Near Laskay...

                                                                                           Photo by Barry Wallace
BARN CAT

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

I feed birds ...my brother feeds deer

                                                                                                       Photo by Bob Wallace

Deer at the back door

My younger brother Bob, who was born and raised in King City, but has lived up Parry Sound way for decades, posted this photo online of a young male deer helping itself to bird seed, close to the house.   He and his wife Nancy call this fellow "Little Horn".   I suppose when he's fully grown they will have to change his name to "Big Horn".   I call myself 'BarrytheBirder' but oh what I'd give to have this little, four-legged beauty visiting at my back door.
Please comment if you wish.
BarrytheBirder  

Winter can't seem to make up its mind...

                                                             

                                                                                               Photo by Barry Wallace

Schomberg Creek ~ Main Street

freeze and thaw .... freeze and thaw .... freeze and thaw

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Where do they all come from?

Photo by Barry Wallace

Shouldn't these 11 squirrels be in their nests?

...and this doesn't include the Red Squirrels and Chipmunk!

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Jacquie Lawson returns to The Roost Cafe

                                                                                                      Photos by Barry Wallace

Simple decorations 
of coloured paper
 catch the eye 
on The Roost Cafe's 
windows.  

Songstress and guitarist Jacquie Lawson returned to The Roost Cafe, on Keele Street in King City, this past Sunday and once again gently embellished the cafe's afternoon ambience with her soft musical stylings.  It appears that Sunday afternoon entertainment is to become a regular feature with other musical artists invited to perform.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

New display at Cultural Centre in Kinghorn

 Photos by Barry Wallace

The latest historical presentation at the King Cultural & Heritage Centre is called 'A PLACE TO CALL HOME: The History & Heritage of King Township'.   The exhibit traces, through artifacts, stories, and photos, the development of King from mills and rolling hills to today's busy township.

Pictured at top are women's boots worn by Clara (Ellsworth) Flavelle as part of her 'going away outfit' after she wed Joseph Flavelle in 1882.

Pictured at left (above) is a pair of wool and leather children's boots from the early 1900s.

Below, is a photograph the choir of the Strange Presbyterian Church on Weston Road in the late 1800s.

\

Above is a display of mourning clothing and paraphernalia including clothing, jewelry, gloves, photos plus other items.  Below is a photo of a glass vase from the hamlet of Laskay. The public is invited to visit this presentation until at least the end February.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Oft-times winter is black and white...

                                                                                                   Photo by Barry Wallace

 Old Bathurst Street ~ south of the 19th

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

What is it about horses?

 Photos by Barry Wallace

WINTER WARRIORS at DOG TALES

I drive by Dog Tales Sanctuary, on the 19th Sideroad, quite often as I try to avoid the major roads and sideroads and all the damned traffic on those major arteries, when I'm heading to Nature's Emporium or Chapters or Upper Canada Mall or wherever!   The horses at Dog Tales Sanctuary always seem to be outdoors, no blankets, all day.   This winter hasn't been that severe, but the Dog Tales horses seem to be hearty as well as handsome breeds even though they are rescues or past their prime.   Bless 'em. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

No end to King picketing...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Ontario Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce's riding office in King City, is an obvious target for striking Ontario teachers to picket.   There were 50 to 60 picketers there on Tuesday of this week, while a few kilometres to the north-east in Aurora, almost 200 picketers were on hand at the York Board of Education offices on Wellington Street West.   Fortunately, in King City, the morning commuter rush hour is slow enough to avoid risk of contact, in the curb lane, with strikers hugging the side of the King Road.   Hopefully everyone keeps an eye peeled.

Please comment if you wish. 

Barry Wallace

Photographic art at King Administration Centre...

Photographic
art on display
for public viewing at
King Township
offices in King City.



Please comment 
if you wish.

Barry
Wallace

Condolences at King Administration Centre...

Photo by Barry Wallace

A book of condolences is available for signatures at the King Administration Centre in King City, as a memorial to Nobleton residents Shakiba Feghahati and her son Rosstin Moghaddan, who tragically lost their lives in the Iranian rocket attack on Ukranian International Airlines flight PS752.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Faded glimpse of yesteryear near King City...

    Photo and haiku by Barry Wallace

cutting rocks and stones
does not mean they disappear
fate can be unseen

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

                                                            

No, this is not a 'Newfie' squirrel...

Photo by Barry Wallace

This is a King City squirrel

...a Forde Crescent squirrel to be precise

This black squirrel is just trying to stay alive.   It doesn't know that King City might get 15 cms. of snow, let alone that squirrels in Newfoundland are coping with 76 cms. of snow!  It is also just one of six resident squirrels in my backyard and that every foray to the bird feeders involves a squabble with one or more of the other squirrels (black, grey or red).   I don't think that squirrels, chipmunks, mice or any of the birds think about tomorrow.   I think their fate is well-described by the old biblical aphorism: 'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof '.

Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace

Frozen water photo from James Bay...

My sister Denise's daughter, April Dawn Gull, is seen in northern Quebec, unable to resist the temptation to  create one of those ubiquitous Canadian photos of water immediately freezing when thrown in the air.  With the Canada-wide frigid temperatures of the past week, this scene has, no doubt, been re-created from coast to coast.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Pitched roof not daunted by winter...

Photo by Barry Wallace

 All Saints Anglican Church

Keele Street - King City

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Hawk-Owl continues to publicize Schomberg...

                                                                                             Photo by Geoff Simpson

Pictured above is the much photographed Northern Hawk Owl that has been visiting Schomberg's Dufferin Marsh throughout January.   In this photo it has made its way to one of the village's Main Steet banners.  Perhaps the village should declare the Northern Hawk Owl as Schomberg's official bird?

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

King Road ~ King City

Photo by Barry Wallace

white letters - white snow - ummm...

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Pigeon visits King City TD Bank

Photo by Barry Wallace

I did some banking on Tuesday, after lunch, and was greeted by this strikingly noticeable pigeon just inside the foyer of the TD Bank.   It was pecking at what appeared to be cookie crumbs on the floor and it did not seem alarmed at all by banking customers.   I took its picture and spoke briefly to two bank employees who said the pigeon came into the bank just before the lunch hour.  A charming gal banker said they had named it already and that it was called "Cookie".   I suspect it was crushed-up cookies that "Cookie' was eating and that any 'deposit' Cookie might make in the bank would have to be cleaned-up quickly.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

More East Humber flooding photos...

Photos by Barry Wallace

Doris Patton Park ~ Martin Street ~ King City

King Creek Farms - Mill Road

King-Vaughan town-line bridge over East Humber

East Humber River at King-Vaughan town-line

Flooded East Humber ~ above and below

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

East Humber overflows with January rain...

Photos by Barry Wallace

Former Stan Roots farm at Eversley

King City Trails ~ Keele Street

East Humber River - Jane Street - Kinghorn

Kingsbridge Centre - Jane Street

Weston Road 

at

 Laskay

Laskay

Entrance to Humber Trails ~ Mill Road

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

The next big King City lottery house...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Elmers Lane - south of Villanova College

The Princess Margaret Home Lottery has announced the launch of its 2020 home lottery which will award a 'showhome' at 101 Elmers Lane in the north end of King City.   The 'showhome', at almost 10,000 sq. ft., is valued at $5,200,000, and will be open to start viewing on February 15.   Oh, and the grand prize includes a $1,125,000 Kawartha Lakes cottage.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Historic King City landmark to be razed...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

DISCIPLE CHURCH ~ 1871

The one-time King City Disciple Church, on Keele Street North in King City, has been shuttered and appears to be close to demolition.   The lower photo above shows a surveyor working on the property that is proposed to be a multi-unit housing development.

   

Following is how Elizabeth McClure Gillham describes the old church in her 1975 historical compendium of King Township.

"Disciple Church.  According to the map of the village of King, 1878, the Disciple Church was located on Fourth Street (now Keele Street), north of King Sideroad.    It appears to have been built in 1871, on lot 7, west half, concession 3, then the property of Gabriel Wells, and it is recorded that a meeting regarding the building of a school (now the Presbyterian Church) across the road was held in the church.   According to an article written by the late Alice A. Ferguson, Wells built the church, but no record of the service held there was available.   Some time later is was moved about 30 rods south, and in 1975 was the attractive home of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Scott."   The Scott family occupied the structure for several decades.

Another wee bit of King's history is to become a shadowy memory.   So be it.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

An old family photograph from the late 1800s...

My wife Linda, who passed away in November of last year was related to the Wells families of King and Vaughan Townships, of the late 1800s.   I've been reviewing the family history I wrote several years ago and came across this old photo of two of Linda's ancient uncles.   The two gentlemen had lived in King but became pioneering farmers in Manitoba around 1880.   Although it never made it into the family history, I was always fond of this photo because I thought the horse was a splendid looking creature and the two fellows in the buggy looked like resolute and dedicated sod-busters.   I believe the photo is about 130 years old.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace   

Sunday trail-walking near Seneca Lake...

Photos by Barry Wallace

Footprints easily tracked

Natural presences evolve

 The Nature Cabin





Please comment
if you wish.

Barry Wallace