Dog Tales Rescue & Horse Sanctuary

Photo by Barry Wallace

A rainy Sunday morning

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Barry Wallace

19th Sideroad ~ between Dufferin and Bathurst

Photo by Barry Wallace

A glance at golden groundcover

When did this first appear?   Did this take over by itself?  Was it planted and left to thrive?  Whatever the case, it is suddenly an eye-catching roadside diversion and summer landmark.

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Barry Wallace

Keele Street sidewalks being replaced...

                                                                                               Photos by Barry Wallace

The sidewalk on the east side of Keele Street, south of the King Road is being replaced and traffic has been restricted somewhat by the temporary closing of the curb lane.  Presumably, sidewalk replacement on the west side of Keele will follow.   This work will be greatly appreciated by pedestrians who have struggled with the poor footing for a long time.

 Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

19th Sideroad of King ~ east of Dufferin Street

Photo by Barry Wallace

Sunday Brunch at Dog Tales Sanctuary

When I approached this pair on a Sunday morning, the colt was stretched out and sound asleep under its mother's nose.  When it heard me at the fence, it quickly and awkwardly got to its feet, ignored me completely, and went for the nourishment that only a mother could provide.

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Barry Wallace

Change of plans due to construction...

Photo by Barry Wallace

See you on the 7th folks.

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Barry Wallace

The Roost ~ Keele Street South ~ King City

Photo by Barry Wallace

New art at the cafe

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Barry Wallace

A sisterhood on the shores of James Bay

  Women of Wemindji

Pictured above (on the left) is my neice, April Dawn Georgekish Gull, posing with three of her friends from the Cree village of Wemindji, on the east side of James Bay, in Quebec.   Beside April Dawn is Irene Otter.   Beside Irene is Francine Moses and on her left is Nancy Danyluk.   My impression of these northern ladies is that they are soul-mates when it comes to their northern native sensibilities, plus the collective, very long hair sends a message of which I am yet to learn about.   The photo below shows my sister Denise Georgekish (on the right), her daughter April Dawn beside her and April's daughter Amberlane Gull.   I have tremendous respect for these women, particularly for their strength in withstanding those northern Quebec/James Bay winters.   

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Barry Wallace

Ice Skating from King City to Lake Wilcox

I had a very pleasant lunch this past Tuesday with a group of old King friends, which included Bert Archibald (pictured at right). Bert and I go back about almost 65 years in King.   He was in Grade 13 at Aurora District High School and I was in Grade 9 at the same school.   At lunch, Bert and I sat across from each other and reminisced about the old times in King City during the 1950s.   We talked about school and teachers and swimming and skating on the East Humber River, which was right behind the King City Public School (now the Presbyterian church) on Keele Street North in King City.   At one point, Bert told me that he and his family and friends used to ice skate in the winter behind the school.   He amazed me by saying that he and the other lads would occasionally skate from King City to Lake Wilcox and back again.   It was a distance of over eight miles in total.   If the Humber wasn't completely frozen over in spots where the water tumbled over rocks and fallen trees, the boys would climb out onto the snowy banks of the river and walk around those spots, with their skates on, and continue the cold icy trek.   Bert's recollection reminded me of swimming in the Humber River, as a kid, and I distinctly remember the water being well over our heads, which allowed us to run and dive off a big embankment.   The water in that same spot today is about 12 inches deep!   Oh, how the times have changed.

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Barry Wallace       

Behind schedule ~ but close...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

 The King Weekly Sentinel reports this week that the inaugural King Caravan, scheduled for this Saturday, has been postponed until  Saturday, July 7th from 4 to 8.30 p.m.  

A magical evening showcasing King's history and diversity plus a community potluck, was upset by red tape and Laskay Hall restoration construction.   A new lineup of entertainment and special guests will be on hand for the new date and info can be had by calling 416-825-4275.   Pictures here show hectic activity on the outside finishing touches to the site, in particular the sidewalk connection between the museum and cultural centre and the Laskay Hall.

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Barry Wallace

What took so long?

Photo: Chris Kleponios - Pool / Getty Images

NO MORE 

TRUMP ORPHANS

Thank God!

Maybe now he will

pick on people his own size.

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Barry Wallace

3rd summer without bridge at Humber Trails....

Photos by Barry Wallace

The wooden bridge over the East Humber River, at Humber Trails Conservation Area, west of Mill Road, in southern King Township, was partially washed out during the late-winter/early-spring of 2016.   Visitors are warned not to use the hazardous, unsafe bridge to cross the river.   Signs have been posted on site by the Toronto Region Conservation Authority absolving itself of any responsibility for mishaps involving the damaged bridge by members of the public. Sadly, this is the best public access to the historic 'Humber' in King Township. 

The photo (left) show at trail counter that records traffic At Humber Trails with the intention of better trail planning and property management decisions.  Surely, Humber Trails is a essential component of TRCA's raison d'etre, but it seems to have been completely forgotten.   Good intentions do not necessarily make good trails.

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Barry Wallace

S.S. No. 2 Springhill Public School...

I happened across this photo (above) on the internet a few days ago and knew that I had not seen it before.   Originally, this was S.S. No.2 Springhill Public School, on the west side of Keele Street, at the north end of today's King City village.  It dates from 1873.   In 1951, the addition to the east facade (below) was added, long after the name had become King City Public School.   I attended my Grade 8 year here in the mid-fifties.   The name was changed to Doris M. Public School a few years later and in the late 1960s the School became the Presbyterian Church of King City.   The original schoolhouse and now church is 145 years old and would appear to be heading for the 200-year-mark in another 55 years.

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Barry Wallace

Swallowtail amid early daylilies...

Photo by Barry Wallace

EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL

(Papilio glaucus glaucus)

Looking at the flower at the swallowtail

At stillness and motion

At wing and leaf

Tree and forest

Shadow and light

The flower closing the sun setting

Swallowtail and flower

Petal and wing

Time and eternity

At these that eclipse the sun

And fold night

Into the fabric of aligning moons

                                                       Salvatore Ala ~ 2016

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Barry Wallace

King City Secondary School Reunion

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Ted Bird ~ Head Boy

Class of 1960-1961

About 300 students and teachers from the first decade of King City Secondary School's history were re-united on Saturday, June 16th at the picnic grounds of Black Forest Garden Centre, on Keele Street, south of Kettleby.   Early arrivals were greeted by KCSS's first-ever Head Boy, Ted Bird (pictured above).  Pictured below are four recollective reunion revellers: (left to right) Lynn (Scott) Anderson, Linda (Cairns) Wallace, Jane (Abrahams) Ebbs, and Lee (Scott) Peters...twin sister of Lynn Scott Anderson (a.k.a. the Scott twins).   The perfect event had perfect weather. 

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Barry Wallace

Pure White Golden Retriever?

Photo by Barry Wallace

I stopped in at the Kingsdale Animal Hospital last Friday to get a bag of cat food for my puss and was greeted at the door by the 10-week-old pure white Golden Retriever, pictured above.  His name is Lord Junior, or LJ for short.   He was a sweetheart and had everybody in the place absolutely charmed.   I was told by his mistress that all-white Golden Retrievers are rare.   Apparently that's the case and according to Google they are much more common in the UK.

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Barry Wallace

Bit of a different spring...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Roses bloom before peonies

The peonies in the garden seemed to have got a late start this spring.   Warm days finally came along but the nights have seemed be cooler than normal.   Our white peony had only one single blossom in June, followed by a profusion of later-than-normal blossoming pink peonies.   The red peonies are still mostly in bud.  Nature prevails nevertheless and we are enjoying the colours immensely.

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if you wish.

Barry Wallace

King City ~ spring of 2018

Photo by Barry Wallace

Out with the old ~ in with the new

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Barry Wallace

Geraniums on Kettley verandah...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Walter H Murray ~ Merchant
c. 1933

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Barry Wallace

17th Sideroad and 11th Concession

Photo by Barry Wallace

 KING TOWNSHIP MINI-FARM

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Barry Wallace

Forde Crescent at the garden gate...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Following a late spring rain

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Barry Wallace

Big fungi are dwarfed by huge tree

 Photos by Barry Wallace

I spotted these bracket fungi at the base of a huge tree, on the south side of the Kettleby Road, just west of the cemetery entrance.   I'm no fungus or mushroom expert, so I don't know what particular kind of bracket fungus this is.   If you recognize it, maybe you can leave a message below.

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Barry Wallace

Spirea at Kettleby Church...

                                                                                                     Photos by Barry Wallace

      Christ Church Kettleby

   1891

              Of all the subtle fires of earth

              Which rise in form of spring-time flowers,

              Oh, say if aught of purer birth

              Is nursed by suns and showers

              Than this fair plant, whose stems are bowed

              In such lithe curves of maiden grace,

              Veiled in white blossoms like a cloud

              Of daintiest bridal lace?

From "The Spirea" ~ by Paul Hamilton Hayne

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Barry Wallace

Seneca College - King Campus

Photo by Barry Wallace

Newcomers at Seneca College

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Barry Wallace

Good for another 160 years?

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Laskay Hall restoration almost complete

Restoration of the historic Laskay Hall, now on the grounds of the King Heritage and Cultural Centre in Kinghorn, is nearly complete, even if slightly behind schedule.   The grand opening and other scheduled events will occur this summer. The ancient facility combines its ancient heritage with much-anticipated modern conveniences, including air-conditioning, and expanded space in a new lower level.   The restoration effort deftly combines historical sensitivities with new-world facilities and undoubtedly will be a constantly busy place in the future for old-timers and newcomers. 

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Barry Wallace

Chilly day for planting flowers...

Photo by Barry Wallace

These King Township Parks Department employees had a very chilly day (9C) on Tuesday to plant flower beds.   I saw them in front of the township offices in the morning and then later (above) at Centennial Park on Jane Street, between the 16th and 17th Sideroads.   The work was cold, but the smiles were certainly warm.

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Barry Wallace

Red Squirrel thinks it's a hummingbird...

                                                                                                      Photo by Barry Wallace

Pictured above is a Red Squirrel having a long drink from one of our hummingbird feeders, in the backyard.   The holes in the feeder are quite small and only accommodate the tiny beak and tongue of a 'hummer'.   The holes are too small to accommodate a squirrel's tongue, so I have to assume that the squirrel is sucking/siphoning the nectar from the feeder.  Linda says it's not the first time this squirrel has helped itself in this manner.

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Barry Wallace

Seneca College King Campus expansion project

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Huge project to be completed this month

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Barry Wallace

Go for a walk? He'd rather drive his car...

                                                                                                    Photo by Barry Wallace

Pictured above is my neighbor Nathan,  with his grandmother, from down the street,  I've watched Nathan walk by the house every day for a couple of years but today he drove by in his car!   He seemed very proud of it and the sunglasses were a cool touch.

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Barry Wallace 

Pine Farms Orchard begins a new season...

                                   

 Photos by Barry Wallace

APPLE BLOSSOM TIME

Pine Farms Orchard on the 16th Sideroad, between Keele and Jane Streets, is already having young visitors who get to see what apples look like before they become apples.  Hopefully they'll be back later in the year when blossoms have become delicious apples...ready to pick and eat.

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Barry Wallace