Transition

Photo and haiku by Barry Wallace

fall is a hued time

skies may be sweet or selfish

each blown leaf unique

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Interesting booklet I never knew I had

Photo by Barry Wallace

 GIANT SWALLOWTAIL

Papilio cresphontes

Photo by Barry Wallace

MONARCH

Danaus plexippus

I recently came across a small booklet in my bookshelves that I never knew I had.   It is called ANIMAL ENERGIES and is written by Gary Buffalo Horn Man and Sherry Firedancer.   It was originally published in 1992, by Dancing Otter Publishing in Lexington, Kentucky.   Garry and Sherry have a holistic view of the world that regards all animals, fish and insects in this world as our brothers and sisters.   Below, (in part), is a passage that describes and reflects upon one of 58 creatures with which we share our world.

BUTTERFLY

"There are many species of Butterfly.   All begin as caterpillars which feed on plants...until they gain enough mass to form a cocoon and transform.   The emergent Butterfly feeds on flower nectar.   Some butterflies such as the Swallowtail, live for only one month, enough time to find a mate.   Others can live much longer.   Some, such as the Monarch, migrate up to 3,000 miles.   Butterfly represents balance.   These air-dancers are themselves beautifully coloured and patterned.   They feed on flowers, which they help pollinate, thereby further spreading their beauty.   They represent the element of Air, quickly changing and ever moving, so gracefully.   If Butterfly has come to you, it might be bringing a message that whatever you were thinking or doing when it appeared is balanced and harmonious for you. They are messengers of the moment.   Once when I was contemplating a decision, a Butterfly relative landed on my hand for a brief second.   The message came through clearly that the decision I was making was the right choice for me.   Whenever an ecosystem is damaged, Butterfly is usually the first to leave.   They are especially sensitive to the harmony of Earth Mother's ways.   If Butterfly has come to you in a hurt, trapped or ill way, you are being told to stop disturbing the natural design of life and to flow with events in a more gentle, natural way".

ANIMAL ENERGIES is an easy, inspired and meaningful read, and is still in print and available today.   Info can be sourced on-line.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Signs at Hwy. 27 and Dr. Kay Dr. in Schomberg

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Presumptuous claim on roadside sign?

The two signs, pictured above, have recently appeared on the north-west corner of Hwy. 9 and Dr. Kay Drive.   The message on the sign in the lower photo suggests (make that declares) that the centre of Schomberg will occupy this retail development site.   Says who?   What about the even larger Brownsville Junction site on the south-west corner of the same intersection.   What about those who feel that the Trisan community recreation centre, with its hockey rink, curling club, and fitness centre, is the centre of the communitiy universe?   And, of course, what about Main Street, famous locally, plus far and wide.   In fact, this presumption, may be the wake-up call for a commercially declining Main Street Schomberg to restore itself once more before the chance disappears forever.   I'm not suggesting as ambitious an effort or imitation of the uber-chic or trendy main streets in Kleinburg or Unionville, but rather a tempered yet viable commercial and social marketplace with multi bonfide historic references and landmarks.   Is it still possible?   Maybe...here's hoping.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

The decline of a great barn

The east silo of the massive Marylake barn
has had its conical roof partially collapse in on itself.   The west silo is probably not far behind in this sad and unfortunate demise of a King Township landmark.   We all are left to wonder about its ultimate fate.

Meanwhile, Marylake is still blessed by its lush setting of forests and fields surrounding the lake itself.   

Pictured above (right) is a table full of glassware, left over after a garage sale two weeks ago at the barn.

At left, the unmistakable Marylake Shrine bell tower, steeple and cross.

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace 

Ed Millar side trail at Seneca College

                                                                                                Photos by Barry Wallace

The Ed Millar Side Trail (part of the Oak Ridges Trail at Seneca College) has switched from a green trail to an orange path as autumn commands the scene.

Above, the beaver marsh dam has been breached and water levels are down considerably.

A Garter Snake takes advantage of a warm and sunny mid-October afternoon before its hibernation begins.

A 10"-wide maple leaf grows from a 6' sapling (above, at left) which has a diameter of only 3/8", about half the width of my thumb.   Remarkable, yes?

Red oak leaves on the Oak Ridges Moraine

An old abandoned wash tub, in the woods near the trail, is a reminder of the farming origins of the Seneca College property.

Please comment if you wish. 

Barry Wallace

Passage unto the season

                                                                                                            Photo and haiku by Barry Wallace

and once more autumn

slips from light into shadow

shortening the days

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Barry Wallace

Dufferin St. & 19th Sideroad ~ southeast corner

                                                                                                                             Photos by Barry Wallace

Sunday afternoon at Dog Tales Sanctuary

Colourful tranquility

Free coffee and treats

"Mirror, mirror on the wall..."

A variety of seating

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Schomberg McDonald's about to open

 Photos by Barry Wallace

The opening of the new McDonald's in Schomberg is imminent.   A sign in the window says: Grand Opening in 5 Days!   The question is 5 days from when?   These pictures were taken yesterday, on Sunday.   Does that means it opens this coming Friday?   Whatever....come next weekend you'll probably be having your coffee here, at last.   Cheers.

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Seneca College King to expand

 Photo by Barry Wallace

Pictured above is a new billboard at the King campus of Seneca College, on Dufferin Street.   Right behind this sign, earth-movers are already preparing the site for a new 200,000 sq. ft. building, to be called Magna Hall, that will feature 25 new classrooms, computer labs, health-care specialty labs, a library, learning commons and student study space.   There will also be a new student area with multi-purpose athletic and recreation space, gymnasium, fitness centre, plus informal study areas and event spaces.   Total cost is predicted to be $104 million, of which $59 million will be provided by the provincial government, $3 million from Magna International, and $20 million from a Seneca College fund-raising campaign, which is already underway.   Completion is expected in 2018 and will accommodate an additional 1,500 students, bringing the total student enrollment to 5,000.

      

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

King City's Memorial Park update underway

Photo by Barry Wallace

NEW BALL DIAMOND IN THE WORKS

Major improvements to King City's Memorial Park began last week, with a large area at the south-western quadrant fenced off and earth-moving equipment beginning their landscape changes.   The major feature is a raising of the playing field by one metre, plus a slight realignment of the baseball diamond's positioning.   There will also be a makeover of the playground area and a reconstruction of the main pathway to facilitate the overall changes.   Further improvements to Memorial Park will likely take place in 2018.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

King Sunrise ~ 7 a.m. Thursday, 13th of October

Photo by Barry Wallace

View from Dufferin Street

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Barry Wallace

Attractive setting in any season...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

The setting of the new township offices building site is especially attractive at this time year with fall colours, transforming the hardwood forest in the background and the marshlands in the foreground.   In fact the setting will be likely be admired by most of us in all the seasons of the year. It makes me extremely curious about the design of the new building.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Info session Oct. 26 at King City Senior Centre

Photos by Barry Wallace

300 HOMES PROPOSED 
FOR THIS KING CITY SITE

Below is a notice board which has appeared on the east side of Jane Street, about 500 metres north of the hamlet of Kinghorn, and the King Road, on King City's west boundary.   The notice advises of an application for an official amendment and draft plan of subdivision, by Mansions of King Inc., for the development of 318 residential dwellings on the 98 acre site.   Part of the site would be used for townhouse dwellings or low-rise apartments.   A public information session is to be held at the King City Senior Centre, on Fisher Street, on Wednesday, Oct. 26th at 7 p.m.

  

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Another dining spot in King City?

Photo by Barry Wallace

Old MacDonald house to be restaurant?

There's a rumor going around that the landmark heritage building, on the south-east corner of Keele Street and King Road has recently been sold to a party that wants to convert the property into a high-end steak house/restaurant.   Such a plan would certainly make the centre of the village an even more interesting and popular dining destination than it already is.   

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Cholera in King ~ 19th century

 Photos by Barry Wallace

I've passed this King City Cemetery monument a few times over the years and always noted with sad sentiment what a incomparable tragedy it must have been for Thomas and Janet Lawson to lose their five children, ages 2, 4, 9, 11 and 13 years within the space of three weeks in July of 1862.   I have come to believe it was cholera that struck down these children.   Cholera arrived in Canada in the 1830s and it was thought to have been brought by poor and sick Irish immigrants.   Major epidemics occurred in Canada in 1832, 1834, 1849, 1851, 1852, 1854 and 1881.   Sporadic cases occurred regularly however in the 70-year period leading up to the 1900s, when it was finally brought under control.   In the case of Thomas and Janet, the final agony was the death of Janet herself in 1863, just five months after the death of all her children.   Thomas lived with his grief for another 26 years before passing away in 1889, at the age of 68 years.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Optical illusion?

 Photos by Barry Wallace

My wife and I travelled to London, Ontario, last weekend for Thanksgiving and when we pulled into Linda's sister's driveway and parked behind Beth's and Patrick's cars, I thought I was seeing double. I have a personalized licence plate on my Jeep and know several people who have them on their vehicles also.   But this was the first time that I had seen what I thought was the same licence plate on two separate vehicles.   A closer look, of course, told me there was a difference.   This was a first, for me.   There may be some other clever and similar juxtapositions of licence plate wordings out there.   Have you seen anything similar?

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Are you a senior? Do you read books?

Photo by Barry Wallace

Your thoughts are welcome next Tuesday.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Sky-high concrete

Photo by Barry Wallace

These monster delivery rigs never fail to impress me when they show up on King City's residential streets and off-load concrete into foundation forms for new houses.   When I was a teenager I worked for a couple of summers on new house building sites in King and pushed my share of wheelbarrows full of concrete.   I remember pushing what I thought were incredibly heavy loads of concrete over rough and uneven ground, up wobbly, slanted planks and other narrow spots, always pleading with myself, under my breath, not to spill a load.   I was strong, but I only weighed 150 lbs.    I was wobbly, but willing.   It was all part of life's rich pageant ... and I made few bucks too.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace   

Banjo is actually a 'banjolin', says Bob

             Bob Wallace

My brother, and one-time member of  'The King City Slickers', Bob Wallace, has informed me that what I thought was a banjo (in an earlier blog) is actually a banjolin - see picture at left.   Bob's been pickin' and pluckin' stringed musical instruments all his adult life.   In a message he sent to me he says "The banjo in your picture is a "Banjolin"...eight strings and quite popular in its day for mandolin players".   Bob, along with King City friends Russ DeCarle and Keith Glass were original members of the bluegrass band 'The King City Slickers',  during and after high school, in the 70's.   Russ and Keith went on to be the founders of the acclaimed Canadian  country swing band PRAIRIE OYSTER.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

New Church Street in Schomberg & Lloydtown

Photo by Barry Wallace

Road rebuilding nears completion

This year has been a long haul for residents of Schomberg and Lloydtown who live on, or drive regularly on Church Street, between Main Street in Schomberg and Rebellion Way in Lloydtown.   The street has undergone a major face-lift which includes a new road surface, new sidewalks, curbs, retaining walls, street lights, driveway connections and signage.   The whole project greatly compliments the historic homes, churches and trees along this charming and vital street.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

On the sideroads...Thanksgiving Day

Photos by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace