Hello blog friends! How are things going? Hope all’s well with you. Come on in to my blog space, feel free to have a coffee or tea, hot or cold, and let’s catch up on our news.
Summer week 7, from August 2 to 8 inclusive, means we just passed the half point of summer here. We had heavy rainfall on Sunday, rain on Monday afternoon and Tuesday then sunny weather the rest of the week. The high temperatures ranged from 24C to 29C (75F to 85F).
Cycling
I cycled along the Waterfront trail from one to two hours most mornings this week. One of the parks that I stopped by is Coronation Park. Coronation Park was built in 1937 to commemorate the Coronation of King George VI. It’s located at Lake Shore Blvd West & Fort York Blvd, just east of Ontario Place or Trillium Park.
Coronation Park highlights
Beautiful oak and maple trees: The park design consisted of grouping trees around a central Royal Oak, symbolizing the King. An inner ring of oak trees, known as the “Empire Circle”, represents the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, South Africa and the Crown Colonies.
To the north, the Imperial Service triangle of trees represented the Royal Navy, Air Force and Army. On either side of the ring are separate groves of maple trees representing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Canadian divisions, Siberian troops, and Corp Troops to the east and west.
Lake view: The south side of Coronation Park offers stunning views of Lake Ontario and the marina. It is a beautiful spot to sit along the shoreline of Lake Ontario and enjoy a picnic on a warm summer day. Coronation Park also has three softball diamonds on the north side and a nice-sized dog off-leash area on the east side.
Victory-Peace Monument: It’s a permanent war memorial built in 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. There are two sets of bronze walls, arranged like ship prows. Between the walls are maple leaves. One is engraved “Sacrifice” and the other “Hope”. The walls surrounding it has artwork depicting information about Canada’s involvement in World War II.
Reading
Coronation Park is also a perfect spot for reading. There are benches, Muskoka chairs, grassy field, and picnic tables. The lake views, however, may be a distraction. I finished five books this week and really liked the funny dialogues and heart-breaking love story in Me Before You by JoJo Moyes.
Walking
I got to see so many beautiful flowers on my morning walks. Some of them attract more bees and butterflies than others. The colour choices are amazing and they brighten my day. I’m sharing two photos here even though I took many more.
Considering everything, it was a beautiful and enjoyable week.
How did your week go? I’d like to hear your comments.
Linking here.
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Natalie the Explorer 
That is such a beautiful park! Thank you for showing us around. Seems like we have similar weather.
5 books in a week? That’s amazing! I loved Me Before You, too!
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Thank you, Dawn, for stopping by. Glad you’ve also had some good weather. I don’t usually read sequels although, for a change, I’m reading the two sequel books after Me Before You. Have a nice weekend!
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Thank you for taking us along to this beautiful park, Natalie. As usual, your photos are gorgeous! It looks like you had a lovely week. This week I’ve really enjoyed our hummingbirds. The activity has been incredible! Have a great week!
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Thank you, Jill, for being here. I have images of the active hummingbirds in my mind after reading your comment this morning. A lovely start to my day. Have a beautiful Sunday and upcoming week!
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Good morning, Natalie, A beautiful, bright, positive post for my Sunday morning. 💕 Your gorgeous heading flower leaps from the page.
You probably needed the rain. Coronation park is very spacious and scenic. I love all of the photos and especially the monarch butterfly. Generally a good week for me. I will get out for some ocean air today. Have a wonderful week! xx
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Good morning Erica/ Erika, Isn’t that red flower a “wake up, enjoy life” messenger? I think it’s a dahlia. The rain was welcome. It revived the grass in the parks and I was surprised at how quickly the grass turned from brown to green after a good soak. I’m glad you had a good week. Ocean air is healthy. I miss Victoria harbour and all its beauty. Have a wonderful week!
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Natalie, I am returning with #MLSTL and sharing SM. Thank you for being a beautiful part to my week. xx
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Thank you, Erica/ Erika, for being a beautiful part of my week. Your thoughtful comments always brighten my day.
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What beautiful photos. Natalie. I miss oak trees and maple trees. They always remind me of home.
