Autumn Flashback

 

I have seen few creatures this winter so it is back into my archives for this one. This is the unusual Eastern Grey Squirrel that I had spotted in the autumn when wandering around at U of Toronto. It was a lovely genetic mutation and a first for me.

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

Welcome In

 

This house in the Annex neighbourhood looked very welcoming to me. I'm not sure if it is the wonderful porch & balcony or the winding walkway leading to the door. I'll try to go back in the summer to see how it looks with the garden showing rather than snow.

More Icicles

 

I have become totally fascinated with all of the huge icicles there are around this year. This house had a particularly large group of them. I don't remember a winter like this one. 

Fun Vintage

 

It is such fun to poke about in a vintage shop and see all the things that you remember from your childhood. This place is a good one for that.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

A Popular Bench

 

This bench in a local park is usually a popular place to sit but it has been unavailable for much of this winter. We are all looking forward to spring by this time of year.

I may not be commenting much for the next week so stay warm. Posts will be up though.

Scene From Past Times

 

This door was found just along the laneway from the mural I showed last week of the kids playing in a snow storm. It feels to me like a scene that might have been in the lane years ago. The art is Brother Moises again.

Thaking part In Monday Murals.  Click HERE to see more murals from around the world.

Giant Ice

 

This giant ice formation on a commercial building started out as an icicle hanging from the eaves but as more water melted then refroze it finally reached the ground and has continued to grow. It is quite a sight. The sun has melted the snow on the roof but the air temperatures are so cold this year that it freezes as it drips.

Blending In

 

I was walking through a local park that has a lot of trees when I heard hammering above me. It took a couple of minutes to locate this Downy Woodpecker which was flitting from side to side in the trees. I never did get a clear shot as it never stayed still for long.

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

A Community Rink

 

Members of the community in the Annex neighbourhood create this skating rink each year and the city provides access to water for flooding the surface. Often it only lasts a few weeks but this year it has been so cold that the kids have been skating and playing hockey here for weeks on end. It was looking really good one afternoon this week.

A Cold Bath

 

When I first saw this birdbath the sun was out creating a great shadow but by the time I got my camera out a big cloud had covered the sun. I waited a few minutes and was rewarded with these shadows which really highlighted the soft contours of the snow around the bath.

On A Cold Winter Evening

 

Actually this is a good idea on a warm summer evening too! It is a once a week treat for me all year.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

Icicles

 

There are an extraordinary number of icicles around this winter some hanging quite dangerously over walkways into homes. It has been so cold that when the sun has melted the snow it freezes up before draining down the downspouts. It makes for some interesting sights.

Kids

 

I spotted this mural along a laneway back in September and at the time thought it looked like snow falling down onto kids at play. Now with all the snow we have had it seems quite suitable. I really like the colours. The artist for this one is Brother Moises.

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

Parked

 

These bikes won't be moving very far anytime soon. I never understand why people leave them out where this can happen. At least they won't be stolen.

"I'm Cold"

 

This is the first squirrel that I have seen in the trees behind our roof deck for about a month since the deep cold hit here. He didn't look happy with the world and didn't stay out for long. It has warmed up a bit this week.

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

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!

Getting Ready

 

Anything that you might need for the big day tomorrow could be found in this store. I couldn't believe the amount of things there were for Valentine's Day. I wonder if the kids still give out cards in school?

After The Storm

 

This pic was taken a week after the big snow storm and many cars are still covered in a lot of snow. It is going to take a lot of digging to get these two out onto the road. Most people in the downtown parts of the city park on the street.

Winter Streetscape

 

This is a recent shot of Bloor St W in Korea Town. You can see how the snow becomes piled up between the road and the sidewalk. That one shop at the right has been ambitious and shovelled right out to the roadway. Most shops do nothing or do a small section but theirs is really wide.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

He's Back!

 

Our 2 ft of snow hasn't really melted much but it has compacted and blown away a bit so that Frank has appeared again. It has been so cold that he might have liked a bit of snowy insulation around him.

Looking For Flowers

 

Not only garages are painted with murals along the laneways but also some buildings are too. This shot was taken in better weather showing the back wall of a kitchen supply company. I love seeing the flowers.

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

Mr Peanut

 

This fine fellow was in my parents' house ever since I was a kid and I continue to have him at my place. He is about 2 ft tall and probably was on a Mr Peanut float in a parade in the 1950s.  With really cold weather and all of the snow I have been sticking to home a lot for pics!

Snack Time

 

These squirrels were happy to have found an area below a pine tree where the wind had blown a lot of the snow away. They were able to find lots of seeds from the tree. Squirrels haven't been out much since our big snow storm.

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

On A Cold Winter Day

 

There are few things better on a cold day than to find an interesting book and losing yourself in it for a few hours. Priceless!

Mid Snowstorm

 

This was what it was like in the middle of the storm that we got a couple of weeks ago.  You can still see Frank the snow man but he disappeared for a week later in the day. It has been quite a winter so far.

Helping The Bees

 

I spotted this sign on a bus stop this week as I walked along in the freezing cold. Even in winter we should remember our bees and be aware of the threats they face.

Taking part in Signs2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world. 

Perfect Timing

 

My ancient Clivia plant has decided to put on a show and brighten the place a bit. That white background out the window is snow! I think the plant is about 15 years old and it flowers twice a year - priceless.

Through The Garden

 

I think I may have posted this mural back in 2024 but I quite like it so here it is. It still looks tidy with no tagging. The purple looks abstract until you realize they are legs and feet walking through a garden. 

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

Where Is Frank?

 

I took this shot through a screen on the patio door which gave this grid effect to my pic. That lump you see is where poor Frank the snowman is buried in the 2 ft of snow we got last weekend. He has now appeared a bit but is still not happy. His friend behind him is not amused either.