The unfrozen winter...

Photo by Barry Wallace

This unfrozen stream in a cedar swale alongside the the 15th Sideroad, between the 7th and 8th Concessions of King, flows freely on a recent day that was six degrees below freezing.   The forecast for the next day was to be six degrees above freezing.   It typifies the on-again, off-again winter we have had so far.

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Barry Wallace

Waymark for walkers on the 16th Sideroad

                                                                                                                       Photo by Barry Wallace

This intriguing creation marks the entrance to a country residence on the south side of King's 16th Sideroad, between Keele and Dufferin Streets.   The large stone installation is, of course, meant to mark the entrance to a singular property and perhaps speaks to some hidden meaning, but I also like to think it is a reminder to me, and other passersby, that we are on the right road to wherever we are going.

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Barry Wallace

January thaw

Photos by Barry Wallace

East Humber River ~ King City

Seneca Lake ~ Dufferin Street

 East Humber River ~ Kinghorn

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Barry Wallace

Coats of many colours...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Rescued horses at Dog Tales Sanctuary 

19th Sideroad near THORNTON BALES CONSERVATION AREA

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Barry Wallace

Squirrels fancy frozen crabapples

                                                                                                                      Photos by Barry Wallace

Pictured here is an eastern grey squirrel gorging on partially dried and frozen crab-apples in my King City yard.   There are over 55 species and over 700 cultivated varieties of crab-apples but it is the Asian crab-apple specimens that are usually preferred for ornamental purposes.   The colourful fruit of the Asian crab-apples last well into the winter and provides food for squirrels, like the one pictured here, as well as for over-wintering birds.   It's been such an open winter so far that the grey, black and red squirrels are not hibernating in their nests, but are out foraging every day so far.  

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Barry Wallace

Staying warm in Pottageville...

Photo by Barry Wallace

The Firewood Poem

by Lady Celia Congreve, 1930

Beech-wood fires burn bright and clear

If the logs are kept a year;
Store your beech for Christmastide
With new-cut holly laid beside;

Chestnut's only good, they say,

If for years 'tis stored away;
Birch and fir-wood burn to fast
Blaze too bright and do not last;
Flames from larch will shoot up high,
Dangerously the sparks will fly;
But ash-wood green and ash-wood brown

Are fit for a queen with a golden crown.

Oaken logs, if dry and old,
Keep away the winter's cold;
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke;
Elm-wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold;

It is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread

Apple-wood will scent the room,
Pear-wood smells like flowers in bloom;

But ash-wood wet and ash-wood dry

A king shall warm his slippers by.

But what of maple, Lady Congreve?

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Barry Wallace

For sale at the Grackle...$1900

                                                                                                                  Photo by Barry Wallace

for the painting ~ not the car

I stopped by the Grackle Coffee House, on Main Street in Schomberg, last Friday afternoon for a latte and a date square and decided to take a picture of the big '53 Caddy' mixed-media painting, on canvas, 36" x 60", by Darryl Wiebe.   It's been there for a while and always catches my eye.   It's a great piece of work but it's not cheap.   But the right person is going to spot it eventually and will decide, on the spot, to snap it up.   '53 Caddy' isn't the only eye-catching piece there.   There are others, free for the viewing.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Clear the track, guys

 Photos by Barry Wallace

GO Train's a comin'

Workers with several trucks equipped with railway track wheels, as well as road tires, were busy inspecting/conferring on the Go Train line between the King City station and Dufferin Street on Wednesday afternoon of this week.   They were gone well before the first northbound train made its way through the village, a bit before 4.30 p.m.

The truck above can be seen riding the rails on its lowered metal wheels, while the two trucks below can be seen with their steels wheels retracted and sitting on their rubber tires, on the sides of the roads where the train tracks pass the train station in King City and then further on over Dufferin Street.   

A northbound GO Train passes beneath the King Road and then Keele Street, just to the west and north of the historic Hogan's Inn, the large red brick building seen at the top left-hand corner of the photo.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Deer at Wychwood ~ 1909

Photos: City of Toronto Archives/Wikimedia

Sir Henry Pellett's King City cattle farm

I happened across this photo while surfing the web last week.   I saw it and other photos, pictured below, on a a City of Toronto Archives/Wikipedia website.    I had never seen them before but I was aware of Sir Henry Pellett's interest in farming and hunting.   Sir Henry, of Casa Loma fame, often invited guests to hunt deer over the hundreds of acres of land he owned just north of King City.   In the early 1900s it was known as Wychwood.   The land is now home to Marylake Augustinian Monastery and Shrine, and Villa Nova College.

Sir Henry Pellatt lived at Casa Loma, in Toronto, during his heyday, then retired to Marylake under reduced circumstances, and ended his days living modestly in Mimico (Etobicoke), near to Lake Ontario.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Winsong whimsy

Photos by Barry Wallace

I do not know the story behind the whimsical Winsong Farm sign, pictured at top, with the horse holding a teddy bear in its mouth, but I'm sure there must be one.   There certainly is a story behind the nearby hand-painted, full size, horse sculpture in the other two photos.   Firstly, the horse is named Silhouette.   This horse was one of more than 20 similar resin horse sculptures created as art landmarks for the equestrian events of the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and the GTA.   Silhouette was painted by artist Ellen Cameron.   Her painting around the body of the horse depicts several horse-related activities and also features the autographs of several renowned equestrians such as Mac Cone, Torchy Millar, Ian Millar, John Rumble and Christilot Boylen, among others.   Winsong Farm is to be found on the northeast corner of King's 8th Concession and the 15th Sideroad.