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Hi Donna, I’m glad you liked my photos. I love the big oak trees for their shade and maple trees that change colours with the seasons.
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Thanks, Natalie – I have found memories of growing up reading and playing under the shade of big oak trees!
#MLSTL
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I have similar memories, Donna. Coronation Park is one of my local favourites.
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Thank you for the coffee Natalie!! Your photos are so BEAUTIFUL!! I love the park, all the trees and then the flowers you posted. So pretty!! It’s been a nice summer so far weather wise. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead! 🥰
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Diana, I’m glad to share my photos with you. The local gardens and parks have been looking good throughout this spring and summer. Have a wonderful week ahead!
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What a beautiful park for a stroll and a read, Natalie. Peaceful. What are Muskoka chairs? Are they the same ones you can find along the waterfront in Toronto, in the grass, to relax? You live in an amazing city and I’m glad you are getting lots of exercise and relaxation. Another fantastic week for you. Here, the weeks are pretty dull – a combination of dog walks and memoir work. The weather is hot and humid. .
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Hi Liesbet, Muskoka chairs are big, comfy chairs with wide arms and a backward sloping seat. They’re made of wood or plastic and weather-resistant. They’re common at cottages and along the waterfront here. In the US they may be known as Adirondack chairs.
It’s been a pretty good summer for me. I hope the humidity in your area will lower to make it more comfortable. We had high humidity in July and back to normal in August. Have a good week!
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Sounds like Adirondack chairs. 🙂 Thanks for the explanation.
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I saw some photos of one of the ‘great lakes’ in the US recently and I guess I had never really thought about just how huge they are – you couldn’t see the other side. Most of the lakes near me are very very tiny so it reset a perspective for me.
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Yes, the five Great Lakes sure earn their names. Unless you’re in a harbour, when you’re in one of the Great Lakes, it looks like you’re in an ocean, no end of water in the horizon. The main difference is it’s freshwater, and not salty sea water so when you swim in the lake, you don’t get the sticky feel when you get out.
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Aaah the beauty of nature – I love the thistle. Mostly though I love the tree circle and the story (and symbolism) behind it.
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Yes, I like Coronation Park for its trees, lake views and history. I learned the name of the pink weed (thistle) from you and another blogger and updated my photo caption. Have a wonderful week!
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A lovely park and a lovely week of summer Natalie. Your weeks are a great antidote to our winter weather here and I always enjoy reading about your week. 5 books in a week is good going! #lifethisweek
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Debbie, My summer has been pretty good so far. I can go through 350-400 pages of a captivating romance or thriller novel in one evening. Some books are harder to process than others. I know you’re an avid reader, too. What are you reading atm? Have a wonderful week!
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I’m trying to finish Phosphorescence by Julia Baird, it’s lovely but I just can’t get into it for some reason.
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I hear you. These days when I can’t get into a book, I move on to another book without hesitation.
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What a beautiful park! We had a tropical storm come through on Tuesday the 4th and knock out our power until Saturday. Weirdly enough we had hardly any rain at all just wind. So it was another hot & dry week here where we spent quite a bit of time outside and in the lake.
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Joanne, Glad you’ve got your power back. I don’t mind the rain but strong winds are not fun. Hope you have a cool and relaxing time in the lake.
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It looks like another wonderful park. I used to do a huge amount of cycling, but very rarely ride these days. Cool that you were able to make it out so often this week 🙂
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Trent, I take advantage of the good weather to do as much cycling as I can before winter arrives 🙂
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Absolutely love your photos. Thanks for the trip to that beautiful park. Loved your post and your comments! Thanks, also, for the book recommendations. I need all I can get. 🙂
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Thank you, Rose, for your visit and comment. Glad to share my photos and books I read with my blog readers. Have a wonderful week!
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Ah that’s beautiful! The pictures are gorgeous and it must be great to be out in nature! Loved the butterfly – it’s a perfect shot! Hope you have a lovely week ahead!
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Thank you, Sanch, for your comment. Nature is my best friend this season 🙂 Have a wonderful week!
