Up on Love Mountain

                                                                                                                                                                                 Photos by Barry Wallace

A brief and chilly hike today on the Love Mountain Nature Reserve revealed a number of features that have appeared on the property donated by Ann and David Love at the intersection of the 7th Concession and the 16th Sideroad.   Immediately noticeable are the Nature Conservancy information and interpretive signs.   There are numerous trails to follow with features such as the boardwalk (pictured below) or nest boxes, including boxes for Wood Ducks in the pond at the edge of the 7th Concession.   I have fond memories of this part of the 'King Ridge', including the earning of my Boy Scouts of Canada First Class Badge on an overnight hiking and camping trip, 60 years ago, with my fellow scout and friend to this day, Donald Gordon.   Back then, up on the Ridge, Don and I felt we were not just six or seven miles from King City.   At the time, the stillness and the solitude made me feel like we were six or seven hundred miles from home.   I can hardly wait for winter to end and warm weather to welcome me back to this bit of heaven.  

A trail passed by dozens and dozens of colourful beehives (above) at one point on my hike and I noticed several bird boxes along the way.   Love Mountain and the Happy Valley areas are home to many bird species, including rarities like the Acadian Flycatcher, Hooded and Cerulean Warblers Red-shouldered Hawk.   On this day, I could hear nearby a very loud Pileated Woodpecker drilling on a tree.  

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Barry Wallace

Look-alikes with matching outfits...how chic!

Photo by Barry Wallace

Winsong Farm

8th Concession and 15th Sideroad

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Barry Wallace

Another sign of tasty things to come...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Pictured above is the latest mini-billboard to pop up at King's Ridge Marketplace (King Road and Dufferin), announcing another new dining destination for King Township foodies. 

Barry Wallace      

More ancient barns

                                                                                                                        Photos by Barry Wallace

Recently I've shown some old barns, at various stages of collapsing to the ground upon which they have stood for countless years.   Here are two more I photographed on the weekend.   Both are located between Jane Street and Hwy. 400, southwest of the hamlet of Kettleby.   If I have given the impression that there are many of these barns from the last century still standing, there are actually few of them left in King.   It is interesting to drive north on the the 400 and as soon as one gets past the Holland Marsh, into Simcoe County, there are many, many more old barns there, than in King Township, that recall Ontario's agricultural past.

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Barry Wallace 

Deer in the Kettleby Flats

Photo by Barry Wallace

As I wander up and down Keele Street, along the east side of Kettleby, I always cast a glance down into what I call the 'Kettleby Flats" to see what critters might be around and about.   This past Sunday it was seven White-tailed Deer, leisurely feeding on leftovers in a harvested field.   I have seen deer, coyotes, and wild turkeys here on several occasions.   The 'Flats' are a broad, low valley of agricultural fields and some wooded areas that lie on the east side of Keele Street between the the 18th Sideroad (the Lloydtown-Aurora Road), to the south, and the Kettleby Road, to the north.   It is an expansive and quite pleasant view that I never fail to enjoy, whatever the season.

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Barry Wallace   

Driving up the 12th Concession...

 Curious visage

Hard to resist 

Stylish stable

First King Baptist ~ Hammertown ~ circa1839

Frozen swamp

Mysterious message 

Wild Turkey traffic

Glacial leftover

All photos by Barry Wallace

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BtheB

Barns come and go

Wooden barns can last a long time - but not forever.   Today, in King Township, we are seeing the last of the 19th and 20th century barns, notably the gable and gambrel designs, as they slip into oblivion.   Their replacements are highly functional but often not as pleasing to the eye.   Nevertheless, new barns can have the same feeling of homeliness and sanctuary that the old barns did, when a farmer valued his barn more than his house.   The protection of his animals and the storage of his crops were paramount.   Today it is usually horse barns that replace the old multi-purpose barns.   The sounds and smells and sights of a new horse barn, however, always make me recall my grandfather's barn and his cows and pigs and chickens, as well as his work horses.   

Photos by Barry Wallace

Construction of this new horse barn is underway on property located at the 16th Sideroad and Keele Street, north of King City.   Pre-fabricated building materials allow these structures to seemingly pop up overnight.   Incidentally, the raptor flying overhead in this photo, appeared to be a Rough-legged Hawk. 

This old barn, with the slightly 'gambrelled' roof, sits close to the East Humber River, at the intersection of the King Road and Jane Street, in the hamlet of Kinghorn.

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Barry Wallace

Attractive architectural detail...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Driving through one of the two new subdivisions in the southwest quadrant of King City, not far from the GO Train station, I spotted this rather splendid design element belonging to one the new houses being built.   Not only is the design well-executed but I'm assuming that the actual construction is a cut above the ordinary.   It should be for the prices of these huge homes.

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BtheB 

Keele Street north ~ the old Gellatly farm

                                                                                                                   Photo by Barry Wallace

"I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow 
to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines".

- Henry David Thoreau, 1817-1862

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Barry Wallace

Another new business in King City

Photo by Barry Wallace

LASER MED

A business currently located in Bolton is opening a second location on the King Road in King City, opposite the high school, and just east of the library.   LaserMed will provide 'Innovative Medical Esthetics', including Laser Med Botox, skin care, doctor injections only,and laser treatments. The business is operated by Dr. Angelo Pinto.

