Category Archives: Toronto

A St. Helena Lullaby

Posted on October 15, 2023 by Parisian Fields

How far is St. Helena from a little child at play? What makes you want to wander there, with all the world between? Oh, mother, call your son again, or else he’ll run away, (No-one thinks of winter when the … Continue reading →

Posted in Family history, Paris history, Toronto | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Silent witnesses

Posted on August 6, 2023 by Parisian Fields

Early one morning, Norman and I dropped off our car for servicing at a local garage. We had breakfast at the Goat Café and then took a walk for an hour or so until it was time to retrieve the … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris parks, Paris streets, Toronto | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Eclairage Chauffage: Helen McNicoll and the painting of light

Posted on July 9, 2023 by Parisian Fields

This image of a market in Brittany was painted by Helen McNicoll in 1910. The sign “Eclairage Chauffage” on the building in the background seems appropriate, since the sun is beaming down and you can almost feel its warmth. McNicoll … Continue reading →

Posted in Paris art, Toronto | 15 Comments

The boating party

Posted on March 5, 2023 by Parisian Fields

For Marnie, with thanks for many happy memories, and for your long-standing support of this blog. Sail on, silver girl. I am thinking about boats today, for several reasons. One is the fact that a good friend of ours who … Continue reading →

Posted in Family history, Seine, Toronto | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Penny for a Dancer’s Son

Posted on November 7, 2021 by Parisian Fields

A few weeks ago, Norman embarked on some long-deferred tidying up and came across a beautiful bronze disc about 12 cm in diameter (not quite 5 inches across). He said he’d had it for years, and had probably bought it … Continue reading →

Posted in Toronto, World War I | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

A view of the pandemic (so far) in five masks

Posted on July 12, 2020 by Parisian Fields

To readers: please be advised that this blog contains no Paris content whatsoever. We will return to our regularly scheduled comments on Paris next month. Mid-March: homemade. The lockdown catches us by surprise. On Monday we are in the library, … Continue reading →

Posted in Toronto | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments