Hello blog friends! Over here, the good weather continued this past week. We had plenty of sunshine and warm daytime high temperatures that ranged from 18C to 24C (66F to 75F). We broke record on Tuesday and are now back to about 12C (54F) this weekend.
It was a pleasant week. I went cycling and walking every morning, except Saturday. I got all my fitness-at-home sessions done. I had long phone conversations with my friends who live abroad. My order for grocery home delivery came on time with everything in good condition. I did my daily French and Spanish lessons on Duolingo, read and enjoyed two fiction novels, which bring my year-to-date total of books read to ninety seven (97).
Today is the 11th Wellness Weekend link-up of 2020. The optional prompt is Peace. I think we all yearn for a more peaceful time after what’s been happening around the world this year. Feel free to join in the link up here and visit other blogs.
With Peace in mind, on one of the sunny mornings this past week, I cycled to Grenadier Pond, located in the south west end of the city. It is named after the local Town of York garrison of the 1800s and their use of the pond for fishing. Grenadier Pond is about 1 kilometre long and 0.5 kilometre wide. It’s a calm natural body of water and provides lovely vistas.
A beautiful trail follows its shoreline leading to occasional lookouts and finally to a marsh at the northern end of the pond. The views are stunning especially on a sunny day.
Interpretive signs are available along the trail to provide more information about the wildlife and plants at the pond. Several notable wetland plant species are present, including sweetflag, broad-leaved cattail, common arrowhead and blue-flag iris.
Grenadier Pond and its restored shoreline provides habitat to a wide assortment of water birds, fish, turtles, dragonflies, damselflies, and other wildlife. I saw several groups of ducks that paid no attention to me even when I got close to the water’s edge.
Fishing is permitted along a designated section of the Grenadier Pond shoreline. Common fish found here include largemouth bass, Northern pike, sunfish, brown bullhead, and carp.
It was peaceful to walk along the trail while listening to the soft sounds of water and rustling leaves. I found it pleasant to have the pond pretty much to myself on a weekday morning.
On the east side of Grenadier Pond, hillside trails lead into High Park, an amazing, beautiful, and large park in Toronto, that deserves a separate blog post.
During the week and on Remembrance Day, I visited the Victory-Peace Monument at Coronation Park. The City of Toronto commemorated the 75th anniversary of the Second World War in Coronation Park as part of Remembrance Week (November 5 -11, 2020). I remembered our veterans and those who have served and continue to serve our country in the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as those who help maintain peace.
Canadian flags were planted around the Victory-Peace Monument by the Mayor, the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Legion and Youth to memorialize the 3,452 Torontonians who fell during the War. November 11, 2020 marks 100 years of Remembrance in Toronto.
After a lovely bicycle ride and walk, on my way home I was rewarded with a mirrored view of the clouds on Lake Ontario on a calm day. I continue to be grateful for all the pristine areas around the city that I have to choose from.
How did your week go? I’d love to hear your comments.
Linking here.
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Natalie the Explorer 
Those mirror clouds on the lake almost look like a thin layer of ice on the water. We had such beautiful, warm temperatures this week too but now late fall temps are back and we’ve even had a bit of ice on the deck and ground.
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Joanne, Late Fall temps are also back here although no ice yet. Enjoy the weekend!
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Thanks for taking us along, Natalie. It looks like you’ve had some perfect walking weather. The photos are gorgeous! We have a lot of heavy, flooding rains this week. The temperatures have gotten cooler, so I’m ready to dry out a little. Have a great week ahead!
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Jill, Heavy, flooding rains can do a lot of damage. I hope you have nicer and dry weather this coming week. It looks like I’ll be able to do more cycling and walking in the sun next week.
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Hi Natalie.
I’d say you delivered on communicating peace with this coffee share. You do have a wonderful menu of venues to select from and this park visit was perfect. I rarely get the chance to, but love to fish and had I been along for the walk, you may have lost me at one of those spots so I could chase some of those large mouth basses about. Easily and by far my favorite shot was of the mirrored lake and clouds. This type of shot always captures a few of my moments to just enjoy the effect — there is just something fun about trying to find something in the sky that doesn’t quite match what’s in the water. Doing this chews through time and quiets the soul somehow. Thank you for sharing your journey today.
I too thank all Canadians who stood up to pay the price of defending others. May they all rest in the honored peace that they helped build for each of us.
Please make sure you stop by my share today as I’ve have the info for the Global Coffee share idea and I’m hoping you can find a way to join us.
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Thank you, Gary, for your kind comment. Fishing at Grenadier Pond is popular since the pond is easily accessible. The mirrored lake and clouds were amazing. I was glad and grateful to see such beauty. I’ll stop by your blog soon. Have a great week!
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Thank you for the coffee today and all your BEAUTIFUL photos!! The mirrored clouds one of my favorites! You do live in such a beautiful area of this world and am so happy you share it with us all. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead! ❤️
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Thank you, Diana, for your kind comment. I’m glad you liked my photos. Autumn has been beautiful here and it’s easy to take nice pictures. I hope you’re enjoying the weekend. Have a great week ahead!
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Natalie, these are stunning! I don’t guess I ever realized how beautiful Canada is. Shows me I need to do more traveling (once I can!). Sadly, our school geography books seemed to focus on places I wasn’t sure I wanted to visit, ha! Thanks for letting me join you.
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Thank you, Debbie, for your kind comment. I’m glad you liked my photos. Canada’s nature is beautiful and plentiful. If you like nature, you’re in for a real treat when you visit Canada. Have a great week ahead!
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Good for you, Natalie. I am so glad you are taking advantage of the nice weather to get out and about. (& books this year!?!?!? That is impressive. I need to start keeping track of the number of books I have read. I am on Goodreads, but I almost never update my page, adding new books, and giving reviews of the ones I have finished. Just like the rest of my neglected social media accounts! :
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Laurie, I also neglect my social media accounts, except blogging. This pandemic has given me more time to read so that’s a plus. I read a lot but rarely write book reviews 🙂 Have a great week ahead!
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Thank you so much for taking us out on another beautiful trail this week 🙂 It sounds like you had a wonderful week. That makes me so happy! Thanks for the coffee. Have a fabulous new week.
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Thank you, Maria, for joining me virtually. Autumn has been beautiful here. I love going outside and enjoying nature. Have a wonderful week ahead!
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Autumn is a wonderful time, and what could be better than enjoying it outside in nature? 🙂
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Exactly! And after spending time outside, we can go inside for a warm drink, fresh baked goods and fun conversations with blogger friends 🙂
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We continue to have glorious weather here also. Growing up, summer was always my favorite season (no school, beach, friends to hang out with, etc.). Now, it is definitely autumn. Not only do we usually have our best weather (not too hot, not too cold) but the sunsets are often spectacular (I’ve heard that the sunrises are lovely too, but I wouldn’t know 🙂 ).
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Janis, I think of the nice weather in San Diego when it’s cold and dreary here. Thankfully, we have many sunny days, even in the winter. This autumn season has been pretty good overall.
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It certainly does look peaceful! #Lifethisweek
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It was an excellent outing on a calm and sunny day.
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Grenedier Pond looks like such a tranquil place! Also, you’re doing so much better than I am with staying active during autumn. It’s dark when I start work and dark again when I finish work, and I am too lazy to go outside for my walks in the cold. It’s so much easier just to curl up on the couch! #LifeThisWeek
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Katherine, Would it be possible to do a brisk walk during the day? I usually go outside in the morning before the day slips away. During this pandemic, I appreciate being outside.
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Hi, Natalie – Peace is an excellent mantra for a cycle or a walk in nature. This entire post and photos emit much serenity. Thank you for sharing this with us. We can all use a little extra peace these days.
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Hi Donna, Yes, we can all use a little extra peace these days. I’m grateful for calm places like the Grenadier Pond. Have a pleasant week ahead!
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We could all use a beautiful spot and find some peace. Thank you for the peaceful coffee break.
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Thank you, Antoinette, for joining me virtually. I greatly appreciate it. Have a great week!
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Hi Natalie – there’s nothing like a quiet body of water to instil a sense of peace. I remember my post on Channing who lived by Walden pond and the peace and quiet that he found there as he pared back to choose a simpler way of life – something we all need.