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Barry Wallace

72 years old ~ Pine Farms Orchard

Photo by Barry Wallace

It wasn't until I noticed the sign, pictured above, that I realized Pine Farms Orchard, on the 16th Sideroad between Jane and Keele, had been around for the past 72 years.   That's a lot of apples.   It's no surprise, with such a historical legacy, that the orchard, bake shop and cafe are so popular today.   Each week when I drop by to pick up my bag of Macs, I have to block my view of the baked goods; otherwise my diet would go right out the window.

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Barry Wallace

CDS addition starting to show scope and size

The ongoing development of the new senior school and dining hall at Country Day School, on Dufferin Street, near Eversley, is bringing into greater focus the scope and size of the private school's latest expansion.

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Painting the town red...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Another well-known retailer has announced its plans to open a location in King City's new King's Ridge Marketplace.   A Benjamin Moore Paint Store will be opening in the near future and will be open seven days a week, according to its website.   The location will also offer Hunter Douglas Window Treatments and Milmonde Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinetry.   The website also states extended hours will be from 7 to 7 Monday to Thursday, 7 to 9 on Friday and Saturday, and 11 to 4 on Sundays.   No word yet on an official opening date.
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Barry Wallace      

Cold, quiet, still day on the Marsh

                  Photo by Barry Wallace                                  

                              the coldest season

       its reputation well earned

             melts in one's heart

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Barry Wallace

Heavy horses do wear blankets

Photos by Barry Wallace

Regular visitors to this blogsite will know that I am fond of saying that Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses and ponies need their 'blankies' in the winter, but that the heavy or draft horses are too big and burly for such niceties.   That's silly of course, especially if those big, tired, old horses are beyond toughing-it-out anymore.   The Dog Tales/Horse Haven rescue facility, on the 19th Sideroad, between Dufferin and Bathurst Streets, is home to some of those beasts of burden and if they need a blanket, they get one.
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Barry Wallace

New ducks settling in at Pine Farms Orchard

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Regular visitors to Pine Farms Orchard, on the 16th Sideroad, north of King City, have been watching as Costello, the Muscovy Duck, who lost his pen-mate Elvis in 2013, adjust to his new young pen-mates who arrived last September.   Two of the new ducks are pictured above.   They posed for the camera quite cooperatively while perched in their pen and they seemed quite comfortable with their surroundings despite the freezing temperatures.   But of course they have all those feathers, don't they?   Not goose-down of course, but duck down is probably quite comfy also. Did I mention that the new young ducks are Elvis's offspring?

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Barry Wallace  

Kettleby polo pony practicing mallet training?

                                                                                                                 Photos by Barry Wallace

Driving past the Polo Farm on Keele Street in Kettleby, on Sunday afternoon, I noticed the young pony above with a stick in his mouth.   Pulling over and grabbing my camera, I got out and called to him.   He turned and looked at me and then strolled over and dropped the rather large stick at my feet, but on his side of the fence.   I chatted him up and he gave me a facial nuzzle, then retrieved his stick and continued practising his stick-work.   Maybe he hasn't been told yet that it is the polo player who will handle the mallet.

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Barry Wallace    

More GO Train parking?

Photo by Barry Wallace

The chunk of property south of the King City GO Train Station, between Keele Street and the train tracks, has been completely cleared of the heavy equipment and vehicles and construction debris that had collected there over many years.   The property has been leveled and looks like a likely spot for additional parking for GO Train commuters.   Not being a GO Train rider, perhaps there has already been an announcement about more parking that I haven't heard about.   It certainly seems like it's needed.   All the new housing, and more to come, surely means more GO Train riders.
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Barry Wallace 

Under 90 cents

Photo by Barry Wallace

Shell gas bar ~ King's Ridge Marketplace, King City

Self-serve gas prices dropped under 90 cents a litre a couple days ago which feels good when you fill-up at the pumps.   But for anyone holding energy stocks, here's hoping you diversified a bit before the downturn.   Talk about mixed feelings...

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Barry Wallace 

Six-month separation of seasons at Seneca

Seneca College Lily pond ~ north side of the 15th Sideroad

Photos by Barry Wallace

Having reached my early 70s, I find it very easy to choose between winter and summer in most cases.   Looking at the winter and summer shots of the same Seneca College scene above reminds me of why it is so easy to choose a summer setting.   Already I've had enough of winter and we're only a third of the way through January.   A week in Barbados would nice at this time of year, but the money is going instead towards a new bathroom....sigh.

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Barry Wallace

Most juncos ever at the feeders this winter

Male Junco

Photos by Barry Wallace

Female Junco

The friendly folks at the Nobleton Feed Mill, Rick and Robin, asked me this week if I had noticed there were fewer Goldfinches at the feeders this winter.   I said yes, but that I also had the most Dark-eyed Juncos ever, at my feeders here in King City.   Every bird that shows up each day at the feeders, in the winter, is a joy for me and I am especially fond of the Juncos. I hope you have lots of them at your feeders also.

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Barry Wallace 

King barns of yesteryear

Near Kinghorn

Near Kettleby

Near King City

Near Schomberg

Photos by Barry Wallace

Near Nobleton

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Barry Wallace