THANKS LORD SIMCOE FOR THE LONG WEEKEND

Returning to work after a long weekend is always tiring. The Civic Long Weekend always the first weekend in August helps us to celebrate Lord Simcoe's contribution to Canadian and Ontario history. Yonge Street was created in 1790. The abolition of slavery in this country is accredited to him. Many people just enjoy a long weekend. Toronto had the Scotiabank Caribbean celebration-used to be called Caribana!! Brings people from many parts of the world- especially the United States and Caribbean Islands to celebrate culture, dance, music and food. Of course our long weekend had 3 days of thunderstorms and some places like Burlington had some flooded roads. Luckily my house is still standing. A long weekend just gives a time to regroup! An extra day gives extra time to putter or go to the cottage or entertain friends and family! Being summer allows time to sit outside- in between storms of course- to read, to suntan or just listen to the birds. I actually have times of the day I like to watch the planes go over on their last lag to Pearson Airport. Back to Lord Simcoe- so if you do not know much about him- look it up. Learn some history. Remember those who went before us and built some of the infrastructure we have in this country. Especially the charity and humanistic pieces of our lives. Are you wondering- did Lord Simcoe and Lady Simcoe have a piece of these? Of course, Lake Simcoe is named after him- that's a no brainer!!

NANA SAYS IT IS FUN TO REMEMBER SUMMERS PAST

I remember taking my girls to many local attractions yearly. They loved Canada's Wonderland which they could go alone when they were older. A season's pass was an annual purchase! I loved the Toronto Zoo so we would go at least once and even twice some years. The Black Creek Pioneer Village with its horse and wagon ride was fun. Local beaches like Lake Wilcox and the local pool consolidated winter swimming lessons. A few trips to Centre Island in Toronto with their father in tow was a fun day. Ontario Place had several visits from us. If invited, an overnight at a friend's cottage. One summer I took the girls and one friend each to a rental summer townhouse on Lake Simcoe for a week. Adolph came up during the week and Sundays! It was a blast! Another summer-1989- I took the girls west to see the folks in Westbank, BC. They had a fun visit with their cousins as well. With Adolph's busy summer schedule, the day trips were just me and the girls. Of course, when I first started genealogy, many trips to local museums and cemeteries searching for our roots! I would pay the girls a loonie even if they did not find a family name! I enjoyed the day trips but not the fighting in the car and "are we there yet?" What about you? What trips have you done so far? Are there favourite places you visit every year?