'Making Canada Work' ~ 1992 by John Crispo

Photos by Barry Wallace

The following is is taken from John Crispo's 1992 book entitled 'Making Canada Work'.   It is from the first paragraph of chapter 3, entitled: 'The Political Vacuum'.

"Given the many troubles that beset Canada, constitutional and otherwise, about the last thing this country can afford is to be totally bereft of credible political leadership at the national level.   The present frustration among voters is reflected in the fact that at least five parties could  do reasonably well in the next federal election, resulting in a totally unpredictable coalition government.   Such a volatile situation would only exacerbate the instability that is undermining our ability to build a competitive economy...".

Well if this isn't "deja vu" in 2019, then I don't know what is.  In 1993, the Liberals swept to power, the PCs were clobbered, and the Bloc and Reform parties surged.   The NDP were also-rans.   Could there possibly be a coalition government in Ottawa this time around?   We shall see what we shall see on Monday, October 21, or maybe the following Tuesday morning.

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace 

Dahlias are autumn stalwarts...

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Here's less of the same old same old...

                                                                                                          Photo by Barry Wallace

Here's one of several election posters for the Green Party that go beyond the same old political party  logos and candidate names.   Clever and amusing, I think.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Apple Orchard Trail - 16th Sideroad

                                                                                                          Photos by Barry Wallace

The Apple Orchard Trail starts on the south side of the 16th Sideroad, opposite the Pine Farm Apple Orchard, between Keele and Jane Streets, north of King City.   The trail is on private property and is marked by blue blazes (see photos below).   The trail winds through a large, dark forest and is notable for the mixture of hardwoods and firs, hundreds of which reach 70 and 80 feet high.   In the photo above, one sees a colourful opening onto a singular open oval meadow filled with wildflowers. 

This trail is only .8 of a kilometer but seems longer because of the winding route and the changes of elevation, which are gently sloped and not difficult to walk up and down.   There is one stile over a fence and two spots where one crosses private, graveled, forest roads.   The picture below shows the remnants of a big old boulder fence that boggles the mind when imagining the effort expended.   Below that photo is one of an ancient well cover.

Above is a puffball, one of several, with my cap alongside to give some size perspective.   Below are pictured a number of fungi spotted along the trail.

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

King City Trail...west side of Keele Street

Photos by Barry Wallace

Wild flowers, berries, fungi and other things

Pictured above is the new access stairway to the King City Trail on the west side of Keele Street, adjacent to the East Humber River.   Linda and I used it to walk part of the trail, on the first day of autumn.   Below are a number of photos I took along the way.

Silky Dogwood berries

Goldenrod and hornet

Trail-side fungi

Teasel or thistle (?)

Lapsed fern

Bee upon a thistle bloom

Low Callamint or Indian Tobacco (?)

Wild Asters

   Queen Anne's Lace

Wild grapes

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comment 

if you wish.

Barry

Wallace

In the backyard garden...

                                                                                                         Photo by Barry Wallace

Sedum transitions from green to pink

We only have one sedum plant in the garden.   It is by no means spectacular but is always welcome late in the summer.   Looking very closely at the blooms in September, one sees the star-shaped flowers which can appear in shades of pink, yellow or white.   Subtle and charming.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace        

15th Sideroad ~ between Keele and Jane...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

A leafy tunnel to the apple orchard

Pine Farm Orchard ... picking underway

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Barry Wallace

More photos from James Bay coast...

Pictured at right is one of my neices, April Dawn Georgekish Gull.   She is the daughter of my youngest sister Denise, a one-time King City resident.  Denise now lives in Wemindji, a Cree indian village on the east shore of James Bay, close to April and her husband and kids.
   
April has become quite the local photographer in her village and I have been publishing a few of them in this blogspace off-and-on recently.

Below are a few more recent photographs by April that Give a colourful glimpse of northern Quebec berry plants.

Pictured above and below are two photos by April of cloudberries.   Cloudberries (Rubus chamaemorus) are an herb native to cool temperate regions, such as tundra, alpine and boreal forest.   The amber-coloured fruit is similar to raspberry and blackberry, and are considered a delicacy in Norway, Finland and Russia.

Following are some comments from April that accompanied the photos above: "Made myself busy this beautiful dewy morning.   Cleaned the yard, re-soiled the huge tree beside my house because little critters were exposing the roots of it.   Had a breakfast fully on berries I picked in the backyard.   I couldn't believe I found cloudberries too.   My berry breakfast ... so refreshing.  Always a pleasure watching the leaves change colour."

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Barry Wallace

More of summer's backyard butterflies...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

GIANT SWALLOWTAIL

QUESTION MARK

MILBERT'S TORTOISESHELL

RED ADMIRAL

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Barry Wallace

Summer's backyard butterflies...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

MONARCH

WHITE ADMIRAL

PEARL CRESCENT

EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL

SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER

A few more tomorrow...

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Barry Wallace

Old municipal offices site has new sign...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Zancor Homes (King Cort) Ltd. erected this sign on Wednesday of this week proposing the former commercial plaza and municipal offices property as the site of a future 5 to 6 storey condominium site, with amenity space, underground resident parking, bicycle parking and visitor parking.   A public information session is scheduled for Tuesday, September 24th between 6.30 and 8.30 p.m., at the King City Arena and Community Centre.  For sale signs have already popped up on nearby residential properties.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Round The Bend Farm ~ on autumn's doorstep

A King fall favourite at Kettleby

East side of Jane Street ~ just south of the Kettleby Road

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Re-purposed old manure spreader holds mums

Gourds galore

Ancient farm tractor guards the sunflowers

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace