Hello and welcome to my blog! I’m glad you’re here. It’s week 30 in 2022 and I’m hosting Weekend Coffee Share linkup #80. Come on in for a coffee or tea and let’s chat.
It’s the last weekend in July and a good time for me to reflect on my 2022 focus. The month started with Canada’s 155th birthday on July 1st and finished with me having lived in two cities (Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario). Here’s my monthly update for July.
Health
July has been a mainly sunny and very warm month. I maintain my wellness routine and pay extra attention to hydration and sun protection when outdoors. The lakefront, tree shades and iced drinks help. When I stayed in Hamilton, I was within walking distance to the Dundurn Stairs (326 steel steps) which lead to nature trails and waterfalls. So I included the stairs to my walks.
Home
Family – I went to Hamilton and stayed for ten days to assist with a family project. Hamilton is 58 kilometers (36 miles) southwest of Toronto. It was joyful to finish the project with my family despite an unexpected full-day Internet service outage and a heat wave.
Friends – It was also joyful to catch up with friends in Hamilton. I haven’t seen them in person since the pandemic began. We met outdoors and took walks several times for iced coffee and conversation. When I returned to Toronto, I continued my Tour of Indie Cafés for 2022 and met up with my friends at Dineen café.
Dineen café is located in the historic Dineen Building, once home to W. and F. Dineen Co., who originally made fur clothing. The building is one of the oldest structures in Toronto, and is listed as a Toronto Heritage Property. This café is on busy Yonge Street and is usually full. We were pleased to get quick service, good coffee and comfortable seats at their outdoor patio.
Leisure
Outings – The rest of July was relaxing summer living with visits to farmers’ markets, music festivals, beaches and parks along the shore of Lake Ontario. I took a self-guided tour on Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship HMCS Glace Bay 701, a Royal Canadian Navy coastal patrol vessel, when she docked in Toronto.
Photography – At this time of year, it is easy for me to spend hours in public gardens to photograph an array of colourful flowers, including different varieties of bee balms, coneflowers, daylilies, roses and more. Bees and butterflies hover to nectar or flit and flutter everywhere. Plenty of berries to pick, too.
Aside from summer’s beautiful bounty, it was delightful to discover new public art. Here’s a sampling in July:
Reading – Before this weekend, in July, I read many blogs (more than 110 Weekend Coffee Share blogs alone) and four books. Here’s my book list by author’s last name:
- The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
- It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
- Paris Is Always A Good idea by Jenn McKinlay
- Made In Korea by Sarah Suk
Writing – I’ve been documenting my experiences in Newfoundland and Labrador for me. It’s the icing on the cake when my blog readers enjoy my travel posts and pictures. I’ve included the links for July’s posts in case you missed any and want to catch up.
- Why My June Was Wonderful
- 3 Amazing World Heritage Sites in Newfoundland and Labrador
- These Icebergs Made My Day
- 5 Notable Lighthouses in Newfoundland
I used to be able to leave comments on all blogs. Recently, I’m unable to leave comments on Blogger blogs that set Sign in with Google as the only option. Some blogs let me comment with Name/ URL or Anonymous. I haven’t been able to resolve this issue with Google yet.
Overall
July has been beautiful and joyful. I’m grateful for time with family and friends in Hamilton and Toronto, and all the good things that happened in July.
Shared with #2022WOTYlinkparty, #PPAC57, #TheChangingSeasons.
Copyright © 2023 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
What a wonderful July, full of sunshine, friends, family and getting out and about! I admit we are needing more people to “mask up” here in Australia as cases of covid are skyrocketing…so far, we are both OK but taking many precautions… your post was so joyful and I particularly loved the flower collage. My post, a serious one, is marking the day that was, around the world: World Head & Neck Cancer Day 27.7.2022. I’m having a blog break for the next month or so..some other health issues need dealing with…and I will be Ok. Not cancer related! Thanks for your link up Natalie. Take care, Denyse
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Hi Denyse, July is prime summer time here so colours are everywhere I look and I love it. I still practice social distancing and wear mask when I enter indoor public spaces. When I meet my friends, we all agree to meet outdoors. Thank you for linking up. I hope your health issues will be resolved quickly and you return to blogging soon. Have a great weekend!
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Hi Natalie – how lovely that you got to spend that time with family and friends in Hamilton – I think we all appreciate those times more since all the covid isolation. Lovely flower and mural photos (you certainly get out and about!) And I appreciate you managing to comment on my blog. Apparently Google (who owns Blogger) is affected by cookies and anyone using a Mac based program is doubly impacted. Choosing Anonymous and leaving your name at the end always works – or choosing Name/URL and just putting your name in works too. Hopefully they’ll sort it out soon.
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Hi Leanne, Yes, it’s been great to reconnect with family and friends in person. We’re still cautious and arrange our meetings outdoors. Summer weather makes it easy to do so. I’ve been able to leave comments on your blog as Anonymous and add my name at the end of my comment. I wasn’t able to do that with a couple of other blogs. I thought I’d mention it so the bloggers know that I’m not ignoring their posts.
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It sounds like you have had an excellent month, Natalie. I enjoyed the photos.
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Thank you, Dan. I hope July has been good to you, too. Have a wonderful weekend!
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What lovely photos! It sounds like you had a wonderful month.
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Thank you, Joanne. I hope July has been good to you, too. Have a great weekend!
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I really like the title of this post and it certainly described your July well! Great pictures of the flowers and of your month’s adventures!
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Thank you, Janis. I should get a t-shirt that says Loving Life because that’s how I feel. I hope July has also been good to you. Have a wonderful weekend!
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What a wonderful month with so many lovely things to share with us. Thanks Natalie!
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Thank you, Barbara, for reading my post and linking up. Have a great weekend!
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There’s all sorts of commenting issues at the moment. It’s a royal pain. Love the stairs photo – what a fab location!! Like the murals too. Good reminder – like we can forget!!
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Lydia, I’m glad you like the stairs and mural photos. The views from the top of the stairs were amazing. I haven’t been able to comment on your blog. Just so you know and don’t think I’m ignoring your post. I hope the commenting issues go away soon. Thank you for linking up. Have a great weekend!
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Thank you for linking up with us, Natalie – As always, your post is uplifting, insightful, inspiring…and has wonderful photography.
BTW – Recently, I have also experienced difficulty commenting on blogs where I need to ‘sign in with Google.’ If you discover any remedies, please share!
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Hi Donna, Thank you for your kind comments about my post. Good to know I’m not the only person experiencing the commenting issues on blogs that require ‘sign in with Google’. Fortunately, the majority of blogs that I read and comment are either on WordPress or they allow Name/ URL and Anonymous comments with moderation. Have a wonderful weekend!
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You had a beautiful month. I enjoy reading about all your adventures each week. You found a very interesting piece of public art for us this week in addition to some beautiful murals. Thanks for sharing. I love all your flower pictures, too – very colorful.
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Thank you, Marsha, for your kind comments and for hosting PPAC. July is prime summer month here so colours are everywhere. I love it! Have a wonderful weekend!
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You do live in a beautiful place. You have a great weekend, too.
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I love your final sentence in your Overall section Natalie. You always live life to the full and I greatly enjoy reading about your adventures and activities. Thanks so much for joining us for #2022WOTY and I look forward to reading what you get up to in August. x
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Hi Sue, Thank you for hosting #2022WOTY and for your kind comments. I wake up in the morning and feel grateful for every new day. I look forward to following your updates in August.
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Love the pictures 😍
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That’s great! Thank you.
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A collection of flowers and box murals are ok by me! What a great collection 👍
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Thank you, Teresa. Summer colours are at their best here.
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Yes for sure… bright and cheerful!
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So many wonderful things to be grateful for and celebrate. July has indeed been a marvellous month. It’s always a pleasure reading your positive posts. Your positivity and the great photos always makes me want to leave a comment, it’s a feel-good thing (something we all need.) Thank you!