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I always love your pictures and find them stunning. The Peace Memorial is striking, I had thought of ships before I read your description, so it makes great sense. I have spent a lot of time today following videos of Mayflower II leaving Buzzards Bay, Mass, traveling through the Cape Cod Canal and then open furled sails out in the bay as it made its way to Plymouth. Watching the Mayflower and whining about an allergy attack, that has been my day, lol. Best, Michele
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Thank you, Michele, for your kind comment about my photos. It’s fascinating to read about the Mayflower and Mayflower II. Allergy attack sounds exhausting. I hope you’re feeling better.
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Thanks, my own fault. I didn’t realize how ‘in season” I was.
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I like the photo of the monarch butterfly with full view of the wings.
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Thank you, Frank. I’m glad I got a good photo of the monarch butterfly before it flew away.
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I’d be so excited by the thistle. I’ve never seen on in real life! #MLSTL
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Seriously? I see them almost every day this summer. Your comment grew my appreciation for thistles.
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I would have said they didn’t grow here but would you believe another blogger also put pictures up this week…so I’ve just lead a sheltered life when it comes to thistles…but everyone loves and knows them cos of the Scots…#Lovinglifelinky
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Coronation Park looks beautiful Natalie. I’d love to be there to see the trees. This week here has been very wintry with cold days and lots of rain. Your post brings a little sunshine. #MLSTL
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Jennifer, The shade from the oak trees is wonderful especially when I arrive after an hour cycling. I never get tired of the lake views from Coronation Park. Glad to bring a little sunshine to your wintry day.
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5 books in a week!! wow I have not yet picked up one book to read. I just dont know where to find the time lol. I should – we still have 5 weeks on lockdown or more can not see an end to this madness. Coronation Park looks lovely what a beautiful place to walk and be one with nature. #MLSTL
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Bree, So many good books to read. I read instead of watching TV 🙂 Glad you liked Coronation Park. One of my faves.
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My daughter sent me 3 and I have my book club one to read. My mind keeps wandering at the moment. Even TV Netflix dosnt stop it xx
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Such a lovely place. I want to go. Thanks for sharing it with us. #MLSTL
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Patrick, I’m glad you liked Coronation Park. Thank you for stopping by. Have a good week!
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I love the sharing of your stories which have the common ground of us (Australia and Canada) being part of the Commonwealth. Loved reading and viewing this. Such a good week of weather too!! Thank you for linking up for #lifethisweek. #202. (I know!) Next week’s optional prompt is 33/51 I Want. 17.8.2020 and I hope that you link up then too. Take care, Denyse.
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Denyse, The weather this summer has been pretty good over here. I’m glad you enjoyed reading the history and viewing my photos of Coronation Park. Look forward to joining you next week. Have a wonderful week!
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Hi Natalie – lovely that you got out for a ride and your usual walking. I loved Me Before You – the book and the movie – I had a little weep at the ending – always a sign of a good book! #MLSTL
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Leanne, The love story between Louisa and Will in Me Before You is so sweet and sad. I haven’t seen the movie yet. Maybe I’ll check it out.
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What a beautiful park! I love the wildflowers. Visiting from MSTL.
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Thank you, Amy, for your comment. I greatly appreciate it.
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Thank you for sharing Coronation Park with us, Natalie. The photos were all a visual treat for me but the photo of the Monarch Butterfly is my favourite. The colour! The patterns!
SSG xxx
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SSG, I’m glad you liked my photo of the monarch butterfly. It stayed on the flower long enough for me to get a good picture.
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I love your positive and inspiring updates Natalie and admire your ability to maintain such lovely balance in your life (such a contrast to my post today). That Monarch Butterfly is so beautiful! xo
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Min, I hope my post cheered you up, even just briefly. Nature and staying active keep me in good spirits. It’s butterfly time here so I’ve seen many monarch butterflies. Have a good week!
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Oh my goodness this park looks glorious… and your Photos really show off the beautiful nature that was all around you… thank you for sharing
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Thank you, Kerrie, for your comment. I’m glad you liked Coronation Park and my photos. This park is one of my local favourites. I’m happy to share it with my blog friends and readers.
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The Empire Circle of oak trees is gorgeous!!!!
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Yes, the oak trees draw me into this park and cool me down after a bike ride. Glad you liked them too.
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