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Hi Leanne, I remember your post on Channing. Another famous person, Claude Monet, found inspiration and peace by a pond at his residence in Giverny, France.
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The clouds are so pretty in your photos. We have had very strange clouds…rarely have a cloud in the sky…and this week have had feathery clouds similar to those above Lake Ontario.
What a peaceful place indeed to ride or walk or just be. We have no natural bodies of water here other than the Rio Grande which is not grande at all. And is not visible from most points in the city. I would enjoy riding my bike around Grenadier Pond, too. The path looks very manageable and well maintained. We have ‘goat heads’ or thorns that will cause a flat if we get off road with our bikes. Have had to walk our bikes home several times.
You have read twice the number of books I have this year. And I thought I had done well…for ME!! Are you on Goodreads? I would like to be able to follow what you are reading if you are.
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Leslie, Interesting to hear about the ‘goat heads’ in your area. A flat tire would take the joy out of a bike ride. As to the number of books I’ve read this year, I think it’s unprecedented for me. The pandemic has kept me at home more and so I get more reading done. I’m not on Goodreads atm. I enjoy reading a lot more than writing book reviews. Have a great week!
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Oh yes Natalie, beautiful blue skies there. I laughed at the word PEACE as I listen to a couple of different meditations to go to sleep and in both we have to ‘imagine the word PEACE spelled out’ in both the beginning and end so I immediately think of that when I hear the word.
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Deb, That’s a good tip to imagine the word Peace spelled out to go to sleep.
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Sounds like a great excursion to the Pond. I’m sure it is a lovely place. We do need to take time to remember those who gave everything so we could have a future. Nov 11 is a good time to reflect. Thinking of “reflect”, I love that reflection photo. Have a great week!
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Trent, It was a good week to reflect on peace and to see literal reflections in nature. Have a wonderful week ahead!
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What wonderful pictures. Pleased to see you are having such great weather. 97 books is amazing. Well done!! Have a great week ahead. #SeniSal
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Thank you, Darlene, for your comment. We’ve had a pretty good Autumn weather-wise here. The covid-19 pandemic has made me stay at home more than usual and am glad to devote some time to read.
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Nice walk
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Thank you, Sarah, for your visit and comment. I greatly appreciate it.
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That’s a bike ride with a view! How gorgeous! We had a few days away in Canberra and it was great to have a change of scenery. We swung by the Australian War Memorial to pay our respects too.
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Sammie, It was an excellent outing to Grenadier Pond. The sunshine made a huge difference. I’m glad to hear you were able to have a get-away in Canberra. Have a wonderful week!
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What a lovely area to cycle and walk around Natalie. It was a delight to share your time with you and see the gorgeous autumn colours and to learn a bit about the area. I’ve been getting out and about cycling and walking more as my knee issues improve. Your reading total is fast approaching 100, which is my goal for the year, I’m currently at about 89 books. Enjoy the week ahead. #lifethisweek
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Debbie, I’m glad to hear your knee issues improve and you’re now back to cycling and walking. Your reading goal is impressive. I’m sure you’ll achieve or exceed it. At the beginning of this year, my reading goal was 36 books for the year, thinking that I’d be away traveling quite a bit. The pandemic has made me stay at home and I enjoy reading every day. Have a wonderful week!
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Wow Natalie, you’ve far exceeded your goal of 36 books but as you say, without the usual travel then reading is the best way to travel outside our heads!
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Debbie, It’s awesome that there are millions of books to borrow from the library. Reading more books is a positive outcome for me out of this COVID-19 pandemic.
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Your photos are gorgeous. I like how peaceful everything looks. A wonderful counterbalance to the chaos going on in the world. Hope you’re having a great week.
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Ally, I’m glad you like my photos. I took all of them with my phone and don’t edit them except reducing the file size. I think the blue skies make the photos look good. I hear you about the chaos going on in the world. I’m grateful to still have places like Grenadier Pond to go to and feel peace. Have a wonderful week!
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Thank you for bringing peace to my inbox today, Natalie, through your photos and lovely park visit. That blue sky is hard to beat. And, I’m glad you’re having such nice temperatures as well – perfect for bike rides and walks. Enjoy them before real winter arrives., 🙂
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Liesbet, Yeah, I’m enjoying the good outdoors as much as possible. Hopefully we’ll have many sunny days this winter. The blue sky makes a big difference even when it’s freezing 🙂
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A lovely day at a lovely place!
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Thank you, for your visit and comment. I greatly appreciate it.
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I enjoyed this delightful walk with you, Natalie. Love the gorgeous photos especially the mirrored clouds.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
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Veronica, I’m glad you enjoyed this virtual walk and liked my photos. So much beauty in nature. Have a great week!
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Another lovely catch up and picturesque view of your world. It looks so beautiful and your words bring your city and its feature to life.
Stay well. This COVID thing is not going away quickly and I feel for your country (and the neighbour) as winter starts.
Take care.
Thank you for linking up for #LifeThisWeek. Next week is the final #TakingStock optional prompt (still others to come!) in 2020. Hope to see you there too. Denyse.
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Thank you, Denyse, for your comment and for hosting LTW. I look forward to the year-end holidays even though there are restrictions here due to the pandemic. See you at the next link up. Have a wonderful week!
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Lovely pictures – the pond does look peaceful. I hope to get to Toronto one of these days when we can cross borders again.
But right now I’m sitting in the desert looking forward to finding a pond nearby where I can do some birding and spot some wildlife.
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Thank you, Duwan, for your visit and comment. I hope you find a pond in the desert and spot some wildlife. So much beauty in nature to enjoy. Have a great week!
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Beautiful photographs as usual Natalie. I am loving seeing all the beautiful places you go where you live. I think peace is something we all need and aspire to have. Peace of mind. Peaceful surrounds. Peace in relationships, etc. I certainly get a lovely sense of peace looking at your photographs so thank you for that! xo
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Thank you, Min, for your kind comment. I’m glad my photos gave you a sense of peace. I’m grateful to still have places like Grenadier Pond to go to and feel peace. Have a wonderful week!
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You certainly nailed the topic with your gorgeous images!
I’m so happy to see your link at ‘My Corner of the World’ this week!
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Thank you, Betty, for your kind comment and for hosting MCoW. The blue sky made it easy for me to take nice photos. Have a wonderful week!
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Looks wonderful! One day I’ll get to Canada to do some exploring – just have to wait for a while.
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Christine, I hope you get to visit Canada. It’s a big country so give yourself time to plan your visit and explore its beauty.
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I’m sure I will one day. Keen to see Vancouver and ski at Whistler among other things.
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Excellent choices! Canada’s west coast and the Canadian Rockies are stunning.
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Hi Natalie, Interesting to hear how your grocery home delivery is going well. “Peace” is always a good word/concept for many reasons. I forgot about Northern Pike until you mentioned them. We used to catch and eat this fish when we lived in the North. Tasty when you worked your way around the bones. All of your photos are beautiful and interesting. The cloud one is amazing!
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Hi Erica/ Erika, The grocery home delivery service here has been very good so far and the fee is reasonable. I still go to the grocery stores for fresh fruit and veggies. During this pandemic, the lake water is clear and I’ve seen big fish quite close to the harbour. I don’t catch them but it’s fascinating to watch.
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Wow, so very beautiful. I love the memorial there. Very nice.
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Thank you, Patrick, for your comment. I greatly appreciate it. Have a nice weekend!
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Natalie, it’s great that there are so many places within walking or cycling distance where you can enjoy the tranquility of nature. I really like your photo of the Victory-Peace Monument.
Jude
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Jude, I’m glad you liked my photo of the Victory-Peace Monument. Its location and design are beautiful. I was glad to be there for Remembrance week when Canadian flags were planted and on Remembrance Day.
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What beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing. I can just imagine how peaceful and relaxing it must be to visit and spend time here.
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Thank you, Lisa, for your visit and comment. Grenadier Pond is a very nice area to visit. I’m glad you liked my photos. I tried to go to your blog but got a message that it’s been deleted. Maybe you have a new blog?
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