MISTY MORNING

Wrapped in a blanket of fog

                                                 

What lies beyond the veil?

     ...A mystery,  

     A place where mysteries are themselves 

                          unveiled  upon the stage,                     

where life decisions are settled

...for the city

   ...for nature.

What of our world?  

 

Are we wrapped in the shroud of forgetfulness?

It may be pleasant to walk in Stratford's fog...

But a world in the fog?

CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY

In late November, before the frigid weather settles in for the winter, Stratford begins to undergo a transformation. People get busy with their paintbrushes

and dig out their lights to create a front yard wonderland.

Only the limits of their imagination and their artistic taste will determine the end result on display for fellow citizens to enjoy.

The downtown core takes on a magical Victorian glow as shop owners get into the spirit and festoon their windows and planters for all to enjoy.

         
Early in December the Queen of the Square, our picturesque City Hall, gets decked out in her finest to proclaim the arrival of the Season.

Why not consider a December jaunt to our fair city? Do some Christmas shopping in our quaint downtown, visit the new Victorian Trail, or our ever famous Chocolate or Maple Trail. Wrap up your weekend visit with a a horse drawn sleigh ride, a gourmet meal at one of our fine restaurants, and perhaps even an overnight getaway at one of our fine  B&Bs or inns.  We'll look forward to your visit!

BY DOING THEY LEARN

Last week as I walked along the river, I came upon a hands-on science lesson in progress – a mother enabling her children at a young age to develop a love of nature.

Apparently she brings the kids down to the river about once a week to feed grain to the ducks. 

And they obviously love it! All of them! As you can see, the excitement of the ducks soon attracted the geese, at which point the baby was lifted to mom’s knee.     

When the swans decided to join the party, it was time for the little ones to leave.

         

The joy on the faces of these three, and the delighted murmuring of appreciation 
from their feathered friends was truly a wonderful addition to my morning stroll. 
To see the next generation being groomed to respect their world, awesome! 

WOW!

  

Wonderful!  Outstanding!  Way to go, Stratford Symphony!

Recently I had the privilege of attending the opening night of this year’s season presented by the Stratford Symphony Orchestra. The evening, directed by the legendary Howard Cable, took us on a trip down memory lane.  At 93, Cable was delightfully quick-witted in his commentary as he introduced each of his renditions of the musical greats of the big band era.

The music was great and the memories pleasant, but what amazed me the most was the skill of the musicians that make up our symphony. To leap from their normal mode of classical orchestra into the free flowing, rhythmic swing that had the audience (and some of the orchestra members) bouncing in our seats – all I can say is WOW!

We are privileged in Stratford to have an abundance of musical experiences available to us. From October until June there is a wide variety of options for us to expand our horizons through the vehicle of music. The Stratford Symphony Orchestra, The Stratford Concert Band, Music & Opera, The Stratford Concert Choir, Inner Chamber, to name a few – all of these have a whole season prepared for our enjoyment. Details are available on their websites or you can pick up their brochures at the Tourism office across from City Hall.

We have a gold mine of cultural experiences right on our doorstep for very reasonable rates, many offering further reductions if you purchase tickets for the entire season. Why travel out of town, when this is available right in our backyard? It is only by our continued support that we are able to these experiences available in our community. Why not give yourself a cultural treat this year? Think about inviting your out-of-town relatives and friends to come and experience this different side of Stratford. A season’s pass makes a great holiday gift! Hope to see you there. 

CELEBRATING CANADA

July 1 found the citizens of Stratford out in full force to celebrate the fact that we are proud Canadians.

After stopping to listen to buskers in the park by Pazzo's, I headed to Market Square behind City Hall. It had been transformed into a tent city, bustling with activities for young and old alike.

Clowns and and bouncy castles entertained the young,

while Happy Hands -made of wax attracted the attention of adolescents.  

           

After the annual presentation of the bronze stars that will be placed in the downtown area, local performers were given 20 minute segments to strut their stuff.  

It was a special treat for us to welcome Yeager back to the stage as he continues to make his recovery following a horrific accident in March 2012. 



With a variety of vendors tantalizing our taste buds and plying their wares and  information, the City Centre Committee once again treated us to a fantastic Canada Day celebration, which we all enjoyed....including the canine attendees!

The annual evening parade and fireworks display were the icing on the cake, so to speak. This is just a sample of what makes us proud to be Canadian, and especially proud to live in Stratford!

WE LIKE TO PARTY!

                  Stratford is definitely a town that likes to party.

On June 21-23, we enjoyed the 4^th annual Stratford Blues and Ribfest, where 15,000 were expected to descend on the riverside to enjoy a good time. 

People had a choice of locales to enjoy the tunes echoing off the water. Offering a mix of international, national and local talent with not only blues but rock and country as well, the concerts were all free, thanks to a Celebrate Ontario grant. 

The only exception was the Friday evening show which featured the return of Blue Rodeo, who attracted a big crowd of fans and helped to raise funds for Cash for Splash – the campaign aiming to raise the money needed to install a splash pad in the south end of the city. 

I attended the venue set up outside of the Allman Arena. A tented concert area, the street lined with vendors, the scent of grilled ribs, chicken, fries, ice cream and lots of other goodies all contributed to a great time.

It seems when there is an event like this, inhibitions are dropped and people are freer to chat with strangers sitting across the table. We met two delightful ladies who had driven into town for the event.

That`s one of the things I love about Stratford, the sense of community where people work together to make dreams happen. Kudos to Stew Laing, Nathan Mckay and their team for dreaming big and organizing such an outstanding event!

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE FARMERS MARKET

“To market, to market, to buy a fat pig…”

To tell the truth, I have never seen a pig at the Stratford Farmers Market,  but there is a vast array of goods to tantalize the palette.

As you arrive a visual bouquet of colour assails the eye.

Flowers ready for 

hanging or planting,

or fresh cut flowers to adorn your table.

Bright, cheery canopies shade 

fresh fruits and vegetables 

of all kinds and colours.

If you grow hungry, 

the Agricultural Society 

provides delicious 

bacon on a bun,

And to top it off there are fresh apple fritters or a fried Mars Bar!                                                        

A gathering place of citizens;

A chance to fill the larder with fresh food;

Saturday mornings, the Stratford Market is the place to be!

…and we haven’t even entered the building yet! That is for another entry. Keep posted.