Today: I thought this Friday we would bring it back to basics and explore why it is that creativity matters. I’m so looking forward to your thoughts on this topic!
Today: Having just celebrated Thanksgiving, I’m thinking about all the reasons I’m grateful for you.
This week I had the great good fortune to be sitting in an exquisite concert hall listening to the unparalleled voice of opera goddess Kathleen Battle performing for the opening night gala at the Royal Conservatory of Music.
Before the performance, several people gave speeches to mark Koerner Hall’s 10 th anniversary, including Dr. Peter Simon, who initiated the major build that created this magnificent space. He began with a vision of bringing diverse musicians and audience members together to share in the beauty of music and, Dr. Simon explained, he had imagined that maybe, every now and again, together we might experience a piece of heaven.
Imagine that.
His vision was to create something that maybe, just maybe, would offer a piece of heaven.
How bold. How sublime.
I turned to Justin right away and whispered, “I need to dream bigger!”
What I meant by “bigger” was “free of limitations”. I meant that it’s time to scrub away the dirt on any self-imposed glass ceilings and realize that they are not there. I meant that it’s time to remember that I have the freedom to dream whatever I choose to dream.
If Peter Simon can dream of offering a piece of heaven, what can I dream? What can you?
What if we were all that bold?
Imagine the dazzling world this would be.
PS. I must say that Peter achieved his dream when Kathleen Battle sang Swing Low, Sweet Chariot and we all held our breath.
Today: Being sick has me feeling very intentional about how I gather and use my energy – plus our growing forest and a viewer question about how to get people to receive us as we truly are.
Even though it was just a couple of days away, it did us the world of good to have a little break. Gentle new adventures and time together was just perfect.
We woke up early on our last day not only to catch the train but also to…
Get to the Honey Tree right when it opened to indulge in one more irresistible treat. The day before the baker had told us she made these sugar buns out of croissant dough and we simply had to try them. This was my very, very favourite.
Coming home, we felt so contented, so happy we’d given ourselves the gift of some time away, and already imagining the next time!
As I looked out the window I kept thinking, this is so Ontario. I grew up looking out windows and seeing sights like this.
The sight had I never seen before, however, was one I didn’t catch with my camera. Out in the fields, standing still and staring at our train as we passed – a coyote. I sat back and smiled at the gift.
No matter the adventure, it’s always wonderful to come home, this time to a cup of tea in the mug that I did indulge in at my much-loved store, a fox to keep me company this fall.
It’s such a good feeling to sleep in your own bed – though clearly Escher was not very happy about relinquishing it!
One of the gifts of Stratford as a getaway is that it is quiet and lovely but there is still quite a bit to do – all within walking distance! Our beautiful Air BnB was on a lovely tree-lined and quiet street. We slept easily and well and then were off for our next adventures!
And what’s an adventure without meeting a #catsinthehood! We met this lovely girl while she was drinking from a restaurant’s water feature and we were on the way to a bakery we had seen on our street. Like cordial neighbours we stopped along the way to say hey and hello.
After our friendly visit, we found our way to a treasure trove of delicious goodness – The Honey Tree. Everything looked so good that it was difficult to choose but we settled on the cinnamon buns.
We were so glad we did! We both agreed these were truly the best we had ever had!
All that sugar inspired us to take another walk. The weather was crisp and sunny and the river walk called once again!
Though there are always plenty of ducks and swans to see along the Avon, there was some magic in the air this morning. They poured onto the banks as though sure we were there to deliver their breakfast. We were sorry to disappoint but so glad to get this close to these beauties.
Alongside the river there is also the great beauty of trees. It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen willows this big. As a girl I grew up with one in our yard and spent hours upon hours up in her limbs, a treasured hideaway.
Seeing how small I am next to this majestic willow made me feel like a little girl again!
After another long walk, we took a break for lunch. A local barista had recommended the York Street Kitchen for fresh and delicious sandwiches so that’s what we did. We felt like a wonderful old married couple when we ordered our two sandwiches, asking to give each of us one half of the others so we could both try more flavours!
We don’t do a lot of shopping when we travel, our remembrances are usually our photographs, but I can’t resist Watson’s in Stratford. I could occupy myself in there for hours looking for the just right thing!
I do feel a slight ounce of regret for not picking up this crazy plate. It just makes me laugh!
Before we knew it, it was time for dinner. An early meal is inevitably a part of the schedule when you’re going to the theatre. We’d heard great things about The Red Rabbit and so gave it a try.
Delicious. Memorable. Special but not pretentious. Well, except when the waiter scolded me for Googling something on the menu!
After our meal, we walked through the gentle rain to the Festival Theatre to watch The Tempest.
The whole day had been so wonderful that a night filled with stories of magic felt just right.
A short while ago, Justin and I rather spontaneously decided we would take a little break together and go to the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario. It’s just a 2-hour train ride from Toronto and gives us the opportunity to visit a lovely city, see some theatre and have some time together.
I love taking the train. It’s such a gentle way to travel. On the way, our train had only 2 cars and we boarded right at the front, giving me a view into Union Station that I’ve never seen before! The conductor was patient as I quickly took a picture but I also realized how difficult it is for me to slow down, breathe and take a moment for me when someone else is waiting. I vowed to practice this, to learn what it is to hold my space, take my time and have my moment.
It was grey and cool when we arrived in Stratford and very few of us got off the train. We were definitely coming to the festival at the end of the season and that’s just perfect for us. We love traveling in the shoulder seasons, knowing that things will be quieter, more spacious, even if also a little grey and chilly!
After finding our lovely Air BnB and grabbing a bite of lunch, we did what you do when you go to Stratford, we walked along the Avon River. We were amazed by the lack of people on the path – but there was certainly no lack of ducks, swans and Canada geese!
The swans are so big that when they stood up fully, I suddenly realized they are almost as big as me!
We walked all the way to the Festival Theatre and made our first acquaintance with Mr. Shakespeare.
The beautiful gardens include a little pond for water lilies that just makes me swoon: the darkness of the water, the shapes of the pads and oh, those lilies.
The shapes and the colours inspired me to take my camera out again and again and again.
After our long walk, we grabbed a quick dinner and headed out for a night of theatre.
We saw Coriolanus at the Avon Theatre – stunning, riveting and relevant! This was truly one of the best pieces (if not the best piece) of theatre that we have ever seen. Thank you to the director, Robert Lepage, whose vision brought this play to life in such a dramatic and impactful way.
Watch the following video(s) to get a glimpse into the magnificent staging that brought this story to life!
A spectacular way to end a wonderful first day.