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Thank you, Maria, for your lovely comment which made me smile. I greatly appreciate it. July and August are prime summer months here with lots of outdoor events and colours everywhere. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Thank you!
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Always happy to read your blog. The flower pics are stunning I h this week.
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Antoinette, Thank you for reading my blog 🙂 Lots of colourful flowers in July and August here. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Natalie, I always love your nature photos, and the murals are also quite lovely! Have a great weekend. -Pamela
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Thank you, Pam, for your lovely comment. Happy weekend to you, too!
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It’s always a joy to read your posts Natalie, it’s fun seeing things through your eyes! I love all the flower shots and you must be happy to have your family project completed. I’m away travelling for the month so am taking a break from blogging.
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Thank you, Debbie, for your lovely comment. It made sense for you to take a blogging break and enjoy time with your family in the UK. You waited a long time and had to travel so far to see them. The weeks will go by fast. Have a wonderful time!
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Sounds like a wonderful month. Thats a lot of stairs. I LOVED all the flower photos. We have a few places about 30 minutes from my home that I could go photograph, I just haven’t done it. I have blogger and I know there were some issues with commenters showing up as anonymous but someone said that was more of a cookie problem than a blogger one. Let me know if you have trouble on mine, though I don’t think mine is that strict.
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Yes, the Niagara Escarpment in Hamilton is steep. The stairs have landings so people can rest. I’ve been able to leave comments on your blog. There are a couple of Blogger blogs that I can’t. I thought I’d mention it so those bloggers would know that I’m not ignoring their blogs.
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What a wonderful July you had. Loved all the places that you went and being an old salt, loved your visit to the Naval ship. Super cool.
Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
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Patrick, I didn’t know you’re a mariner. The HMCS Glace Bay is very cool to tour and the helpful officers were available to answer questions. Thank you for linking up. Have a great weekend!
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Hello stranger, I’ve been offline a lot lately. Well, that’s not true, I’ve just not been blogging I guess. Your July looks lovely and the flowers in bloom are beautiful. I love the murals. We have some of our ‘electrical box thingys’ painted like that and it’s a great way to cover up eyesores.
I’m glad you’re keeping well and healthy and busy Natalie!
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Hello Deborah, It’s great to hear from you. July and August are prime summer months here so it’s colourful and lively. I hope July has been good to you. Have a wonderful August!
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What beautiful photos, especially your flower pics. It certainly looks like you’ve had a good July fuelled by coffee!
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Janine, Thank you for your visit and comment. Summer flowers are at their peak here. So many blooms and colours. I enjoy having coffee chats with my friends. I hope July has been good to you. Have a fantastic August!
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Loving the flower photos especially. Thank you! What a variety!
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Thank you, Lizl, for your comment. I hope to see and share more beautiful flowers in August.
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Great pictures! Sounds like you had a great July! The murals are awesome! 🤩
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Thank you, Lina, for your comment. I hope you have a wonderful week.
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You fill your life with so many varied experiences and joys Natalie! Glad you’re keeping hydrated in the hot summer over there and that you’ve had a lovely trip away with family. I adore the photos of the flowers and the art. It’s the first day of August here – here’s to a fabulous (and healthy) August for the both of us!
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Hi Min, I love having variety in my month. Summer colours are at their best in my neighbourhood atm. Here’s to a fabulous and healthy August for the both of us!
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Apologies in being so late to comment this week… Another fabulous month for you. Loving the nature pics and the murals on the side of the comms boxes – such a lovely way to brighten them up. Also lovely you got to spend time with family last month.
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Jo, Thank you for stopping by. Here’s to an amazing August for both of us!
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Another busy month for you, Natalie!
Lots of sun & outdoors & interesting new art … thank you for recapping your month with us at The Changing Seasons!
P/S I have been enjoying your Newfoundland & Labrador posts tremendously!
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Thank you Ju-Lyn for hosting. I’m glad you enjoyed my posts on Newfoundland and Labrador. I have a few more to share then onto new adventures.
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Hurray!
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