Man of Kent, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening at Man of Kent on Ossington Avenue. 

I had a beef and ale pie and he had a chicken, mushroom and bacon pie. Both had mash, mushy peas and gravy. They were really good and we’d get them again. 

My beef and ale pie

Gord's chicken, mushroom and bacon pie

Allana was our server ... she was friendly and took good care of us.

Open Cribbage Tournament, Royal Canadian Legion - Branch 31 Mount Dennis, Toronto, ON

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 31 Mount Dennis (on Weston Road) had a cribbage tournament this afternoon and Gord and I were there. We've been going to them for a few years and it's always a fun afternoon.

There were 52 teams and the top prize was $340! 

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens. I haven’t made a pair since October and I thought these would be fun colours.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Book ~ "Mocha" (2012) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home.

Charles and his family are visiting relatives in the country when a stranger drops off a puppy. Mocha, a Bernese Mountain dog, was running around on the highway without a leash or tags. Can Charles find this adventurous pup a perfect place to live?

Charles and his older sister, Lizzie, are in elementary school. The Peterson family have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

The Petersons are visiting relatives in the country for a few weeks to celebrate Thanksgiving. There is a knock on the door and a stranger has a puppy he had rescued from a highway. He leaves quickly, leaving the puppy, who they name Mocha. Mocha is taken to the vet to see if she's chipped and it's discovered she's not. Mocha is very friendly and loves everyone so it shouldn't be hard to find her the perfect home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Mocha's point of view. It is the twenty-ninth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Knitted dog sweater

I just finished knitting a dog sweater I'll be donating to ElderDog Canada, which will be sold in their online shop, used directly as needed in ElderDog activities or included in special ElderDog fundraising. It’s considered a large-sized sweater (the chest is 18 inches).

I found the pattern at Yarnspirations.

Book ~ "Teddy" (2013) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home.

From the first time Lizzie sees Teddy the Pomeranian, she knows that this alert little puppy has some special talents but he just won't stop barking! When all of the other members of the Peterson family lose their patience, Lizzie sticks it out by training this pup to be helpful around the house.

Lizzie and her younger brother, Charles, are in elementary school. The Peterson family have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Their vet asks the Petersons to foster Teddy, a Pomeranian. He is a very yappy dog and his owners had asked that she perform surgery so he couldn't bark. Instead she suggested that another home be found for Teddy. As the Petersons discover, Teddy does bark A LOT and Lizzie is determine to teach him to not bark as much and find him the perfect home.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Teddy's point of view. It is the twenty-eighth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Hold My Girl" (2023) Charlene Carr

From Goodreads ~ Katherine is a woman full of obsessions. Everything clean, everything perfect, all the time. After seven years of trying - and failing - to conceive, she finally gives birth to Rose, her IVF miracle child. But she’s afraid that Rose may not be her daughter; her pale skin doesn’t match Katherine’s own.

Tess never got her happy ending. She took on IVF alongside Katherine and a group of hopeful mothers but her daughter, Hanna, was stillborn. After a series of poor choices, she’s divorced, broke and stuck in a job that’s below her skill set.

Ten months later, Katherine and Tess get a call from the fertility clinic that reveals shocking news: the two women’s eggs were switched. While Katherine’s perfect life beings to crumble around her, for Tess it’s the glimmer of hope she needs to get her life back on track. But it will take a custody battle to decide who deserves to be Rose’s mother, a battle that will push both women to the brink.

Katherine and Patrick had been trying for years to have a baby. Tess had also been trying to have a baby and though she and her husband eventually divorced, she decides to do it alone using a sperm donor. Both women become pregnant via IVF. Katherine delivers a healthy girl they name Rose. Unfortunately Tess' baby, who she names Hannah, is stillborn and because of complications, Tess will never be able to get pregnant again. While Katherine and Patrick are professionally successful and seem to have a perfect life, Tess is working a job that is below her skill level and using booze and men to numb her unhappiness.

