Living the Cottage Life September 11, 2020 | Bill V. Comments (1) For some lucky folks, summer means going to a cottage. We're fortunate my husband's cousins (Betty and Peter) generously let us use their cottage most summers. This year we did the hand off with everyone keeping six feet apart and also wearing masks. We generally give them two cases of...

Sneaky Dee's: A Toronto Institution in Jeopardy? September 10, 2020 | M. Elwood Comments (1) Although change is inevitable unexpected change can be a shock. Toronto was shaken by the recent announcement that Sneaky Dee's might be closing, as a proposal for a new condo building at their location could potentially spell the end of the iconic restaurant/bar/club. Sneaky Dee's by Astro Guy. Used on...

International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples 2020 August 6, 2020 | Hector Comments (0) 370-500 million of the world’s human population are Indigenous peoples living on 22% of the global land area. Because of racism and colonization, Indigenous communities face: marginalization extreme poverty other human rights violations barriers to accessing health services. In spite of this, Indigenous people are resilient and continue to fight...

I Created a New Drink, "The Librarian": Cocktail and Mocktail Cookbooks July 31, 2020 | Bill V. Comments (2) I created a new cocktail the other day and am calling it "The Librarian". To celebrate, here are cookbooks for cocktails and mocktails to help you cool off this summer. The Librarian is made with as much gin as you like, some traditional lemonade, and six mulberries that I took...

International Friendship Day 2020 Reading and Film Guide July 28, 2020 | margaux s Comments (0) “... a friend criticizes you to your face and praises you behind your back. And as experience says, a real friend is a friend in all seasons. The others are just summertime friends.” – Eduardo Galeano, Children of the Days In 2011, July 30 was declared the International Day of...

On Policing: A Reading List July 21, 2020 | margaux s Comments (2) The death of George Floyd in Minnesota on May 25, 2020, has spurred widespread movements to defund the police. There have been many protests against police violence in the United States, Canada, and across the globe. Toronto has seen a series of protests about Toronto police. Protesters are calling to...

What's On Your Pandemic Playlist? June 10, 2020 | Charlene Lee Comments (0) In uncertain times, there’s always music to help us get through. Along with baking, cooking, and gardening, music has been a source of positivity for many. I’ve been able to safely isolate at home, and over the last couple of months I have played many songs on repeat. If you...

All the World's a Stage...Including Your Living Room! June 4, 2020 | Denise Comments (0) Are you missing attending live performances? As someone who likes a good mosh pit from time to time, I miss going to concerts with my friends. But we've all learned lately that "live" doesn't have to mean "in-person," and that living rooms and backyards work as performance stages in a...

Vintage Homeschooling Advice by Ellenor Fenn, aka "Mrs. Lovechild" May 25, 2020 | Myrna Comments (4) With physical classrooms closed and students at home, parents are feeling the pressure to help their children learn. Parenting philosophies have changed over the centuries, but stressing about your child’s education is nothing new. Out of curiosity, I turned to our Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books to explore some...