To Each .......

 

There was a small building right in the middle of a residential area that had been a church when built in the 1800s, then a synagogue, and then several different offices before recently having a metal addition added to its top and being divided into condos. The units themselves may be nice inside but the look outside leaves me shaking my head. You can see at the right end what the original roof line was. To each their own.

Beautiful Restoration

 

A shot from last October well before we got a lot of snow, this house in the Annex neighbourhood has had a wonderful restoration and renovation. it is beautiful and doesn't show its age which is probably close to 100 years old.

Sunday Morning

 

Early on a Sunday morning Bloor St in Koreatown is quiet but by lunchtime there will be a lot of people walking around and checking out all the restaurants and stores.

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

Sphere

 

This large sphere was spotted outside of a small building that is being converted to condos. I really like it. It looks like it may have a light inside but I am rarely in this area after dark to check it out.

You Gotts Have Heart

 

This wonderful strawberry would be a welcome sight every time you pulled up to your garage. There was no artist info on this one.

Up On The Roof

 

I love this greenhouse up on the roof of the garage along with some large planters. A good solution to the issue of having a tiny back garden.

Looking Ducky

 

I am back to my archives for this pic of the ducks at James Gardens. I haven't been to visit them all winter but it will soon be time for an excursion to see how they have weathered this winter.

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

Different Styles

 

Most of the houses in this shot are typical of the homes in the older downtown parts of the city but as you can see when an infill project is done things look very different. The grey home is relatively new and even though its style is different it works quite well with its neighbours.

Icicles

 

I don't think that I have ever seen a winter with so many icicles around. I think it is a combination of a lot of snow, cold temperatures and scattered days of sunshine but not enough to melt the snow and ice completely. This place was particularly covered in ice but I have seen some even worse.

A Snowy Sunday

 

This street runs through a very pleasant area across the road from Casa Loma. It was looking especially beautiful early on a Sunday morning.

Another Neighbour

 

This is Spadina House which is located beside Cas Loma at the top of those stairs that I showed you the other day. Built in 1866 it was privately owned until the 1980s when it was donated to the city. It was extensively updated and is now decorated in a style from the 1920s and 30s and is operated as a museum. There are many original features like murals that have been restored. This pic was taken early on a Sunday morning before any shoveling happened after the overnight snow.

Garage Landscape

 

This has to be one of the nicest garage doors that I have seen in a long time but there was no artist signature on it so we don't know who to credit. It would feel like you were going on a journey every time you came home.

Neighbour

 

This house is directly across the road from Casa Loma and I always wonder if there is some connection to the Casa since its style looks to blend so well with its imposing neighbour.

Walking In The Snow

 

It must be cold on those feet walking through the snow but it doesn't seem to bother them. Spring can't come too soon.

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

At The Top

 

This is the view from the top of the stairs leading to Casa Loma looking back down the hill and along Spadina Rd to downtown. The CN Tower is hidden by the trees. I've always loved that large oak tree just left of centre in the pic.

Puffs Of Snow

 

I was half way up the stairs leading to Casa Loma when I came upon these bushes with wonderful puffballs of snow and had to get a shot. It is always nice to get outside before the wind blows the snow off the branches.

Strong And Free

 

This is the main entrance to Casa Loma where there is always a Canadian flag flying proudly but at this time in the world there are more Canadian flags to be found around the city than I have ever seen before. I have 4 in my window including one full sized one. Even grocery stores have signs showing which products are made in Canada.

Climbing The Stairs

 

Ahead of those cars stopped at the lights at Davenport Rd you can barely make out the switchback of stairs leading up the hill and eventually to the entrance of Casa Loma which is visible through the trees on the left. There are 110 steps leading to to the top so it is good exercise.

I will be away from my computer for a week but have scheduled posts and will visit everyone when I get back online.

Spring Planting

 

Spring feels a long way off as we deal with a lot of snow here but this mural on a garage door gives me hope that it will really come.

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

Nervous Frank

 

I showed you Frank the snowman a week ago when he was happy with a bit of snow wrapped around him. Since I took that shot we have had major snow storms and this was how Frank was looking a few days ago. He was looking rather nervous. Later in the day his eyes disappeared too.

Treats For Me?

 

Orla was visiting my friend for the day and when I met her she was wondering if I had treats in my pocket. We found some for her and she was happy.

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

Stone Wall

 

Walking towards Casa Loma gave me this view of the stone wall that surrounds the gardens of the Casa along Davenport Rd. It was a beautiful day after a snow fall.

Snowy Casa

 

I was walking up Spadina Rd  towards Casa Loma just after the snow had finished falling on a Sunday morning and loved this view with the trees and the Casa in the background. It was a perfect morning for a walk.

Archives

This is the entrance to the city of Toronto archives building on Spadina Rd. It opened in 1992 as a purpose-built building to house the records created by the city as well as scores of old maps and over a million photos. I haven't been in for a long time and must have another visit. 

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

Snowy Street

 

I showed you this street in the Annex neighbourhood a couple of weeks ago (HERE) and thought I would show it the morning after a snowfall. We have actually had a few more snow storms since this pic was taken. Everything looks so bright in the snow.

Dreamy

 

I am not sure what the meaning of this mural on a utility box is but it looked rather dreamlike to me especially with all the snow around it. The artist is cocreation_art.