Almost a year later it's discovered that someone at the fertility clinic had switched their eggs ... it was Katherine's egg that had been mixed with a sperm donor and that's the baby Tess had carried (Hannah) and it was Tess' egg that had been mixed with Patrick's sperm and that's the baby Katherine had carried (Rose). Needless to say, Tess wants her baby (Rose) and Katherine and Patrick want to keep Rose since biologically Patrick is her father and Katherine had carried and birthed her. The three can't come up with a solution so it goes to mediation and then court. There is a lot of dirt in Tess' background that can be used against her in a custody battle but as it turns out, Patrick and Katherine also have their own secrets that might hurt them.

This was an interesting topic for a story. Who is the actual mother ... the one who provided the egg or the one who carried the baby and was raising her? Apparently in Nova Scotia where the story takes place, there was no precedent (and maybe Canada?). Both Katherine and Tess thought they were the "real" mother. I thought the writing was okay, though I found the story a bit long and it could have been tighter. It's written in third person perspective in Katherine and Tess' voices. I wasn't overly sympathetic to either Katherine or Tess ... Katherine seemed too cold and Tess kept making dumb mistakes even when she knew so much was on the line. As a head's up, there is swearing.

Knitted doggy blanket

I finished knitting a doggy blanket I'll be donating to ElderDog Canada, which will be sold in their online shop, used directly as needed in ElderDog activities or included in special ElderDog fundraising. 

The yarn I used is 65% cotton/35% acrylic from Lang Yarns … it’s textured and soft and about 30 inches by 30 inches ... and 5mm needles.

Cast on 4 stitches.

Knit 2, YO, Knit to end. Turn work.

Knit 2, YO, Knit to end. Turn work.

Keep doing this over and over and over and over and over until you've used half the yarn.

Knit 1, K2tog, YO, K1, K2tog, knit to end. Turn work.

Knit 1, K2tog, YO, K1, K2tog, knit to end. Turn work.

Keep doing this over and over and over and over and over.

Cast off the final 4 stitches and darn in the ends.

2023 Toronto St. Patrick’s Day Race

The 2023 Toronto St. Patrick's Day Race was this morning and Gord and I were there to briskly walk the 5km ... it's my third year doing it. It started and ended next to Steam Whistle.

Just before the race started

And we're off! Gord and I split up and did it at our pace ... plus I like having earbuds in and listening to music.

1km down - Spadina/Wellington

The Rebel House, Toronto, ON

Gord and I picked up our race kits for tomorrow's Toronto St. Patrick's Day Race at Yonge/Eglinton and then had a late lunch/early supper at The Rebel House at Yonge/Davisville.

I had a Saturday special … Crispy Fried Panko Chicken Fingers (served with spicy wildflower honey and kettle fries).

Gord had the Big Rebel Club (grilled chicken breast, peameal bacon, leaf lettuce and homemade charred tomato mayonnaise stacked high on toasted French loaf with kettle fries). 

Both were large portions and very good. 

Ryan was our server and was friendly and fun.

Mr. Souvlaki, Etobicoke, ON

I was craving Greek food so had lunch today at Mr. Souvlaki on North Queen Street in Etobicoke.

I ordered two chicken skewers, tzatziki, potatoes and rice (I passed on the salad so got extra rice). It's been a while since I've had Greek food and it was really good.

The staff were friendly.

Pi Co. Toronto ON (University)

I was downtown today so had lunch at Pi Co. (on the NW corner of University and Adelaide W).

Pizzas take about 2 minutes to bake

You can order a Margherita pizza or "craft" your own, which is what I did. There are lots of ingredients to choose from ... you can put as little or as much as you want.

Here's my pizza ... I got extra mozzarella cheese, cherry tomatoes, pepperoni, bacon, ham and sausage on it. I love love love pizza and this was a delicious pizza. The ingredients seemed fresh and had a lot of flavour. I liked the crust ... it was soft and chewy. And I had leftovers to take home!

Book ~ "Lucy" (2012) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ Charles and Lizzie Peterson love puppies. Their family fosters these young dogs, giving them love and proper care, until they can find the perfect forever home.

Lucy, the basset mix, has super-long ears, a mournful howl, and, as the Petersons soon discover, a penchant for burying things. Will they be able to find this soulful puppy a caring home?

