A Busy Time of Year

Posted on December 21, 2025 by Mama Cormier

…from writing cards to making soup for the unhoused

This year I sent out over 75 Christmas cards. For the last three years my husband, Kevin designed our Cards and had them printed through a printing company. Last year we went through a postal strike so most of our cards didn’t arrive to their destinations till well after Christmas.

This season both Kevin and I donated our time, energy and money to support our communities and individuals who aren’t as fortunate as we are. A good friend of mine has given three Ukrainian families an opportunity to work in her home. It’s an arrangement that has been beneficial at both ends, especially after C suffered from a stroke last year. These amazing women helped her with cleaning the house, doing her cooking and preparing meals.

A couple of other friends have also used these women to clean their homes. They left Ukraine when the war broke out while their husbands stayed behind to fight. This Christmas, C and her husband put out the call for new items so that these women and their children could have a Christmas. I spent a day shopping for presents and two more days sorting and wrapping gifts.

Kevin has always wanted to make soup for the unhoused. Another friend, B has been working with the unhoused for a number of years now and told me about a project where people can come every Friday and pick up food and clothing. Right now tables are set up on the street and people line up to pick up a hot meal, some groceries and warm articles of clothing.

This past week Kevin made a huge pot of soup that made about 30 servings. I helped him take the soup to the drop off and I stayed to serve it up. Another woman had also made soup so there was plenty for everyone and there were lots of trays of other hot foods like tortellini and other pastas. It was bitter cold but I didn’t really feel it until the soup ran out.

Today, after shopping for ingredients, I finally got around to making bags of Party Mix and dozens of chocolate cookies for my Christmas plates that I hand out to my neighbours. I’m hoping to make more cookies tomorrow.

Feeding Time at the Zoo

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Mama Cormier

…Toronto High Park Zoo

Yesterday, after dropping off my husband at the hospital for his routine appointments I decided to drive the short distance to High Park. I parked in the lot by the park’s restaurant and went inside for a coffee but not before taking photos of the the gardens in front. Inside, while enjoying my hot beverage, I posted several photos on my blog. When I finished I packed up and headed for the zoo.

The zoo holds many fond memories for me. As a young child we frequently went there when my father had a day off from work. From all the old photos it amazes me to see how we would dress up for these outings. When we had our own children we loved going to this zoo. It was close to where we lived and admission was free.

*In High Park 1956* – *my friend, sister and I (no idea who the little boy is)*

*My children enjoying a sunny winter day at the High Park Zoo 1984*

Yesterday was relatively mild as I made my way down the hill toward the zoo. I was pleased that it was feeding time because that meant the animals were out of their shelters.

Most of the animals at the zoo are sheep, bison, cattle and llamas.

The feeding stations are also close to the pedestrian sidewalks.

Of all the animals the llamas were the most active.

On my way back to the car I was fortunate to see that the yak had come out of his shelter for a bite to eat.

Monochrome Monday in the Neighbourhood

Posted on March 10, 2025 by Mama Cormier

…with melting snow and white hobby horse

Building Up the Shoreline

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Mama Cormier

…despite the massive amount of snow

Today I took a short walk to the park at the end of my street. For months large dump trucks have rumbled past the house to unload their open box beds of gravel and rocks.