On the sideroads...

Photo by Barry Wallace

This dead maple tree is at the end of a long fence line, on a King sideroad.   There are several other maples, of similar size, in the same fence line, but they are all healthy, green and alive.   One can speculate about the demise of this one-in-a-dozen, particular large tree, but in the end we do see that all its branches are still in place and thus a reminder remains of its once grand canopy.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

New balcony at the Roost Cafe...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Allison Mumford, proprietor of the Roost Cafe, on Keele Street in King City, just south of the King Road, is seen celebrating the opening of the cafe's new balcony, which effectively doubles the size of the seating capacity for her customers.

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Barry Wallace   

Bounty of King's Holland Marsh harvest

Photo by Barry Wallace

Holland Marsh Soupfest ~ this weekend
at Ansnorveldt Park
Saturday, September 30 ~ from 11 am. to 3 pm.
or until the soup runs out!
Tickets available online or at the door
Further details online

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Laskay Hall about to join its new foundation

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Just a couple of inches separates the Laskay Hall from its new concrete block foundation at the King Heritage & Cultural Centre in Kinghorn, just east of Jane Street on the King Road.   The steel beams that supported the hall on its move to its new site will be withdrawn shortly and the two structures will unite and become one.   The new basement will be utilized almost immediately for storage while the main floor will receive some utilities servicing and interior refurbishment before being put into use.   Ultimately, the hall is to have a wraparound deck to enhance its usefulness.   A most significant piece of King Township's history has been secured for another century hopefully and for the use of generations of citizens to come.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Seen in Schomberg...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

A PINK TOW TRUCK?

Sure...why not?   Especially if you're JP Towing.

JP Towing Service & Storage Ltd. is a big company with over 60 vehicles in its fleet.   One of its big beauties is the pink monster pictured here, which was doing business in Schomberg last week.   Why is this heavy hauler pink?   Because it has large lettering of the back of the cab which states: "Proud sponsor of Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation".   Good for you, JP!

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Barry Wallace

Oats, Straw & Hay Railway then... GO Transit now

The TORONTO

First steam train to reach King City - built in Toronto ~ 1853

The LADY ELGIN
First Canadian steam train ~ built in Portland, Maine ~ 1851

Photo by Barry Wallace

GO Rail Network Electrification

After 150 years, a new era of train travel is to begin when GO Transit electrifies all is rail corridors, including the Barrie Corridor, which runs from Parkdale Junction in Toronto to Allandale GO Station, in Barrie.   A recent assessment process has been completed and is available to the public for information and input.   Nearby locations for King residents include Newmarket Public Library, Markham Public Library and Whitchurch-Stouffville Public Library.   Interested persons have until November 9, 2017, to provide comments.

The entire project could be 10 years in the making.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Keele Street north of the 15th Sideroad

Photo by Barry Wallace

Splendor in the ditch

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

17th Sideroad between the 11th and 12th

Photo by Barry Wallace

Political punning on the sideroads

This message is short and to the point.   It could be used by one of the opposition parties as a title for a manifesto in the next provincial election, 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Dufferin Street ~ near Jokers Hill

                                                                                                                                          Photo by Barry Wallace
The simpler ~ the better

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Barry Wallace

Sunset at Seneca

                                                                                                                                         Photo by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

King Township Municipal Centre underway

 Photos by Barry Wallace

A colourful billboard (above) has been erected at the site of the soon-to-be new township offices, on the south side of the King Road, opposite the King City Cemetery.   Site preparation has been started after a lengthy delay due to an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.   Completion of the new building will not happen until 2018.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Pine Farms Orchard beckons...

At left are three varieties of apples that I have never heard of before. 

But I'm sure many apple fanciers will be familiar with them.

Resident Muscovy Ducks
I wonder if ducks eat apples?

Thick gnarled trunks, above, attest to the decades-long age of the miniature apple trees, as does the ancient International pickup truck pictured below.

Pine Farms Orchard

is located north of King City on the 16th Sideroad, between Keele Street and Jane Street.