Charles and his older sister, Lizzie, are in elementary school. The Peterson family have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

A friend of the Petersons also fosters dogs but doesn't have room at the moment for Lucy, a basset/beagle/dachshund mix. The Petersons help out by taking care of Lucy. As they soon discover, nothing is safe from Lucy as she likes to bury things. The friend is able to take Lucy back just as Charles thinks he's found the perfect home for her.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Lucy's point of view. It is the twenty-seventh in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "Cocoa" (2012) Ellen Miles

From Goodreads ~ When Cocoa, a large chocolate Lab puppy, accidentally knocks over her elderly owner, Charles convinces his parents to foster this excitable dog. But can the Peterson household survive Cocoa's high energy behavior? 

Charles is confident that this intelligent pup will learn to calm down so they can find her a perfect forever home.

Charles and his older sister, Lizzie, are in elementary school. The Peterson family have a puppy named Buddy plus they foster dogs and help them find homes.

Cocoa is a chocolate Lab puppy who is owned by an elderly couple. Cocoa has more energy than they can handle. One day she accidentally knocks the husband down and he needs to go to rehab. The wife can't handle Cocoa on her own so the Petersons offer to take care of Cocoa while the husband recovers. But Charles realizes until Cocoa gets older and settles down, she'll always be too much for the couple.

Though this book is a quick read and directed at elementary-aged children, I found it entertaining. There is a learning experience and a puppy tip at the end. It is written in third person perspective and first person from Cocoa's point of view. It is the twenty-fifth in the Puppy Place series, which currently has 66 books in the series, and works as a stand alone.

Book ~ "The Witness" (2012) Nora Roberts

From Goodreads ~ Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man's seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever.

Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems - and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail's reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason. Her logical mind, her secretive nature and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something - and that her elaborate defences hide a story that must be revealed.

In 2000, Elizabeth was on the verge of turning 17. She was the daughter of a single mother who controlled everything she did. She was also extremely intelligent and excelled in school, about to enter medical school. After an argument with her mother, Elizabeth rebels ... she heads to the mall and runs into a former schoolmate. They go shopping and make plans to go to a night club the next night with the fake IDs Elizabeth makes. At the club, they meet a couple of older guys, who turn out to be in the Russian mafia, and the night ends up with with murders. Elizabeth sees it all happen and ends up in witness protection, which doesn't end up being so safe after all.

Twelve years later, Elizabeth is now Abigail and working as a freelance securities systems developer. She lives outside a small town in the Ozarks with her big guard dog, Bert, and many guns. She keeps to herself which attracts the interest of the town and especially the local police chief, Brooks. Brooks starts approaching her and becomes attracted to and intrigued by her. He eventually breaks down her defences and against her better judgment, they begin dating and fall in love .... but she is always ready to disappear again if she has to.

I found the first part of the book (the Elizabeth part) interesting. When she became Abigail, it was unrealistic and less interesting and draggy. When I was reading the things she was saying and thinking, she seemed like a female Sheldon Cooper of Big Bang Theory ... brilliant but lacking social skills and real world knowledge. Plus I wasn't buying that at 17, she went on the run with $15,000 and managed to buy cars and stay in motels/hotels by paying cash, changed her identity many times but is a master hacker so is able to create her new identities, and is now a very rich woman. She was resistant when Brooks started basically stalking her but it didn't take much for her to accept him into her world and they are in love within a couple of months.

It's a long book that could have been so much shorter. There were side stories that included local townsfolk that had nothing to do with Abigail ... these could have been chopped out and put into another book or two where they would have worked better since they could have been the focal point rather than filler in this book.

It's written in third personal perspective from Elizabeth/Abigail and Brooks' point of view. As a head's up, there is swearing, violence and adult activity.

Bar Hop Bar, Toronto, ON

Darlene, Gord and I had supper at Bar Hop on King Street W. 

I had a Bacon Burger (single 4oz beef brisket patty topped with double smoked bacon, pickles and 90s sauce and served on a Martins potato bun).

Gord had an OG Cheeseburger (single 4oz beef brisket patty topped with shredded lettuce, aged cheddar, caramelized onions, pickles and mustard and served on a Martins potato bun).

Darlene had a Where's The Beef? (single 4oz Beyond Meat patty topped with shredded lettuce, dairy-free cheese, caramelized onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard and served on a Martins potato bun). 

All were very good! 

Sky was friendly and helpful and took good care of us).