Book ~ "Fighting for Decency" (2024) Gordon K. Jones

From Goodreads ~ After drone specialist and newly-licensed private investigator Cody Marshall assists police in preventing the kidnapping of a young boy, his first official case is being hired by the boy's father to delve into why the child was taken. Cody’s girlfriend, the level-headed Toronto Police Officer Taylor Brant, is also assigned to investigate who was behind the attempt. As the couple follow up separately, they both arrive at the same the kidnapping was part of an elaborate scheme to raise money for the newly-formed violent white supremacist terror organization, Pyre.

Cody and Taylor soon find that their lives are in danger as they work to take down Pyre before the terrorists can unleash their fiery hate upon the city. Will Taylor and Cody be able to stop this violent hate organization before it’s too late? More importantly, will they be able to survive their first time working together?

Cody is a drone specialist and private detective. A young boy has been kidnapped and Cody is asked by the police to use his drone to track down the boy and kidnapper in a large park. Once he does that, the boy’s father is very appreciative and since Cody is also a private detective, he hires Cody to find out who was behind the kidnapping of his son and why. Once Cody starts investigating, he discovers the boy was kidnapped by a white supremacist group and it’s distressing and disturbing when they learn who is heading up the group.

This story had an interesting premise. It’s written in first person perspective in Cody’s voice. Not only do we get to follow along as he tries to find out more about why the boy was kidnapped but we also get to know him personally because his girlfriend, Taylor, is a police officer also investigating the kidnapping. I liked that the author didn’t hide the fact it’s in Toronto rather than some anonymous American city and I knew exactly where the locations were. As a head’s up, there is violence and swearing.

Book ~ "Halifax and Me" (2020) Harry Bruce

From Goodreads ~ Essays recounting Canadian author Harry Bruce's love affair with the fascinating, historic, quirky city of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Though I've never lived in Halifax (my sister does), I'm originally from Nova Scotia and that's why this book caught my eye.

This a collection of essays written by Harry Bruce, who when he wrote the book, was living in Halifax again. He has moved around a lot across Canada in his almost 90 years and Halifax kept drawing him back. His paternal family had roots in Guysborough County so he had spent time there as a child.

The essays were interesting for the most part but rambling at times. He wrote about the history and people of Halifax and Nova Scotia, comparing it to the other places he's lived (the farthest he'd lived from there was in Vancouver), his family and work history, the people he's met over the years and more.

The book could have been edited better as there were typos and grammatical/spacing errors.

Twisted Hat

I knitted another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove. I used variegated cotton yarn.

I found the pattern here.

Directions are for size small; changes for size large are in parentheses.

Hat circumference at bottom edge: 16 (18)" [41 (46)cm]; Hat stretches to fit 20 (22)” [51 (56)cm]

I used 4.5mm [US 7] and 5.5mm [US 9] needles and 4 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles.

With smaller needles, cast on 90 (102) sts. Divide sts evenly around double pointed needles. Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beginning of round.

Ribbing Round: 

[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round until piece measures 1½" [4cm] from beginning.

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 90 (102) sts.
Repeat round 2 until piece measures 8 (8½)" [20 (22) cm] from beginning.

Shape Crown

• Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 75 (85) sts.
• Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 75 (85) sts.
• Decrease round 2: *K1, yo, [k2tog] twice; repeat from * around – 60 (68) sts
• Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] around – 60 (68) sts.
• Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 45 (51) sts.
• Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] around – 30 (34) sts.
• Decrease round 5: [K2tog] around – 15 (17) sts.
• Decrease round 6: [K2tog, k1] 5 times, k2tog 0 (1) time – 10 (11) sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit

k2tog = knit 2 sts together

p = purl

St st = Stockinette stitch

st(s) = stitch(es)

yo = yarn over

Island Foods, Toronto, ON (Gladstone Avenue)

I had lunch today at Island Foods at Gladstone Avenue/Queen Street W.

I ordered what I always order at Island Foods ... a boneless chicken roti. Yum!

Float Toronto, Toronto, ON

Gord and I went for hour floats today at Float Toronto (on Queen Street W at Gladstone). We find floats very relaxing.

Also known as Floatation Therapy, REST Therapy (Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique) or Sensory Deprivation, floating involves lying in a salt-water solution in a specially designed tank (often referred to as a float tank, sensory deprivation tank, or isolation tank). Your experience in a floatation tank is about everything you won’t be doing. You won’t be fighting gravity. The 850 pounds of Epsom salt in the water takes care of that while you lie on your back. The water is kept at a skin receptor neutral temperature which means that you lose track of where your body ends and the water begins. Your ears stay just below the water, and the tanks are insulated against sound – noise from the outside is unable to reach you. After you shut the door to the tank, you float in total darkness. 

During your float the outside world is gone and amazing things happen. It turns out that when you’re not fighting gravity or constantly taking in information your body has a lot of extra resources at its disposal. Your mind is free to navigate without distraction, your brain pumps out dopamine and endorphins, and your body gets to rest, de-stress and heal. It’s likely to be the most relaxing thing you’ve ever experienced.

The tank is high enough for me to stand up, wide enough for me to stretch my arms out and my fingers just touch the side and a lot longer then me.  Today I left the meditative music and the light on.

Papi Chulo's Mexicana, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had lunch today on the patio of Papi Chulo's Mexicana (at Ossington and Argyle).

KC's tree, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

Gord and I took a walk this morning to visit KC's tree at Trinity Bellwoods Park. 

It's been a few months since I was last there ... what a difference! All the trees are green and gorgeous!

Book ~ "Ale I Want for Christmas is a Clue" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ 'Tis the season for frothy winter ales and the annual Bavarian holiday market in the charming alpine village of Leavenworth, Washington. Brewing partners Sloan Krause and Garrett Strong are debuting their latest collaboration, “Merry Brew Year,” a hoppy ale brewed with caramel, toffee, and cinnamon for the opening night of Christkindlmarkt. It’s a festival atmosphere in Front Street Park as the snow begins to fall and the children’s lantern parade illuminates the street. But not all is merry and bright when a twisted turn of events leaves a local vendor as dead as last year's Tannenbaum. 

Now Sloan Krause must tap into the mystery and pour over the clues. Can she barrel through the lies and uncask the truth, or will the holiday season end in a bitter finish? With their new beer on the line and a killer who's not afraid to malt the competition, Sloan must unravel the mystery before the final toast is made. Will it be a "hoppy" holiday, or will the murderer's cold-hearted draft leave everyone's spirits flat?

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan works with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. It's time for the annual Bavarian holiday market in Leavenworth and Nitro has a booth along with other local vendors. Owen, a merchant who recently moved to the village, isn't particularly liked because he's not a very nice fella. When he's found with a knife in his head and barely alive, there are a few who could have wanted him dead. Sloan sets out to find out who would want him dead.

This is a novella after the sixth book in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it.  I've read the others and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice.  There is some talk about beer and food pairings and recipes at the end. It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Happy Gotcha Day, Muffin!

It was seven years ago today that Gord and I adopted three-month-old Muffin from Annex Cat Rescue at an adopt-a-thon. She is such a sweetie!

At Pet Uno when we adopted her

Crumpet and Muffin

Book ~ "A Brew to a Kill" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ It’s the opening weekend of the spring farmers market in the charming Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington, where the hills are alive with the sound of ... murder. 

Sloan Krause and Garrett Strong are eager to showcase their latest offering - canned hoppy Northwest ales. They’re even more enthusiastic when Josh, a young travel influencer known for scaling peaks and downing pints, offers to feature Nitro’s new cans at the top of the latest mountain he’s set to climb. Josh’s A Brew to a View has millions of followers and should mean great exposure for Nitro. 

But when Josh is found stone-cold dead at the local youth hostel, leaving a trail of breadcrumbs and brews behind, Sloan and Garrett will have to tap into their sleuthing skills to solve a crime that has left the picturesque village in a state of shock. Could the killer be a jealous rival travel influencer, an enigmatic hiker who has been seen around town or perhaps someone closer to home? Can Sloan piece together this intoxicating puzzle before it's too late? Because if she can’t crack open the truth, she might just find herself crushed under the weight of a sinister beer can conspiracy.

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan works with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. The farmers market is starting up again and Nitro has a table selling their beer and swag. Two influencers are in town and are happy to promote Nitro's products. When one is found murdered in his room, there are a couple suspects ... the rival influencer, the influencer's ex-girlfriend and perhaps a local. Sloan and Garrett set out to help the local police figure it out.

This is a novella after the sixth book in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it.  I've read the others and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice.  There is some talk about beer and food pairings and recipes at the end.  It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity.

