Summer Heat/Summer Cool

This has been an eventful week at Widowed Friends!

Fashion Show on Tuesday, Book Club on Wednesday and Lianne Harris and the Garden today, in addition to all our regular zoom get togethers!

If you'd like to get in touch with Marlene re any of the Cabi Fashions you saw on Tuesday at the fashion show or that you might have seen online, you can contact her at

marlene.a.marco@gmail.com.

Note: Cabi is offering free shipping from June 10th-21st!

Of course there is still Covid and vaccine news and info to share!

Thanks to Donna T for sharing this info on vaccine availability at Walmart. Check the site for the store closest to you for either first or second vaccines.

This article from Macleans Magazine is a roundup of How the battle against the pandemic in Canada is going.

Here's more info about the Roadmap to Reopen in Ontario announced on Thursday. The info is outlined here.

In other news.....

The Royal Botanical Gardens has lots of new summer programs and events both virtual and in-person. Check out the list here!

In hot summer weather we often forget that we need to keep hydrated. Here's an article from the Mayo Clinic about how much water we should drink every day.

Now that we are getting out and about more there are lots of Farmers Markets open and offering delicious fresh local produce. To find a market near you, check out this site from Farmers Market Ontario.

Film Festival? The annual Oakville Film Festival is back and online. Watch over 100 different films and documentaries over a 7 day period. Here's more information.

The Saga of Freddie & Frank

Once upon a time there were two frogs. The first frog, Frank, came to visit Beverley at her backyard pond last summer. Beverley took good care of him ( he's on the right) and he returned this summer to renew their acquaintance, looking bigger, healthier and greener!

The second frog, Freddie, was looking for friends and decided to climb a tree near Liz's condo and jump to her second floor balcony in search of companionship. He likes it so much at Liz's he decided to stay and can be found daily getting comfy on the furniture, in plants and other unexpected places. That's him checking out the table on the left.

What will happen to Freddie and Frank? Will they ever meet? Will they stay the summer and then return to frog hibernation for the winter; will they find other amphibian friends or do they prefer the company of humans? Maybe they just need a kiss on the cheek and Prince Charming will appear? Do you have any animal friends you'd like to share? Stay tuned for the next chapter in the saga of Freddie and Frank.

Welcome New Members

We are delighted to welcome several new members including our first member from Nova Scotia!

Welcome Terry P from Antigonish, N.S.,Jennifer B, Fran E., Joanne W, Pat M!

Recipe of the Week

ROASTED STRAWBERRIES WITH MAPLE SYRUP AND LIME

It's strawberry time! If you love strawberries and are looking for a new way to try them, here's a recipe from well-known Toronto chef Bonnie Stern.

Roasting them makes them perfect for your breakfast yogurt, over cheesecake or ice cream and even in cocktails or drinks!

Ingredients:

4 to 5 cups strawberries (about 1 1/2 lbs) hulled and halved

2 tbsp maple syrup

1 tbsp sugar

grated peel of a lime

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 400F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

2.Hull strawberries (cut away the greens). Cut strawberries in half. If they are large cut into quarters or slice and if they are tiny, leave them whole. Spread them on the sheet pan lined with parchment paper.

3.If the berries are local and sweet, add the maple syrup and sugar recommended above but if they are imported berries and/or off season, add more sugar and/or maple syrup. Add grated lime peel. Toss.

4.Roast 20 to 30 minutes until berries cook and release an intense syrup. Enjoy

Raffle For Acclaim Health's

New Dementia Centre

Thank you to everyone who bought tickets for the raffle in support of Acclaim Health's new Dementia Centre. We really appreciate your support!

There's still time to purchase tickets if you'd like to take part in the raffle! Tickets are $20 each or 3 for $40! The winning ticket will be pulled at Sunday's Zoom at 1pm!

The prize is a huge basket filled with a variety of beverages and goodies and the raffle is open to family and friends. All proceeds to Acclaim Health.

To enter, email us at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com and let us know how many tickets you'd like, then etransfer the funds to us or drop off a cheque or cash at Stephanie or Penny's house and we'll email you your ticket number.

