The unfrozen winter...

Photo by Barry Wallace

This unfrozen stream in a cedar swale alongside the the 15th Sideroad, between the 7th and 8th Concessions of King, flows freely on a recent day that was six degrees below freezing.   The forecast for the next day was to be six degrees above freezing.   It typifies the on-again, off-again winter we have had so far.

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Barry Wallace

Waymark for walkers on the 16th Sideroad

                                                                                                                       Photo by Barry Wallace

This intriguing creation marks the entrance to a country residence on the south side of King's 16th Sideroad, between Keele and Dufferin Streets.   The large stone installation is, of course, meant to mark the entrance to a singular property and perhaps speaks to some hidden meaning, but I also like to think it is a reminder to me, and other passersby, that we are on the right road to wherever we are going.

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Barry Wallace

January thaw

Photos by Barry Wallace

East Humber River ~ King City

Seneca Lake ~ Dufferin Street

 East Humber River ~ Kinghorn

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Barry Wallace

Coats of many colours...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

Rescued horses at Dog Tales Sanctuary 

19th Sideroad near THORNTON BALES CONSERVATION AREA

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Barry Wallace

Squirrels fancy frozen crabapples

                                                                                                                      Photos by Barry Wallace

Pictured here is an eastern grey squirrel gorging on partially dried and frozen crab-apples in my King City yard.   There are over 55 species and over 700 cultivated varieties of crab-apples but it is the Asian crab-apple specimens that are usually preferred for ornamental purposes.   The colourful fruit of the Asian crab-apples last well into the winter and provides food for squirrels, like the one pictured here, as well as for over-wintering birds.   It's been such an open winter so far that the grey, black and red squirrels are not hibernating in their nests, but are out foraging every day so far.  

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Barry Wallace

Staying warm in Pottageville...

Photo by Barry Wallace

The Firewood Poem

by Lady Celia Congreve, 1930

Beech-wood fires burn bright and clear

If the logs are kept a year;
Store your beech for Christmastide
With new-cut holly laid beside;

Chestnut's only good, they say,

If for years 'tis stored away;
Birch and fir-wood burn to fast
Blaze too bright and do not last;
Flames from larch will shoot up high,
Dangerously the sparks will fly;
But ash-wood green and ash-wood brown

Are fit for a queen with a golden crown.

Oaken logs, if dry and old,
Keep away the winter's cold;
Poplar gives a bitter smoke,
Fills your eyes and makes you choke;
Elm-wood burns like churchyard mould,
E'en the very flames are cold;

It is by the Irish said
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread

Apple-wood will scent the room,
Pear-wood smells like flowers in bloom;

But ash-wood wet and ash-wood dry

A king shall warm his slippers by.

But what of maple, Lady Congreve?

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Barry Wallace

For sale at the Grackle...$1900

                                                                                                                  Photo by Barry Wallace

for the painting ~ not the car

I stopped by the Grackle Coffee House, on Main Street in Schomberg, last Friday afternoon for a latte and a date square and decided to take a picture of the big '53 Caddy' mixed-media painting, on canvas, 36" x 60", by Darryl Wiebe.   It's been there for a while and always catches my eye.   It's a great piece of work but it's not cheap.   But the right person is going to spot it eventually and will decide, on the spot, to snap it up.   '53 Caddy' isn't the only eye-catching piece there.   There are others, free for the viewing.
Please comment if you wish.
Barry Wallace