Līgas iesvētības à Toronto

For English please see below!

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Pirms pāris nedēļām laimējās būt klāt māsīcas Līgas iesvētības, Sv. Andreja ev. lut. draudzes baznīcā Toronto. Pieci jaunieši tika iesvētīti, un draudzes mācītāja, prāv. Ilze Kuplēna-Ewart kalpoja ar ērģelnieka Dāvida Šmita pavadijumu. Bija skaists dievkalpojums (kaut drusku uz garo pusi) un man bija žēl nokavēt otro pusi kad Mikus sāka protestēt un bija jāiet lejā draudžu telpās.

 

Kamēr ērģeļu mūzika un draudzes balsis skanēja baznīcā, es ar Miku izstaigājām pārejo ēku. Būvēta 1876. gadā, baznīcā oriģināli lūdza presbetieriešu draudze un tikai 1951. gadā to pārdeva. Šodien divas draudzes to izmanto dievkalpojumiem, Sv. Andreja ev. lut. latviešu draudze, un Sv. Andreja ev. lut. Igauņu draudze.

Photo credit: Zintis P.

 

Īsu brīdi vēlāk piebiedrojamies iesvētītiem turpat ārā, Allan Gardens. Apsveicām jaunos pilntiesīgos baznīcas locekļus ar ziediem un priecājamies par skaisto dienu ko Dievs mums bija devis. Kaut bija drusku vēss, saulītē varēja ātri sasilt, un tā ģimene un draugi arī tūļājās, kaut daudzi bija lūgti uz viesībām Latviešu Centrā.

Photo credit: Zintis P.

 

Diena ātri paskrēja reiz ieradamies Centrā; pēc garšīga mielasta un mīļi piedomātām runām bija iespēja arī izvingrināt dejas mākas. Es priecājos izciemoties ar ilgi neredzētiem (un arī dažiem nupat redzētiem) radiņiem, ieskaitot abas manas māsas un brāļus, un sešas māsīcas un brālēnus. Apbrīnojām un bieži atgriezāmies pie bagāti klātā saldā galda, kur Toronto slavenās bizet tortes pazuda kā nu tikai. Vērojām kā puiši piebiedrojās bērnu pulkam kas skrēja ārā par zāļaino pakalniņu, un svinējām šo jauniešu panākumu varbūt atceroties arī mūsu iesvētes dienas…

Photo credit: Gunārs Lucāns

 

Mūsu laiks Toronto tomēr bija padaudz īss. Kaut iznāca drusku izklaide par High Park iepriekšējā dienā, pēc īsas ciemošanās pirmdienas rītā bijām jau ceļā uz lidlauku lai mērotu jūdzes (nu, pirmais gabaliņš laikam bija kilometros!) mājup. Paldies Līgai, manai krustmātei un B ģimenei par ielūgumu ar jums kopīgi atzīmēt šo svarīgo dienu, un apsveicam Līgu ar kļūšanu par pilntiesīgu baznīcas locekli!
 

Photo credit: Gunārs Lucāns

 

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We were delighted to fly to Toronto a few weeks ago to witness my cousin Līga’s confirmation service. It took place in the St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Toronto, which is currently home to two congregations: the St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Estonian and the St. Andrew's Evangelical Lutheran Latvian.

Photo source here

 

Built in 1876 and renovated by Henry Langley, the gothic church was the new home to the St. Andrew's Presbyterian congregation which formed in 1830 when Toronto was still known as the Town of York. It was sold by the Presbyterians to the Lutherans in 1951.

 

After a pause in the Allan Gardens just next door to congratulate the girls and heap flowers on them, we headed to the Latvian Canadian Cultural Center. With conference and banquet facilities, a store that sells handmade goods and other products from Latvia, Umurkumurs pub, a library and the offices of several organizations, together with the church the Center is the very heart of the Latvian society in Toronto. Depending on the day of the week you might find a folk dancing rehearsal taking place, or the monthly brunch and barbecue.

Photo credit: Gunārs Lucāns

 

It was late when the festivities ended, and having eaten our share of bizet torte and pīrāgi we headed back to my godfather’s house. I was amazed at how quickly our trip was over; luckily we had the chance to do some sightseeing in High Park the previous day, because after a short brunch with family on Monday it was already time to head to the airport for our flight back to the US.

 

300th frog

This happens to be my 300^th blog post, but I don’t have anything poignant or momentous to report. Instead, I have a frog.

 

We’ve had a tremendous couple of weeks; a business trip survived, a wedding, a 70^th birthday party, plenty of family to spoil the boys and even some time in the sun and sand. The boys have been troopers throughout, and hopefully they’ll keep up the good work on the plane trip home today. Thanks to all those who have chauffeured us, fed us, housed and babysat us these past weeks, we’ll see y’all again soon!

 

The Velo Fellow and Cedar Falls Park

It’s always fun to visit new places, and between the hiking with kids playgroup we’ve started attending and the Annual Park Hop Scavenger Hunt (more information below) we are visiting new parks at the rate of at least one a week. I’ve found motivation to drag a reluctant crew out to try a few new restaurants as well.

 

Last week was no different with our trip to Cedar Falls Park, followed by dinner later in that evening at the Velo Fellow, located downstairs from Mellow Mushroom (the pizza place). Modeled on the British publick house tradition, the pub serves appetizers and fish-and-chips type dishes to complement a selection of craft beers. We liked the vibe immediately upon walking in, the reclaimed wood tables and booths looking just as inviting as the leather couches and chairs or a spot at the bar (with a barman who looked the part of a publick house barman with his beard and hat…).

 

The food was a hit, although my husband later remarked that he hasn’t eaten that much fried food in one sitting in quite some time. We started with fried green tomatoes with garlic pimento cheese. The tomatoes were done well, crisp not slimy, and the cheese was flavorsome and not overwhelming. Before we had finished the appetizer our meals were already coming out, and if I have one complaint about the experience it would be that I felt slightly hurried with all the food arriving almost simultaneously. I should have stuck with my gut and ordered the fish & chips, as my husband’s cod was light and moist with a complimenting flavor I attribute to the beer batter. The chips were not fries, instead they were thin slices that had been fried and somehow managed to walk the line between greasy and delicious. My pecan crusted trout was served with salad and a side; the filet was from NC and tasted fresh, the crust was well done and the sides were better than average pub sides. I enjoyed the recommended beer, and the atmosphere was kid-friendly even without a kid’s menu and crayons. With the friendly service, this pub gets two thumbs up from me and I’m certain we’ll be returning as it provides a slight deviation from the standard Greenville fare.

 

Rewinding to earlier in the day and our visit to the Cedar Falls Park! Historically a hunting site of the Cherokee and Catawba Tribes, the park offers a number of walking and nature trails that lead to a dam and the falls on the Reedy River. The park has several distinct sections with two main parking areas splitting access to the north and south parts. This turned out to be a long drive even without traffic (30-35 minutes) as it is a ways off the beaten path. We parked in the north section next to the children’s playground, enjoying some time on the swings and slide before heading south into the woods with the group.

This map of the falls area shows the location of the various dams and past structures

 

There are several trails in the park. The main trail is paved and leads through an upland forest, another unmarked trail takes hikers along Reedy River upstream of the falls. The southern portion of the park is the falls area, and several informative placards explain the history and significance of the region. Farthest upstream is the 1910 dam, followed by the 1800s dam and a natural waterfall. The water flows through a series of shoals over 50 feet wide, dropping about 12 feet total. This area has an industrial history much like other sites along Reedy River, as the shoals were used as early as the 1820s to power mills. In the early 1920s an electrical power plant was built on the site, and various foundations remain from the plant and the general store that was located between the dam and Cedar Falls Road.

The boys next to what used to be the generator

 

Nowhere near as well known as the other falls on the Reedy River, the site was only developed a couple years ago. Seeing the beauty of the waterfall I can understand why it is one of the 17 Greenville area parks chosen for the first-ever Park Hop Scavenger Hunt. LiveWell Greenville is sponsoring this adventure designed to help Greenville County residents discover parks in their community. Using a “park passport” participants find answers in each of the parks, and at the end of the summer the passports can be traded in for chances to win prizes.  To sign up and download a copy of the passport click here.

Lauris and the river below the falls

 

After exploring the falls and finding the scavenger hunt clue we headed back to the northern portion of the park, enjoying snacks at the picnic shelter before giving the playground another go. Although we probably will not be visiting this park again in the near future due to the distance from our home, I am glad we had the opportunity to see the falls. If you decide to visit yourself, I hope you enjoy your visit!

The shoals at Cedar Falls

 

Note: Please be aware that the poison ivy is everywhere, even in mowed areas and especially surrounding the falls. Poison ivy can be a problem in parks in our area, but in the park it was everywhere, posing a real problem for parents with children who like to explore. Luckily we escaped unscathed...

The dam at Cedar Falls

High Park in Toronto

Two weeks ago Friday we found ourselves on a plane headed for Toronto, Canada. My cousin Līga’s confirmation was that Sunday, and we were joining most of my side of the family for a couple days. For the boys it was their first time in Canada, and although we didn’t have time for sights like the CN Tower we did manage to see a few places and sights that Roberts and I hadn’t yet seen.

 

A nice surprise was the Cheese Boutique, a gourmet grocery; “At Cheese Boutique prosciutto hangs from the ceiling, truffles are flown in every Wednesday, foie gras sits under lock and key, beef is dry aged 60 days, there are olive oils from 80 different terroirs and jams made from green walnuts, the best artisanal breads of the city, not to mention the chocolate boutique, pastry temptations and daily handpicked produce - but it is for the cheese that one must really come here.” (From the website) Note to self - next time you visit Toronto, drive. That way you can fill the trunk with French cheese.

Make sure you get a peek (and whiff!) of the cheese vault (middle)

 

Our relatives live in the vicinity of High Park, and that is how it came to be that Saturday we spent the majority of the day strolling through this 400 acre park. Originally purchased by John Howard as a sheep farm, the property was donated to the City of Toronto on three conditions; first, for Mr. Howard and his wife to continue to live in their house, the Colborn Lodge, second for no alcohol to ever be served in the park, and third that the park be named High Park and be free for people to enjoy. Opened in 1876, a large part is natural forest, with the oak savannah maintained by prescribed burns. With gardens, sports fields, picnicking areas, a beautiful children’s playground and a free zoo, there is more to do than can be seen in a day.

 

We followed small trails through the woods along the west ravine, which leads past Wendigo Creek and Wendigo Pond. Named after the wendigo, mythical cannibalistic creatures of Algonquian mythology, we did not linger long….It was discovered in 2003 that the eastern ravine lies over an ancient river; when capping two artisan wells a plume of water, sand and gravel shot fifty feet into the air. Research shows this pre-glacial Laurentian River System 160 feet below the surface had been undisturbed for thousands of years.

 

On the western edge of the park is Grenadier Pond, covering 35 acres and named after the local Town of York garrison of the 1800s who used the pond to fish. It is believed that British Grenadiers fell through the ice when crossing to defend the city in the War of 1812, and another urban legend claims the pond is bottomless and that the bottom has never been touched due to layers and layers of mud. On our visit the shore was dotted with fisherman fishing for bass, crappie, perch, pumpkinseed, bluegill, bullhead and carp.

 

We stopped in the zoo, the home to American bison, emu, llamas, peacocks, fallow deer, capybara, Highland cattle, yaks, Barbary sheep, and Mouflon sheep. Our favorite was the little wallaby that was returning to its enclosure from an outing. Although Lauris wasn’t keen on petting the joey, my cousins Annelī and Andis were! In 2012, the Toronto City Council discontinued funding to the High Park Zoo. Luckily the Honey Family Foundation stepped up to sponsor the zoo for three years, hopefully allowing the Friends of the High Park Zoo time to find a permanent source of funding.

 

Our next stop was the children's playgrounds, built in 1999 and named the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground after the volunteer who initiated the construction. A little over a year ago a portion was destroyed by arson, but the local community banded together to build a grand castle as a replacement , and the combined playground is fun for kids of all ages. The wooden walkways, towers and bridges brought back childhood memories of Indian Boundary Park in Chicago, the fieldhouse of which was also destroyed by arson in 2012.

 

We did not have a chance to visit the Grenadier Café, nor the produce market, Nature Center, pool or the Colborn Lodge Museum. We saw the little trackless train drive by (also free) but going for a spin will have to wait for a future visit, as will attending on of the Shakespeare in the park plays. The cherries had already bloomed (the first of which was planted in 1959 by the citizens of Tokyo), but to me all this just means we’ll have to return again soon. Nevertheless, the boys were growing tired and there was a long evening of preparations ahead for the next day’s confirmation, and so we headed back to krusttēvs Māris’s house for the evening, leave High Park to the wallabies for the night.

 

Chicks, trucks & salmon bakes

Greenville is in contention for Outside magazine’s title of “Best Town Ever.” If you vote for your favorite “active outdoor town” you can be in the running for a five day vacation grand prize. Voting does require a facebook "like" to vote. You can find Greenville's entry here.

The boys active outdoors at the zoo

 

Temperatures are heating up, we’ve initiated pool season at our house and watermelons are officially back in the diet. Once the boys have had their fill and I tire of the quarter melon taking up space in the fridge, I cut the rest up into chunks, toss it and a few basil leaves into the blender with some lemon juice, and pour the blended result into a pitcher to keep in the fridge. Also freezes well to make popsicles for the boys!

 

Our neighbors’ chicks have hatched, and the boys have already been over twice to see them. Their chicken coop is coming along nicely, and we believe they might have started a neighborhood trend because the neighbors across the alley have built their own chicken coop and we've got one or two more broods on the block...

That's Blue in Lauris's hands, pardon the camera cord

Touch a Truck, the annual free event held in conjunction with the Main Street farmers market is tomorrow, Saturday June the 9^th. Kids will have the opportunity to climb, play on and sit in the driver’s seat of almost 20 different vehicles, including large trucks and heavy equipment from the City of Greenville Police, Fire and Public Works Departments. Head to McBee Avenue off Main Street in downtown Greenville between 8 to noon, although I suggest getting there early to avoid the crowds.
 

Touch a Truck in 2010, Lauris's first of many rides in an excavator bucket

 

We made a foil-baked salmon for dinner, it is a great light meal for these hot summer days. A plus is that it can be prepared earlier in the day and then tossed in the oven when dinnertime rolls around. The recipe is adapted from the one in Williams-Sonoma “Cooking for Yourself,” a gift from my godmother and also something I haven’t done in ages.

Foil-baked salmon with corn and lime, see recipe below

 

Speaking of my godmother (who lives in Toronto), her daughter (my cousin) had her confirmation a few weeks ago. We were lucky to be there and celebrate this meaningful occasion with her, and hopefully I’ll find the time to put it down in writing this next week. Despite having lived overseas and visited over ten countries, this was both boys’ first visit to Canada, eh?



If you look veeeery closely you'll see the CN Tower just a little to the right of center



Foil-baked salmon with corn and lime (serves 2 adults, 2 kids)

Ingredients: 4 heads of corn, corn sliced off
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
4 tablespoons of chopped fresh cilantro (can probably double this easily)
1 jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
salt and ground pepper to taste
4 teaspoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
½ lime cut into thin slices, the rest into wedges
1.5 pounds of salmon fillets

 1. Preheat oven to 450˚F (230˚C)
2. In a large bowl, combine corn kernels, bell pepper, cilantro, chile, salt and pepper
3. Place a large sheet of aluminum foil on a work surface. It has to be large enough to wrap everything up hobo-style, so use your judgment on size. I put a baking sheet with a rim underneath, just in case.
4. Place corn mixture on foil and dot with half of the butter
5. Place salmon (skin-side down if applicable)on top, squeeze lime juice over and season with salt and pepper. Then top with lime slices and remaining butter
6. Fold two opposing foil sides together and seal well, then fold and seal ends.
7. Bake until salmon flakes with a fork, 20-30 minutes (timing depends on thickness of fillets and packet)
8. Open carefully, allowing for hot steam to escape, transfer to serving dish and enjoy!