Hello and welcome! I’m glad you’re here. It’s week 48 in 2022 and I’m hosting Weekend Coffee Share (WCS) linkup #98 which includes the Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC). Feel free to link your WCS or PPAC post to this post. Come on in for a coffee or tea and let’s chat.
This weekend is a good time for me to reflect on November and my 2022 focus on Health, Home and Leisure. The first half of November was filled with wonderful bike rides, hikes and walks thanks to well above average and record-setting warm temperatures (daytime high 25C or 77F on November 5). The second half of November brought wet snow on November 15, cooler temperatures and the start of festive events.
Here’s my monthly recap for November.
1. Health
I hiked in High Park and along Grenadier Pond a few times. High Park has all sorts of trails to explore. Flat and easy trails as well as long hills, steep staircases, winding trails through woods with more challenging terrain. On each hike, I used all my senses to connect with nature and immersed in the beauty around me.
2. Family
My family and I picked a beautiful sunny 18C (64F) day to stroll along the water’s edge from Kew Beach to Woodbine Beach and Ashbridge’s Bay. A few days later, we had our first dusting of snow that signaled the transition from Autumn to Winter. I took a few ‘fresh snow’ pictures before it all melted.
3. Friends
A friend and I enjoyed wonderful walks at Evergreen Brick Works. Evergreen Brick Works was a clay and shale quarry for one hundred years. The 16.5-hectare (40-acre) area is now a thriving green space, with ponds and many varieties of nature trails to explore and wander. We love seeing turtles, fish, grey herons, ducks and beaver dams in the wetlands.
Evergreen Brick Works connects to Moore Park Ravine so we walked in the stunning ravine as well. Tall trees tower above and envelope us while leaves crunched beneath our feet. We feel fortunate to have such beautiful green space right in the heart of the city.
4. Photographing Public Art Challenge
Here’s a sampling of public art at Evergreen Brick Works.
My favourite is Legacy (the mud beneath our feet) sculpture by Dave Hind. It’s 10′ x 10′ made by reclaimed steel, aluminum and wood. A.P. Coleman’s legacy as the geologist who put the North Slope of the Brick Works quarry on the map is represented in a sculpture depicting a pair of his boots.
5. Blogging
Photography – I posted square images with a brief caption on four Wednesdays in November. It’s my way to support Becky at The Life of B blog while participating in her Walking Squares and other photo challenges. These posts have the #photography tag in their titles.
- Nature Trails #Photography
- A Ravine Walk #Photography
- On Grenadier Pond #Photography
- Vivid Autumn Colours #Photography
Weekend Coffee Share – On November 11th, I started hosting both Photographing Public Art Challenge (PPAC) and Weekend Coffee Share (WCS) under the weekly WCS linkup. I’ve included the links for November’s posts in case you missed any and want to catch up.
- Bay of Fundy: 5 Natural Wonders
- Bay of Fundy: 5 Historic Sites
- Bay of Fundy: 6 Fun Attractions
- Toronto Music Garden in Autumn
December schedule – Please note the following:
- December 9: Linkup #99
- December 16: Linkup #100
- December 23: No linkup
- December 30: No linkup
I’ll repeat this announcement on December 9th and 16th since some bloggers don’t participate every week. I’ll be taking a break in the last two weeks of 2022. After the holidays, I’ll resume the Weekend Coffee Share linkup on January 6th, 2023.
I’m grateful for all the good things that happened in November. Happy December!
Linked to Ju-Lyn’s #TheChangingSeasons.
Copyright © 2024 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
Hi Natalie – you certainly hiked through some lovely places – that red tree in the first group of photos is stunning – and the pre-melted snow was lovely too. Thanks for the link up and for the heads up about which dates you’ll be hosting in December before you take a well deserved Christmas break.
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Hi Leanne, High Park is beautiful year round and I was there at the right time to see that stunning red tree. I’m looking forward to enjoying a blogging/ hosting break and the holiday season. Thank you for joining me this weekend.
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Those trees are beautiful, such gorgeous colours
I’ll be joining in sometime soon 😊
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Thank you, Ali. I look forward to your post 🙂
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Beautiful walks.
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Thank you, Sofia, for your comment and PPAC contribution. I’ll hop over to your blog shortly.
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These are some fantastic places to walk, Natalie!! You’ve captured some amazing beauty in these photos.
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Thank you, Susanne. The parks that I shared in my post are especially beautiful in autumn.
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Hi Natalie, thanks for the heads up re your December schedule. Enjoy the break and have a fabulous December.
