Posterity and finger sandwiches

As is tradition with 2 friends of mine, this year we went out for high tea/afternoon tea in Toronto.

This is our third year doing so, and we decided that reviews of our visits would be wise to know which one we liked best, to go back to when we run out of teas to try (2 more to go, I think) Only took us 3 years to realize a written review would be helpful. My excuse is that I only have 1 degree, the other two: clearly napping.

So! This defunct blog has new life in tea reviews! (#stuffwhitepeopleblogabout #ipaidforthiablogappsoiamgoingtouseit)

2012: The Mill (the old mill?) Toronto

Ambience: ok? It's a lovely spot but we were all ushered into the tea solarium at the same time as everyone with a reservation, and I scorned the flowers (a potted cyclamen that was dead looking-- I traded it for the healthy one sitting on a shelf full of glasses)

Service: the mass seating meant mass serving. We were slow to get out finger sandwiches and so forth

Taste: good! Nothing to race about. Not enough cream for the scones (is there ever enough!?!) they had smoked salmon which my lady friends enjoyed, and not that, which I prefer. Scones were good! And the desserts were alright. We all ate the inside of our tarts, because we are fancy like that...and the filling was far more delicious than the pastry. Tea was tea.

Other notes: we were asked to leave by management because the lingering scent of riff raff we had at our table disturbed the sensitive nose boxes of the other patrons. Or because they had to clear is out for the dinner seatings. Fair! But not very charming. Thankfully my company was quite charming!

So it was lovely! But the king William (last year) was better (they let us stay late, were wise in tea info, gave us carry out containers for our leftovers and didn't mind our stench...not enough cream though as I recall...)

Ladies- till next year!

Let's go

Blue jays! I've turned into something of a fan.

Island life

M and I took a trip to Toronto island last week.
Highlights include:



It's a goose in a tree!



Moorage infraction



And a pretty excellent view of the city.

With a little on the side

This is how my dad does dessert

Market to market

First market of the season for La Primavera Farms




A crate full of posies, to get things started

Location:Hamilton

Early morning sun

Can be pretty beautiful,



But I think I prefer sunset. Allows for more sleeping

What's not to love?

Cute mask, striped tail, nimble hands and an affinity for garbage.



Why haven't we domesticated these guys? This one was caught at my old work. I saw him climb up a garbage can, go in and then emerge and scurry off in mere minutes. Soon he can commune with nature not warehouse garbage.