ALONG A COUNTRY ROAD

A drive along a country road reveals nature at its best. The farms are providing crops that will last throughout the year. Cattle will be fed as many farmers have one crop of feed done and are growing another. I love a drive in the country any time of the year. But summer brings the satisfaction of home grown fruit and vegetables! Do you love your local scene? What brings joy to you? Are there favourite roads and favourite farms?

OUTDOOR MUSIC FESTIVALS

Start to happen across our nation. Locally during the summer, we have music in the park at our Mill Pond or Richmond Green. Street events always include music, bands, groups. There is something very endearing in hearing music outside. Whether it is jazz, rock, country, gospel or a combination, music brings the lazy days of summer forward. Even our local pub next door has caribbean music on Thursday nights that I can hear sitting at the front on my chair. Love it! Do you have favourite summer music opportunities?

THE OLD AND THE NEW

It is interesting in life how buildings side by side can transform our thoughts to history and the connections made to modern times. A church steeple was often the highest point in a community, serving as a vantage point for villagers. Now cities with their glass towers create their own landmarks for all to see. Do we ever question why we build higher and higher? Why do places throughout the world want the biggest and tallest? Of course in large cities where the price of real estate is costly more people and businesses can be crammed into a small property. Buildings of all ages have their own beauty. When clustered together in a row make an interesting landscape and can define the uniqueness of that particular city. Can anyone identify the buildings in Montreal? The picture was taken as we were trying to find our hotel on our recent trip. Even the reflections in the glass are interesting to me. Do you have similar photos of a city's downtown? Do you even like cities? Or do you prefer the country? Or just a combination of both depending on your mood?

COWS IN A FIELD

Remind us of time many people lived on farms. Although there still are rural communities today, most of

us live in urban settings in Canada. The need to go to a country setting is reflected in the number of people that own cottages or a sailboat to leave the city and enjoy country living periodically. Small towns on the edge of big cities are the best of both worlds but can be stressful if a long commute is involved for work every day. My family has country roots in Ontario then in the early 1900's family members moved to Toronto. Do you live in the country or city? If you could would you have a country home? Or are you a city person?

THE CANADIAN BARN

Barns are part of the Canadian landscape and can be found coast to coast. The barns pictured here are from Southern Ontario. From the small farm to the corporate enterprise, barns have such varied uses from horse barns to grain storage to livestock. There is an interesting book on my shelf entitled- The Barn-A Vanishing Landmark in North America by Eric Arthur and Dudley Witney published in 1972. The structure and designs are discussed in great detail. Several barns illustrated are from this area where I live. I look at the pictures periodically. I remember some barns that are long gone. At Dufferin and Steeles there was an Octagon Barn that I thought was so neat as I liked the shape. The barn- it is such a simple architectural design yet so functional. Even expressions encompass the barn- Where were you born, in a barn? A barn dance with lots of hay! A barn is so reflective of the hard work of our farmers who put food on our tables. A country drive can be so pleasurable when barns are on the horizon. Do you have favourite barns in your area? Do you find them symbolic of our culture? Does it conjure up memories of visits to a farm?