More thaws...

 

                                                                      Photo by Barry Wallace

End of December 2024 - start of January 2025

Unfrozen East Humber River - King City

A one-day winter wonder or global warming?

We shall see.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

My Christmas gift to Pat Cromie...

 

                                                                                        Photo by Barry Wallace

My special friend Pat Cromie, at Delmanor Retirement Retirement Residence in Aurora, makes her own wine at a VIN BON wine boutique in Richmond Hill.   As a Christmas gift to Pat I purchased a gift certificate for 20 bottles of red wine of Pat's choosing ( she had previously mentioned a pinot noir or a shiraz).   The wines made at this charming shop are quite affordable, and I have been very impressed with the tastes that Pat has served me back at Delmanor.   Pat has her own labels for her wine bottles stating they were made by 'Chateau Cromie'.   Salut, my dear, and I look forward to a glass or two in the new year.    

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Christmas Day entertainment at Delmanor Retirement residence...

                             

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Bravura baritone, Dill Preet, was a hit performer at a Christmas Day afternoon singing performance for Delmanor residents, when he sang traditional Christmas songs and a number of modern popular music favourites in the pub.  Immediately below, Anna was the enthusiastic Delmanor server who served up a delicious assortment of pastry treats for the audience. 

Pictured  at left, is Michelle, one the pleased Christmas Delmanor residents who was delightfully entertained by singer Dill Preet.                                                   ).

Further down are pictures of part of one of the colourful and elaborately decorated Christmas trees at this Delmanor event, plus some of  assortment of sweet treats that attendees enjoyed after the musical program.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Christmas carolers at Delmanor /Aurora...

 

Carolling (door-to-door ) on all five floors 

of Delmanor Retirement Centre

Photo by Barry Wallace

Christmas gift for Pat...

 

                                                                                                 Photo by Barry

My partner Pat, at Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora, has been getting her own wine made at a local 'Vin Bon' outlet for quite some time and this Christmas I gave Pat a gift certificate for 15 bottles of her favourite 'red'.  Fortunately for me, Pat is very generous about sharing 

glasses of her 'Chateau Cromie' wine.   Salut!

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace 

Gingerbread houses at Delmanor Retirement...

      Photos by Barry Wallace

These Christmas gingerbread houses were created by the members of the Health & Wellness staff at Delmanor Retirement Residence in Aurora for the enjoyment of residents and visitors.   Residents were asked to vote for their favourite gingerbread house.   My partner Pat and I voted for 

the one  pictured here above.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

'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.

Please comment if you wish.

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.

 

Please comment if you wish.

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. 

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Aurora Town Square ~ Yonge Street

Photos by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Wall Art at Delmanor Retirement Residence

 

Please comment if you wish.

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".

Please comment if you wish.

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

Please comment if you wish.

BarrytheBirder 

Snowmail postman?

 

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

and cutely constructed snow sculpture using a mailbox.

Please comment if you wish.

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

Please comment if you wish.

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