After The Snowfall

This shot was taken the morning after we got a fluffy snowfall which resulted in nice smooth contours in the snow. I especially like the softness where the snow meets the water. It was a beautiful morning  to wander about.

Winter On The Football Field

As I passed by one of our high schools I noticed that the whole football field was being used as a home base by hundreds of Canada Geese. I had to poke my camera through a hole in the chain link fence so couldn't get them all into the shot. It was interesting to see all the heads turn to look at me! 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

A Bit Of Colour

In the midst of our cold and snowy weather the Clivia decided it was a good time to put out some blooms. It is always a pleasant surprise to see the buds and then to watch them open. It is quite a contrast to see the flowers inside the window against a backdrop of snow.

A Butterfly

This sign with all the information about the Mourning Cloak Butterfly was attached to the pole in Yesterday's post. I had never heard of this butterfly but will be on the lookout come spring. I assume that the info and photo were put up by local resident Dave Beadle who is a noted illustrator of wildlife especially birds and moths. He is the author of the Peterson guide to Moths of Southeastern North America.

Another Laneway

As I wandered around a couple of weeks ago I spotted this sign for one of our laneways.  It seemed like an unusual name for a lane but someone had left a sign to explain what Mourning Cloak is all about. I'll share it with you tomorrow. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Snowy Deck

 This pic was taken last Tuesday after we had a snow storm on Monday. I showed you the same scene on Sunday when I sat out in the sun but this day it was -11˚C and windy so I took this pic through a window. What a difference a bit of sun can make!

Blue Bird

This was a nice discovery on a rather dull day as I wandered along a laneway trying to avoid close contact with people. I love how the door is so nicely painted while the frame around it looks so weathered. I could see no artist name on this one.  

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Sunny Day On The Deck

We have had little sunshine lately but last Sunday the sun came out and after a bit of snow overnight it made for a bright scene on the deck. It was -4˚C and with the sun it was a nice place to sit out for a few minutes. Catching some Vitamin  D.

Cat In The Shop

This lovely cat lives in an antique store and he usually sits by the window waiting for people to come in. With the Covid shutdown there are no shoppers entering non-essential stores so he is a bit lonely. When I passed by the cat was sitting in the middle of the shop looking at the door and as soon as I came near he jumped down and ran over and proceeded to rub his chin  on the handle of that wagon. Later when I passed by again he was once more sitting and staring at the door. A social creature cut off from people for a bit!

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

An Arch Of Ice

 The ice balls shown in yesterday's post were part of this arch of ice spotted in the front garden of a home.  The very cold weather we have been having was put to good use by a local artist.

Great Balls of Ice

These balls of ice were spotted in the front garden of a local home. There were such wonderful patterns in the ice. I'll show what they were doing in the garden tomorrow.

Ice Cream

While out for a wander I spotted this mural and great sign along the side of a building on College St in Little Italy. I love the name "The Big Chill" for an ice cream parlour. The sign must be super when lit up at night! 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Running Water

It has been bitterly cold here but if water is running it doesn't freeze which results in some nice winter shots. This is one of the small creeks that run through the Humber River valley.

Family Day

Today is Family Day in Ontario so the kids are all off school and many workplaces are closed for the day. The kids in this mural by Elicser seem to be spending the time writing notes to send to friends and family. I spotted this one out on the Danforth.   

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

A House For Bats

 I have heard about the bat houses that people were putting up but had never seen one until I spotted this one installed above a garage along one of the laneways I explore. It looks rather nice.

Stubborn Ducks

These are the ducks who were hanging out in the bit of open water in yesterday's pond pic. There were just a few at this time but as I passed by later there were more and more of them flying in and landing on the ice before joining these guys in the water. It was getting a bit crowded. 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

Fun At The Park

This is the stream that feeds into the other end of the pond I showed you in yesterday's post. It keeps a bit of water open for the ducks (I'll show you a close-up of them tomorrow). That young child was having a grand time pulling the red wagon around in the snow while the man was keeping a close watch that the kid didn't end up in the water!

A Bridge Over Frozen Water

Our recent cold weather has resulted in the pond at James Gardens freezing over for most of its surface. The ice isn't very thick but still creates a great backdrop for the wooden bridge.

Masked

 This assortment of masks was spotted in the window of a local milliner who has been making them since this new normal began. There is even a bit of beefcake for those who would like that look.  

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

We All Need Some Love

I was out for a wander in Little Italy and spotted this Lovebot in a store window.  I haven't been out and about as much as normal so hadn't seen one of them for a while. We could all use a bit of love these days!

The Only

The Only Cafe has been on the Danforth for over 30 years and hopefully continues for many more when we get back to normal. The left side of the cafe is a great espresso bar while the middle part is the beer bar which serves an extensive variety of microbrews. They have a huge patio out back which I have enjoyed in summertime. The mural didn't seem to have a signature that I could find.   

Taking part in Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Wonderful Brickwork

I've always admired this building found along Harbord St near U of Toronto. It was built in 1880 and now has heritage protection probably because of that wonderful brickwork. The main floor houses a bookstore and the other floors are probably flats.

Access Denied

 This pic was taken a year ago just after a big snowstorm. The squirrels were usually able to reach the red bird feeder by jumping onto that lower structure which is a cone and then reaching out to grab onto the feeder. The snow has done a good job stopping that access route for the poor black squirrel. 

Taking part in Saturday's Critters. Click HERE to see more creatures from around the world.

More Laneway Decor

Just up the lane from the wooden gate that I showed you I spotted this mosaic that had been attached to what would have been a boring block wall. It is so nice that some people use their creativity to brighten up things!

Wooden Gate

I spotted this nicely aged wooden gate while wandering along a laneway trying to maintain my social distance from the many people who were out walking that day. Someone took the time to put some nice patterns on a gate which opens into their back garden. This pic also gives you an idea of how close the houses in the older parts of the city to each other.

A Laneway in Little Italy

I was wandering around the streets and laneways  of the Little Italy neighbourhood when I happened upon this lane named after Morley Safer. Safer was a long time journalist and was best known for his 46 years on the American TV show 60 Minutes. It turns out that he grew up on Manning Ave, which is where the lane is entered from, and went to the nearby schools including Harbord Collegiate. 

Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

Dream

I spotted this wonderful mural in a tiny parkette while out for a wander. I love the face of that child who is dreaming of flying off in a rocket. It looks like you can workout on some equipment while dreaming of other things. There was a signature on the mural but I couldn't make it out.

Taking part in yesterday's Monday Murals. Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

February Theme: Smiles

 The February theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Smiles. My submission for this is a pic taken of my Dad last summer when we first saw each other after being separated by the Covid restrictions for a few months. That smile made my day! 

Taking part in the theme Smiles. Click HERE to see more smiles from around the world.