This is a shot of St Bernard Elementary School showing its wonderful new addition on the left side and the older brick sections on the right. The addition was designed by ATA Architects and was completed in 2012 while the rest of the school was built in 1956 with additions through to the 1970s. I can't get over the difference and have to think that the kids find it so much more visually stimulating too. I wonder what the interior is like but it isn't easy to wander into a school these days.
I was running errands in the north end of the Weston neighbourhood of Toronto on the weekend and just caught a glimpse of the trees at the edge of this sign which is located high on a silo on the grounds of Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring. Of course I made a detour to get a better view and discovered that the company has been in business here for more than 90 years since 1922 and still operates from this same location and is still Canadian owned. And a whole flock of birds was coming in for a landing atop the structure which was pure luck!
Taking part in Signs, Signs. Click here for more signs.
The Kay Gardiner Beltline Park is a 4.5 km long linear park that runs through the middle of the city following the route of a railway line that ran there from the 1890s until the 1960s. It is a really popular hiking, biking and running trail especially in the summer since it is well-shaded and so treed that in parts of it you can forget that you are in the city. This pic was taken along the part of the trail which runs along the northern edge of the Mount Pleasant Cemetery and as you can see, it is not cleared of snow or ice at all so it can be a challenging route in winter!
I've been back to the famous graffiti laneway off Queen St West and discovered that the artist, Elicser, has painted over an older mural that he had done in this framed space. The old one had been tagged several times so it is good to see a new piece here. I've shown several of Elicser's works before including the "Hug Me Tree" (click here) and his work is quite recognizable with its soft figures and landscapes. I'm not sure what the sandwich caption means.
Taking part in Monday Murals. Click here for more murals.
Wallace Chalmers was involved in perfecting and patenting a rubber suspension system for vehicles and his family chose to have a very unique headstone made for him. This granite tire is 36" wide and 6" deep and has to be one of the most unique I have ever seen! The reflection in the middle is a little added feature.
This is the Yonge St entrance to Mt Pleasant Cemetery which opened in 1876 on the outskirts of Toronto but is now is located in the centre of the city as the city grew around it. It is the largest (over 200 acres) and most beautiful cemetery in the city with its wandering paths and trails which lead you through the park-like arboretum that is one of the finest in N America. The cemetery was named a "National Historic Site of Canada" in 2000 based on its beauty, its variety of wonderful sculptures, and the many important people who have their final resting places there. It's a great place to wander on a sunny cold winter day as it offers a bit of protection from the wind. Tomorrow I will show you probably the most unusual headstone to be found there.
It is really cold here this week and it is so wonderful to see the Amaryllis Christmas gifts coming to flower and giving us a hint of warmer times to come. I haven't seen this variety before - it is called "Dancing Queen" and is a real beauty and a double. I can never decide which colour I like the best but must admit that nothing can compare to a bright red Amaryllis!
Taking part in Today's Flowers. Click here to see more flowers.
