Bendor and Gravens Tract - 81Hectares

Interesting hiking route at this tract, all about discovery. 

Leader Kelvin is a very nice U of T professor who explains every question that we have during this 10km hike.  The high rise stair like station was an observation desk for deer hunter in the hunting season at the past.  And there are horse tail plants everywhere in this tract, they used to be sign for native people to identify the source of water.

We spotted a rare type of flower, it grows from bottom and lays on the ground, no idea what it's called, and lots of freshly bloomed ferns..reminds me of beer house food in Taiwan.

Cooking Italian

No Knead Bread..baking the perfect loaf of bread at home

Roasted bell pepper,artichoke & sundried tomato
Chick peas salad

Napoleon layered salmon and scallops

Marble chiffon cake

Photoshop - element



Hahaha.....

 

As I was having fun editing photos, kid  didn't seem happy to pose for mom's request....haha, I even forced her to change clothes for more effect..

Scout Tract - Eldred King

Today, I bring along a new fried to try out this usually slow pace of Monday hiking.....she almost cry during  the journey.  Who would know that the group leader was switched to Joan, this tiny old lady walks super fast, even athletic people like me were having difficulty catching her up.........

This friend called me the evening, complained about the pain that restrict her from doing everything, (omg, I crippled her) but  thankful that I pushed her into this activity and were quite happy that she made her first step out doing something good to her health. 

It feels good  to see any friend who decided to love herself once again, by changing to a healthier life style.

Mother's day at Edwards Gardens

This colder weather finally come to an end, bright sun and cool breeze make this mother's day weekend a perfect time to gather Friends and kids for a healthy outdoor activity.

Kids were like unleashed pets, running free.......and having tons of fun and workout.  If there were no TV, no PC, no Iphone........I believe kids will happily enjoy and appreciate more for home get away.

Awesome flowers everywhere as you stroll along the trail, just can't stop photographing them, want to capture all that make you wooooah!!!!

1st game of the season~~

I have only 2 words to describe today's game...................Suck...........&..........Suck...........
haha, but I don't care, as long as I can still get up, walk out and breath... I will make golfing part of my life.   I need to learn how to by pass the pain that bother me and enjoy the surrounding that bring me tremendous happiness.   Tranquil, greens, friends, fun & embraced by nature... .I took the photo of the tree, because it so much looked like my spine in the X-ray, crooked.....

Greener life....

People everywhere are making commitments to save energy in as many ways as they can, reduce waste and to provide a healthier environment.  And we can all do this by living green. Living green is a concept that involves creating greener homes ; homes that make use of energy efficient appliances and various other energy efficient sources.  We all need to take part of protecting our environment for future, as the natural resource will become scarce pretty soon if we don't care and not educate our younger generation  about energy saving concepts. 

Soap Making - Episo #2

After the lesson, we decided to make our own soap.  Exciting and scary at the beginning, we covered ourself so well, not taking a chance to get poisoned.   After few batches, we gain experience and it actually was not that dangerous as Vicki said... One litre of extra virgin olive oil can make about 40pcs of soaps, very cost effective, consider each pc of hand made soap priced at at least over $6.00 .

Snooker table for sale

The entertainment center in our basement.....

This international standard snooker table came with the house at the time we purchased, looked cool and fancy, it is so big that kids like to get on  it and roll the balls to the nets. 

It's a shame that all these years we've never learned and played this game, wasted the good purpose of it's value, and it occupied  most of the space that we were limited to take good use of the place.  Reluctantly, we decided to get rid of it and make the entertainment center more usable for our family need.  Taking these photos not just only showing to the potential buyers but also mark my memory of having own it for the past 10 years. 

Walker Woods Glen Major Forest

We started off hiking in this woods trail,  end of April, weather still a bit at the cool side...but the slow to moderate pace fit my mood today, gave me lots of chance to look around and taking photos.  A huge trail, like to come back again and again to explore Trans Canada Trail as well as The Dufferin Creek Watershed.

As it said, this forest is composed of 1,500+ hectares of environmently significant forest located at Uxbridge, these lands contain the largest node of forest interior habitant in Toronto and Region' Conservation.  There are many sites spotted that have historical value and hope to be renovated for future educational purpose.

Hand made soap~~





This once a week photography lesson has expanded into many other forms of learning experience I did not expect at the first place.  I found myself like a piece of dry sponge eagerly and quickly absorbing all kinds of information in short period of time.   Every individual that I come across has her own unique way of teaching me something new in life, in fact, I am quite happy with the process of getting closer and attached with this group of friends.  We share not only foods, thoughts,passion, interests but also lots of laughter.......Life is good!!!