Weekends are a madhouse at this time of year but fortunately the orchard is open weekdays also.

And of course there is the ever-popular cafe.

Please comment

if you wish.

Barry

Wallace

Popular cafe is expanding in King City

 A new and greatly expanded rear deck is being added to the Roost Cafe, opposite the Anglican Church, on Keele Street, south of the King Road in King City.   The cafe is now just over a year old and appears to be thriving.   Allison Mumford, operator of The Roost has many more changes and expanded services in mind for this year and next.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

2017 Schomberg Street Gallery show and sale

 Photos by Barry Wallace

"Who was that masked artist?"

Channeling the Group of Seven

Large format high gloss resin art

(above and below)

I can't seem to attend the Schomberg Street Gallery each year without getting a photo of one of the numerous, art-loving pooches around and about.   The one above belonged to one of the artists and just two weeks ago it was a saved rescue dog.   Its new owners welcomed it into their home just the day before the Street Gallery.   It was a charmer.

This Main Street Schomberg home got as much attention as the Schomberg Street Gallery art show.   It is for sale and someone made a wise decision to hold an open house on the same day as the art show and sale.   It drew an endless stream of curious visitors.

This year's Street Gallery featured more artists than ever and the overall quality of the many art forms was the best ever.

Please comment

if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Dog Tales is more than dogs...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Weston Road ~ in the hamlet of Strange

Photo by Barry Wallace

King Township has a well-earned reputation of being known as one of Canada's top hot-spots for horses, but this symbol of the wild west, in the hamlet of Strange, just north of the King Road, would suggest that King is long-horn cattle country also.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Backyard bunnies...

Photo by Barry Wallace

This young bunny is one of two (plus their mother) that have joined our backyard menagerie this summer.   The two youngsters are about half grown and seem to be thriving.   The one pictured above took a break from eating as much of the back lawn as possible, before stretching out in the sun, on a patio stone.   Linda thinks the rabbits are sharing a den under the garden shed, with the groundhog.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Running out of space?

Photo by Barry Wallace

Big bales fill field on 12th Concession

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Barry Wallace

A King Township landmark

Photo by Barry Wallace

Black Forest Garden Centre

Keele Street ~ north of the 17th Sideroad

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

King Heritage & Cultural Centre presentation

Photos by Barry Wallace

THREE KING ARTISTS

helen lucas  ~  ed bartrum  ~  ernestine tahedl

A month-long exhibition of large-format paintings by world-renowned King artists is now open for public viewing at the King Heritage and Cultural Centre, on the King Road, in Kinghorn. This captivating art presentation can be viewed until Thursday, September 28.   The King Heritage and Cultural Centre is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 am. to 4 pm. The uniqueness of these large-format paintings is instantly felt when standing in front of then.   The viewer is almost immediately immersed into the colourful and compelling images. 

The paintings shown here are (top) a massive 60"x144" quadriptych by Ernestine Tahedl, entitled Anton Bruckner Motet Ave Maria Quartet.   Immediately above, is a 48"x60" acrylic on canvas, entitled Sam's Day, by Helen Lucas.   Below is Outer Shoals No.5, by Ed Bartram, a 40"x60" acrylic on canvas.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Monarchs making migration

Photos by Barry Wallace

Two monarch butterflies appear on the same flowering plant in my backyard in King City.   These are migrating monarchs which are engaged in intense nectaring after a productive breeding season across the northern range, including Ontario.   Declining daylight is a key clue that triggers the monarch's migratory instinct.   Migratory (non-breeding) monarchs live up to eight months. Intense feeding now builds body fat to fuel migration and to survive the winter in Mexico.   In the second photo below, a monarch shares a feeding spot with a very close bee.

Whenever I see a butterfly picture, I always think of the photo below, which my sister Denise took a couple of years ago in the village of Wemindji, in Quebec, on the shores of James Bay, where she lives.   She captured a precious moment when three fritillary butterflies, close together, posed perfectly for her.

Photo by Denise Georgekish

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace