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". 

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

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

Please comment if you wish.

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.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace