Dear Reader
Clearly, this summer was awesome. Despite record breaking
precipitation numbers we did not notice the wetness. All we did
feel was the warmth. I often wondered why the lawns did not burn
and why the plants and flowers grew to such extraordinary
heights and it never occurred to me that it was the rainfalls at
night that we did not register, as well as the not too hot days,
with a few exceptions of course.
 My
front garden developed into a jungle that I could not tame.
Cosmos tangled with tall Prairie Grasses and Morning Glory
clinging to them, intermingled with Gladiolas, earlier huge
Margaritas, and Dahlias, Cannas and other amazing flowers.
Butterflies love it and so do all the cats of the neighborhood,
who find ideal hiding places underneath the dense foliage on the
cool ground.
Despite a sudden heat wave it did start to feel a bit like fall
at night, but it still does not look like it. Only the rain and
a full pear tree remind me that autumn is imminent, as are blue
jays who appear to have started to migrate south. After visits
to the beach and the picnics and festivities of summer we are
looking forward to a glorious harvest and indoor activities like
concerts and plays. This month the International Film Festival
is keeping Toronto busy and on the Ward’s Island one of our
occasional contributors in photography, Bob Sandbo is having a
photo exhibit in the local café, giving opportunity for a visit
before the weather turns too cool to enjoy the waterfront.
We are observing the campaigning of the Mayor’s candidates,
which just now is quieted down a bit after a racy start. No
doubt it will become a bitter fight in the end, despite the
earlier mudslinging that we already were made aware of.
The last weekend before school starts is our traditional visit
to the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) with its famous Air
Show. I could not go personally this year but read with
excitement Dick Altermann’s account and inspected Rolf
Rentmeister’s fantastic photos, looking out for my favorites:
Viper and Snowbirds. I did see glimpses of them from my window
at home, I am glad to say. Nothing excites me quite like a
powerful F16 Viper hurling itself across the sky in daredevil
flight. The snowbirds of course are simply magic, no matter what
they do up there. When I watch them I forget to breath.
I hope you enjoy the exploits of Echo Germanica’s team as much
as we enjoyed visiting the many places so we could report on it
for you.
Until next time
Sybille Forster-Rentmeister
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