Arches

 

I quite liked the McDonalds float in the Santa Claus Parade. I assume that Ronald probably was on board during the parade itself.

Creatures In The Parade

 

I loved these squirrels and the rabbit that were on one of the floats in the Santa Claus Parade. The squirrels were probably planning some mischief that they could get into along the parade route.

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

Build Something

 

Everyone of all ages seems to love building with Lego and they sponsored a float at the Santa Claus Parade complete with Christmas sweaters.

Winter Fun

 

The polar bears and deer were having fun on a nice winter day on this float. During the parade the deer and the back polar bear will be rotating.

Sign At Dog Park

 

I spotted this sign at a local dog park, a place that I have spent many hours at over the years. I thought it was a lovely sign.

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

Clowns Love A Parade

 

There are always lots of clowns at the Santa Claus Parade some on this float but a lot marching alongside all the floats during the parade. They are all happy clowns, no scary ones.

Purple

 

Another mural from the laneway that has all the newly painted images. At first glance this looked like abstract painting until I realized that the purple bits were actually feet & legs walking along behind the black plants. I quite like it.

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

Warming Up

 

To help people stay warm before and during the Santa Claus Parade, Tim Horton's had set up several kiosks where you could get free coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies. Tim Horton's is a national coffee and donut chain that seems to have a store on every other corner all across the country. This was the view in Christie Pits 2 hours before the parade began. The hot chocolate was wonderful!

Windy Day

 

It was a cold and windy day when I noticed this squirrel hunkered down in a tree near my deck. It was there for at least 15 minutes with the wind blowing at its back. I think it was trying to use its tail as a blanket but I'm not sure how successful that was. Eventually the cold creature moved off to a more protected location.

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

Working Hard

 

The creatures on this float from the Santa Claus Parade will be working hard once the parade begins as they run luggage through the conveyor belts. The floats  in the parade are all sponsored and this one is from the folks at Billy Bishop airport which is a small airport right downtown by the lake so hence the luggage.

Leading The Way

 

The lead off float for our Santa Claus Parade is traditionally Mother Goose and this is the new Mother Goose which appeared last year replacing a float which was very old. It seems suitable to have a Canada Goose as they seem to be everywhere these days. That is Christie Pits park in the background. During the parade there will be kids sitting on those stools on the float.

Getting Ready

 

Our Santa Claus Parade was a few weeks ago and every year I go down to where they start organizing the floats along Bloor St W just past Korea Town where it begins. Each year adult family members go down to Bloor St early in the morning to claim a space for the kids and to set out chairs for later. Then they go home and bring the kids back when the parade starts just after noon. I took this shot around 9:30 am as I headed by to check out the floats at the starting line. 

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

Up On The Roof

 

Nothing to do with the old 60s song by the Drifters but I do love getting out on the roof deck even when summer is gone. A neighbouring Gingko was providing the only hit of colour that day.

Stopped In My Tracks

 

I have to admit that this garage stopped me in my tracks. I love these doors! There was no artist signature which is unfortunate. The pair of doors on the left are in bad shape at the bottom but it doesn't distract.

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

Winter Is Here

 

We escaped all the big snow storm but winter has arrived in Toronto with the opening of all the outdoor rinks that the city runs. This one at Christie Pits park was not yet open for the day but will soon be in heavy use.

Stay Very Still

 

This little chipmunk saw me and thought if it stayed very still that I wouldn't see it but that didn't work. They are such cute little things.

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

 

I went by the old Honest Ed's development site lately after hearing on the news that it will be about a year until it is all finished. It was nice to see that these old buildings along Markham St have all been restored and are waiting for new windows. The first building on the right used to be a cafe and the others housed galleries and studios. It will be interesting to see what happens to them. Those high rises behind are all to be rental apartments with some at affordable rents.

Carpet Of Leaves

 

Most of the leaves around town are being cleaned up so we won't see scenes like this for much longer. It is so dreary when they are all gone.

Still Going Strong

 

Trinity St Paul's United Church has been on Bloor St W in the Annex neighbourhood since 1889 and is celebrating its 135 years there. The church is also a Centre for Faith, Justice & the Arts and is known for its reputation for social activism.  

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

From The 1960s

 

I was wandering along after a long walk and came across this old Dodge Dart. I am not sure about its age other than probably from the mid 60s when cars still had individual styles unlike today when so many of them look alike. It looked to be in great condition.

Flowery Garage

 

It was a pleasant surprise to walk down a laneway and spot this lovely painted garage. It turned out to be the first of a whole group of garages that have recently had murals painted on the doors. I'll be showing them for the next several Mondays. The artist for this one is AV WU.

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

December Theme: Slow

 

The December theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Slow and for this I am showing a shot of the slow traffic along Bloor St W in the Annex neighbourhood. Congestion seems to be everywhere these days. Those tall buildings are part of the development taking place on the old Honest Ed's site and hopefully will soon be available for rent. The development has been slow to get finished.

Taking part in the theme Slow. Click HERE to more examples of slow from around the world.

The Duck Pond

 

One of my favourite places to wander when I have the time is around the duck pond at James Gardens. This shot was taken at the end of September on a very warm day and it is interesting that the ducks were all staying in the shade even when swimming in the pond. Smart birds.

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

A Classy Food Truck

 

St George St runs through the middle of the U of Toronto campus and parts of it are lined with food trucks of all kinds during the day. While wandering around, I spotted this fabulous little food truck selling coffees and teas. It has to be the most beautiful one I have seen with all the flowers and the shape of the truck itself.

Top Of The Tower?

 

I was wandering through the University of Toronto (U of T) campus and noticed that the CN Tower had lost its top half in the low clouds. That is all that remains just to the left of the dome of Convocation Hall. The hall was built in 1906 and is the location for all of the graduation ceremonies and other special events of the university.

Thirsty?

 

I loved the play on words for the sign on this tea place in Korea Town along Bloor St W. Obviously people have been getting up onto the roof to paint on the next door building.

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

Sunset

This was taken from the roof deck last week. I always love seeing the silhouettes of the trees when the leaves are gone. Only the Ginkgo (near centre) still had its leaves then but they are gone now.
 

Sweet Puppy

 

I showed you the front of this Pet Pantry last Wednesday but wanted to show the mural on the side of it with the sweet puppy up on a pedestal. The artist for this one is Elisa Conlin.

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

Small Laneway House

This is one of the smallest laneway houses that I have see. Having a peek through the small window on the main floor it looks to have just one room on the ground floor and probably a bedroom and washroom upstairs. It is all self contained though and probably quite nice.
 

In The Midst

 

I was dropping off clothes donation at a charity centre and noticed this young woman and her child right in the midst of a huge flock of pigeons. By the time I got my camera out she had moved a bit but the pigeons were basically just ignoring her. They just calmly moved aside from the stroller as she headed away. I guess they knew she had no food for them so they weren't interested.

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

Gingko

 

The subject for yesterday's artist was this golden Gingko tree glowing in the late afternoon sunshine. Within a day it had shed all of its leaves.

Art At The Park

 

On Tuesday I showed you someone reading at the park but there were other people enjoying the park in their own way. This woman had set up her easel and was busy capturing the fall views. I'll show you her subject tomorrow.

Pet Pantry

 

I spotted this structure outside of a neighbourhood cafe and thought it was a Little Library but looking closer I realized that it was  pet pantry. People can put extra pet toys or foods for someone else to take if they need it. A nice thing in an area with a lot of dogs and cats. I will post a shot of the side next Monday for Monday Murals.

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

At The Park

 

There is something wonderful about sitting in a park on a nice fall day reading and having a coffee.

Butterfles and Streetcar

 

These butterflies and flowers were found on the side of a commercial building along St Clair Ave W. The streetcar is a nice addition since they run along St Clair right out front of the building.

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

Leaves

 

Out for a walk on a windy day and the Maple trees were dropping all their leaves. All of these leaves were from one large tree. It was great fun to walk through them.

Just Resting

After spending all afternoon eating seed pods off our neighbouring Maple tree this squirrel was quite content to sit and rest for a while. It does seem to be giving me a look to just leave it alone though.

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

November Flowers

 

We have been having warmer temperatures than normal for this time of year and the result is that there are still flowers around. I spotted this rose bush covered in blossoms just this week!

Golden

 

The bright reds tend to get a lot of attention in autumn but the golden yellows are beautiful too.

Fire Station 344

This fine looking building is Toronto Fire Station 344 which was built in 1910 and was originally Fire Station 23. The building originally housed steam-powered horse-drawn pumpers but is now totally modern. It is right in the middle of a residential area in the Annex and I wonder where the horses were kept.

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

Details On A House

 

I love all the interesting details on this home in the Annex neighbourhood like the wonderful side porch and the lovely oriel window above it. At the front of the house there is a nice balcony on the 3rd floor and then along the side of the 3rd floor is that little round window. I'm betting this place is beautiful inside.

A Party Bus

 

I first noticed the mural on the side of this bus and then saw the name. It reminded me of an old hippie bus but it turns out that it is a party bus that takes people around on pub crawls and other things like that. No actual party on the bus.

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

Another Fine Restoration

 

I love all the wonderfully restored homes in the Yorkville neighbourhood. This old Victorian looks quite grand.

Pretty Girl

 

The male Cardinals seem to get all the attention but the females are quite pretty too. This one was getting ready for a bath up on our roof deck.

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

School Conversion

This building in the Annex neighbourhood housed a convent and high school for girls for many years. It was converted to condos several years ago and they are quite lovely. I have been in a couple of them and they have large rooms, lots of space and lots of windows. A successful conversion.
 

Red!

 

While out for a walk I came upon this real showstopper of a Maple tree so of course stopped for a pic. It was amazing.

A Sign Of TheTimes

It must be a sign that we all have too much stuff but there are more and more storage facilities being built. This is one being constructed on Bathurst St and looks huge.  The sign in the middle of the shot is for Proper Twelve which turns out to be an Irish whiskey - who knew.

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

Runners

 

The 32nd annual Run For The Cure took place at the beginning of October but I forgot to post a pic of the runners. The run has raised millions of dollars for cancer research over the years. As you can see there were many thousands of people running on what was a gorgeous day.

Peaceful Beach?

 

This painted utility box may be abstract but I'm sure the artist, Chris Perez, is referencing a rather peaceful beach. A nice tropical one!

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

Wonderful Red

 

I spotted this line of trees down a side street while I was out for a walk and had to turn the corner to see the beauties. They were amazing as they glowed in the sunshine.