Sunday morning at The Roost Cafe...

Why I read the

NEW YORK 

TIMES

...from the 
Metropolitan Diary
feature

'As a graduate student living in Morningside Heights in the 1970s, I had a position doing field work that required me to travel by train every Wednesday to Fairfield County, Conn., and back from Grand Central Terminal.

The train I usually returned on arrived at Grand Central around 11.30 p.m.   I would dash to Madison Avenue and, with luck, grab a northbound M4 bus to take me to Broadway and 122nd Street.

Over the course of the year, the bus I usually caught had the same driver.   We struck up long-winded conversations every week while never introducing ourselves to each other.   I dreaded missing that bus because the next one would not come for quite a while.

One night, my train was late, and I was sure that I would not make my usual bus.   Nonetheless, I dashed from the terminal.

As I approached the bus stop, I spotted the M4 parked, as if off-duty.   Picking up speed, I heard the engine rev and saw the door open.

"You're late," the driver said as I climbed aboard.'

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Fishing at your doorstep...almost

                                                                                           Photos by Barry Wallace

I was out for a little birding last weekend and drove around nearby Lake Wilcox.   I didn't see any birds at  the lake but there were several local residents out on the lake doing a little ice-fishing.   How convenient for the folks of the surrounding community to have fish dinners a few steps from home.  

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Bathurst Street - north of Yonge Street

Photos by Barry Wallace

I believe I may have showed these three consecutive signs, on hydro poles, in a previous Camera on King blog posting, but the message is worth repeating, right?

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Dufferin Street ~ south of the Glenville Ponds

Photo by Barry Wallace

Leaves to last a winter

Some deciduous trees do not lose their leaves in the winter.  The phenomenon is known as marcesence.   The definition of marcescence is the withering of leaves without falling off the tree. There are a dozen or more tree species in this area that are marcescent, including Aspen and Beech, one of which is likely the tree leaves seen above.   Marcesence is usually observed in young trees, as opposed to mature trees.  My Oxford English Reference Dictionary Second Edition 1996 does not include the word 'marcesence'.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Holland Marsh turns blue...

                                                                                                   Photo by Barry Wallace

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Do Red and Gray Squirrels interbreed?

 All photos by Barry Wallace

No, they do not interbreed.   They are separate species.  But observers who think they might interbreed should be forgiven their misconceptions.   The squirrel in the photos above is a Red Squirrel, even though it appears to have much gray colour also.   Below are photos of a Red Squirrel (left) and a Gray Squirrel (right).   These two specimens are easy to tell apart, but the furry critter at top could easily confuse some casual observers.   The one at top is also at the larger end of the Red Squirrel size, creating a wee bit more uncertainty.   They're all cute in my opinion.

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace

Welcome to picturesque King City...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Westerly view at the intersection 

of Keele Street &  McDonald Avenue

I cringe whenever I enter King City from its south end and have to look at the scene above.   Many times I've wanted to publish this scene in this blog-space but always demurred at drawing more attention to the sight than is wanted or needed.   Actually I'm not sure if this property is in King Township or the City of Vaughan.   Maybe it even sprawls into both municipalities.   Oh, to have something done about this eyesore, once and for all.   Harrumph!

Please comment if you wish.

Barry Wallace