There are many ways to get your business noticed. You'd think a corner business would be noticed regardless, but when you paint it yellow, it slaps you in the face.

This is another great old building in downtown Toronto, complete with an excellent little bar in the "V" part of the basement. Urban Cowboy, help me out, again, with the name of this building, please.

Church Street Church

I don't remember the name of this church on Church Street in Toronto, but it certainly is imposing, and it occupies a huge parcel of land.

For the most part, the high rise buildings in downtown Toronto are structural and architectural marvels. Occasionally a building inspires and moves us to discuss its features. The thin building is one that provided us endless discussion last Saturday as we waltzed around the city. The air foil shape faces the prevailing winds from Lake Ontario, so we assumed, among other things, the design factored in this strongly.

Hey Lucy, you've got a great looking pizza oven. The Hey Lucy bar had a great deal on Saturday during our "one drink, one bar" adventure: Any of its martinis for only $3.99. Had this been any other "adventure", we would have stayed for more than one; although, one of the crew ended up with two Godzillas as he was a bit messy with his first one.

After spending a weekend in downtown Toronto, it's really difficult to see signs of the recession/depression that is sweeping North America and the world. The city is bustling, people are out everywhere spending money, construction appears to be booming (see above photo of construction of condos around the ACC) and tourists are gawking.

Roy Thompson Hall is dwarfed by the the 2 buildings on either side of it, and the design of the building on the left has it widen out as it rises from the ground.

Anyone who passes by the CBC building on Front Street in Toronto can sit down and have a chat with Glenn Gould.

These ramps onto the Gardiner are in disrepair. Click on the above photo to see the red arrows pointing to crumbling concrete.

The Gardiner Expressway in downtown Toronto is definitely showing some wear and tear. After walking under it, we felt a tad apprehensive about driving on it.

The Killer Strawberries were victorious this year in their quest for the cup. They won a hard fought championship game 3-1 last Monday night for their 2nd championship in 3 years.

Just got back from a "boys" weekend in Toronto where we walked, ate and beveraged a lot, and we saw the Toronto Rock win its lacrosse game. We didn't get into McVeigh's because it was closed, and we ate better than what was offered in the "snack" van.

OK, how's this for crass - I've got a photo book available now. It's a photo book of Trout Lake, and it could live in your house for $50. Now I know that may be a lot, but it's a real good book, if I do say so myself, and a good value for the price. If you're interested let me know, and we can make arrangements for you to get one.

Here's the Reunion gang at Hooterville last Sunday morning just before departure time: What a swell bunch of folks.

The "lovely" Kemptville firehall, just down the way from the ex-arena now-curling rink.

This is an old house in "lovely" Kemptville, up by the firehall and the old hockey arena which is now the curling rink.

This is the Oddfellows Lodge in "lovely" Kemptville, just down the street from the Clothier Inn.I'm not sure who the "oddfellow" hockey player in the mural is, but he looks like a Ranger from the 50's. Any ideas as to his identity?

This bird house in the parking lot at the Clothier Inn in Kemptville appears to be quite camouflaged, but I'm sure it's even more so in the summer when the vines are in leaf.

I was stopped, briefly, yesterday morning as I was about to go out to the hot tub when I noticed this little fella just outside the door eyeing up the red squirrels and birds that were hanging out around the bird feeders. Lately it's been an active place with untold numbers of chickadees, sparrows, wrens and red squirrels. Seeds fly, and there's no shortage of spoils for all. So, I guess, the fox was hoping to cash in. He seemed pretty comfy in the yard but skittered off when he realized he was being watched. Good thing Sunny was in the house or she'd still be chasing the fox.

Just got back from "lovely" Kemptville from our 13th annual foray in frivolity and laughter, with a good dose of hockey tossed in. Needless to say, everyone involved had a blast.

Even though it's been real cold, the sun has heat in it, enough to expose this bit of granite.

Sunny and I went for a walk across the lake yesterday afternoon. It's about 2 miles across, and it took us just under 1/2 hour. It was Sunny's first experience crossing the lake, so I kept her on the lead for the cross-over walk. On the return trip she was free to run, and, boy, can she run.

This is the eastern edge of Payne Island.

These 2 views are of opposite directions down the length of the lake. It's a real snow machine highway right now.

Boy, it's been a long time since these seats were filled with anything but what the weather has had to offer. They are part of the seating stands at the old Sunnydale Raceway just east of North Bay.

It may be a while before these chairs accept any "buts" as winter appears to be here for the duration, whatever that is.

These guys are being boarded at our friend Dale's place, the old Sunnydale Raceway between Highway 17 and Trout Lake. There are a few other "ponies" as well, but these two were the most curious.

This horse shows no ill effects from the cold temperatures we had yesterday, -20C. Obviously a fur/hair coat beats man made synthetic materials.