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Seneca Lake ~ mid-January

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Seneca Lake
a.k.a.
Ferguson Lake
Eaton Lake
Heart Lake
Lake au-Large

Lake Johnda
Lake Jonda
Lady Eaton Lake
Eaton Hall Lake

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Barry Wallace

White on white...waiting

Photo by Barry Wallace

This big white beauty was waiting patiently in a big white SUV, on Doctors Lane in King City, while its mistress was retrieving mail from the post office last Thursday afternoon.   Some white snowflakes added just the right finishing touch.

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Barry Wallace 

Pretty in any season...

Photo by Barry Wallace

King Township ~ 8th Concession

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Barry Wallace

There ought to be a law...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Here's a lovely sight on Spring Hill Drive between the King Road and Nicort Road at the east end of King City, south of the new King's Ridge Marketplace.   The backs of group mailboxes, facing the street are constantly covered with advertising flyers.   It's both a tacky and repugnant eyesore.   Damned if I know what's to be done about this mess, however.   Other than not patronizing these businesses, that is.   

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Do you visit or hike on Humber Trails?

Photos by Barry Wallace

TRCA would like your input on future

Toronto and Region Conservation is looking to prepare a new trail plan for Humber Trails Forest and Wildlife Conservation Area on the Mill Road, between the King Road and the King-Vaughan Townline.   The notice, pictured above, is to be found at the entrance to the property, beside the East Humber River.   Responding would seem to be simple and straightforward.   There are probably many ideas that the TRCA folks have not thought of and this is a great way to help them out.   It's an opportunity to take a wonderful piece of river valley and make it even more perfect than it is.

Please comment if you wish.  

Barry Wallace

A couple of beauties...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

White and black...or... black and white?

...or maybe, it's just one of each.

These two heavy horses were enjoying the sun on a recent chilly day, at a Highway 9 farm, between Keele  and Dufferin Streets.   While nearby thoroughbreds were all wearing blankets, this pair seemed quite content to meander about bare-back.  

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Unofficial road sign at Humber Creek

                                                                                                                  Photo by Barry Wallace

Words to drive by ~ and live by

This charming, private road sign is located on the west side of Mill Road, in the hamlet of King Creek, just south of the East Humber River.   

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace   

Highway 9 between Dufferin & Bathurst

Photo by Barry Wallace

BLUE BARN FADED

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Barry Wallace

Summer to winter in the 'marsh'

    LATE AUGUST 2015...

    EARLY JANUARY 2016...

Photos by Barry Wallace

Please  comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

New sign at Schomberg coffee house...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

The perennially popular Grackle Coffee House, on Main Street, Schomberg, has a new hand-crafted sign over the front door.   Pictured below, on Sunday past, is the new week's list of upcoming weekly specials being prepared.   The Grackle may be small, but there's just no other place like it King.   Long may it thrive.

   

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

What of canine distemper in coyotes?

Photos by Dave Kemp

Coyote distemper not a problem in GTA

A day or so after writing my blog on raccoon distemper in the King area, I received the two exceptional photos of British Columbia coyotes from my west-coast friend and photographer, Dave Kemp.   One of my first thoughts was about the incidence of canine distemper in BC, as well as in Ontario.   There seems to be no problem in either province.   As far as Ontario is concerned, here's an excerpt of what Trent University professor Brent Patterson, who has been tracking local coyotes for the Ministry of Natural Resources, had to say in a June, 2015, response to a Friends of Sam Smith Park question.   "Depending on the year, > 70-80 % of the coyotes and wolves we have tested for exposure to Canine distemper have tested seropositive indicating some exposure to the virus.   Interestingly, despite high seroprevelance to distemper, and canine parvovirus, incidences of clinic disease are very rare among coyotes and wolves in southern and central Ontario for both diseases.   We suspect that a high rate of low-level exposure results in most of our coyotes and wolves developing a sufficient immune response so as to prevent them from contracting clinical disease.   In essence they become vaccinated through repeated low grade exposures  when they're young.   In many cases, these initial exposures likely occur while they're still nursing and thus protected by their mothers' antibodies.   So the short answer is that despite frequent exposure we don't expect canine distemper to be problematic for most coyotes in the GTA.   They should be able to safely eat all the raccoons they want".

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Nuzzling in Kettleby...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Anyone frequently driving along the Aurora-Lloydtown Sideroad, just west of Jane Street, near the hamlet of Kettleby, will probably be familiar with this pair of shaggy ponies.   They have occupied the roadside pen, immediately east of the Kettleby United Church, for several years.   They always seem to be interested in a handout and do try to nibble fingers, but I have yet to be bitten.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Some days, it's best to just stay in bed...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Friday morning was unlucky for a customer at the King City Marketplace, in the centre of the village.   The driver's vehicle caught fire in the parking lot and it was pretty much a write-off before local firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control.

Please, comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Old orange bricks in the snow

Photo by Barry Wallace

Marylake brick barn

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Barry Wallace