get to Wychwood Barns, and the place is teeming with humanity.  Local restaurants are serving sliders and we enjoy the ones we try.  Inside, some entertainment has started and we enjoy the 12-ish year old boys playing, and the great support from the crowd. 

 

Barn number four. Wychwood Barns, Toronto.

 

A tiny pair of turquoise glittery shoes, forgotten under a table.

 

The 12-ish year old entertainment. I want to say they were adorable, but they'd probably hate that. The crowd loved them.

 

Stopped for French onion soup on King Street. This is my favourite photo of the day.

 

We go back out into the rain and ride downhill back downtown, enjoying it.  We cut over by Casa Loma and then to the beautiful St. George Street to ride south in the dedicated bike lane. 

We stop for a bowl of French onion soup on King Street, and the best moment of the day is when we arrive at the pub and I'm peeling off wet layers and my hair is mushed against my head from my helmet and my face is splattered from the rain from puddles and traffic and Ceri says, genuinely, "you look great!"

I feel pretty great actually.  The fear I'd had of riding my bike in the close city streets was much overcome today by the freedom I felt in riding my bike in the rain.  So much ground to cover; so little time.

Those boys with guitars today - they reminded me of this video.