Farewell to October

Photo & haiku by Barry Wallace

Long year winding down

Colours blaze then turn ashen

Woodpiles awaken

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Barry Wallace

Tim Hortons opens in King Ridge Marketplace

Photo by Barry Wallace

What more could a village ask for?

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Barry Wallace

PA Day with two of our grandsons

Photos by Barry Wallace

The scene was the Around the Bend Farm at Kettleby on Monday of this week (local election day).   The occasion was a PA Day for two of our grandsons, the 'Bailey Boys' (above).   There were many busloads of children and parents who joined the throng and it was organized bedlam. A good time was had by all of course and we bought a couple of bags of fresh produce plus a pumpkin.   We stop by every week in the summer and fall for fruits and veggies.   The boys particularly enjoyed the corn maze and the big hay-bale climbing castle.   

On the way back to King City, we stopped along the 16th Sideroad at Pine Farms Orchard for apples and other goodies, and of course the Bailey Boys had to climb all over the playground fort and the over-sized lawn chair (see above).   It was hard to say who enjoyed the outing more: the grandsons or the grandparents.

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Barry Wallace 

King Township election results

 Photos by Barry Wallace

King's acclaimed mayor Steve Pellegrini and acclaimed councillor Cleve Mortellitti were the last to leave the council chambers on Monday evening after the election results were almost complete.   Understandably, the two gentlemen looked very relaxed after an election that allowed them to watch from the sidelines. 

Huge margin of victory for David Boyd in Nobleton

Peter Grandilli in Nobleton was the big loser on election night.   He was trounced by newcomer David Boyd.   The photo below taken of early results around 8.30 p.m. on election eve shows Boyd leading Grandilli by a margin of 3 to 1.   An hour later the numbers for both gentlemen were doubled, with David Boyd still having a 3 to 1 margin.   The loss by Mr. Grandilli was not unexpected by many King citizens, but the margin of victory was certainly a surprise for some, including yours truly.   All other wards in the township returned their existing councillors - most by comfortable margins.   Local newspapers will have all the details in a couple of days, and the results should also be on the township's website almost immediately.   

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Barry Wallace

The new Goldie Feldman Nature Reserve opens in Happy Valley Forest Natural Area

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Wednesday, October 22 marked the official opening of the Goldie Feldman Nature Reserve and hiking trail, in the Happy Valley Forest, on the King Ridge.   The property is located on the 17th Sideroad of King Township, a few hundred metres west of the 6th Concession (Weston Road).   The event was hosted by the Ontario Region of the Nature Conservancy of Canada.   I did not learn of the trail opening in time to attend, but I walked the trail a few days later and some of what I saw is pictured below.   The entrance sign to the property advises that pedestrian access is permitted and the phone number for more info is 1-866-281-5331.   The entrance is on the south side of the 17th at #4093.

A few vehicles can park at the main entrance or on the 17th Sideroad.

Steps leading to the trailhead

Informal and rustic seating for groups

Local residents and their dog on the main trail

The natural highlight of the Goldie Feldman Reserve has to be the trees.   Many eastern forest species of trees are represented.   There are impressive specimens of Maples, Oaks, Ash, Beech, Basswood, Birch, Aspen, Hemlock and Pine.   All of these species show many examples at the top end of their normal height range (trees up to 70 and 80' ) and a few specimens are even exceptionally taller, in the 100'+ range.

History buffs might be interested to know that the 1860 George Tremaine map of King Township shows the the Goldie Feldman Nature Reserve property being owned by Edward Pease.   Mr. Pease owned the 100 acres on the south-west corner of the 6th Concession and the 17th Sideroad.   On the north-east corner of the same intersection, 200 acres were owned by Septimus Tyrwhitt, the founder of Kettleby.

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Barry Wallace

Keele Street - north of Fogville

                                                                                                     Photo by Barry Wallace

Priestly Farm

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Barry Wallace

En plein air painting by Phil the Forecaster

 Paintings by Phil Chadwick

Here is another new painting by former King Township resident Phil Chadwick.   This 'en plein air' painting is only 5" x 7" (see photo below) but up close the final rendering presents a strong colourful image of an Ontario lakeside, entitled Buzzard Lake Sunset Shore.

Following are Phil's online comments about the painting seen above...

"The line of showers and thunderstorms has passed Buzzard Lake allowing the sunset to illuminate the eastern shore opposite camp site 423.   The lighting is magic for just a short time period and I wanted to illustrate capturing those colours in plein air.   The camera cannot do justice to the brilliance and intensity of these very transient colours.   Oils on burnt sienna oil tinted foundation panel - a small (5x7) slippery surface!"

Phil 'the Forecaster' Chadwick, in addition to being a former King Township resident, is a nuclear physicist turned meteorologist who has always been an artist.   See more about this gentleman and his art at www.philtheforecaster.blogspot.com.

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Barry Wallace

One of the efficiencies of being acclaimed

                                                                                                            tPhoto by Barry Wallace

Cleve recycles signs

Acclaimed King Township Ward 1 Councillor Cleve Mortelliti gets to recycle a few of his election signs from the last election, as thank-you signs in King City.    With the acclamations of Mayor Steve Pelligrini and Councillor Mortelliti, voters in Ward 1 are reduced to voting for just a school trustee.   That could hamper voter turn-out in the ward.

