May has been a marvellous month to me in many ways: A trip to France, family, friendship, nature and cultural events in Toronto and Chicago. I enjoyed many simple pleasures and wonderful experiences outdoors. Here’s May in 12 photos.
May in 12 Photos
I started my two-week French holiday in the last week of April. So, the first week of May I was still in France enjoying happy quality time with family, savouring French food and wines, taking strolls in Paris and sightseeing in Strasbourg and Colmar (posts to come). All three cities are beautiful and easy to explore on foot.
Returning to Toronto, I had delightful walks with friends on the Fleurs de Villes Artiste floral trail and in local parks along the Waterfront Trail. We simply enjoyed Nature at its best. Plants and animals are growing and changing fast as we get closer to summer.
I spent many hours being active outdoors by Lake Ontario and in Toronto’s ravines, as well as exploring old and new sights in the city. We got a taste of summer when the daytime high temperature reached 28C, felt like 34C with humidity last Tuesday. I started thinking about what water activities to enjoy this summer.
Last week I travelled to Chicago and had a good busy week with family there. I read when I could and finished the thought-provoking and tender Our Missing Hearts novel by Celeste Ng. I had read and enjoyed her previous two novels Little Fires Everywhere and Everything I Never Told You.
I am grateful for a marvellous month. One final image of public art from the Fleurs de Villes Artiste show for your enjoyment.
Link-Up
I’d love for you to share your week’s highlights and/ or public art from around the world in the Comments or Weekend Coffee Share link-up #165 below. Happy June!
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Natalie the Explorer 
Awesome photos! Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Darlene. I hope May has also been good to you. Happy June!
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You had quite a month with some of my favorite things too: family, books, travel, beautiful sights!
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Thanks, Lisa. May has been great. Happy June!
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I love, love the flower palette. What a great idea.
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Yes, the Palette was a great idea that went well with the event theme Artiste.
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You’ve certainly had a busy and fun month! Here’s to another great one in June!
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Thank you Sarah. I hope May has also been good to you. Happy June!
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Gorgeous photos! What a pretty month!
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Thank you, Maria. Many places and things in Toronto look beautiful from May to end of October.
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What a beautiful month! Hope life continues to be kind, Natalie 🤗🩷
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Thank you, Jo, and the same hope from me to you 🩷
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Beautiful May pictures! Hope your June is wonderful too.
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Thank you Ganga. I hope you have a wonderful June, too.
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The photos are lovely, as usual. I don’t take photos anymore since I am not out and about, but I did include a photo of my granddaughter dressed for the prom. We are quite proud of her.
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Thank you Tessa for sharing your granddaughter’s photo. I’ll be visiting your blog this weekend.
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Your photographs are beautiful as always, Natalie and what lovely way to present your month of May. Have a great month ahead and thank you for hosting #weekendcoffeeshare.
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Thank you, Sue, for your comment and linking up. Many places and things in Toronto look beautiful from May to end of October so it’s easy to take nice pictures. I hope you have a fabulous June.
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Hi Natalie, popping back to say ‘thank you’ for linking up and joining us at #WBOYC? I hope you are having a lovely weekend. x
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Hi Sue, Thank you for hosting #WBOYC. It’s a great monthly link-up to catch up with blogger friends.
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What a great month – and that peony is so beautiful.
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Thank you Barbara. That peony is about dinner plate size. I was happy to see it at peak bloom.
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May’s photographs paint a picture of a great month, Natalie.
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Thank you Shari. There has been many beautiful sunny days and some rain in Toronto in May. Plants are looking lush and birds are very active atm.
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It doesn’t get better than Paris is May. Love your photos and look forward to more.
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Thank you, Suzanne. Paris in May was lovely. I enjoyed Strasbourg and Colmar, too.
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Two weeks in France…ahhhhhh….how wonderful! And Toronto isn’t half bad either. I do think that is a bull v.s. a cow…in among the flowers.
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Dawn, I’d love to do an extended stay in France in low season. Toronto looks beautiful from May to end of October. I hope May was good to you. Happy June!
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You travel so much! I’m jealous of Paris – can’t wait to see those posts. Beautiful flowers (I won’t say it again but you know how much I love…opps, about to say it again) 😉
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I’m fortunate to have family in Paris and get to go there frequently (except the first 2-3 years of COVID-19 pandemic). I hope to travel as much as possible while I’m still able to do it 🙂
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Aaaah France in Spring … just glorious. I love all the pics of flowers and blossoms. Thanks for linking up.
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It was great to be back in Paris after a few years off due to COVID (and before the Summer Olympic Games start in Paris).
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Natalie,
You certainly don’t let grass grow under your feet. I wish I had your energy. Thanks for sharing your activities with all of us. I agree wholeheartedly with one of your comments above. We also say “We want to do as much as we can…while we still can!” Have a wonderful weekend! Joe
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Joe, I try to stay active and feel grateful that I get to do fun activities that I enjoy. I do take afternoon naps from time to time 🙂 Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend!
