Sorry Friends.......... Hopefully I'll be back up next week

If you are stopping by looking for my Friday Shoot Out, I am apologizing that I did not participate this week. The cataract in my left eye is very dense right now and it is really difficult to take pictures. I have scheduled an appointment for the 8 minute surgery, but in Toronto the wait is long... March or April. So, I will do my best to post sometimes but it maybe early spring before I am a regular again. The other thing is I am baby sitting the grandkids in Whitby this weekend and won't have the time to visit the other participants. It made more sense to bow out gracefully this week.

FSO people....... I collect tea cups, tins and 45 RPM records....... you've already seen my teacups, maybe I'll get to share the tins and the 45s  another time. 

Admission: Barry was the Techno Brain for Blogging

Here's the thing....... Barry set this up and I have no idea how to change it. I even messed up Mr. Linky by putting "the shoot out" and not "my name".  I will endeavor to get it right next week. Promise. What I want to do is change this site, but I'm not sure I can. I have to remember Barry's password to his blog so I can come here and fix it. I'm not remembering it.  Bare with me for a while, so I can sort myself out. I am looking forward to participating in the shoot out tomorrow! If the venue is making you sad, let me know and I will put the shoot out on my own blog.  My pictures for this week Macro... are posted below this little disclaimer.

One more thing.... I am in the process of getting treatment for cataracts.. so there is no fancy schmancy macro shots here. My camera will do this but right now my eyes cannot see through the lens. Instead I did a big-small comparison..... enjoy!
Love, Linda.

Rocks

A vigil on Tabor Hill 2008

Linda and I spent the evening of the summer solstice on the Tabor Hill Ossuary, one of the largest Native Canadian Ossuaries in Ontario and located in the middle of a small suburban development here in West Hill. The plaque commemorating the event is encased in our of the largest granite rocks in the area.



The Tabor Hill Ossuary consists of two burial pits which were first excavated by Dr. Walter Kenyon of the Royal Ontario Museum in 1956. Both pits had the classic structure of ancestral Huron ossuaries, containing the largely disarticulated and commingled remains of 475 individuals who had been previously interred, and then moved and placed in these pits at a later date.



Such burial events were undertaken at the time of village relocation and were known as the Feast of the Dead. The bones have since been reinterred in a special ceremony under the auspices of the City of Scarborough and with the direction of First Nations representatives.

Public Art

Not much to show, this week, even though the topic was our suggestion. Barry is still recovering from yesterday's chemotherapy. For an update on his condition, please click here.

However here are a few unusual examples of public art from our archives.






Check out our side bar for links to other FSO contributions this week!

FSO--Sorry No Shoot Out This Week

Due to further complications with Barry's condition we are not able to post this week.

For those interested in what Barry is going through, please CLICK HERE

Hopefully things will be back to (what passes for) normal next week.

Thanks for your understanding.

FSO Home Town Heroes

Heroes come in many guises. Some wear uniforms and drive large trucks. And put their lives at stake for the sake of others

Some come out on weekends and make the community a richer place through the donation of their time.

Some are the Chief of Police for the City of Toronto who come to help us celebrate our new Police Station.

Some staff hot dog stands on days of community festivales

Some take time out of busy and dangerous lives to help the community celebrate.

And to allow us a peek into their lives.

Others (like Trooper Larry Rudd, the latest Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan) pay the final sacrifice in distant lands and are saluted as they pass by our community for the final time with dignity and honour.

Others give their time on a regular basis with no reward to make our community a better place to live work and play.

They are all our heroes.

FSO--At the Zoo

The Toronto Zoo has over 5,000 animals representing over 500 species.



There are over 10 km (six miles) of walking trails, and at one time or another, Linda and I have explored them all.



Over 287 hectares (710 acres) in size, it is one of the largest zoos in the world.



The Zoo is divided into six zoogeographic regions: Indo-Malaya, Africa, the Americas, Australasia, Eurasia and the Canadian Domain. Animals are displayed indoors in tropical pavilions and outdoors in naturalistic environments, with viewing at many levels



The Zellers Discovery Zone features the Kids Zoo, a dynamic, interactive children's wildlife experience, Splash Island, an exciting two-acre water play area and the Waterside Theatre, home of exciting family entertainment



Among the most unique exhibits are the incredible 10-acre Tundra Trek featuring an amazing 5-acre Polar bear habitat complete with underwater viewing area, the Gorilla Rainforest home to our Western Lowland Gorilla troop and newest addition Nassir, the Great Barrier Reef.



The 2010 Special Exhibit features Sharks at Stingray Bay - A Touching Experience. This unique and interactive exhibit runs from May 22, 2010 to October 11, 2010



On a more personal note both our daughters worked their way through University by working at the Zoo, which is located not far from our home. My oldest daughter's Mother-In-Law still works there and it was during a visit to the zoo that Kathy told us she was expecting a new baby, Hailey (now 2).