Toronto From Across

This is Toronto - on the other side of the Lake.  So where is the best view of Toronto?  The top picture is from Grimsby Beach, the second one from Mike Weir Winery on Locust Lane, and the third one from Flat Rock Cellars on 7 Avenue in Jordan.  The bottom picture shows the Flat Rock Cellars Building from the road leading to it.  The view from Flat Rock is excellent with the vineyards stretching out below it. I was on Locust Lane last week and took pictures from the Mike Weir winery.  They feel they have best view.  I've also heard Vineland Estates consider itself to have the best view. And Peninsula Ridge is very proud of their view. So there are a few more locations to visit. I wanted to find the answer the easy way and did a google search.  But there don't seem to be any blogs or articles on the best scenic views across the lake. The search did retrieve a great view from the Skylon Tower. What the articles tell me is that the density of the air plays an important role. The air temperature and the water temperature are important factors.  Right now the Lake is the warmest it has been for many years but this isn't the condition needed for the towering Toronto image.  The towering Toronto image occurs most often when the water is relatively cold compared to the air temperature.  So I may have to wait until next year for this to happen. I live just under the escarpment where Beamer Park is located - with a great elevated view across the Lake. When I was there last, there were Lake Effects, so there was a "gray" across the Lake with no distinction between Lake and sky. There's a lot of ground to cover so I'll keep you posted on "Toronto From Across".

The Colours of Water

"That cool, refreshing glass of water on a hot day may appear colorless, but water is actually a faint blue color. The blue color becomes visible when we look down into, or through, a large volume of water. We see water in a variety of ways. It may be colored by particles, the presence of bacteria, or by reflecting the world above its surface. Ice and snow may reveal a vivid internal blue. Water itself has an intrinsic blue color that is a result of its molecular structure and its behavior." We've got pictures of three bodies of water in Grimsby today.  The first is the Forty Creek, and we can see the muddy colour from sediment.  The second is recognizable as Grimsby Beach on the Lake with that blue tone. As these pictures were taken on the same day and within a half hour of each other, one can see how much the sky plays a part in creating the colour of water. And then we have the creek next to the Cemetery - it seems to be  black. Wikipedia says: "A few tens of meters of water will absorb all light, so without scattering, all bodies of water would appear black."   View this email in your browser

How Big is Toronto?

We think of size by population - typically.  But today's views of Toronto show its size on the horizon.  These are from Grimsby area landmarks.  The first is Grimsby Beach, where the Peace Garden and Pump House are located.  It used to be a popular boat landing destination. The second is from Peninsula Ridge, the winery that marks the Beamsville/Grimsby line so is the east section of town. What a remarkable difference of the clarity of the Toronto skyline.  Some days it seems to be within walking distance, and other days seems to be far away.

The Lake View at Niagara with the Grinch's Trees

The count down to Christmas has a long tradition with the Advent Calendar's little numbered flaps so that one is opened each day. This is a 'famous German tradition', and the first known Advent Calendar dates from 1851.  There are also Advent candles and Advent wreaths. Today's image of Christmas decorations has its origins more recently - in the Grinch that Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss.  If you go to Pinterest there are hilarious pictures of Green-stockinged back ends in the Christmas tree as part of the decorations.  Take a look HERE We also have a great view to Toronto with a freighter in the foreground - the CN Tower seems to be keeping the cloud line from descending on the city.

Four Geese and a Dog

Dezi made a brisk exit last week as we checked out the view across the lake.  The geese seemed to march up the hill in formation.

Traveling Waves

Wave Patterns are mesmerizing and Dezi and I discovered yesterday at Nelles Beach in Grimsby.  We're looking at the most common traveling wave - lake and ocean waves.  We see the wave moving through the water, looking for the crest that will give the interesting patterns on the rock.  That's where my interest lies.  However, the science of wave patterns is most interesting and the physics lesson is available at:  http://www.waterencyclopedia.com/Tw-Z/Waves.html

Is the Ocean shore different from the Lake shore?

We're looking at the things that wash up on the ocean shore.  These don't wash up on the Lake Ontario shores.    However, there are places where you can stand on the Lake Ontario shore and it seems endless like the ocean.  So what is the difference? Here's one eloquent answer: "It feels different.  It smells different. There is a general loudness and foaminess of the ocean that the Great Lakes (inland seas, actually) don't match.  You can sense the deep, powerful rumble of the ocean, but the lakes don't carry that vibe.  The smell of the ocean is, of course, salty.  There's a scent to the lakes as well, and it is watery/freshness, somewhat reminiscent of what is called petrichor (negative ions caused by the rain, but in this case, clearly the friction around the water surface).  No salt.  The waves in the smaller lakes are typically choppy without the rolling crests that flow in as one would expect in the ocean..." I conclude with some Sarasota beach art.

From Here to Eternity

What would it be like to have the infinity pool with the eternity view?  Here's one in Niagara-on-the Lake. This was on the Shaw Garden Tour this year.  Fort Niagara is just at the top right on the second photo.   Facebook Twitter Website

Niagara and the Lake Effects

"The Lake Effects" - that's the phenomenon that gave Buffalo the terrible snow storm last year.  The one with the snow that came up to house roofs. In Niagara, the Lake Effects are/is credited with 'giving rise to remarkable flavour distinctions between grapes of leakier sub-appellations and those from further inland. " Here's the link that describes more about this: http://www.vqaontario.ca/Library/Appellations/NiagaraPeninsula_Maps.pdf We've been experiencing Lake Effects with the recent rain.  These pictures show the fog effects at Vineland Estates winery.  Fog can role in before or after a rain.  The third picture is Moyer Road - the road that leads to Vineland Estates.  Isn't this a beautiful country road!

Spring Lake Effects

Lake Ontario was a dreamy scene on the weekend.  We could not differentiate between the water and the sky, with clouds blurring the horizon.  The boats all seemed the same size whether far or close - there was no depth of field.  I think of this moisture in the air as a Spring Lake Effect.  What happens is that there is constant circulation of off-shore breezes between Lake Ontario and the Niagara Escarpment.  They moderate seasonal temperatures.  In spring this means they slow down spring warming, holding back the development of fruit buds until the danger of late spring frosts has passed. The VQA site says "these lake effects vary considerably with distance from the lakeshore and topography, giving rise to remarkable flavour distinctions between grapes of lakeshore sub-appellations nd those from further inland."

Signs of Winter

This is Charles Daley Park in St. Catharines.  It has the distinction of a long shoreline with dynamic lagoons at each end.  This gazebo stands at the edge of the high embankment between the shoreline and the parking lot. Because of its height, the parking lot has excellent views of the lake. People come by in their cars and have a coffee overlooking the great expanse, or just stop by to take a look at what the lake is up to with its waves and changing shoreline.  You can stop in any time and there will be at least a car or two.  People do get out of their cars.  In winter there are families tobogganing down the slopes on the sunny days.  And there are usually dogs - they have a great time on the beach and trails, so there is a dog or two to meet and greet. 
This is the moment in the year when we welcome snow.  Christmas and snow seem to be the perfect match.  Our image today shows the two sides of snow -  the windy stormy day and then what typically follows for us in Ontario - a blue sky and sunny day for tobogganing.

Lakeside Living

This house was on the Grimsby Garden Tour (July 5th 2014) and the Hamilton Garden Week…it is on Lakeside Drive in Grimsby.  Wouldn't that be a wonderful experience in the bunkie overlooking the lake at sunrise...