Need Sunglasses?

 

We have had a few days when you needed sunglasses but not many when you could sit outside. We had one good day a week ago when I actually saw some people sitting outside a cafe by this tropical looking mural. I could find no artist info on this one.

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

Finally

 

I actually spotted some spring flowers this past week. They were in a south facing garden enjoying the sun on one of the few nice days we had.

They Are Back

 

The Robins are back from their winter holidays in the south. I have been seeing large flocks of them in a local park but caught this pic in the Annex neighbourhood. This Robin looks a bit bedraggled but he was finding lots to eat in this lawn so will soon be fit again. My regular Robin who visits my birdbath on the deck has been back and bathing on days when it hasn't been raining.

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

Rosary

 

I took a tour of a few homes in Merida Mexico and behind the brick walls and bars on the windows there were beautiful things. This home with 20 ft ceilings had this large rosary made from henequen (sisal) by the artist Marcela Diaz whose work I showed you yesterday. This was in one of the bedrooms.

Art In Merida

 

The railway museum in Merida Mexico has a temporary space that features various exhibits. While I was there the exhibit was a show of work by local artist Marcela Diaz who was born in Merida and has shown work worldwide. Her work mainly consists  of large textile sculptures  made with native Yucatan plants such as henequen (sisal). She often features feminine symbols such as these crocheted dresses. I like her work.

Railway Museum

 

This was the sign at the entrance to the railway museum in Merida Mexico. It was quite interesting to tour as it gave a good history of the development of the railway in the state of the Yucatan. I liked the style of the stencilled letters on the sign.

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

See The Train?

 

This stained glass window was seen near the entrance to the railway museum in Merida Mexico. At first glance it appears to be abstract but if you look inside the white circle you can see a stylized train entering the picture. I quite liked it.

Bird In A Cage

 

This wonderful bird was spotted in Merida Mexico, stencilled behind the bars over the window of a house. I was told that there were several of these stencils around town but I only saw this one. It was perfect positioning. There was no artist info. Although small, I think it qualifies as a mural.

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

Columns

 

There is a very long linear park in Merida Mexico that runs for many blocks and is full of interesting things like a railway museum and a really large outdoor food court. There is a really long walkway that is shaded and and features all of these columns. It makes for a cooler spot for a walk or run on warm days.

Spring Arrivals

 

We have had awful weather lately but last week one afternoon there was a bit of sunshine and I looked out through the window to see this pair of House Finches in the trees by the roof deck. They were there for about 45 minutes just grooming and resting. I have seen them a few times since and hope that they may stay around for a while. They are always together.

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

Fishy Lady

 

I spotted this painting of a lady surrounded by fish while I was in Merida Mexico. The artist signed is as C. San but I have no info about them. I like the painting.

Outdoor Cafe

 

The weather here in Toronto has been wet & awful so I haven't been out much for wanders. In the meantime this is the decor in an outdoor cafe in Merida Mexico where the weather was warm and sunny for the whole time that I was there. Spring will soon be here I hope.

Cafe

It was the 1958 Impala up above this cafe in Merida Mexico that caught my attention. That was the first year that the Impala was built and I don't think I have ever seen one before. This was a morning pic but by evening this place was packed and the sign was highlighted with neon.

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

April Theme: Stripes

 

The April theme for the City Daily Photo Blog community is Stripes and for this theme I am showing a pic of a set of bars over a window in Merida Mexico. I loved the graphic style of these ones.

Taking part in the Stripes theme.Click HERE to see more stripes from around the world.

In A Courtyard

 

This gorgeous mural was spotted in the courtyard of a building in the historic section of Merida Mexico. It was so beautiful and wrapped around the perimeter of the courtyard. I could see no artist signature.

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

Stairway

 

I passed by this stairway in Merida Mexico a few times and each time I felt that it led to somewhere exotic but I never ventured up as we were always on our way to somewhere else.

Day Of The Iguana

 

This fairly large Iguana was spotted one morning in Mexico as it warmed itself up in the sunshine. It had been a coolish night so the sun must have felt good on its back.

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

The Walker

 

This shot was taken in a gallery that was run by the city of Merida Mexico. The gallery rooms are off to the left in several rooms and there is a large courtyard off to the right. The person walking towards us is actually a sculpture and not a real person. It was a lovely space.

Neglect

 

So many properties in Merida Mexico have been neglected for years when all that was needed was to keep protecting the facade from the ever present ground water. The resulting decay does make for interesting photos though.

Sign On A House

 

I spotted this cute sign on a house in Merida Mexico and loved the cow so had to take a pic. Similar to here, only a few houses there had names but I really like the idea.

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

Frog

 

This is the other side of yesterday's utility box. This side was in bright sunshine so the colours are a bit muted but it is a fine looking frog.

Turtle

 

While out for a walk in the sunshine of Toronto I came upon this fine turtle gracing a utility box. The artist for this one is NixoStreetart. I will show you the other side of the box tomorrow.

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

A Typical Corner In Merida

 

This is a typical corner in the old section of the city of Merida. You can see how the house on the left has been newly painted while the yellow one is being worked on. You never know what is behind the doors of these places as the properties go back so far and may be gorgeous inside with many having courtyards and swimming pools.

Gallery Dog

 

While visiting one of the galleries in Merida Mexico I spotted this wonderful onlooker waiting on the stairs for any excuse to come down for a visit. She was very friendly and was a typical nice Great Dane.

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

Deco

 

There were many of the old houses in Merida that had an art deco feeling so were probably built in the 1930s. You can see on this one how the moisture has moved up through the wall and it now needs a coat of paint. Traditional bars are found on most windows and doors although the city of Merida is very safe and the people are all so friendly.

Contrast

 

The contrast between buildings in Merida was amazing. There could be an old store that looks like this while next door was a house that was pristine like the one to the left here. The water table there is quite high so moisture comes up through the walls meaning that they have to be repainted every couple of years.

Kitchen

 

The first thing to do in Merida was to sit outside at a cafe and have some food. Wonderful.

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

Escape To The Warmth

 

While I was away from my computer I was off to visit friends at their place in Merida Mexico. This is a shot of the pool area in their wonderful walled garden. It was so nice to be warm and to explore a new area and to catch up with friends.

Fresh Oranges

 

Some people don't have garages but instead have spaces for parking off the laneway. These people have a parking space and room for this shed which has been nicely painted with fresh slices of oranges. 

I think Monday Murals will be back next week but in the meantime, Happy St Patrick's Day!

Spring?

 

Most of our snow has been melting over the last few weeks but this was the scene last Sunday at one of the local dog parks. It was still fairly icy and snowy in the shadows and on lower surfaces like in this park which is in a bit of a valley.

A Visit

 

We had a visit from this hawk who sat out in the tree by our roof deck for at least 10 minutes. This is the tree that the squirrels use all the time and a squirrel actually started to climb up before it noticed the hawk and turned around quickly. I'm not sure but I think it was a Coopers hawk? 

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

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.