Pax vobiscum...

      King City Trail    ~    Photo by Barry Wallace 

Christmas waves a magic wand

Over the world, and behold,

Everything is softer

and more beautiful.

- Norman Vincent Peale

Best wishes to all

Barry and Linda

Trumpeter Swans near Glenville Pond

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Five adults and five first-year young swans

These wonderful birds are all tagged and are part of a private breeding program close to Newmarket, but in King Township.   10 of the huge swans are the most I have ever seen at this location.   It is an inspiring sight.   Native to North America, Cygnus buccinator is the largest swan in the world with a wingspan that may exceed three metres (10 ft.).

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Barry Wallace

19th Sideroad ~ east of Bathurst

Photo by Barry Wallace

Outdoor grooming at Dog Tales Sanctuary

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Barry Wallace

In the backyard...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Snow on the ivy woodpile

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Barry Wallace

Clothing drive to help Marylake Organ

Photos by Barry Wallace

Fading to yesteryear...

Marylake

barn

could still

be saved

...but

at what cost?

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if you wish.

Pine Farms Orchard ducks

 Photos by Barry Wallace

I do like buying my apples at Pine Farms Orchard  when few people are around and about, because that's often when the resident ducks are allowed out of their pen and are free to roam about.   A feeling of peace immediately comes over me when I walk among these stately ducks.  Today was lovely because the sun was shining and temperature was up to 13C before noon time.

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Barry Wallace

Cute dogs are everywhere in King

Photo by Barry Wallace

I spotted these two being walked by their mistress on Keele Street in King City.  There names are Tasha and Sadie.  Yes, they were very friendly, but very short and I dare say they might disappear altogether in 6" of snow.

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Barry Wallace

Very specific sign...

                                                                                                          Photo by Barry Wallace

This new sign is on the north-west corner of Keele Street and Kingcross Drive, in King City.   It seems there is quite a menagerie of critters roaming around Kingscross Estates and residents have their concerns.   At this time of year, I'm sure turtles and frogs are safely tucked away for winter.   Canada Geese?   That could be another matter altogether.   I guess the real message is "slow down".

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Barry Wallace

Old house was once a train station

The Schomberg-Aurora Railway operated for 25 years, from 1902 to 1927, and ran along a 14-mile track between the village of Schomberg and the village of Oak Ridges, where it met the main railway track, running north to Aurora or south to Richmond Hill.   The house behind the trains cars (pictured above) was located on the modern-day, north-west corner of Main Street and Dr. Kay Drive.   The road bed of Dr. Kay Drive sits atop the former railway track bed of a 100+ years ago.   The picture below, taken a few days ago, shows the same century-old house that once served as a make-shift train station.

     

Photo by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Field stone cladding appears on Laskay Hall

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Passersby at Kinghorn can now get a glimpse of the field stone cladding being applied to the new lower foundation of the historic and transplanted Laskay Hall, beside the King Heritage & Cultural Centre.   The old hall is to become functional once again as a treasured community resource next spring, with a tentative grand opening celebration in May.

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Barry Wallace

Paintings by Ann Murray Livingstone...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Seen above is one of Ann Murray Livingstone's vibrant oil pointings that are currently hanging on the walls of the King Heritage & Cultural Centre in Kinghorn.

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Barry Wallace

'Trees of Giving' at Heritage & Cultural Centre

                                                                                                                        Photos by Barry Wallace

Pictured herewith, are two of the ten Christmas Trees in the 'Trees of Giving' presentation at the King Heritage & Cultural Centre, which opens for public viewing this Friday, November 24th.  Highly creative in themes and artistically decorated, Christmas trees have been decorated by local community groups which are a special treat for visitors to the Kinghorn site.   The tree of delicious treats (above), is the work of the King Township Food Bank, while the tree below is the Grinch creation of King Township Library.   This community effort is a great attraction and treat, especially for folks with children.   You can vote for your favourite tree by donating $1 per vote and the proceeds go to the King Township Food Bank.   The 'Trees of Giving' are on display until December 18, and may be viewed Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Barry Wallace

Sure sign of winter...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

If the woodstove in the cafe at Pine Farms Orchard, on the 16th Sideroad, has been fired up, then winter is almost upon us.   You can tell the stove is once again doing its annual job, by the sign that tells visitors: Caution HOT Stove!  Buttertarts anyone?

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if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Dufferin Street and Lloydtown-Aurora Road

Photo by Barry Wallace

SNOWY SNOWBALL

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Thornton Bales Conservation Area

 Photos by Barry Wallace

There are not

99 steps...

...there are only

80 steps!

I decided this last week to visit the Thornton Bales Conservation Area (a.k.a. "The 99 Steps") to see if my arthritic legs and wonky heart could still make the climb.  The good news is I went down and back up and only had to stop once, to pet a friendly dog.  Even better news: there are only 80 steps - not 99, as recorded in local folklore.

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Barry Wallace

King's Cardinal Golf Club

Photos by Barry Wallace

How many times have I driven by Cardinal Golf Club on Highway 9, in King Township, and its huge billboard on the north-east corner of Hwy. 9 and Jane Street, and never knew that Cardinal was Canada's only 72 hole Golf Club?  I've never golfed there, for starters, and I gave golf up before Cardinal was even built.   Even so...I can't believe I never knew of Cardinal's unique Canadian distinction.   The only excuse, and it's a weak one, is that I was always preoccupied by looking at Cardinal's iconic and eye-catching roof-line.

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Barry Wallace

19th Sideroad and Keele Street

Photo By Barry Wallace

A rural warrior rests in peace

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Barry Wallace

16th Sideroad and Keele Street

Photo by Barry Wallace

Since the end of September I've raked up and bagged just over 40 bags of leaves for yard waste pick-up by the refuse collectors working for the Township of King.   While driving up to Pine Farms Orchard for apples this past week, I passed the pile of leaf bags, pictured above, and determined there were over 100 bags of leaves waiting to be consumed, on one day, by a big truck.   I wonder if 1/2 million leaves would fill a truck all by themselves.

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Barry Wallace

19th Sideroad of King ~ east of Kettleby

Photo by Barry Wallace

Prevailing breezes bend branches to the east

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Barry Wallace

                                             

Cropping cold carrots in the Marsh

Photos by Barry Wallace

Davis Road and Highway 400

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Barry Wallace

Three new stores at King's Ridge Marketplace

Photo by Barry Wallace

Pizzaria ~ Drycleaner ~ Dog Groomer

Steel is up for three new businesses at The King's Ridge Marketplace in King City.   I don't know if the news is official yet, but the info was passed on to me by one of the King's Ridge merchants.  The new structure is between Tim Horton's and the LCBO.
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Barry Wallace 

Forde Crescent ~ King City

Photo by Barry Wallace

WHAT

DID THEY

USE

TO PICK

UP YOUR

GARBAGE

THIS WEEK?

Things are not always as they seem as they seem, are they?   No, and garbage collection in King City has not been taken over by monster lifting cranes.   This rig was delivering heavy cement building forms to a home under construction, next door, and parked itself hovering above our garbage.

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Barry Wallace

Long way from home...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

This American licence plate caught my eye, a day or so ago, outside The Roost Cafe on Keele Street in King City, and I noted with interest that, to my knowledge, I had never before seen a Utah licence plate in our village.   King City and Utah are a mere 3,000 kms. apart.   Two phrases on the licence plate reminded me that many Americans do not understate things, when pride of country is on the line.   The phrases were "Greatest Snow On Earth" and "Life Elevated".   I hope your stay in King City was pleasant, folks.   Come again.

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Barry Wallace

If it's good enough for Kim Kardashian...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Vampire facials available in King

I've no idea what a vampire facial is, but I'm told Kim Kardashian is promoting them, so they must be a hot item.  Anyway, they are available in King City.   The advertising reader-board above was spotted in the village, on Doctors Lane, at Keele Street.

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Barry Wallace

Linda's last rose of summer

                                                                                                                                         Photo by Barry Wallace 

'Tis the last rose of summer,

Left blooming alone;

All her lovely companions

Are faded and gone;

No flower of her kindred,

No rosebud is nigh

To reflect back her blushes,

Or give sigh for sigh...

-- Thomas Moore / 1805

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Barry Wallace

Lots of activity ~ not much to see yet

Photo by Barry Wallace

Construction of the new King Township municipal offices is now well underway, at the west side of the village, but there is not much to see yet that resembles a monument to local municipal government.   Completion will take place in 2018.

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Barry Wallace

Tamarack ~ the yellow evergreen

Photo by Barry Wallace

TAMARACK

(Larix laricina)

The Tamarack tree is an evergreen that turns yellow in the fall, like many deciduous trees.   It also loses its needles the way deciduous trees lose their leaves in fall.   It is also know as the Eastern Larch, Black Larch, Red Larch, American Larch and Hackmatack.   Wikipedia says the word tamarack is an Algonquian name for the species and means "wood used for snowshoes".

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Barry Wallace

King City Cemetery ~ early November

Photos by Barry Wallace

King City Cemetery was started 130 years ago, in 1887.   Elizabeth McClure Gilliam in her 1975 history of King, entitled Early Settlements of King Township Ontario, tells the story of Mr. R. Kirbyson who was one of the first caretakers.   He was paid $1.00 for a ten-hour day.   One year his wages amounted to $33.75, but as he had taken hay off the land and the hay was valued at $24, his pay that year was reduced to $9.75.      

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Barry Wallace

Outdoor performance centre at Kinghorn

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Some folks are calling it an amphitheatre and others say it is a bandshell, but whatever it is to be called, it is well under construction and will be a delightful alfresco musical venue in the spring of next year.   When the type of structure is nominally described it will probably be only at matter of time before it is named and dedicated to a well-deserving historical or modern-day personality, or an event, etc.   If I close my eyes and listen carefully, the grounds of the King Heritage & Cultural Centre are already alive with the sound of music.

Please comment

if you wish.

Barry Wallace