Day trip to Collingwood

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Collingwood is a cozy town tucked up along the shores of Georgian Bay. An easy day trip from Toronto, there's plenty to do all year round. In winter there's the skiing of course - Blue Mountain and other resorts attract skiers and snowboarders from near and far.  But there are many other activities as well - snow tubing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, caving and much more.

The Sunday of our visit was grey and overcast. We didn't have a plan - well, the plan was to explore. There was to be no skiing this time.  Starting out with coffee at the Ashanti Coffee Cafe in Thornbury, we stopped in Craigleith to view the turquoise waters of Georgian Bay and then drove to the top of the Blue Mountains to view the city from above. Later we explored the area around the old grain terminals and Millennium Park and ended the day with dinner nearby.

Venturing outside on a cold winter's day

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When the wind chill pushes the temperature below -30 or colder, it takes a special reason to venture outside into the Canadian winter.   Like visiting the cows. Or experiencing a golden sunset. Maybe just to roll around and throw some snow in the air. Layers and several hats make this all very possible - but only for a few moments. Because as every real Canadian knows, the crunching snow and winter scenes are beautiful - until you no longer feel your toes, your eyelashes and facial hair are frozen and every breath brings you closer to becoming a human icicle. 

Sledding - a favourite Canadian winter activity

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One of our favourite winter activities is sledding - a pastime we've enjoyed from early childhood. On our summer hikes we make note of the big hills that should be visited when winter comes and snow covers everything.

Sometimes the hills are big - terrifyingly fun going down and muscle-burning tough getting back up. Big hills or small, it's always a grand time - flying snow, freezing temperatures, laughter and tears.


Verona, Italy - Shakespeare's city of tragic love

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Verona is one of my favourite towns in Italy - its maze of sun-drenched streets is charming, the myriad colours of the buildings captivating and the story of its history can be seen on its walls, its streets, buildings and statues. Three of Shakespeare's plays are set in Verona - the most famous, of course, being Romeo and Juliet.

No wonder, then, that thousands of tourists flock here every year - visiting Juliet's balcony, rubbing her bronze statue in the courtyard for luck in love and leaving love notes in the walls of the entryway.

Beyond Juliet's house, however, there are many other enjoyable activities to do in Verona:

  • Visit the stunning Arena di Verona - in ancient times the amphitheater was the site of gladiator battles held in front of crowds of 30,000 people. It is currently open for daytime tours and evening musical spectacles, including operas, ballets and other musical performances.
  • Sit in quiet reflection at one of many sacred buildings, such as the Basilica di San Zeno Maggiore or the Duomo Santa Maria Matricolare.
  • Wander the stunning gardens at Giardino Giusti.
  • View ancient weaponry, statues, sculptures and more at the Museo del Castelvecchio - located in a restored palace.
  • Shop at the outdoor market in Piazza Erbe or window shop at the numerous luxury shops.
  • Drink coffee or enjoy a good meal at one of the many cafes and restaurants. For the best food and prices, always wander the side streets and look for a place where the locals gather.
  • Hike the nearby hills to get epic views of the city of Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

I've always found the best way to visit a new city is to first visit the main tourist attractions and then to simply wander and discover the hidden gems. Verona has many treasures - all waiting to be discovered.

Piazza Bra - Verona, Italy

Town gate on the Corsa Porta Nuova - Verona, Italy

Arena di Verona - Roman amphitheatre

Juliet's balcony - Verona, Italy

River Adige - Verona, Italy

Markets and crowds in the Piazza Erbe - Verona, Italy

Duoma Santa Maria Matricolare - Verona, Italy

Piazza Bra - Verona, Italy

Christmas Eve at the farm

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Christmas Eve was beautiful - sunny and warm. Up north, the winds were blowing strong - shingles and siding flying everywhere, trees uprooted and power lines down. It appeared the North was going to have to celebrate Christmas without power - no heat or lights, no electricity to make Christmas dinner. As I loaded up the car in the dark, I was happy to be headed south to Toronto to spend time with family.

Our Christmas is always a mix of Finnish, Canadian and family traditions. This was the first year that we didn't all fit at mom and dad's for Christmas Eve so the girls at Dear Heart Events decided to host Christmas dinner at the farm. They did a gorgeous job - setting a charming and warm mood for us all to enjoy.

As the ladies prepared dinner, the kids took a look around the farm - visiting the horses, exploring the barn and climbing on the equipment. We ate dinner by candlelight - enjoying numerous Finnish casseroles, turkey, ham and deer roast - topped with delicious sauces and jams. As the boys cleaned up, the kids played games and explored the farmhouse. Everyone gathered to sing Christmas songs - ending with joulupukki - a song to Santa Claus.  Before the last notes stopped ringing, the kids ran to all the doors to see if pukki had found us at the farm - shrieking and laughing with excitement on discovering the gifts outside. Mayhem ensued as the gifts were brought inside, handed out, opened and enjoyed.

Green Christmas

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Winter has officially arrived and there's not a speck of the white stuff on the ground. It's beginning to look like we are going to have a green Christmas. Sunshine and warmth will definitely make for a different Christmas. Oh well. The family will still gather to celebrate the day - the only thing that truly matters this time of year.

In the meantime, enjoy this picture taken a few years ago. Snow and cold weather are surely around the corner - let's appreciate the milder weather while it lasts.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!