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What a great collection of your fun travels Natalie! I love that artist’s palette in flowers, so clever! I’ve featured some public sculptures in nature in a recent post which I think you’d enjoy! Thanks for linking up with us for #WBOYC and having us visit your #weekendcoffeeshare linkup. Have a great month ahead.
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Thank you, Debbie. June is off to a great start as I have a date with my sister. I hope you have a wonderful June.
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What a wonderful month, Natalie! Here’s to more adventures!
Some PPAC https://wanderingteresa.com/our-last-day-in-porto/
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Thank you, Teresa. June is off to a great start. Have a wonderful week ahead!
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To you too my dear!
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So many wonderful photos of a fabulous month Natalie.
Thanks for joining in The Changing Seasons 😀
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Thank you Brian for hosting TCS. I hope May was good to you. I’ll visit your blog asap.
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Thanks Natalie
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Looks like May was a busy but fun month for you Natalie. I’ve been to Paris four times and love my visit each time. I love each of your photos.
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Thank you Jennifer for your comment. How wonderful that you’ve been to Paris four times. It’s a beautiful city.
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I enjoyed your May pictures. The bridge is unique. I’ve never seen one quite like that one. The geese are adorable. I’ve not seen any goslings here yet this season. I’ll be on the lookout for them.
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Yes, the Commissioners Street bridge has a modern design. I’ve seen several geese families with cute goslings this spring. I hope you see them in your area soon. They grow up fast.
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It sounds as though you had an exciting June. I loved Strasbourg when I visited two years ago especially the tram.
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Strasbourg has excellent public transit. I’m glad you enjoyed your visit there.
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Sounds like a wonderful month of May. Of course starting it off in France can’t be beat. I hope you enjoy your weekend, have a wonderful week ahead and have a June as good as your May 🙂
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Thank you, Trent. I hope the same for you 🙂
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I especially love the painter’s palette created with flowers. So clever and beautiful.
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The Painter’s Palette was perfect for the event theme Artiste.
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The photo of the Eiffel Tower is stunning! That must have been an incredible vacation. Looks like an amazing May.
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Thank you Olivia for your visit and comment. I had a great time in Paris thanks to my dear family there.
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There is always something to do in Toronto!
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That’s true.
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What a fantastic May you had. I love the painter’s palette. So effective!
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That painter’s palette installation was right on for the event theme “Artiste”.
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Wonderful photos!
Pingback: https://rosemarycarlson.com/2024/06/01/weekendcoffeeshare-165/
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Thank you, Rosemary. Have a great weekend!
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Fantastic, as always.
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Thank you, Antoinette. I hope all’s well with you. Have a great weekend!
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Hi, Natalie . Such lovely photos. I’m going to Paris in a week. Can you suggest a good restaurant?
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Hi Pam, I’m excited for you. So many restaurant choices in Paris. Someone I knew booked the restaurant at the top of the Eiffel Tower. This article has a few suggestions: https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20240424-paris-most-authentic-and-delicious-bistros-and-the-best-dishes-they-offer
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Love the Painter’s Palette its super creative !!!!! Would definitely give it a prize for outstanding creativity.
~B
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Yes, that installation met the event theme “Artiste” beautifully. Thank you B for stopping by. I hope all’s well with you.
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So very cool. You had a great May. Love all the pics. The one of the skyline of Toronto is amazing. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
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Thank you, Patrick. June is off to a very good start. I hope you have a great week ahead.
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Such a wonderful and diverse month you had, Natalie. Super enjoyable and the weather seemed lovely as well. I really like the Painter’s Palette display too. Beautiful and ingenious.
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Thank you, Liesbet. The sunny and warm days in May motivated me to be outdoors daily. Some of my indoor activities are piling up, such as catching up on blog reading and commenting. I hope all’s well with you. Happy June!
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You really got around last month, Natalie! It’s always so good to be outside. You are an outdoorsy gal. France sounds wonderful (I have a friend who moved back to the South of France recently). Your outdoor shots look lovely and inviting, and hoping good weather stays with you for a while! Thanks for sharing for Sunday Stills!
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Hi Terri, I try to be outside daily and spring temperatures are good for outdoor activities. The weather forecast calls for a very warm summer here so we shall see. I’d love to do an extended stay in the South of France. So many beautiful places to explore so little time. Have a wonderful week ahead!
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Thank you for sharing your May with us. That Painter’s Palette by Happy Fairy Art is truly stunning!
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Thank you Nikki for stopping by. I’m pleased you like that Painter’s Palette installation. There were many beautiful floral displays at the event. If you’re interested in seeing more, here’s my post: https://natalietheexplorer.home.blog/2024/05/17/fleurs-de-villes-artiste-trail/
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What a lovely photo of the Eiffel Tower. I look forward to returning to Paris next month!
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A trip to Paris is something to look forward to.
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Beautiful photos. I LOVE the “painters pallette”.
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May was a lovely month. The Painter’s Palette was beautiful and right on with the theme Artiste for the event.
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