Friday, June 30, 2017

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD (Archilochus colubris)

Photo by Barry Wallace

Summer hummer in the backyard
Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are definitely the most interesting bird, for me, in the summer backyard.   Roger Tory Peterson, in his classic birding field guide, describes these tiny creatures as 'pugnacious'.   My observation is that they certainly are aggressive, especially when it comes to scrapping with other 'Ruby-throats'.   I'm sure being able to fly backwards is an asset in such encounters.

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Barry Wallace

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Something I'd never seen before...




New park and playground
has an
interesting 
feature 
for babies
and 
toddlers

The new park and playground on Austin Rumble Court in the south end of King City has an innovative feature just for very small kids.   It is a swing that is specially designed to hold a baby's car seat, with a baby inside, and secured to a playground swing set.   See photos below.


The swing is seen above with the large-sized restraining arm in the up position, which allows for the placing of the baby (in its car seat) onto the swing.   In the picture below, the restraining arm is seen in a lowered position, just before it would be pressed down into a locking position, to secure its precious playground passenger.   I have not seen it in action, but I have to believe that wee guys and gals would love it.   No doubt, there will be others elsewhere in King Township parks.


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Barry Wallace

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Vic Priestly's 57-year-old pickup...

Photo by Barry Wallace
1960 Chevy pickup for sale in King City
This attractive oldtimer is for sale at the new car spa, which has replaced Ken McQuarrie's Clearview Motors business, on Keele Street South in King City.   The name, on the side of what I'm guessing is a 1960 Chevrolet Apache 10 Stepside is 'Vic Priestly Aurora, Ontario'   The name caught my eye because Vic Priestly and I go way back to the early 1960s.   Vic was selling and servicing snowmobiles on Yonge Street in Aurora, with his brother Dave, and I was a young Aurora Banner newspaper advertising salesman putting Vic's snowmobile ads into the 'Banner'.   Where the heck did the time go, Vic?
Barry Wallace
Please comment if you wish. 
Barry Wallace

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Changing times in the Holland Marsh?

Photo by Barry Wallace
Plastic crates replace wooden crates
After decades of wooden produce crates in the Holland Marsh, it appears that plastic crates may be the containers of the future.   These are the first I have ever seen in the Marsh.
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Barry Wallace

Monday, June 26, 2017

Naptime on the King-Vaughan townline...

Photo by Barry Wallace
Kingswood Farm - pastoral pause
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Barry Wallace

Sunday, June 25, 2017

Movie fan in the Holland Marsh

Photo by Barry Wallace
Minions movie cartoon character protects mail
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Barry Wallace

Saturday, June 24, 2017

Owner of Locale to open another dining lounge

Photo by Barry Wallace
King restauranteur to open in Aurora
The man who brought Locale Restaurant and a new level of dining to the four corners in King City, is in the midst of a second endeavour in Aurora.   The old Johnathon's Dining Lounge building on the east side of Yonge Street, just north of the Aurora Shopping Centre, is undergoing extensive renovations.   Linda and I learned of this while having an early dinner at Locale's patio, after the recent King City Craft Beer event.   I don't know when the opening of the Aurora undertaking is, but one wishes great success for this talented chef and entrepreneur.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Friday, June 23, 2017

King Road houses demolished...

 Photos by Barry Wallace
Making way for development proposal
The renewal of King City continues as the old makes way for new development on King Road in the centre of the village.   I recently ran some photos of Hoop Street properties stretching behind the buildings along the north side of King Road, between the King City Market and the old King City (McLeod) Bakery.   This past week has seen the demolition of the two small houses between the market and old bakery.   One keenly anticipates the development proposal for this large overall site, between Keele Street and the CIBC bank, backing onto the railway/GO line.
    


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Barry Wallace

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Once more into the fray...

Photo by Barry Wallace
King City is destined to have an 'Italian Kitchen'
Once again King City is about to get its chance at having an 'Italian Kitchen' eatery in the middle of the village, next to Rockford's Pub on the King Road.   I'm beginning to lose count of the dining spots that have come and gone here.   Here's wishing the new venture every success.
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Barry Wallace

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Backyard beauty...

                                                                                                                   Photo by Barry Wallace
FIRST SPRING ROSE
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Barry Wallace

Monday, June 19, 2017

Rain washes out new Bathurst Street

 Photos by Barry Wallace
Recent heavy rains have taken their toll on the new multi-million dollar Bathurst Street extension over the King Ridge and down into the Holland Marsh.   The road has been washed out and closed north of the Green Lane/Miller's Sideroad up to the Morning Sideroad for major repairs.   The road had only been open for a short time after more than two years of massive construction.   I have no idea how long repairs will take, but it won't happen soon enough those involved with this shocking turn of events.


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Cars...cars...cars...

