Pat's new door wreath at Delmanor...

 

                                                                                        Photos by Barry Wallace

Pictured above is my partner Pat Cromie, at Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora, who just celebrated her 90th birthday.   Also in the picture is Pat's daughter Susan, from British Columbia, one of many people who came from across the country to celebrate Pat's 90th.    While she was here, Susan        created a new door wreath for Pat at Delmanor (see photo above).   In the photo below, Pat is seen with her other daughter, Lissa, who was the hostess of the huge party at her home in Aurora to celebrate Pat's 90th.   See photos from the 90th birthday party, in an earlier blog published on July 14th.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Queen's Lace (Daucus Carota)

                                                                                            Photos by Barry Wallace

Queen Anne's Lace is found across dozens of countries throughout the temperate world.   It is native to Europe and southwest Asia, and has naturalized on nearly every continent - most notably spanning all 48 contiguous U.S. states, southern Canada and Australia.

The pretty white-flower plant thrives in many diverse locales with dry, disturbed or poor soils. m  Because of it widespread nature, a single exact number of distinct places is difficult to quantify, but its distribution covers:

* Native Ranges:  Europe, North America, and western to central Asia.

* Introduced Ranges: All 50 U.S. states, widespread across Canadian provinces, plus South America, Australia and New Zealand.

How did Queen Anne's lace get its name?   One tale says the origin of the name Queen Anne's Lace comes from the lace that was popular during the days of King James 1 and his wife Queen Anne, who lived from 1574 to 1619.

Some believe the flower got its name because Queen Anne was tatting white lace and she pricked her finger with the tatting needle, causing a drop of blood to fall on the lace.   (See top photo for the tiny red drop at the centre of the flower).

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Delmanor Aurora Retirement Residence - Rooftop Terrace Flowerbeds

 

Photos by Barry Wallace

A favourite spot for strolling residents...

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Barry Wallace

Celebrating Mary Scott's 104th birthday!

Photo by Pat Cromie

I had the opportunity and distinct pleasure of seeing  former King Township resident Mary Scott on the occasion of her 104th birthday at Delmanor Retirement Residence in Richmond Hill recently.   Mary was an aunt of my late wife Linda (Cairns) Wallace.   Their many Scott relatives go back to the late 1800s in King Township.   Mary's alter-ego is "Laskay Lou", who composed several historical-type playlets about the history of many villages and hamlets in southern King Township, which she is currently compiling for placement in historical township records.

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Barry Wallace

My partner Pat's recent 90th birthday party at her daughter Lissa Dwyer's home in Aurora...

Pat Cromie gets a 90th birthday kiss from her grandaughter.

Dozens of guests filled several tables in Lissa Dwyer's backyard

Pat Cromie's son and party chef

Pat and newest great-grandson

meet my daughter Auralee attending from Ottawa.

My son-in-law, hector, was one of dozens of guests at Pat's party.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

July sunset over Aurora...

                                                                                                          Photo by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish. 

Barry Wallace

Osprey nesting again on Ravenshoe Sideroad in Keswick, Ontario

Photos by BarrytheBirder

Ospreys now have a second batch of eggs being watched over at the top of towering light standards over a large baseball complex on the  Ravenshoe Sideroad in southwest Keswick, Ontario.   The first set of young birds this year are currently swooping about the site not far from the nearby south end of Lake Simcoe, where they regularly go to fish.

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder