Minimalist cuties in a Chinatown shop. 

The golden fern in the lower right hand part of the card is a harbinger of luck in love. This couple seems to be having no problem in that department this midsummer's eve. I love this image, as it so reminds me of Hal and me.  

More midsummer's greetings - I think that this might be Laima's lover...help me out if you know for sure.  

Laima - Midsummer Night's Festival postcard 

Jersey Giant. So much for Hal's 'authentic Canadian pub experience.' This was a fun place, actually. Very low key. The bartender, like just about every other Torontonian we met, was a wonderful conversationalist - ended up getting into a discussion on distribution lines/pedigrees of beers. Interesting. Another wonderful little thing was what was on tap: for crying out loud, I had a gosh darned hoegaarden and was it a franziskaner? I think so. You're lucky if you can find those in bottles here. 

XII Latvian Song Fest, Toronto, Canada. 

Line Dance, Midsummer's Night festival 

Children Dancing 

Mummers! 

I've never seen so many dancers together in one space. I think there were something like 450 participating in this concert. 

Lantern Dance. One of my favorites. Very haunting music. 

This was a singing of what sounded to me like a Latvian "Ma Vlast." The audience joined in, and the place was filled with this incredible, powerful, emotional energy. What a moving close to a wonderful event. 

Koi pond 

South Park Conservatory, Lackawanna, NY 

Roof with palm 

Honk! 

Arija, Bev and Hal in a garden mirror 

Angel, Our Lady of Victory, Lackawanna, NY (millenium pilgrimage site) 

Bougainvillea, South Park Conservatory 

Detail of outdoor fresco, Our Lady of Victory 

Our Lady of Victory Basilica Roof 

Bev with one more from Ness's menagerie 

Mousie! Ness found a nest in her grill and decided to take the babies in.  

Arthur! 

Ness, Bev and Ali