'Doc' Gordon's Garage - King Road, King City

This photo of 'Doc' Gordon's Garage, on the King Road in King City, dates from the 1950s.   I believe the photo was given to me by 'Doc' Gordon's son Donald, who was a childhood friend and classmate of mine, decades ago.   The garage went on to become a General Motors auto dealership under 'Doc's ownership, and later by several others and today is the site of the Shopper's Drug Mart in King City.

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Barry Wallace

Shorter winters?

Photo by Barry Wallace

Above is a photo I took, 10 years ago, of a stream in the middle of King City, which led into the East Humber River.   The photo appeared in this blog space a week before Christmas, in 2014.   It doesn't look like a winter photo, but was perhaps a precursor to today's global warming.   A weather report story, this week in 2024, states that the winter of 2024/2025 will have 10 days less of snow than the average of the last ten years.   Good news, or not-so-good news?   Both perhaps, depending on your point of view.   There are claims that drought in Ontario will pale in comparison to places like California, and it seems the phenomenon will happen much faster than most of us will expect.

 

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Barry Wallace   

Winter solstice is near...

                      

                       Cold Creek Conservation Area  ~ King Township / Photo by Barry Wallace

The astronomical start of winter begins with the winter solstice on Saturday, December 21 of this year.   The winter solstice occurs in midwinter about the time of the shortest day in the northern hemisphere, and about June 21 in the southern hemisphere.   The fall colours of the Cold Creek forests above are about to become muted shortly. 

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Barry Wallace

Aurora Town Square ~ Yonge Street

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Wall Art at Delmanor Retirement Residence

 

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Barry Wallace

LCBO's top-selling red wines this year...

Wine-taster Bert

Carolyn Evans Hammon, in a recent Toronto Star 'Wine Find' column, featured the LCBO's best selling wines of the year.   Four were 'reds' and two were 'whites'.   My wine-drinking partner Patricia and I recently shared a bottle of the four top-selling red wines with some fellow residents at Delmanor Retirement Residence, on Yonge Street, in south Aurora.  

Wine-taster Mary

The four top red wines in the last 12 months were:

1. 2021 J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, from California, 

    selling $23.5 millions worth, @ $24.95 a bottle.

2. 2021 Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, from California, 

    selling $21.4 millions worth , @ $19.95 a bottle.

 

3. 2022 Bread & Butter Cabernet Sauvignon from California,

    selling $20.1 millions worth, @ $19.95 a bottle.

4. 2022 Tom Gore Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, from California,

    selling $19 millions worth, @ $19.95 a bottle.

The four wines were taste-rated by Star columnist Hammond at various scores between 88, 89 and 90, with the Bread & Butter scoring highest.

All 10 of Delmanor's tasters thought the wines were equally "very good".

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Barry Wallace

83rd birthday surprise...

 

Photos by Allison Bailey

"What the...?"

"Omigawd!"

I was born on December 6, 1941, a few hours before Japan attacked Pearl Harbour, which meant my arrival was far eclipsed by the Pacific attack.   But my daughters, Allison and Auralee, and their husbands Rob and Hector, were invited to attend a surprise party for me, at Aurora's Delmanor Retirement Residence recently.   In the pictures above, that's my new and dear Delmanor partner, Pat, enjoying my shock and surprise at the occasion.   Pat's daughter Lissa and her daughter, Hilary, also shared in the occasion (see photo below).

Left to right: Hiliary, Hector & Auralee, Rob & Allison, Me &Pat, Lissa

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BarrytheBirder 

Snowmail postman?

 

My significant other, Pat Cromie, sent me this photo of a very cleverly 

and cutely constructed snow sculpture using a mailbox.

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Barry Wallace

Further to my Alzheimer's diagnosis...

 I told the Alzheimer's disease examiner that I was not losing 

my memory, but I was just really good at letting go of the past.

She still asked me to turn over my driver's license.

Barry Wallace

My birthday...

 I had a few birthday messages today from some friends and relatives who congratulated me on my 81st birthday.   However, I was born on the day Japan attacked Pearl Harbour: December 6, 1941, which makes me 83 years old.   I wasn't upset at all at being younger in the eyes of the well-wishers.   I'm now looking forward to getting younger.   I'm especially looking forward to being 17 again.   That was a great age!   And if today is your birthday, have a great one, however old you feel like being.

Barry the Birder  

Glenville Pond, King Township - Canada Geese

 

                                                                 Photo by BarrytheBirder

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Barry Wallace

Looking ahead...

My eldest daughter, Allison, recently got me started on reflecting, and writing about, certain recollections on aspects of my life.   Presumably it gives me something to do after stumbling about on this good Earth for 83 years and might give my grandchildren and their prospective children something to read about concerning my place on this planet and the world's prospects.   I recently  responded to several suggested topics and thought I would show a recent response.   So...

Home sapiens have existed on planet Earth for over 300,000 years, starting in Africa.   I believe, as a species, we shall live for at least another 300,000 years.

Therefore I would advise my dear grandchildren and their precious  children to live every day to the fullest.

There is so much to be created in every day, every year and every lifetime.   No one day should be wasted in thinking tomorrow won't last.

Think of them as infinite and the rewards can be infinite also.   The achievements can be large or small.   The accomplishments can fulfil a lifetime and beyond.

Start each tomorrow by thinking of it today.

Now... I wonder what the the next topic will be?

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Oak Ridges Moraine ~ Fall Sunrises & Sunsets

 

Photos by Barry Wallace

                       Please comment if you wish.

                   Barry Wallace                                                                   

                                                                                                                                   

Hand-crafted wedding gift...

                                                      

                                                                        Photos by Barry Wallace

The beautiful afghan pictured here was      created by my special friend and co-resident Patricia Cromie, at Delmanor Retirement  Residence, in south Aurora.   It is a wedding gift for one of her granddaughters and husband-to be.

Pat put together this lovely piece of knitting and assembling, over the course of several days recently , using colours she selected  after consulting with the young lady's friends and relatives.

It was such a lovely piece of work, that I had to share it in this space.   Nice work, Pat.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

My Alzheimer's diagnosis...

I have recently been diagnosed with "Early-Onset Alzheimer's Disease".    It is the most common cause of dementia among older Canadian adults (I'm almost 83).

I was diagnosed by a senior health official at the Region of York in Newmarket, in early October, with my oldest daughter in attendance.   We had an hour-long discussion, during which I was told that I was to be given a very quick memory test.   I was given five words to remember which I was told to repeat, in correct order, several minutes later.   I failed that brief memory test, which was no surprise to me.  I was then politely and kindly asked to turn over my Ontario Drivers License and I shockingly complied but my life changed on the spot.   

Within the past month, and with the much-appreciated help of my new life-partner, Pat, I am coming out of a depressed state and starting a hopefully renewed existence.   It has not been easy and has been extremely inconvenient and frustrating.   I have felt like a prisoner. 

I recently chatted with a  friend, of my same age, who experienced a similar experience, but who refused to participate in the same memory test that I failed.  He has refused that same test with his own doctors for the past four and a half years! 

I mention this only to warn others, who still think that they are able-bodied drivers, to be very cautious about submitting to something that can immeasurably change your life.

Do not go meekly into that dark night.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Northern Lights - eastern shore of James Bay ...

                                                         Photo by April Dawn Georgekish

This is a recent photo taken by my neice, April Dawn Georgekish, who lives in the Cree Indian village of Paint Hills in Quebec, on the eastern shores of James Bay.   The Northern Lights are a  fairly common sight in this part of Canada and April has taken many photos like the one above in her lifetime, as the opportunities just keep presenting themselves.   I really envy the photo opportunities, like this, that April has on her doorstep.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Kawartha waterways images...

(Photos from a 2024 Kawartha Lakes cruise by Barry Wallace)

 

Kawartha is an anglicization of Ka-wa-tha (from Ka-wa-tae-gum-maug or  Gaa-waategamaag) which was coined in 1895 by Martha Whetung of the Curve Lake First Nations.   It meant "land of reflections" in the Anishsinaabe language.   The word was later changed by tourism promoters to KAWARTHA, meaning "bright waters and happy lands". 

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Barry Wallace

New Aurora United Church to re-open in 2025

The restoration of the destroyed Aurora United Church, in the centre of the Town of Aurora, in York Region, continues apace and is nearing its scheduled opening  in 2025.  The undertaking has taken place after the 196-year-old (at the time) church shockingly burned to the ground 10 years ago, but is now miraculously rising from the ashes.  Many prayers for a new beginning have been answered and redemption-renewed is near at hand.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Early November morning on Lake Jonda...

Photo by Barry Wallace

This a photograph I took a couple of years ago at Seneca College in King Township, of the old boathouse on the edge of Lake Jonda, at the former ancient Eaton Hall Estate.   This is reportedly the boathouse from which a young Timothy Eaton would madly roar about the lake in his power launch, many decades ago.  This latter day scene shows a much more sedate autumnal setting from recent times.

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Barry Wallace  

November sunset - Oak Ridges Moraine...

Photo by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Seasonal change...

                                                                 Photo by Barry Wallace

                     November o'ertakes autumn

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Barry Wallace

U.S. election...

 

Kamala Harris

'Rest in pieces'

Please commiserate if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Some of the remaining few of the Crooked Little House gang in King City...

Photo by Pat Cromie

Barry Wallace ~ Dave Moore ~Ted Bird

There are not many members left of the Crooked Little House in King City, from back in the early 1960s, but the three above got together for a lunch recently.  From left to right, above, are Barry Wallace (82) left, of Aurora, Dave Moore (112) centre, of Coldwater and Ted Bird (112) right, of Schomberg.   I may not have got some of the ages right, exactly.

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Barry Wallace

Colours orange in King...

Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Autumn sky and colours in Aurora...

              

Butternut Ridge Trail

Photo by Barry Wallace

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Barry Wallace

Roof-top fall colours at Delmanor Aurora

Photo by Barry Wallace

Pictured above is a rooftop view of the dining room at Delmanor Retirement residence on Yonge Street South, opposite the Aurora Cemetery, in south Aurora.  The plants are about 6" high year-around and the colours change with the seasons.    The view can be seen from many suites on the west side of the building from the 3rd to 5th floor upward.

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Barry Wallace

Kawartha Waterways...

                                                             Photos by Barry Wallace

Kingston to Peterborough aboard the Kawartha Voyager

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Barry Wallace