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

Very Happy

 

I showed you a happy Frank the snowman a couple of weeks ago when we finally got a bit of snow. Well, this week he is very happy as we had the most snow we have had for  2 years. It looks like Frank is wearing a shawl of snow.

Another Archive Shot

 

There are not many creatures around here at this time of year so I am back into my archives for this shot of a wonderful Monarch butterfly. I imagine that they will soon be starting on their trip back up from Mexico. It is always a thrill to see one.  

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

Glowing

 

I was out for a walk on a dull day with a few flakes of snow falling when I happened upon these plastic shapes that were glowing away. You can't see the whole effect from the shot but they looked they were lit by some light source but it turns out that the plastic itself glows in the ambient light. I would love to have some of these out on the deck in winter for some pops of colour.

Theatre In A Church Building

 

This is the Randolph Theatre which is in an old church building on Bathurst St. The Gothic Revival church was built in 1888 but by the mid 1960s the congregation had shrunk and the church became a theatre.

Korean Toast

 

I always am intrigued by this restaurant in Koreatown but have yet to go inside. Jjin means "so real" in Korean and apparently what this place serves is very much like real Korean street food. They feature various fillings served between house made egg toast. 

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

Patio In Winter

 

This pub on Bloor St in the Annex neighbourhood had all of its patio lights lit up but I think it will be a couple of months before anyone is sitting out there.  This pub is in a grand old bank building and also has a patio up on the roof. It has been there a long time.

Gardening Under The Moon

 

This mural found on a garage door seems to show a couple working in a garden under the large moon behind them. At least that is what it looks like to me. The artist for this one is Jakarundi Graphics.

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

Porch Details

 

There is something about the details on this porch that really like. It is nice that the wooden supports have been painted so that they stand out so well.

From The Archives

 

This wonderful Green Frog is probably safely buried in the mud at the bottom of its pond while we all wait for spring to arrive. It has been a cold winter here this year. Soon this frog can be sitting out in the sun again.

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

Winter Sunset

 

It was a cold winter evening but I couldn't resist heading out onto the roof deck for a shot of this sunset. Love the silhouettes of the trees.

Happy Snowman

 

Frank the snowman finally got a little more snow last week - probably only about 2 inches but it still made him happy. So far this winter seems to have been windy and cold but not much snow here.

Magic

 

It would be hard to miss this sign for a shop selling magic mushrooms. I'm not sure whether it is legal to sell them but the shops pop up for a while and then disappear. I don't know if this one is still there or not.

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

More Birds

 

This is the rest of the birds from yesterday's post. There are a couple more off to the right but the construction materials were in the way of getting them in a pic. A new elevator is being built to provide full access to the subway station.

Birds On Dupont St

 

I happened to go by the subway station on Dupont St and was delighted to spot this large mural that has been painted around the entrance. The artist is Nick Sweetman. There were so many birds that I will have to show the other half of them tomorrow.

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

A Bloor St Block

 

It was a cold windy morning when I was walking along Bloor St W in Koreatown and realized there was hardly anyone else around which is unusual for this area. This is a typical streetscape for Bloor W with assorted small businesses on the ground floor and apartments above.

Finding Water

 

That is not a pond those ducks are in but rather is a large puddle beside the pond which had a lot of ice on its surface. The Mallards didn't seem to care.

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

An Old Annex Apartment Building

 

I've always liked this apartment building in the Annex neighbourhood. It fits in so well with all the homes around it in both its scale and its style. It looks like it has been wonderfully maintained.

Oriel Window

 

I always admire this oriel window found on the side of a house in the Annex neighbourhood. It is hard to see because of the reflections but there is a lovely vase of flowers sitting inside it.

Pho

 

While wandering down a laneway in Koreatown I came upon the back of one of the restaurants along Bloor St. I have never had Pho but it looks perfect for a cold day. The entrance on the street is quite nice.

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

Learning To Skate

 

A small park in the Annex neighbourhood has had 1/2 of its surface area flooded over to form a skating rink and on a recent afternoon this young girl and her mother had the whole thing to themselves for practice. The bit of snow we had had not been shoveled yet but that didn't stop her from doing quite well on the skates. That is a white dog off to the right and not a polar bear.  ;-)

Goldfinch

 

Yet another mural on a garage door. It does seem to be a good way to keep the mindless taggers away and certainly brightens the laneways. This Goldfinch in summer colours is a welcome sight on these dull winter days. The artist for this one is Frannie Potts.

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

An Annex Street

 

Just before the recent cold spell we actually had a day when the sun came out and the temperature went up to +2˚C so I headed out for a walk. This is a typical street in the west end of the Annex neighbourhood. Very few homes have driveways so street parking is the only option.

Friends

 

This little Junco sat on the railing of the deck for about 5 minutes right by the steel bird. I've seen birds siting there before and wonder if it is just a coincidence or do they recognize the shape of a bird?

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

A Diorama

 

There is a woman in the Seaton Village neighbourhood who has installed this diorama in her front garden. She changes the scenery on a regular basis and usually has whimsical themes but right now the scene is more topical. The little native animals are standing proud with the bear even standing on some Canadian money. She has a large sign off to the left of this shot saying "Canada is not for sale", a phrase that has become popular over the last couple of weeks.