Today's Field Trip to Andrews' Scenic Acres

Two schoolbusloads and two cars full of LINC teachers and participants from 250 Consumers Road, plus another two busloads from Microskills' Vulcan location, descended on this fruit farm in Milton, Ontario, about an hour west down Hwy 401 from where we are in Toronto. Above, the punctual kill time while waiting to board the schoolbuses.


Besides fruit picking, there were hotdogs, jams, pies, honey, maple syrup, and lots more on sale. Did anyone buy scotch from the store?


It was a perfect day, not too hot, not too windy, and just right! We were divided into four groups and sent forth into the strawberry harvest with Farmer Kim.


Each participant was given a paper cup for complimentary pickings, and anything more was charged. What, a Berry Bus?


Berry berry nice! We even got a free hayride to the fields!


The rules were issued: no picking anything but the red ones, no hopping across rows, step on the straw--why else do they call them strawberries?!


Hmm, where do we start. Hello, who goes there?


Hey, I said, "Smile."


"How? It's burninating!" "I don't even like strawberries--they're too sour!"


Yay! It's fun for Cindy, Mersedeh, Maryam, and gang!


Nice shot, Wayne!


Go, Manager! Would you rather be picking cotton?!


Lovebirds Garry and Yuping!


Munch, munch ... Wayne, Diana, Vivian and gang pick it clean.


Finally, picnic time!


All in all, a great start to the summer! See you back after the break, on July 6!

Welcome to the new Level 4 Class!

Today marks a new start of our purely Level 4 class, the Level 5 folk having moved over to their new place at 200 Consumers Rd. We had two new and one returning student--so welcome, Amira and Wayne, and welcome back, Nasrin!

As an announcement, especially for those absent today, we're celebrating Canada Day this Thursday and going on a field trip on Friday. The following week the school will be closed, but we'll get started again on July 6 and run through the summer.

On Friday, we'll be going to Andrew's Scenic Acres for strawberry picking. The bus leaves from our school at 9 a.m.; so be punctual and do not be late. More details will be given nearer the date--keep an eye out for it!

Here's what we can expect, weather-permitting:

Hang on to your hats!

See what happens when Ian Paisley fails to do so?


Or when Benedict XVI fails to do so.

It doesn't matter who you are, but sudden, mind-blowing changes can mess up the best-laid of plans. Or upset your comfortable routine.

Well, I'm not going to say any more; so please show up to class tomorrow morning for an important announcement that might just blow you away. Or at least knock your socks off.

Got your seatbelts on? Ready for a bombshell? Hold your hats! Here goes nothing ...

Field Trip Down Church Street

Guy with cheesy grin next to a hydro pole with rusty staples sticking to it


What? The Annual Pride Underwear Show?


Where's the rainbow banner?


Leaving "the Village"


Who owns this convenience store at Carlton and Church? Steven's doubletake
(Here's where we took a rain cheque on Jarvis St Baptist Church and Allan Gardens.)


Hossein and Ryerson ... for love of education, and thanks for the handy university washrooms!
(Not pictured--our amazing visit to St George's Greek Orthodox Church, graciously hosted by Secretary Mrs. Aphrodite Katsigiorgis, and a peek inside St Michael's Cathedral, where a mass was in progress)


Interesting snippets from random church bulletins


The Metropolitan United Church--no, the one in the background


Great venue for a picnic ...


and photography ...


And food


Outside St James


Say "King Henry the Eighth"!


Awww, no organ concert--the musician "took sick," we are told.


So now what ... off to St Lawrence Market we go!


Something rotten in the state of Denmark, Steven?


Yum, wild arctic caribou, venison, rabbit, etc.


You don't say ...

Cheese! Wedge of a building in back


Back via Union Station--who's calling in sick with fieldtriptitis tomorrow?

Bike Field Trip to the Lake on Saturday

Can you guess some of the places we visited?


1. No worries! If something happens on Yonge, duck into one of these, and you'll be home in a little bit.


2. Five floors of information in here, including a chance to fiddle with a microfiche reader.


3. Not the Mongolian but the Great Canadian!


4. Upscale shopping area ... just manage to snap that Angus on Wheels.


5. One-man band at the _ _ _ _ _ _ of Bay and Bloor


6. Sidewalk chalk art just outside this shopping centre at Queen and Yonge


7. Burgers, hotdogs, fries, and even chicken briyani in front of this Square


8. David Miller's office is in that building!


9. Cruise ships start from here.

10. Way too many people in this Square for Luminato; so we enjoy the scramble junction and give it a pass.

Write your answers under Comments (belows).

Follow-up - What a Fine City!

It used to be the one and only. But now, the world's foremost "fine city" may have a competitor in the making:


Having just paid my $250 parking ticket last week, I opened my mailbox this afternoon only to see the above letter, helpfully sent by the City of Toronto, none other. Huh? They want another $12.75--for what? Who knows?

Nor does it make any difference, does it?


So I pay it up, including the $1.50 fee tacked on. Whatever.

I'd be an idiot to seek ultimate truth and justice in this fallen world, and it's a fallen world, indeed, me included. But there's good news. It's from the One who made and who rules the world. The story is not over yet--Here's what He says:

Acts 17:³¹ "For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead."