Saturday, December 31, 2016

Friday, December 30, 2016

King corn field


Photo by Barry Wallace
Late harvesting after the harvest
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Slip sliding away...slowly


 Photos by Barry Wallace

Anna Raeli's State Farm ice sculpture in the centre of King City, beside Hogan's Inn, that was a feature of the Christmas in King City event on December 16th, has endured for two weeks.   Prevailing cool temperatures have slowed melting and the frozen castle could last into the new year.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace


Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Freezing interrupted by thawing...

Photo by Barry Wallace
Church Street ~ Lloydtown
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben

Photo by Barry Wallace



                                                                     









         

Peter Wohlleben
Photo by Tobias Wohlleben





Bestseller changes how I see trees

I'm not sure how I first heard of this book but I'm delighted to have found and read it.   It has changed forever how I will see and feel about trees in the future. It was a simple book to read but mind-stretching in how one's perception of the natural world can be completely changed.   I won't try to explain Peter Wohlleben's startling insight into not just how trees grow, but also how they see, hear, feel, relate and even protect their offspring and neighbours.   Immediately below is a photo of a mighty oak tree at Humber Trails Conservation Area, on Mill Road, near Nobleton.   I have always regarded this tree as very old and in its twilight years. Now I realize a tree like this, in slightly altered circumstances, could live for a few more centuries!   In the photo at bottom, a huge willow, also at Humber Trails, shows a remarkable transmogrification of its trunk at ground level.   It may very well have survived and adapted to whatever afflicted its health and development with the intervention of the trees growing around and beside it.   It's a pleasure to recommend a book that is so pleasurable and informative.   It was a quick two-day read at 245 pages, especially with cookies and tea.

Photo by Barry Wallace

Photo by Barry Wallace
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Monday, December 26, 2016

Bird feeder info

Photos by BarrytheBirder
A week or so ago, Ellen left a comment on a blog about some bird feeders I was raving about.   Here's some more info, Ellen.   The smaller green feeder (see above) is called the Squirrel Buster Standard.   It's about 21" long, including the longish hanging rod, and holds just over 2 cups (16 oz.) of mixed seed.   The bigger beige feeder (see photo at left) is called the Eliminator.   It is about 27" long, including a longish hanging rod, and holds just over 8 cups (64 oz.) of mixed seed. Ellen, these items are not cheap, but I'm saving a bundle on the seed that the squirrels used to eat and spill on the ground.   It's a trade-off I'm quite pleased with.   I got my Eliminator and two Squirrel Busters at the Wild Birds Unlimited store in the Nature's Emporium plaza on the south-east corner of Yonge Street and Mulock Drive.
Barry Wallace  

Sunday, December 25, 2016

King City Eglises de Noel

Photos by Barry Wallace
St. Andrew's Presbyterian


King City United


All Saints Anglican

King Bible Church


Our Lady of Grace Shrine Marylake


Han Wool Presbyterian

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Bird makes our backyard a better place...

                                                                                                                  Photo by Barry Wallace
House Finch
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Friday, December 23, 2016

Visitors to the back porch

Photo by Barry Wallace
Mourning Doves were here
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Then and now...65 years later

"Doc" Gorden's Garage
King Road ~ c.1950

Photo by Barry Wallace
Shoppers Drug Mart
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Dog Tales dog and horse sanctuary

 Photos by Barry Wallace
Heavy horses get their 'blankies'
I've mentioned before how I think heavy horses are hardier than the thoroughbreds, but even the gang of big'uns at Dog Tales have finally got their blankets on this week, in the really cold temperatures we've all been experiencing just lately.   Two of the smaller ones below were generating some extra heat by chasing each other around and engaging in repeated two-legged face-offs. 

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

On the King City Trails

Photo by Barry Wallace
Into a snowy winter tunnel
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Monday, December 19, 2016

Whither the heart of Schomberg?

Photos by Barry Wallace
With the ongoing commercial development in Schomberg, centred on the intersection of Hwys. 9 and 27, plus on both sides of Hwy. 27, south of Hwy. 9, one wonders if there is a fundamental shift happening in the village of Schomberg, where the things that are at the heart of a community, are inexorably changing.   Pictured above is the new McDonald's and Petro Canada on the south-east corner of Hwy. 27 at its intersection with Dr. Kay Drive and Dillane Drive, with the Trisan Centre in the background.   Diagonally, at the north-west corner of the same intersection, billboards announce a new retail plaza in the near future.
   