Good Luck!!

Events!

The Garden - Today

Join Lianne Harris for a fascinating discussion about The Garden: The History & Stories About Famous Flowers, June 11th at 3:30pm

A beautiful flower garden in the past was a sign of culture, but also great wealth . . . and maybe a bit of bribery, smuggling and extortion as well!

If you haven't attended one of Lianne's presentations before and would like to come, pls let Penny know at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com and she'll add you to the invitation list. If you have attended before, you'll automatically receive an invitation.

Summer with Lianne!!

Mark your calendars!! Lianne will be joining us July 9th for Royal Scandals and August 13th for Superstitions!

Pls let Penny know at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com if you'd like to attend these events (if you haven't attended before) and she'll forward an invitation!

Loss Workshop with Dr. Flavia Ceschin

Dr. Ceschin returns for another session focusing on life after loss, loneliness and Covid on June 25th at 1pm.

This session has limited capacity and is currently at maximum attendance. If you'd like to attend, please register at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com and we'll add you to the waiting list. The cost of this session is $10 per person and all proceeds will go to Heartache to Hope.

Note: If you registered previously for an earlier cancelled session we will automatically rebook you to this session and thank you for your previous $10 payment.

Zoom Event Calendar

June

Friday June 11th - NEW! Lianne Harris returns with a presentation about The Garden

Sunday June 13th -Join us to find out who the winner is of our Anniversary Raffle as well as some chat and a quiz!

Tuesday June 15th - at 2pm - Social Chat and What Am I Quiz

Wednesday June 16th 6:00pm - Bring a Glass of Wine or cup of tea for a social with an entertainment/movie quiz and bring a quiz of your own if you would like to share!

Thursday June 17th 2:00pm Chat about Loss & Grief -Join us for a discussion of the grief journey and steps we can take to support one another.

Thursday June 17th 4:30 pm - Bingo! Join us for an hour of virtual bingo. Let us know if you would like us to email or mail bingo sheets to you and bring your own dabbers or markers.

Sunday June 20th - Help us celebrate fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers and friends on this Father's Day

Tuesday June 22nd - Social Chat and What Am I?

Wednesday June 23rd 6:00pm Bring a Glass of Wine or cup of tea for a social with an entertainment/movie quiz and bring a quiz of your own if you would like to share!

Note: Today is International Widows Day!

Thursday June 24th 2:00pm Chat about Loss & Grief -Join us for a discussion of the grief journey and steps we can take to support one another.

Thursday June 24th 4:30 pm - Bingo! Join us for an hour of virtual bingo. Let us know if you would like us to email or mail bingo sheets to you and bring your own dabbers or markers.

Friday June 25th 1:00 pm - Loss Workshop with Dr. Flavia Ceschin (see details above!)

Sunday June 27th 1:00 pm -It's National Ice Cream Cake Day! Join us for ice cream history and trivia and fun!!

Tuesday June 29th 2:00 pm - Social and Who Am I Quiz

Wednesday June 30th 6:00pm Bring a Glass of Wine or cup of tea for a social with an entertainment/movie quiz and a quiz of your own if you would like to share!

Please let Penny know at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com if you'd like to be added to the attendee list for any of these Zooms or if you have any questions! Penny sends out the link the day of the zoom, if you don't have it before noon, please contact her and she'll send the link to you. All games are just for fun, no pressure!

Join us June 17th at 4:30pm for the next game! Please email us at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com and we'll add you to the group.

Winners from the June 10th game include:

Game 1: Leslie F

Game 2: Sandra

Game 3: Joanna

Game 4: Sandra, Anna

Game 5: Pauline

Game 6: Leslie T

Game 7: Sushma

Game 8: Leslie T

We are drawing a monthly prize from all the bingo game winners of the month's 4 sessions. Since a prize is offered, we ask members to use a dabber (or thick marker) for verification of each game. Widowed Friends has some dabbers available to give out during the lockdown. If you need a dabber or more bingo cards, please let us know at widowedfriendsltd@gmail.com.