Twisted Hat

I finished knitting another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove. I combined thin strands of different colours.

I found the pattern here.

Directions are for size small; changes for size large are in parentheses.

Hat circumference at bottom edge: 16 (18)" [41 (46)cm]; Hat stretches to fit 20 (22)” [51 (56)cm]

I used 4.5mm [US 7] and 5.5mm [US 9] needles and 4 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles.

With smaller needles, cast on 90 (102) sts. Divide sts evenly around double pointed needles. Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beginning of round.

Ribbing Round: 

[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round until piece measures 1½" [4cm] from beginning.

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 90 (102) sts.
Repeat round 2 until piece measures 8 (8½)" [20 (22) cm] from beginning.

Shape Crown

• Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 75 (85) sts.
• Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 75 (85) sts.
• Decrease round 2: *K1, yo, [k2tog] twice; repeat from * around – 60 (68) sts
• Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] around – 60 (68) sts.
• Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 45 (51) sts.
• Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] around – 30 (34) sts.
• Decrease round 5: [K2tog] around – 15 (17) sts.
• Decrease round 6: [K2tog, k1] 5 times, k2tog 0 (1) time – 10 (11) sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit

k2tog = knit 2 sts together

p = purl

St st = Stockinette stitch

st(s) = stitch(es)

yo = yarn over

Mill Street Brew Pub, Toronto, ON

After Gord and I saw A Streetcar Named Desire, we had supper at Mill Street Brew Pub in the Distillery District.

Gord had a Brewmaster’s Burger and fries (two pub patties, American cheese, lettuce, pickles, secret sauce, brioche bun). Some of his fries were cold so they brought him a hot fresh order. He really enjoyed his burger.

"A Streetcar Named Desire", Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Distillery District, Toronto, ON

This afternoon Gord and I saw A Streetcar Named Desire at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in the Distillery District. We'd seen it there in October 2019 and enjoyed it. Today's performance was very good and the cast was excellent. It's just over three hours long (including an intermission) but the time passed quickly.

As Blanche’s fragile world crumbles, she turns to her sister for solace – but her downward spiral brings her face to face with a brutal, unforgiving reality. Tennessee Williams’ timeless masterpiece is a raging portrayal of what it means to be an outsider, in a society where we’re all desperate to belong.

Gord and I

Book ~ "Beer and Loathing" (2023) Ellie Alexander

From Goodreads ~ It’s ski week in everyone’s favorite Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington. Sloan Krause and her brewing partner in crime Garrett Strong are pouring pints of their deliciously decadent obsidian IPA and serving up slices of peanut butter chocolate pretzel bars. 

The mid-winter has everyone buzzing with excitement, especially Garrett. His family is arriving for a long overdue visit to Nitro. He can’t wait to show them around the village, spend afternoons skiing the surrounding alpine slopes and curling up in front of a crackling fire with a hearty evening stout. 

But the cozy vibe takes a dark turn when a young doctor has a fatal fall from the ski lift. At first, everyone assumes it was a terrible accident but Sloan isn’t convinced. Hazel Anders had insider information on medical research that could be worth killing for. Now barstool sleuth Sloan is on the case and using her nose for hops to sniff out murder.

I like beer and I like mysteries so that's why this series has caught my eye.

Sloan has been working with Garrett in his microbrewery/pub, Nitro. Over time, they have developed feelings for each other but are taking it slowly as she recently got out of a marriage to Mac, whom she'd caught cheating on her. Because Sloan and Garret have been getting closer, she is nervous but looking forward to meeting his parents and Leah, his sister, who are coming for a visit.

There is a lot of excitement in the village because the local hospital has been working on an important advancement in medicine. Hazel, one of the doctors on the project, has been jumpy lately, though, and when she mysterious falls from a ski lift, Sloan, Garrett and Leah start asking questions to find out if Hazel's death was an accident or was she murdered.

This is the sixth in the Sloan Krause Series and I liked it. I've read all in this series and this works as a stand alone (there is enough background provided). It's written in first person perspective in Sloan's voice. It was nice to get to know more about Garrett and his back story. There is a lot of talk about beer (which I found interesting) and there are also explanations about what was being talked about (what hops are and the varieties, for example). It was a quick light read and is a "cozy mystery" so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. There are recipes at the end.

Other than murders, Leavenworth sounds like a fun place to visit!