The Chocolatier in Greektown:Leonidas

Greektown, Toronto, Ontario Canada

On the 12th of June I was able to spend by birthday in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with my boyfriend. It was a special treat to break away from responsibilities and explore fascinating Toronto. In that short trip we were able to try Hungarian, Indian, Japanese,and Portuguese cuisine but my favorite moments were in Greektown on Danforth when we entered the Leonidas Chocolatier.My thoughtful boyfriend asked me to choose which chocolates I'd like for my birthday gift and the girl behind the counter placed them in a golden box with a ribbon. Ironically Leonidas was founded in 1913 by a Greek-American man named Leonidas Kestidies in Brussels, Belgium. Today Leonidas Chocolatier shoppes can be found in 50 countries including the one on Danforth Street in Toronto's Greektown.Some of the best moments in life are "eating chocolates, especially when they're LEONIDAS of Belgium. Have a chocolate and brighten your moments!

The White House on the Hill beckons to me.

Almost everyday I pass the white house on the hill. It's such a charming house and it would make a terrific bed and breakfast. I was always curious to know who lives in "the white house on the hill" and now I know; a Catholic priest lives in that house. He has that whole entire house to himself and he deserves it. He's so devoted to his church and the parishioners. The priest even has a walking trail that leads from the side of his house to the church because he's often needed at the church round the clock. What a blessed priest to live in such a glorious white house on the hill.

The White House on the Hill beckons to me:

The white house on the hill beckons to me
sitting by itself away from everything but a 
Catholic Church.

A priest lives there they say and how blessed
he is, for on a bright June day the birds sing their
joyful songs in the verdant shady trees.

The fragrant pink rose bushes fill the 
air with a lovely scent and the blue sky above the 
house brightens everything so very nice.

How I'd like to visit that white house on the hill
and sit on a porch with a cup of tea in hand. Oh 
how that white house on the hill beckons 
to me; for just a moment I wish it were mine.

Summer Stand Up Paddle Boarding Moments!

June 27, 5:40 pm
It's the beginning of summer which means warm weather and longer days for extra activities in the great outdoors. My favorite summer moments are when I'm SUP (stand up paddling). 

Paddle Boarding is a tremendous stress relief and an excellent physical work out. If you have access to a lake give paddle boarding a try. I'm fortunate to be living near one of the freshwater Great Lakes, free of sharks and a paddle boarders paradise. Make time for Paddle Boarding moments!




Benefits of Paddle Boarding:

1) improves balance
2) provides endurance
3) full body workout
4) low impact exercise
4) helps relieves stress
5) connects you with nature

Wisdom from a Spider (Charlotte's Web)

What a precious spider you are sweet Charlotte.......for you befriended a pig who didn't want to die and weaved such lovely words on your web to let that pig named Wilbur live.

Your short time on earth didn't stop you from being a true friend  and your example of selfless love towards another being has won the hearts of adults and children throughout the world.

Thank You Charlotte 

Mother Earth and Father Time (Lyrics from the animated film)

How very special are we

For just a moment to be

Part of life's eternal rhyme

How very special are we

To have on our family tree

Mother Earth and Father Time

After all, what's a life anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die.

There's so much to learn in E.B. White's classic story "Charlotte's Web" about life and wisdom.

Let's appreciate those moments of life and do our best to make the world a better place.

Moments of "Charlottes Web"

"After all, what's a life anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die." Charlotte (the spider)

"You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing." Charlotte (the spider)

Charlottes Web by E.B. White

Do you have a favorite film or story that touches your heart in a special way?
If so what is it? 

For me it's Charlotte's Web. I had seen the animated film with my mother when I was a young girl and loved it dearly. Life got busy and I forgot all about it until a few days ago when the words"Charlotte's Web" kept ringing in my ears. I think there was a message I needed to hear loud and clear and so I got onto my laptop and watched "Charlotte's Web" on You Tube. I was fascinated by the story and watched it several times in one sitting. There's so much wisdom in this story brilliantly written by the legendary E.B. White.

Charlotte's Web is a story about animals, friendship, and life. It takes place on a farm, in a barn full of talking animals. The main character a pig named Wilbur is born a runt. The farmer wants to kill the small pig but his daughter Fern begs her father to let the pig live. Fern promises to raise Wilbur. She gives him lots of attention and love and the adorable pig grows into a strong pig. Eventually Wilbur moves to Zuckerman's farm and that's when Wilbur meets the beautiful spider named Charlotte who devotes her life to saving Wilbur from being slaughtered by weaving encouraging words about Wilbur in her web.

I know now why the words "Charlotte's Web" rang in my ears. I needed to gain wisdom from this simple story that has so many life lessons. All life is important whether it's the life of an animal or a human being. Everyone needs a friend, everyone needs love, and the world is a much better place when we have true and genuine friends. Wilbur had a true friend in Charlotte and when she died he looked after her children and grandchildren. Wilbur never forget Charlotte because she was in a class of her own. She was kind and liked helping others.

And so Charlotte's Web has encouraged me to live moments of life being kind, being a friend, and serving others. After all what's life anyway? "we're born, we live a little, we die."

Hello June (Summer at Last)

JUNE has finally arrived which means summer is just around the corner. For those of you who dwell in a warm climate, the clear blue skies and sunny days are commonplace but for those that live way up north, half the year is filled with gray skies and cold weather. It's been only about twelve days since everything came into full bloom in northern Michigan.  Now the atmosphere is filled with verdant trees, fragrant lilacs, turquoise waters and baby ducks quacking. Oh, how wonderful it is.

Although the winter months bring a beauty of their own, there's something special about the month of June in North America when days become long and the sunny weather puts people in a happy spirit.It's half past seven in the evening and I'm about to get on my bicycle and ride along the sparkling shores of a fresh water lake. It's moments like this that are sheer bliss. JUNE is here and it's time to take moments to be a little carefree.

HAPPY JUNE.....have some strawberry shortcake!