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Barry Wallace

Goodnight Sweet Prince

Photo by Barry Wallace

Cpl. Nathan Cirillo

Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada

1990 ~ 2014
Rest in peace

Rainy day moraine hike

Photo by Barry Wallace

It was 7 degrees celsius Tuesday morning and a bit windy and rainy.   That didn't seem to dissuade a large group of  hardy hikers from tramping on the Oak Ridges Trail, opposite the Pine Farms Orchard on King's 16th Sideroad, between Keele and Jane Streets.   I counted approximately 24 vehicles, so the hike must have been very well-attended and while the weather may have been inclement, hikers could of course visit the apple orchard cafe  for tea and tarts upon their return.....a very pleasant reward.

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Barry Wallace

Fall images in our backyard

Blue birdbath
Autumn leaves encircled by birdbath's contrasting blue hue.

 Bergenia (elephant ears)
Blooms in spring ~ leaves turn to red, bronze and purple in fall

After the grape-picking
The backyard birds ate more of the grapes than we did.

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Barry Wallace

Autumn bees still busy

Photo by Barry Wallace

Honeybee on late-blooming dahlia

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Barry Wallace

GOing by train

Photo and haiku by Barry Wallace

I am never late

Inside the green and white snake

Bound for the big smoke

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Barry Wallace

Remote 'drive-thru' for new Bank of Montreal

Photo by Barry Wallace

Just when I was beginning to think the new Bank of Montreal in the King Ridge Marketplace would not have 'drive-thru' banking, the structure pictured above popped up this week.   It is a BMO remote 'drive-thru' banking unit, located approximately 100 metres north of the new Bank of Montreal unit (blue facade) seen at the right side of the picture.   The new bank location is opening on Monday, October 27.   I had been thinking for several weeks that the BMO did not have  a 'drive-thru' unit in its plans, as no provisions seemed to be included in the newly constructed main building.   Meanwhile, the BMO's next-door competitor, the Bank of Nova Scotia was already operating its 'drive-thru' service on the east side of its new location.   So now 'drive-thru' banking will be a feature of both banks.   The new BMO unit has a dedicated driving lane in part of the new parking area where its new 'drive-thru' unit is located. 

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Barry Wallace   

The colours of King

    Hamlet of King Creek ~ Mill Road ~ between King Road & King-Vaughan Townline

 Happy Valley Forest ~ Churchill Avenue ~ between 17th & 18th Sideroads

 A high spot on the King Ridge ~ Burrows Road & Weston Road

 Gregloch Lake ~ Weston Road between 15th & 16th Sideroads

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

October rose mimics autumn's tree colours

                                                                                                      Photo and haiku by Barry Wallace

Two rosebuds remain

As the first frost is foretold

Will we see their blooms

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Barry Wallace

King City churches ~ Thanksgiving 2014

King City United Church

St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

All Saints Anglican Church
 (the Easter Garden)

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Barry Wallace

A gnarl on the Oak Ridges Trail

    gnarl /na:l/ n. a contorted knotty protuberance, esp. on a tree. [back-form. f. GNARLED] - Oxford English Reference Dictionary

Photo and haiku by Barry Wallace

How do gnarls happen
And what purpose do they serve
Pass the camera

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Barry Wallace

I got Lilo in the picture this time

                                                                                                                                                          Photo by Barry Wallace

If you are a regular visitor to this blog, you may remember Grant Peter from two weeks ago, out riding around King City, with his son Todd, and Todd's dog Lilo in Grant's rear basket.   The photo I took back then inexplicably did not show Lilo in all her beauty.   I caught up to Grant and Lilo again this past Thursday and took another picture with Lilo staring me in the eye.   Just in case you're wondering, Lilo is on a leash in the basket and secure.

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Barry Wallace   

Haikus for October

I have tasted fall

It is a warm cup of tea

Too quickly it cools

Bonfires of colour

Autumn leaves have but one sound

Soft cries of farewell

Treasure these fall days

They are a gift of the gods

Ere they rant and roar

Haikus and Oak Ridges Trail photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

First there was orange, then pink, now white

                     

                                                                       Photo above by Barry Wallace

The white 'Ghost' pumpkins, pictured above, were on sale today at the Oak Ridges Food Market (Maple Grove and Yonge Street) in North Richmond Hill.

Pink pumpkins were discovered accidentally in the United States but quickly became a symbol and promotional item for breast cancer awareness in America.   Pink pumpkins are now available in Canada at selected stores in the Loblaws family of food stores.   

                                                                             Photo by Barry Wallace

Traditional orange pumpkins are pictured in the above photograph which was taken last year on the 10th Concession of King Township, west of Nobleton.

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Barry Wallace

Another equestrian centre for King

Photo by Barry Wallace

Valhalla Equestrian Centre

I like to think I get around King pretty well and know what's going on...more or less.   But the place above completely took me by surprise.   I go up and down Jane Street fairly regularly, but I didn't notice what you see above until today.   Three huge barns seemed to have popped up overnight.   The sign at the entrance says Valhalla Equestrian Centre and that it is being built by Dutch Masters Design & Construction Services Ltd., a company in Barrie which states that it is the only exclusive builder of horse barns and facilities in Ontario.   Meanwhile, if one goes online, one will come across a Valhalla Equestrian Centre in South Carolina.   I presume there is a connection.   We shall see.

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Barry Wallace