I was super glad to see that so many media outlets shared my press release about the opening of the photography show “Toronto Estonian House: Last Act”. Way to go! I am super happy – most likely my most shared photography exhibition so far.
Have you seen it yet? If not, then it is up until the end of October, 30th to be exact. So you still have some time!
I am extremely proud to present that one of my best and largest shows, Toronto Estonian House: Last Act, is now presented at Tartu City Library, located at Kompanii 3/5. It is pleasantly open Monday through Friday, 10:00-20:00, Saturday, 10:00-16:00, closed on Sunday. So, you will have plenty of options to take a look.
What I hope the most for is to receive an email from a person who has visited the Estonian House in Toronto themselves. It would be so great to hear their impressions and perhaps to see photos they took of the building. Please share this post with your friends, as perhaps there is someone in Tartu who should see it and has a reason to email me.
Here are previous posts related to the Toronto Estonian House I have published before:
The stillness of the Toronto Estonian House – photo gallery vol. 2
Estonian House in Toronto is no more
Looking forward to your emails at kerly/at/kerlyilves.ee
The joy started at the end of August when the Toronto Animal Rights march took place. It was my first time participating in this small but powerful parade. It was very well organized, and those who were late to show up didn’t have to worry about missing the march, as there were speeches, music and intros to the walk presented. The whole march was powerful, and even the rain didn’t bring our mood down.
Then there was Veg TO Fest at Nathan Phillips Square. Lovely festival of wonderful vegan food, products, performances and speeches. It was a bit overwhelming to choose the food to eat. But we went by the style and the portion size and chose Ital Vital Rastarant’s ever-so-good container filled with all kinds of goodies. For the sweets we chose a selection of 6 small butter tarts, they were gluten-free and vegan, by…. They are not a vegan company, but we couldn’t resist trying their mouth-watering gluten-free treats.
And at the end of September Vegandale took place by Polson Pier by Lake Ontario. Another event I had never been to, so it was pure joy for me to be part of it. It was very similar to the To Veg Fest, but it was a ticketed event, which doesn’t make sense really, and the food was quite similar. Except for some special guests from the States. We wanted to try something different and went with this wonderful Chicago-based Light Eye See. Their portions were huge and the food was so good and filling. Like wow! For the dessert, we chose cruffin and two cupcakes from The Big Vegan Cake. Wow, wow, wow. The best vegan baked goods we have bought in the city so far!
I am delighted that September brought all this attention to veganism, as in the summer too much is happening, people are out of the city and travelling. September in that sense is the best month to organize these events. And the weather held. Thanks for this, Toronto!
The 20th of August has been always a special day for Estonians. It marks our re-independence day. In 2011 this day got another meaning to me. Ülle, a big-hearted Estonian who had made life in Toronto, Canada, had offered me work and kindness, is celebrating her birthday on the same day. What made the birthday more special was that my birthday was just five days before and we both are Leo’s. We always got along and had fun. It was a huge learning curve for me working for her.
Unfortunately, this year, Ülle is no longer with us to celebrate her birthday. This year there was a birthday for her without her. It was very sad. I loved being part of her family and enjoyed her close one’s company, but I really missed her. And I still do. Not a day goes by without me thinking of her.
I usually do not post blurry photos, but I had kept this from 2011, just a few weeks after I started to get to know Ülle. She is captured in her usual rush – she is here and then she is gone. This moment I will cherish forever, as we were both captured at the same moment!
Though June was an official Pride month, then usually the beginning of July marks the big Pride parade in Toronto. What a beautiful and sad month June was, as there was so much joy and so much grief due to the passing of Ülle.
I have always taken my time to visit the Pride parade. There are some years when it is not so good and then there are years when the parade leaves a really good impression, like this year. It was well organized, it was flowing and they gave away lots of nice freebies. I usually do not care about random knick-knacks, but some practical things like fanny packs, hats and bags and even some cute buttons, I appreciate a lot.
I chose this photo to represent this year’s parade, as you can see two races here and they are not white Caucasians. Makes me so happy to see different colours and different races, being proud of who they are and spreading the love.
If you want to know more about Pride and the meaning and read news etc, then please check this website www.pride.com.
