We lived in Jack Layton’s riding for quite a few elections.  We moved one riding over for this federal election and were part of the “Orange Crush”, electing a new NDP MP after years of a Liberal Incumbent.

On the night before the Federal election, we waited in the pouring rain outside Matthew Kellway’s Danforth campaign office for 2 hours.  It was important to us to go for many reasons but especially so that Rebecca grows up knowing that politics are import in our family now matter how she ultimately votes.

Now only a few months later we waited for another two hours to see him again.  The crowd had quite a few of the same faces, representing so much of Toronto’s diverse population. Although the crowd wasn’t as charged as the first time the energy from the people at Nathan Philip’s Square was incredible.

 Family portrait in line at Toronto City Hall.  Rebecca was a superstar of patience and was very well behaved when meeting the Layton Family.

Police on Horses, TTC Honour Guard, News Media everywhere, chalk inscriptions in so many languages, and crowds of families.  We talked to a couple that had flown in from Saskatoon to be there.

Woke up this morning to this photo of us on Torontoist.  We’re looking pretty orange while paying our  respects.

We added to the chalk memorials.  I’ve never seen anything like it.  its been washed away by rain 3 times and springs back up immediately. Even our stick-in-the-mud mayor has been quoted as liking it.

We brought sunflowers from our garden.  Rebecca finally reminded us that she is two by crying that she didn’t want to leave the flowers after she put them down. Much to the delight of the entire Canadian Media.

To sum things up I’d like to ask my Canadian readers to take a second and commit to voting.  In every election and at every chance offered to them.  Additionally, consider formally joining the political party of your choice.  Membership in the Federal NDP is as low as $5 for Youth and the un(der)employed and is really a simple way to be involved. Jack would like it.

Riverdale Farm is my favourite place in the whole city of Toronto.  

A little farm located within a city park on the old zoo grounds provides a great destination when you just need an hour out in the sun with some cows. These photos are from two recent visits. They’ll probably be more in the next few weeks.  It really is a little bit of heaven.

Just off River Street.

A sure sign of spring: A robin outside the Simpson House.

Sheep! They seem to have three types this year.

It is important to dress right for a farm visit.

Goats!

Everyone who goes to the farm takes this picture.

Second type of sheep including a little teenage black sheep.

Third type of sheep, the cutest I think.

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Rebecca’s favourite animal was a farm cat.

The chase is on.

Where are you kitty?

Sneaky.

I

Red Pigs with perfect snorting and curly tails.

Friends on the Streetcar.

Rebecca in the Francy Barn.

Penny in the Francy Barn.

Exploring.

ss=”Apple-style-span” style=”font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;”>Sticks and stones.

Handmade mittens make Penny very happy today.

Being a foot deep in snow, it is hard to believe that spring is around the corner.

The first definitive sign for us is always Seedy Saturday and it is coming up in just a few days.

Put together by Seeds of Diversity, Seedy Saturday events happen all over Canada and we’re excited to once again be participating in the Toronto and Scarborough events. We’ll also be at the North York event for the first time.

There will be a huge market place of heirloom seeds, books, great tools and interesting gardening supplies, information from government and non-government organizations, and the biggest seed swap you could ever imagine.

Get there early, garlic and seed potatoes tend to sell out with in the first hour.

Here’s a great photo from last year’s event at the Wychwood Art Barns.
Doesn’t everybody have a huge anti-Monsato banner in their family portraits?

The details:

Seedy Saturday (on a Sunday) Toronto 

Sunday, February 13th, 2011

12:30pm – 6:00pm

Hart House, University of Toronto

7 Hart House Circle

Toronto, On

RSVP to the facebook event.

Seedy Saturday Scarborough 

Saturday March 12, 2011

12:00pm – 4:00pm

Heron Park Community Centre

292 Manse Road

Scarborough, On


North York Seedy Sunday 

Sunday, March 27th

1:00 to 5:00

Lawrence Heights Community Centre

5 Replin Road, just off Lawrence Avenue West

North York, On

Merry Christmas!
So thankful to have such a clever little lady and such talented friends to take her picture.  Thanks to Nico Oved for the photographs and to paperdollaccesories for the barrette.

A farmer saw us a declared that we needed a cow.