Boulevard repaving, Toronto, Canada. The boulevard asphalt on my neighbours house is compressed by a roller machine. Photo8 by Don Tai
Toronto Hydro had dug up a section of my neighbour’s boulevard when Bell Canada came in to install their fiber optic cables. Hydro dug up a section of asphalt, did the repair, poured gravel down the hole, then repaved with asphalt. A month later the gravel and asphalt has settled. The City of Toronto then dug up the complete boulevard and repaved the bottom layer with asphalt. They will later return to complete the top layer with a finer asphalt.
Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi, found on our jiecai, from our local Chinese store. I believe there is poo coming out of its butt. Toronto, Canada. Photo by Don Tai
Icky maybe, but if insects are eating your vegetables, then it must be healthy to eat. These are photos the Spotted Cucumber Beetle, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi, spotted on our Chinese vegetables, jiecai, a leafy green, from the local Chinese store. It was dead.
Viking Auto Dryer by the T. Eaton Company, 1995, front control panel. Photo by Don Tai
Dead it was, our dryer, a Viking Auto Dryer, from the T. Eaton Company, circa 1995, model number EDX22RW1181, front load, Toronto, Canada, hopelessly turning and turning, all without heat. Of course our clothes were not dry after an hour. Wife was not impressed and put the dryer at the top of my “to do” list. A solution was required before the next weekend load. Nothing stops for laundry or cooking.
Surprised, I was, that mice seem to really like my 2016 Honda Fit, in Toronto, Canada, and I am not alone. There was evidence of infiltration into the car, and I was not willing to give them a pass. Vermin, tell your friends.
2016 Honda Fit: 4, Mouse: 0
It seems like in their efforts to improve ecology the Honda engineers have opted to use soy based coating on electrical cables, foam, and other items that used to be plastic-based. There are numerous complaints of mice eating away at electrical systems, causing much heartache to car owners.
Watched, I did, the Olympic Games. Cheered, I did for Canadian competitors, both those that did well and tried their hardest. Even from the limited CBC Olympic coverage you can easily see the pain and anguish on all athletes, irregardless of country. The Olympics, to them, is the pinnacle of their existence, and to not win is a life changing event.
Black mulberry fruit, Toronto, Canada, are messy to pick but delicious. Photo 1 by Don Tai
Every year our black mulberry tree, of the genus family Moraceae, shoots out new branches, which bear fruit the next year. This tree is consistent, and the fruit is very good.
Chinese people have a connection to the mulberry tree. Long ago white mulberry leaves were fed to silkworms in order to produce silk. Therefore the mulberry plant was forbidden to export from China.
Yellow Lance leaved coreopsis in bloom, Toronto, Canada. Photo 1 by Don Tai
This flower, Coreopsis lanceolata, comes up every year and is beautiful. It is very successful at propagating and spreads quickly. I like this in a blooming flower, but not in a weed. It has literally taken over.
I had a bit of a search for the actual name: Lance leaved coreopsis.
About 5 years ago a neighbour gave us a clump of a few flowers. We planted it in our front yard that gets full sun. It has grown and expanded every year, irregardless of a hard or mild winter. While the roses are temperamental and need care, the coreopsis needs nothing.
Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi goes ape at a Canadian journalist when asked about China’s human rights. So angry, so arrogant, so lacking in manners. A minister of foreign affairs should have some respect for the culture of other countries, and he clearly does not. China can do much better. The Queen was right.
Comment, I usually do not, when it comes to politics, either in Canada, China, or elsewhere, but Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on a visit to Canada went ape at a Canadian journalist. As a representative of China his behaviour was disgraceful and unacceptable. Due to military incursions in the South China Sea, China already has a reputation of being a bully. Wang Yi only reinforces the arrogant view that China now holds.
These purple lilies 百合 faithfully come up every year. They are beautiful but very delicate. Any little wind and the petals flop over like silly dog ears. Vibrant colours shine in the sun. They only last for about 7 days.
Purple Lilies, 2016, Toronto, Canada, photo 1 by Don Tai
Purple Lilies, 2016, Toronto, Canada, photo 2 by Don Tai
Purple Lilies, 2016, Toronto, Canada, photo 3 by Don Tai
The new Toronto Green bin is much larger than the old, both taller and wider. I’d call the colour puke. Front view. Photo 1 by Don Tai.
The powers that be at the City of Toronto, Canada, have decided to provide all house residents with new green bins. These bins are larger and can be dumped mechanically by truck. They are said to be raccoon proof. We’ll what our furry friends say about this.