I never thought that I would ever have to write these lines about Ülle which means that the hardest working perpetuum mobile has run out of the breath of life. Whoever met her knew that she was ALWAYS busy, always engaged with something or somebody, always in MOTION! That is how the Estonians in Toronto remember her. Here is a little example. My friend Kadri visited me in Toronto ten years ago and during that time we also went to the Estonian House. On Monday, the 12th of June, I sent her an email and informed her about Ülle’s passing. She replied with the following:
Was it Ülle who managed the Estonian House cafeteria? And who had big daily plans and multitasking lists for each day? I remember your stories about her and a couple of meetings, there in the Estonian house and 1x also at Tallinn airport. She delivered a package. She really doesn’t look that old and I am sad to hear that she left so soon. Ülle was probably such a person that because she was so active, that she was able to do a lot of things in life, but I can understand from your story that this news came unexpectedly.
Indeed, this devastating news came unexpectedly. I knew that she was sick, for a very short time, but I always knew that she can beat it. She reassured me, probably to spare me from worry since she always thought of others. But she didn’t recover – a week in the hospital and she was done! Everyone knows that she did things magically well, made hard things look easy, and with superhuman speed, so perhaps the quick way she left us is representative of how she lived life with force. She was a force to be reckoned with! I never thought that I will be so deeply affected by losing Ülle because I always thought she would always be here. We often kept in touch. I have a habit of staying up late and taking late-night walks and that was the time I used to text her. It already started in the early years when I got to know her. I would send her a few lines and she would reply and then say, I will continue sleeping. I was hoping that she will turn off her phone, but she didn’t, so I always woke her up. I couldn’t keep myself from texting her. This is how I learned that she is always there for people. We often started our message threads and conversations with “Where are you?”, big organizers as we both are, it helped us to plan how to meet each other or get something done. No time for pleasantries – the location information that set the rest.
I considered Ülle my Canadian mother. Though she really cared, she didn’t smother, but she was always there. And that meant the whole world. This is what I am going to miss the most about her – her ability to be there, find time from her always busy schedule and help out. I am waiting for her messages or phone calls, keep looking out for her red Mazda and expect the impossible – that she will just appear. I admired and respected her and always wished her the best at her nerve-wracking job. It was always a joy to see her. And I was lucky to get to see her even without making any plans. Ülle has visited my dreams I would say most of all the people I know. I used to pass her by the Estonian House or her son’s condo building many times. I always shouted “Hei Ülle! Have a great day!” Now I dream of that moment happening once again.
Ülle had the biggest heart. This can be applied in so many ways. She opened herself to you and clarified that you are very welcome to stay. The doors of her cafe in the Estonian House were always open and so was the door of her home. I often dropped in unannounced in the morning at the cafe to say hi to them, collect the hugs and continue my route to work. I enjoyed the late-night visits to her home when Ülle and other kitchen ladies were cozy on the sofa in her living room while watching TV. She said you are always welcome, you know the door is open or you know where the key is.
I took this photo of Ülle during the first months after I got to know her. She sent it to her love, who was far away. He of course raved about the photo and called it exceptional. I must admit that this photo brings out the best of Ülle, as she was an exceptional person. A person anybody would be blessed to know, as she enriched everyone’s lives! Familiar or stranger, she always treated everybody with kindness and smiles.
I will never forget her kindness, attention, excellent memory, amazing sense of humour and organization solutions (in Estonian we call Ülle orgunnikuninganna) she was able to provide. Most of the time she was the one helping me out. Interestingly enough, the day Ülle passed, I received a payment for the bed frame Ülle helped me to transport 3 years ago, after purchasing. After handing it over to the new owners, I found out that she had passed. What was this about? I never meant it to be like this, Ülle. I am sorry.
Nothing makes me happier now than to know that Ülle knew how to live. No matter her packed schedule, responsibilities, five children and many grandchildren, she knew how to enjoy herself (as she called it in Estonian, mõnuleda). She loved dresses and dressing up overall. Ülle was known to change gowns during events. She had expensive taste in anything she loved – food, clothing, furniture etc. Ülle always found time to enjoy fancy restaurants, shop at the best stores, see Serena William play her last match, wear the most expensive dresses and travel – yes, you guessed right – first class!
I will always cherish the following message Ülle sent me this January after I forwarded her my New Year’s wishes: “Happy New Year to you as well. I am thinking of you every day. You beat me to it! Everything is the same. I am sleeping at the moment. Let’s speak some other time! Hugs!”.
I am glad I got to know so many wonderful people thanks to Ülle, in the kitchen or outside it. That is what she did – she brought people together. She wrapped herself around all hearts she came across and left us with all the beautiful memories of her to cherish for the rest of our lives.
Ülle, you deserve the rest, though you left us too soon!
Below is a gallery of pictures taken of Ülle from 2011 until 2022 in random order. It gives an overview of her work, colleagues, warm smile, great sense of humour, love for dresses and her natural way of posing for the camera. What can I say, camera loved Ülle! Love you always.
It may be a bit surprising or maybe not, that this photo was taken in March.
The picture really doesn’t give away any signs of the season. There are no visible trees. Also, no remains of snow. Which makes it a bit of an eerie photo. Not to forget the weird bluish tint.
Some consider March spring month, for some it is a definite winter month. Which is it for you?
I consider it a spring month, as it included Women’s Day. This day is known to be a busy day for flower shops, as many people around the world are buying flowers for the dear women in their lives. It is a fun thing, isn’t it? But it is no fun thing to think about what goes on to produce, transport and sell these flowers as the article HERE points out, not so rosy. The environmental impact is relatively high.
Food for thought, that on the eve of Women’s Day, I saved these flowers from their pre-timed death. For a whole week, they bought joy and beauty into my every day.
Today marks the 105th year of the Estonian Republic. It is an important anniversary for a small country like Estonia. We have managed a lot after we got our independence back and continue growing. Next week the parliament elections are taking place, giving the people an option to choose the representatives of their voices. Let’s see what the new year will bring.
For an Estonian living abroad, it is crucial to celebrate all the local holidays, which allows me to be an Estonian. I was planning to go to the Estonian flag raising on the 24th of February, by the Toronto City Hall, but because of the one-year anniversary of the Ukrainian-Russian war, they raised the Ukrainian flag. The Estonian flag was to be erected on Saturday. Obviously, I didn’t go, as after working until 11.30 PM, the girl needed a little rest after getting to bed at 4 AM!
Hence I share the photos of the last year’s event by the Estonian House, which marked the last time when the Canadian and the Estonian flags were ever raised there. Also, this was my first time going there, as I had gone downtown before, but never to Estonian House.
Well, it was great to see so many people present on that cold, but sunny day, mostly masked as you can see. But I think I got some great shots nevertheless. Below is a small gallery of this historic event, as the Estonian House is sold now and all activities there have ended. The building has been sitting empty since the 1st of November, 2022.
Here is a selection of the photos taken during the flag-raising by the Toronto Estonian House.
A little while after, when I had a chance to take photos of various (old) dorm rooms at Tartu College. They have several room options in downtown Toronto for students who have been arriving in Toronto all around the world. It was my second architectural photoshoot. Wouldn’t mind doing it again. So, if you are interested, shoot me an e-mail and let’s make the photos happen.
Again the most fun thing was setting up the rooms, so they are ready for the shoot. One thing is to put things out that you think are the best way. And the other is looking at the whole view through the viewfinder. Gathering the things and spreading them around in different rooms, so as to have rooms look authentic and personal, was so much fun.
And the shooting. Well, it was better than the first time, as the windows were not so bright, so just some of the outside was washed out. As I took these photos at the beginning of June when it was very sunny and hot. But at least you can still get the idea of the rooms. Renovated rooms definitely look cooler and well…modern. Plus, they actually have AC in the rooms!
I think finding a post about vegan breakfast on a photography homepage is pretty random.
But again, maybe not, as I am vegan. Utterly and honestly the biggest fan of all fruits and vegetables. One can make beautiful meals out of them and they are truly mindblowing. Perhaps this is because I like food, but then again, I can’t remember loving food so much when I was an omnivore or even a vegetarian. I even didn’t eat beans as a vegetarian. Now I can just eat chickpeas as I used to eat M&M’s.
I do take occasionally photos of food on the table. A little interest I got myself into many years ago. I was thinking that it would be really unique and original, but unfortunately, my little Instagram page at What Is On The Table hasn’t really picked up in a few years. I started it not long ago and posting photos chronologically, as it shows my transformation from vegetarian, who mind you, ate fish! to a vegan who I am today.
About the photo. This is a lovely Saturday late afternoon 3rd of January, the end of the holiday break breakfast. I have never had a plate like this for breakfast: waffles and cookies. Blueberries, yes, I can understand. The cookies had to be finished, as there were just a few left. I tried a new recipe for gluten-free waffles and wanted to see how it turns out. Pretty okay, though needs some improvement.
I took the photo mostly because of the food, but also because the background and the light have this nice, lovely, homely feel. In other words, hygge. Yes, there were some little LED lights on the table, but pictured in another photo. 😉
