My wife is a relative of H. G. Wells...

 H. G. (Herbert George) Wells      Linda Catherine Wallace

Over the past many years I put together a family history book and wrote that my wife was related to the acclaimed writer H. G. Wells.   I am an amateur genealogist and have written a book but I must admit to being a bit of a luddite when  it comes to understanding genealogy charts with ease.   And although I got the charts right, technically, it's only today that I can describe the connection between she and he.   I have now determined and can put into words that Linda's great-great-grandmother, Edith Jane Wells was a first cousin of the renowned H. G. Wells.   They both had the same grandfather: William Nye Wells.   So my wife Linda is a first cousin, five times removed, of H.G. Wells ... for what it's worth.

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Barry Wallace

Mild weather brings out opossums...

Photo by Barry Wallace

It takes a mild spell in the winter to bring this critter out from under our garden shed.   Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that it isn't going to get frost-bitten ears now and then.   This one has both ears showing some wear and tear from icy weather in the past.

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Barry Wallace

Christmas gift to me from my grandchildren...

                                                                               Photo by Auralee Wallace-Parekh

My grandkids discovered the perfect gift for the latter-day genealogist in the family (me) and poked fun at themselves at the same time. 

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Barry Wallace

Christmas morning - 2018

Photo by Barry Wallace

Amaryllis

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Barry Wallace

Tasty Christmas snack...

                                                                                               Photo by Barry Wallace

A Grey Squirrel makes short work of dried crab-apples on a tree in our backyard.   By spring every crab-apple remnant will have been taken from the tree, and the ground below, by the squirrels.

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Barry Wallace

Construction site being readied...

                                                                                                  Photos by Barry Wallace

KEELE STREET ~ SOUTH OF KING RD.

The old King City Garage site on the west side of Keele Street, just south of the King Road, has been undergoing extensive site preparation lately but the King planning department says no proposal has been put before the township yet.  Word about town is that the site will probably be residential only, three stories high.   The property is directly opposite the Anglican church.   The site is an excellent opportunity to create a development that reflects, in its design and location, the historic and cultural heritage of the location.

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Barry Wallace

At the backyard feeders...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Red-breasted Nuthatch
An intense bundle of energy at our feeders

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Barry Wallace

Downy at the deli...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Female Downy woodpecker

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BarrytheBirder

Mourning Dove in the backyard...

Warm winter warrior dozing off...

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Kindling the fire of hospitality in the village...

Photos by Barry Wallace                                         

A seasonal glow at two of King City's favourite dining spots, Hogan's and Locale, is only too welcoming during the approach of the Christmas and New Year's holidays.       

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Barry Wallace  

Top-ranked Audi R8 at Coppas in King City

Photo by Barry Wallace

Jim Kenzie's car review in the Saturday Star about the Audi R8 caught my eye on Sunday morning.   The 2020 model will sell for around $185,000.   A half hour later I went over to Coppa's for bagels and there was a late model Audi R8 parked at the entrance to the store.   Move over Range Rover, Mercedes and BMW.   There's a new kid in town.  The pressure to get rid of my 16-year-old Jeep Liberty just keeps building.

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Barry Wallace    

When a barn becomes a home...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

These photos taken over the course of this year show what appeared to be a barn in the beginning but as it nears completion looks more and more like a home.   It is located on Dufferin Street, quite near to the Dog Tales Sanctuary and the U of T's Koffler Research Centre. 

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Barry Wallace

After dark...

Photo by Barry Wallace

New township offices ~ at night

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Barry Wallace

17th Sideroad ~ west of Dufferin Street

Photo by Barry Wallace

I wish there were tree houses like this when I was a kid

As I recall, however, when I was a kid, with a bit of imagination, any tree became a castle tower, a fire ranger's lookout, Tarzan's jungle home or the peak of my grandfather's barn.   Ahhh, the good old days.

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Barry Wallace

Art at the new King Township Municipal Centre

                                                                                                    Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Icy slope in King...

Photo by Barry Wallace

"Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away"

                                                                                     - Paul Simon

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Barry Wallace

Dufferin Street at Eversley...

                                                                                                      Photo by Barry Wallace

Traffic lights at Country Day School

Here's great news for anyone and everyone who visits Country Day School on Dufferin Street each day, or each week, or just passes by regularly.   Traffic lights have been installed at the entrance of the private day school and should be activated soon.   Country Day School (CDS) was founded in 1972 and over the years, and particularly in the last few years, vehicles entering and exiting the school property have had a difficult time getting in and out, especially in the morning and afternoon rush hours.   Those concerns should now be a thing of the past, hopefully.   All's well that ends well.
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Barry Wallace

Northeast of King City...

Photo by Barry Wallace

'Tis the season at Fairfields Estates ~ off Dufferin St.

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Barry Wallace

Give a kid a camera...

My youngest grand-daughter, Brawley Elizabeth Wallace-Parekh, age 10, has taken up photography and sent me two recent efforts.  The top photo is a late afternoon setting sun in the family's backyard, near Ottawa.  The photo at right is a self-portrait.

Nice work, Brawley.

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Barry Wallace 

Highway 9 and Dufferin Street...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Glenville Pond outflow

A downscale decoy

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Barry Wallace

Fencing and trees at the KH&CC in Kinghorn...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

New fencing and evergreen trees has been put in place at the King Heritage & Cultural Centre in Kinghorn, at the King Road and Jane Street.   The fencing runs along the north and east property lines providing a measure of privacy for the new homes surrounding the site, as well as containment of  activities by the public.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Saskatoon Berries...in King Township?

Photo by Barry Wallace

Here's a sign I've never seen before while driving around and about Kettleby.   It's on the northwest corner of Keele Street and the 19th Sideroad.   I've never had a Saskatoon Berry but perhaps in the summer of next year I will taste one for the first 
time.   They are usually grown in western Canada but I've read they are found in northwestern Ontario also. 

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Road salt barn...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Weston Road & Highway 400

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Barry Wallace

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

                                                                                                        Photo by Barry Wallace

"Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree..."

Highway 9 and Jane Street

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Barry Wallace

A winter wonderland...

Photos by Barry Wallace

The winter view from the top  of King's Thornton Bales Conservation Area is as breath-taking as it is when climbing the 99 steps down into the valley and back up.  But beware.  When the trail and steep steps are packed with snow and ice, the footing can be very treacherous.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Endlessly moving forward...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Two tallest buildings in Nobleton?

Certain aspects of Nobleton are changing one's orientation while passing through the village.   That seems to be the case at the intersection Hwy. 27 and MacTaggart Drive in the north end of Nobleton.   The new commercial building on the south-west corner is apparently 4 stories high, while the eight-year-old St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, on the north-west corner, with its cross atop the sloping facade, is also quite vertically impressive.   Add to this the extensive restructuring around the main intersection in the middle of village, at the King Road and Hwy. 27, and one is left with a significant  impression of the old Nobleton.

Please comment if you wish.    

Barry Wallace

Breath-taking northern cruise...

 Photo by David Love

Long-time King residents, David and Ann Love (pictured below) recently took a 15-day cruise from Greenland to the Torngat Mountains in northern Labrador, down the Labrador / Newfoundland coast and across to L'Anse aux Meadows on the tip of the Great North Peninsula, in Newfoundland

                                                                                                 Photo by Barry Wallace

Photo above and below by David Love

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Barry Wallace