 All photos by Barry Wallace
I've asked this before and I'll ask it again.   Am I the only one not driving a Range Rover in King City?   I spotted this late-model Vogue (above) outside Hogan's Inn, last Tuesday morning.   It's a brilliant-looking vehicle but I'm not sure white is a rough-and-tumble Range Rover colour, is it?   Maybe I'm just old-fashioned.   A short while later, at the new plaza, this late-model McLaren 650S (below) caught my eye.   It's probably around the $300,000 mark.   Ahah!   So I'm not the only one not driving a Range Rover.   And shortly after, as I was gassing up my 15-year-old Jeep Liberty, the immaculate 1957 Chevrolet BelAir (pictured at bottom) pulled up to a nearby gas pump.   Definitely not the Range Rover type, I thought...but you never know.




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Barry Wallace

Saturday, June 17, 2017

Rainy day in The Marsh

                                                                                                         Photos by Barry Wallace
Fishing Hole on Pumphouse Road
Tuesday was a rainy day, but if you like fishing - so what?   The fellow above was enjoying the fishing and also taking the opportunity to advertise and sell his hand-made Balsa-wood floats and fishing rod holders.   The fellow below with the multi-coloured beach umbrella also waited patiently (and dry) with a line.   Further south, near Ansnorveldt, marsh workers (at bottom) dressed for the weather, get down on their knees to get the job done.




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Barry Wallace

Friday, June 16, 2017

Dufferin Street & Highway 9


Photos by Barry Wallace
The Glenville Ponds


Trumpeter Swans


Wild Irises
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Barry Wallace

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Ardea alba makes a local appearance

Photos by Barry Wallace
Great Egret at Temperanceville Pond
Here's a creature one doesn't normally see along the King Road between King City and Temperanceville, at Bathurst Street.   This large, stately, long-necked heron usually breeds colonially in groups of five to thirty-five nests.   I'm used to seeing them at Luther Marsh, north-east of Orangeville.   Sam, one of the baristas at The Roost Cafe in King City, tells me, she has seem them in Schomberg, at the lagoons.   This one caught my eye while foraging in shallow water at the edge of the small pond at Temperanveville, but when I stopped to take a picture, it flew a short way south to a ploughed field and waited for me to leave.   The few shots I did get were not that good, but they did mark the occasion.



Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Untypical spring...

Photo by Barry Wallace 
First Daylily ~ June 11
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Barry Wallace


Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Sunny and 32 celsius...

 Photos by Barry Wallace
Lie on your back...and chill out



Chase that squirrel
tomorrow maybe...
...or not.


Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Monday, June 12, 2017

Elliptical cycling in Kettleby...

Photo by Barry Wallace
These two gentlemen were riding their Elliptigo elliptical cycles past Dorio's Bakery in Kettleby recently.   I've heard that elliptical cycling combines the best of elliptical training, running and cycling.   These fellows were working hard at pumping their Elliptigos up the long hill on the Kettleby Road. I didn't see them come back down the hill, so I have no idea what you do with your feet going downhill.   I assume there is a way of coasting, maybe?
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Sunday, June 11, 2017

King City Craft Beer & Food Truck Festival

Photos by Barry Wallace
King City Beer Festival packed again


Mayor Pelligrini and family joined the fun


Non-stop music throughout the day



King Township Museum was part of the community gathering 


King Councillor Deb Schaeffer and resident Linda Wallace


York Region's Finest kept an eye on things


Locale patio was perfect post-beerfest dining spot
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Saturday, June 10, 2017

New King City roads honour former landowners

                                                                                                           Photos by Barry Wallace
The old Jimmy Cairns farm on the south side of the 15th Sideroad, west of Keele Street, at King City's north end, and just south of Marylake, is being transformed into a new neighbourhood for the village.   Street names in the new development pay particular tribute to former landowners and adjacent neighbours, notably the Jimmy Cairns family and son Elmer, as well as Sir Henry Pellatt and his wife Marie, of Casa Loma and Lake Marie fame.   Cairns families were settlers in King long ago and the property being referred to here was last owned by Elmer Cairns, the bachelor son of Jimmy Cairns.   In the second half of the last century, Elmer was a well-known fixture in King city for several reasons, one of which was his habit of always driving his farm tractor into the village for groceries, banking, hardware supplies, etc.   He never had a driving licence, as far as I knew, and I never saw him drive a car either.   The Cairns and the Pellatts couldn't have been more unalike, in many respects, but for decades they were next door neighbours.   Sir Henry named his lake after his wife Marie, and it became Marylake when the Augustinian Order bought the huge estate.   New road signs once again bring the former farmers and magnate together.  



Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Friday, June 9, 2017

Large bear spotted on the side of King Road

 Photos by Barry Wallace
This big bear is to be found on the south side of the King Road, between King City and Temperanceville.   There are more and more large-format, wooden bear carvings around and about, these days, but this is one of my favourites. To me it exudes power, presence and personality.   Moreover, the craftsmanship and artistry are top-notch.   

Ohhh, the look on that face.

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace