We're Out 'a Here

That's it, we've moved everything into the hotel, done all of our errands and we're leaving the keys at the sublet. Saying good-bye to this beautiful 'hotel'. What a trip its been. I'm tempted to upload all of the photos we took upon leaving. This apartment is in perfect condition, so beautifully clean.

We'll be keeping things quiet for a few days, resting up and enjoying the hotel's facilities here in Toronto. We'll get up to Barrie for a visit too. Then off to Kingston and Montreal for a final Central Canada Holiday. I just can't leave this area without spending at least a few days in Montreal. I had such a great August there many years ago.

Coming Around the Mountain

We've got our fridge down to two bags and it's all cleaned out. All the bags are packed and things are sorted - what will be shipped and what we will drive. Now we can bring things to the hotel to settle down and have a chance to take a second, or really twentieth look, at what we are bringing. We want to get it down to the least 'stuff' possible. If I bring it home it doesn't end there, I have to take care of it.

We had a great night last night. I taught my final Toronto Mitzvah Demo students. I'm at student number 33 now. Excellent. A real bonus for me was that in that session, one student was a youth, one a mother, and the other a doctor. It was a great mix for me and a real treat. I'm so happy to be connecting with youth.

As my lesson was coming to a close our greatest Toronto friend came over to spend the evening with us. We ate a simple dinner and had spiritual discussion before packing up a car load of our bags and driving off together to the hotel. He assisted with carrying bags and making the most enjoyment out of saying "see you again." We drove him home, leaving him with extra goods that we loved but didn't want to transport, including my favorite glass jar art. It was wondrous to see how much he enjoyed my hand pained reclaimed glass jars. I surely loved seeing his face beam with appreciation and joy as I gave him all the jars that I made. It was great, I finished painting them the night before. Several of them year long projects really. I only worked on them when I truly felt I had a spare moment.

I love returning to friend's houses to see them using and displaying my painted glass. Its a real reminded that someone has appreciated my arts. Joy.

After a few nights in the hotel and finishing off any Toronto business, including my last Mitzvah lesson, we're off to Montreal!!

The first hotel

Well, as it would turn out we'll be getting a hotel for a few nights in Toronto. It will be much easier this way, certainly. Then the journey will begin. First will be Montreal, I think. But really with us we never do know.

It will just be great to get out of this sublet, move everything into a hotel room and be sure of seeing just what we have - nothing else.

We subleased a furnished place - never again. We just aren't the furniture type.

Transporting My Lifestyle

How do I transport my Ayurvedic lifestyle?

It starts with a big tupperware box full of 'ziplock' bags wit every herb or spice, tea, rice or bean that we might want to use over a month or so.

Oh the 'ziplok' bag. I did everything that I could to reduce the plastic in my life for so long. But when you want to move, across Canada in a car, the lightweight flexibility of a plastic bag and the durable tupperware is optimal. At this point.

Of course we do wash and reuse all of our 'ziplok' bags.

We like to cook in our hotel rooms. Oh dear, the secret is out.

We have a one burner stove, a pot and probably a frying pan as well as a small pot for hot drinks. We have several thermoses and a few different 'tiffin' containers for food transportation.

We'll be eating 'kitchari'. I usually do add some spices. Cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, hing (asafetida), coriander, cardamon, clove.