Mar 31, "pictures at a renovation": demolition, day#1

Yesterday was demolition day #1. See below for a photo-tour. 

Click HERE to get some information on the demolition plan and to see a few pics of the pre-renovation suite.

Authors' Note: Contractors will describe the first phase of your tired old home's renovation as demolition, forgetting that, to the sensitive older homeowner, that term may conjure up visions of damage caused by aerial bombing, earthquakes or cyclones. In fact, we now have photos showing that the removal of half-century old linoleum tiles, popcorn ceilings and built-in cabinets may require almost that much destruction. We give thanks for the invention of the dumpster, and hope that things will look better in the next phase. 

Here are some pics from the first day of the demolition-in-progress. We hope to follow up with further views as they become available.  

 

front hall

kitchen

LR/DR

den

master BR

* MAR 30, pandemic poetry -- infirm

 

reprise from March 2020

MAR 30, pandemic poetry: the infirm

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Pandemic Poetry' on the full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense".

MAR 29, photocollage: trumpeter swans at Lake Ontario

 

* MAR 28, personal -- anniversary saga

 reprise from March 2020

MAR 28, personal and family history: anniversary saga

MAR 27, reconstructive attitudes: starting point (verse - 'popcorn ceilings')

You have seen the 'staged' (hyped) photos of this suite on the post of March 19. Here is the reality, as we get ready to undertake a massive reno under the supervision of 'Carl the contractor'. 

THE PRE-RENO (realty) REALITY

hall (den on left)

kitchen

LR (balcony through doors on R)

Carl checks the location of service conduits

 

MAR 26, defining opinion: academically

Our blogpost "Defining Opinion" on the topic-based blog "Edifying Nonsense" shows a selection of similar verses submitted to OEDILF (the online Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form). You can see all of these on one visit by clicking HERE.

 

MAR 25, handyman's lesson: restoring your old greenhouse, #3

Following up on lesson #1 and lesson #2 ...

work continues under wraps
March 21

wet snow, late in season 

update: spring has sprung, April 16

A NOTE FOR (potentially) DISAPPOINTED READERS !!!

Although the Palm Court has been closed for renovations, portions of the Conservatory facility remain open. If you can't manage to come by for a look in-person, you can still take in the joys of an on-line visit by clicking HERE. 

* MAR 24, the Charleston garden -- creeping fig

 

reprise from March 2020

MAR 24, the Charleston garden: creeping fig

TO ENLARGE any slide or stand-alone photo on this blog, just click on it. To reverse the process, and return to this standard view, find the little 'x' in the upper right corner of the black field and click there.

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Poetry Praising the Charleston Garden' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. Click HERE!

MAR 23, saving the planet: last free lunch

mute swan at Lake Ontario,
feasting on corn left by a misinformed well-wisher

 

City of Toronto urges residents to refrain from feeding local wildlife

 

News Release

March 22, 2023

The City of Toronto is urging residents to protect both people and wildlife by refraining from feeding local wildlife. In recent years, there has been an increase in negative interactions involving people and wildlife in Toronto. Most interactions with wildlife, including coyotes and foxes, are the result of a nearby, regular food source, primarily from people leaving food or garbage out.

Feeding wild animals changes their natural instincts and may increase their presence and tolerance of people, creating problems for both wildlife and Toronto communities.

When food is left out for animals, it can attract other animals such as mice, rats, squirrels, and raccoons which in return can attract other larger predators. Feeding birds may encourage large flocks to roost or perch nearby, creating unsanitary conditions and potentially spreading diseases such as avian flu among large bird populations.

To help keep people and wildlife safe, new regulations under Chapter 349, Animals Bylaw will come into effect on April 1 making feeding wildlife prohibited on both private and public properties across Toronto. The new regulations do not apply to feeding songbirds on private property, provided bird feeders are kept above grade, are kept in a sanitary condition and do not attract other animals or wildlife.

* MAR 22, wordplay maps -- new world palindromes(#11,#12)

 

reprise from March 2020

MAR 22, wordplay maps: new world palindromes(#11,#12)

Keep more to yourself for a while, wash your hands frequently, remember to laugh on occasion, and stay well!

You can view the entire collection of these 50 wordplay maps, by accessing the collection 'Tourists Palindromic Guides: The Americas'. Start by clicking HERE!

MAR 21, non-sequitur: Lishman's sculptures

Bill Lishman's sculpture displayed at Tanenbaum Sculpture Garden, Bridgepoint Health, Toronto, is described by blogTO as "one of Toronto's best-kept art secrets". 

Note that Lishman, the inventor-aviator-naturalist father portrayed in the close-to-real-life story of the 1996 film "Fly Away Home", was a polymath who took up sculpting rather late in life.

TO SEE MORE STUFF: To see older or newer material  (posted daily, or at least on most  'good' days), CLICK below the Comments Section, on 'Older Post' or 'Newer Post'.

* MAR 20, wordplay maps -- American Scramble-towns 3,4

 

reprise from March 2020

MAR 20, wordplay maps: American Scramble-towns 3,4

Who would ever have guessed? It turns out that an unparalleled word in generating anagrams (letter scrambles) is P-A-L-I-N-D-R-O-M-E-S. We have taken advantage of that property to create this unique series of wordplay maps of imaginary American (and Canadian) locales, each one completed by its official two-letter state (or provincial) abbreviation.

 

LINKS:

Forward to U.S.A. map#5

Back to U.S.A. map #2

Let's skip all this stuff and get on to the Canadian version, eh? (stay tuned!)

MAR 19, reconstructive attitudes: planned demolition

 

Authors' Note: Contractors will describe the first phase of your tired old home's renovation as demolition, forgetting that, to the sensitive older homeowner, that term may conjure up visions of damage caused by aerial bombing, earthquakes or cyclones.

We will be posting a series of photocollages next week as the fun begins!

LEAD-IN PHOTOS

These pictures were taken from the sales information with the suite 'staged' in 2021.

front hall

kitchen

LR

master BR

master bath

ACTUAL PRE-RENO PHOTOS: 

You can view these on a post next week by clicking HERE

* MAR 18, waterfowl -- pescatarian choice

 

reprise from March 2020

MAR 18, waterfowl: pescatarian choice

Keep more to yourself for a while, wash your hands frequently, remember to laugh on occasion, and stay well!

 

You can review these illustrated verses in a wider context by proceeding to 'Immersible Verse: Limericks about Waterfowl' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'.

MAR 17, planet-saving verse: vegans and vegetarians

Authors' Note: The authors, Ontario anapestrians, have not eaten meat in two decades. The restaurant scene in Ontario, as in some other world-wide destinations, has gradually become more hospitable to vegan and vegetarian preferences, such as Theresa's and the authors'. This development can be attributed in part to our influx of newcomers from south and east Asia. Meat-eaters can still be readily accommodated, however.

You can help save the planet by viewing all our verses in this series at "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE!

MAR 16, birdlore -- Eastern towhees

 You can view an encyclopedic collection of illustrated poems on this topic by proceeding to the post 'Poems about BIRDLIFE' on our full-service blog "Edifying Nonsense". Click HERE. 

MAR 15, non-sequitur: percussion quartet

 The torQ Percussion Quartet at the Art Gallery of Ontario:

* MAR 14, classic palindrome -- no 'X' in Nixon

reprise from March 2020

MAR 14, classic palindrome: 'no X in Nixon'

Authors' Note: 

mike: short form for microphone, used more commonly for 'announcing', but sometimes used for 'denouncing' (condemning or attacking openly).

   Somehow, the misleading statement ‘No X in Nixon’ achieved the status of a famous palindrome. The astute analyst might realize that palindromes are inherently poor tools for orthography.

   On the other hand, here are three 'magical palindromes’ that provide correct spelling information:

No K in Nixon; no X in Nikon.

No C in iron; no R in icon.

No S in union. “No!”, in unison. 

You can review a collection of illustrated verses on this topic in a wider context by proceeding to 'Reversing Verse: Limericks About Classic Palindromes' on the full-service blog 'Edifying Nonsense'. 

 

MAR 13, patients and their maladies: torsade de pointes

Authors' Note: 

Torsade de pointes (tor-sad duh PWAnT), is an Anglo-French medical term for twisting of the peaks, named in 1966 by its French cardiologist discoverer. It is a pattern seen on the ECG (electrocardiogram), with 'twisting' or cycling of the height of the ventricular 'QRS' complexes, and is often associated with factors, inherited or acquired, that widen the 'Q-T' interval on the tracing. This pattern is associated with nasty ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. If you are lucky, you have survived the initial episode and have correctable factors (e.g. electrolyte disorders, certain pharmaceuticals, etc.)

Flying straight is a casual metaphor associated with performing expected or routine function.