The project is to make hand made soap, not as easy as what I originally thought, need 1st to prepare all the right equipments dedicated only use for this project.  With Vicki's thoroughly instruction and demonstration, we still can't really get a hang of it,  ever thing happened so fast that we only worried about how one of the chemical could have harmed us.... taking down notes, shooting while making, hoping next time we have better idea and make it a success...





Kids came around and asked " can we have these CHEESE after you've done shooting?" 
This is how the hand made soap  look like if we have time to finish during the class.   Simple yet pretty!!!        



 

Spring???? Winter stop by again.....

Woke up and looked out.....cloudy snow.... winter just didn't want to leave us yet. 

Felt like the first day of snow when it could have been the last fall of the season,  holding my cup of coffee walking in to the white, feeling peaceful, comfortable and beautiful....

17.3 KM~~~~Eldred King Woodlands

Another day of hiking the Canadian nature, we decided to challenge ourself for a faster and longer trail.  A bit cool but after 30mins of fast pace walk, you are all set for this journey.

Nice about this activity is, you are surrounded with bunch of friendly hikers, pretty scenery, surprise finding and the most fresh air....guarantee a day of body and soul detox, and go home with good mood, lighter weight and tons of energy.

York Region Forest Hall Tract

This is the 1st time hiking experience for me being living in Canada for over 20 years, it is not totally brand new activity though, back in school time I used to join the mountain climbing club and conquered many many high and low mountains in Taiwan.   I was motivated by this friend of mine who always complaint about her body pain, and she told me the pain were all gone shortly after she started hiking 

These pine trees are my height now, I will check back maybe 5 years from now to see how they turn out.

Striving flower in this early April, when some part of this trail still covered with icy snow

The group's guard dog

Group leaders~~~not me

What a rejuvenating trip when hiking in this trail,  you instantly let go of any negative thoughts, and let the beauty of the nature inspire your inner soul.  Just wonderful.

Inversion Table

Anything, that will make me feel better these day, I just have to try!!! 

My golf coach had once have the same lower back problem and got this table, he strongly recommended me to use it,  so did my new good friend Sandy.  We both went and got ourself this table, can't wait for the man in house to assemble later,later and later....with the help of my dear daughter,  she brought up the pieces one by one to my bed room, we manage to put them together follow the instruction and the tools given, in ONLY 2 hours the job was done.  Tire but proud of my accomplishment. 

It supposes to straighten and align each vertabre by hanging upside down, the pulling sensation you will feel from the tail bone, it's quite comfortable to my surprise!!  Hope it will make my pain go away.

Finally~

Sun is up and bright, puddles everywhere~~

Striving green, melting snow.....

Spring is in the air...at last....

孔老吉

These days I become a good friend with 孔老吉,  I have been drinking the bitter juice he provided for days...Not to mention how bad the taste is, the whole kitchen is also filled with the mysterious aroma, kids have dinner with their nose plugged, or simply hold their breath for each bite..hahaha

Never ever thought to put a number to my age before... I guessed my body sent out this final notice in the form of siatica nerve pain 坐骨神經痛 trying to warn me to  linsten to it.   Because of this, I was restricted to many of my vigorus daily activities which I continued for many years...

At first, it frustrated me for that my rights of choosing what to go on with days were no longer the option,  so..I choose to live with it..

Then, to my surprise, I found, taking time easy was not bad at all....I have more time to sit back and trying out other interests which brought me tremendous fullfilment and happiness！！！

～～有失必有得～～

Cheese~~~please!!!

 



Every year when Roger traveled Italy for Cosmopro show, he brings back a block of Parmesan cheese.  This thing looks like Chinese rice cake, smells unusual...but once you taste it, you keep reaching for more of it!!!   I like to snack it with friends over the red wine, and my Italian friend taught us to dip it into balsamic vinegar for extra flavour and balance the saltiness in the cheese.

Yang Zhang Pi

One of my favorite Korean cuisine, I was first introduced to this dish more than 15 years ago while visiting my brother's best fried who lived in Chicago....And now, it becomes my weekly must have dish on the table, as it is light, healthy and colorful, even the kids love it so much too....

Shaping the lights~~~

What a cool idea of shaping the lights into something interesting--candles, bulbs or anything with reflection of lights turn into the shape you cut....