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Thank you, Suzanne. Wishing you and your loved ones a happy and healthy December!
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The Evergreen Brick Works are fascinating. Thanks for the virtual coffee, Natalie, Hope you have a great Friday.
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Thank you, Shari. Friday has been great. Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
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You really got to walk and hike in some very lovely places!!
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Thank you, Joanne. I’m thankful for those beautiful parks and Lake Ontario.
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It’s easy to feel joyful surrounded by colours like that, Natalie? I think the blogospere will be empty those last 2 weeks of December.
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Jo, Yes, blue and green spaces have uplifting effects on us. The blogosphere is usually more quiet around Christmas. I use some of that time to clean up my blog 🙂
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🤗💖
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Oh my gosh it’s Friday! I only just realized that when I read your post and thought, did I miss this last week on Friday? What a week I’ve had… anyhoo, the photo of the first snow is peaceful and tranquil and just what I expect a pretty first snow to look like!
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Ally, I’ll be over to your blog shortly to find out what’s going on for you to say what a week you’ve had! I’m behind in my blog reading and commenting. I hope you have a great weekend.
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I only told a small portion of the complexity, but overall it’s been a week of ups and downs. Nothing horrible, just life I suppose.
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Good morning! What gorgeous trees on your walks – autumn is really a beautiful season in nature. Thanks again for hosting the weekend coffee share!
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Thank you for joining my weekly linkup. Nature is amazing and autumn was stunning this year. I hope to walk around downtown to check out the holiday displays this month.
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Natalie, your trees are so beautiful and vivid. You get amazing colors, and when combined with the water shots, they are stunning. I love your vivid public art, too. What a fun month you’ve had. It’s wonderful that you can keep so active outside clear into November. Thanks for bringing us on this beautiful journey.
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Marsha, I feel fortunate to experience beautiful Fall colours every year. This year, they are truly stunning and vivid. I hope to walk around downtown to see the holiday displays this month. Thank you for joining me virtually.
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Some day, some day! When you least expect it…
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You, Terri and Kirstin take on Toronto 🙂
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That sounds fun! We could have a great time!
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Fall colors, water, and trails… *swoon*. I think I say this every week, but you really do live in a beautiful place.
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Janet, I’m thankful for Toronto’s parks and Lake Ontario. Thank you for joining me virtually.
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Beautiful fall leaves and snow LOL!
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It’s four seasons here. Nature is amazing.
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This was an especially beautiful Fall here too. The weather was better than usual and the colors seemed so much more vibrant. Beautiful pics as always. Thanks for sharing 💜
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I’m glad you also had an especially beautiful Fall. Thank you for stopping by.
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Great to catch up with your news Natalie. I just popped in to read and now know of your plans for having a break. I hope you enjoy the festive season ahead. I will continue my Wed link up Wednesday’s Words and Pics on 4 January 2023. We need to get used to a new year! Take care, and thank you for your blog and linky. Denyse PS I didn’t link up today.
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Denyse, Thank you for stopping by and letting me know about your WW&P date in January. I’m looking forward to my blogging break. I hope you have a safe and lovely holiday season and continue our blogging connections in the New Year.
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I too look forward to that in 2023, Natalie.
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What an amazing month you’ve had, Natalie! From the fall colours to first snowfall! Brilliant! Thank you for sharing your scenic & delicious memories from the Bay of Fundy, and the lovely art you’ve discovered around town.
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Thank you, Ju-Lyn. Over here, November was really ‘the changing season’ weather-wise and from non-holiday to holidays. I hope you have a wonderful December.
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You too, Natalie! You must be looking forward to you break at the end of the month! Have a good one!
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Thank you, Ju-Lyn. I’m looking forward to my break. The countdown has begun 🙂
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Wow! Your photographs are stunning Natalie! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the weekend!
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Thank you, Jill, for stopping by. Fall leaf colours this year were incredibly beautiful. Have a wonderful weekend!
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Hi, Natalie – Your positive energy and sense of adventure makes each of your months rich and full. Wishing you a very happy December ahead!
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Thank you, Donna, for your kind words. I admire your generosity and how you brighten my day and other bloggers’ with your concise comments. Wishing you a happy and healthy December! I hope you are safe and warm in spite of the snow storm in BC.
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Your photos and your fitness spots are so amazing — even the flowers with the fresh snow. Wouldn’t find any colour like that out here for eons although it was 5 degrees on Sunday. Today it is -31! Bernie
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Bernie, I hope you don’t have to go out in -31C weather. I’m thankful for the beautiful parks that I shared in my post. It’s a pleasure to walk through them any time of the year. The big flowers with the snow are ornamental kale or cabbage plants. They are huge, some bigger than dinner plates, and common here in Fall season.
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One can’t stay home because it’s-31. We just dress for it and get on with life. We were at the rink yesterday for grandkids skating lessons. Glad it has an inside warm viewing area!
I did recognize the plants – wonder why I’ve never tried to grow them as they are cool.
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Looks and sounds like a great November! I hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful week ahead. I also hope you are able to have as good of a December as your November 🙂
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Thank you, Trent. December is off to a good start. It’s a short month blogging-wise for me 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend!
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HI Natalie! I’m popping over , via Susanne’s mention of your WCS link-up. It’s always great to meet other bloggers and see what they’re up to 😉 Looks like you had a fabulous November! If you’re at all interested, a friend (and fellow blogger), Deborah and myself co-host a Weekly Run Down link-up each Sunday. It’s more of a fitness-based link-up, but we LOVE to encourage anyone to drop their link and visit the other bloggers for support, friendship and inspiration.
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Hi Kim, Thank you for your visit and comment. I’ll pop over to your blog shortly. Your link-up sounds great. You’re also welcome to join my weekly Weekend Coffee Share any week.
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The hikes in early November looks lovely. Your weather is amazing. Thank you for the wonderful photos. Have a great weekend!
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Thank you, Maria. I hope you had a good week and are enjoying the weekend.
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Thank you!
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A wonderful November. The trees have amazing colours. Thanks for joining in The Changing Seasons 🙂 🙂
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Thank you, Brian. Those Fall leaves were beautiful while they lasted. Winter is on its way here. Have a nice weekend!
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Hi Natalie,
A few in a slideshow from my latest post
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Thank you, Ali, for taking me to Cheng Chau island virtually. I greatly appreciate your PPAC contribution.
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Thanks Natalie 😊
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Oh it was so nice to walk virtually with you in your lovely Autumn splendor, Natalie! That legacy sculpture piece is very cool and a great inspiration to those of us who love to hike! Have a great week!
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Hi Terri, I’m glad you liked the Legacy sculpture. When I first looked at it, I didn’t see the boots right away. On second look, I saw them and love how the sculptor made the laces look so real. Have a great week!
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What a beautiful November you had. So very nice. Love the public art. Thanks for sharing your November with us.
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Thank you, Patrick. I appreciate your comment and contribution.
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Beautiful pictures. Wonderful to see the transition from fall to winter. Yes we too got a glimpse of all seasons here in Pittsburgh.
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Thank you, Ganga. Nature is amazing.
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Your nature photos are so inspiring. I can’t wait to get back out there.
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Keep up your PT and you’ll be back out there soon.
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Oh yes. I’ve not been happy with my activity curtailed.
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Wow Natalie, your November is so photogenic! What an amazing walk you are having.
Here is mine:https://mywanderings.travel.blog/2022/12/05/looking-inside/
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Teresa, Thank you for your PPAC contribution. I enjoyed browsing various art objects virtually via your photos.
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My pleasure Natalie ❤️
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Toronto is gorgeous all year around, but I really thing fall going into winter is my favorite. Thanks Natalie
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Thank you, Gary. Fall is a favourite season for many people here as the temperatures are moderate, the humidity is gone and the leaf colours are beautiful.
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It looks like you had some wonderful walks, Natalie. I love the public art!
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Thank you, Dan. November was wonderful. Now onto December and the holiday season. I was reading your Thursday Doors post on Saturday and got interrupted so I’ll be back.
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I noticed the new Weekend Coffee Share badge for next year! It’s so pretty and fresh! The Grenadier Pond looks so serene!
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Thank you, Julie. I’m glad you liked the new WCS badge for 2023. I just added it to my blog sidebar this week and will announce it in my coming post. Have a great week!
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All those spots are stunning. I love the hiking boot sculpture and the murals. I really need to buckle down on my vacation posts before I forget everything but man, it’s tough to sit and do it because they’re taking me forever….I want to research more as I go.
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Thank you, Kirstin, for your comment. Yes, vacation posts are time consuming to write. Do them at your own pace. Have a great week!
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Excellent Fall Photos, Wow, yes November was a wild month weatherwise. I really like your photo of the Pond and Board Walk.
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Thank you Shawn for your comment. Fall colours were stunning in 2022.
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