The photo below shows a heritage building on Main Street that began its existence about 140 years ago as the business of druggist Alfred Eastwood.   After a number of commercial retailers have come and gone here, today it is a real estate office.   Other historical villages in York Region, like Kleinburg and Unionville have transformed themselves into glamorous and ultra-commercialized tourist attractions.   Could that be the future for Schomberg?   Or is Schomberg's Main Street a place to be the heart of a community, with commercial outlets being just one part of the many factors that contribute to a broad spectrum of civic pride and interest? 
  
Schomberg's separate Main Street has something that neither King City nor Nobleton have.   How long will Main Street's heart beat strongly?


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Mailboxes don't last forever either...

Photo by Barry Wallace
Yesterday, I stated that flags don't last forever.   
Mailboxes don't either if the photo above is evidence.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace


Saturday, December 17, 2016

Flags don't last forever...

 Photos by Barry Wallace
When I'm out driving around and about, I see lots of Canadian flags.   Many of them are a little worse for wear.   This past weekend, I had the following thoughts about the flag (pictured below) on the 16th Sideroad.   Barry, it's December.....the temperature is below freezing.....the wind is blowing at 40km. per hour.....that flag is over 15 metres above the ground.....Probably better to replace it next Canada Day, in July.   Yeah, maybe a good idea..


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Friday, December 16, 2016

Snow day

 Photos by Barry Wallace


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Feeling squirrely

Photos by Barry Wallace

Red Squirrel


Black Squirrel


Grey Squirrel
I've been feeling guilty recently for having replaced some of our hanging bird feeders with new models that are much more squirrel-proof.   Now the squirrels can't get at the seeds in the feeders anymore and have to settle for what the birds dislodge and let fall to the ground.   It seems the squirrels are not getting the quantity of seeds they have gotten used to in winters past.   They still look plump in mid-December, but I 'm a little concerned about what happens to them in January and February.   There is a flowering crab apple tree nearby (see bottom photo above) which the squirrels have always worked away at during winters past, but this year they have already stripped that tree's fruit.   I'm hoping the squirrels will just bury themselves in their huge leafy nests and hibernate until March maybe, but I'm thinking I may need to have a 'Plan B' in place, in the new year, just in case.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Christmas in King City ~ Dec.10

Photo by Barry Wallace
Ice sculpture at the four corners
Just in case you missed it at the Christmas in King City event last Saturday evening, here's a shot of the ice sculpture that appeared, adjacent to the Hunt Pub, in the parkette at the corner of King Road and Keele Street.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Chickadees ~ winter's warriors

Photo by Barry Wallace
I wonder if chickadees know
that I need them as much in winter
as they need me?
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder

Monday, December 12, 2016

Cold Creek Conservation Area ~ 11th of King

 Photos by Barry Wallace


The English Wheat Barn








The English Wheat Barn at Cold Creek Conservation Area was completely closed in with replacement barn boards in 2015 and sports a rather odd patchwork appearance combining older, newer and brand new  boards.   Curious onlookers will probably have to wait until next spring or summer to see how this situation is resolved.   The barn is over 160 years old and has has already received restoration of its foundation, flooring, roof and cleaning of its interior.   The barn was designated a heritage building under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2009.   Donations can still be made to: Cold Creek Stewardship Barn Restoration and mailed to Cold Creek Stewardship, c/o Bob Belcher, 124 Wellar Avenue, Nobleton, Ont. L0G1N0

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace  

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Christmas camels on Keele Street

 Photos by Barry Wallace
The King City Business & Community Association, along with the Bank of Montreal and the Township of King got together and celebrated the coming of Christmas on Saturday night, in the centre of the village.   Not only were there live camels on hand, but reindeer also.   Lots of food, entertainment and live music, a petting zoo, photos with Santa, plus other festivities played to a huge crowd.


King City firefighters and a fire engine, with all lights blazing, were on hand to collect Christmas gifts from King residents who wished to share the spirit of the season for those in need of a little Christmas cheer and charity.


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace 

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Don't you sometimes think
the best part of King
is its barns?
















Please
comment 
if you wish.


Barry Wallace