New Tower

 

They are building a timber tower as an addition to one of the athletic buildings at U of Toronto. When I went by in November it was covered in tarps so I will have to go back to check out the progress.

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

Fire Station 344

 

This is Toronto Station 344 which was built in 1910 as Station 1910. It has undergone renovations and is fully modernized but still has that stately look about it.

A Winter Laneway

 

Before spring gets here I wanted to show you what our laneways looked like during winter. The city does no snow clearing in the lanes so it is up to each homeowner to clear in front of any garage being used. This winter the resulting piles almost covered any murals on the doors.These 2 abstract ones still stood out.

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

Slow Progress

 

Construction of this condo building has been going on for years now so they must be doing a lot of fine details on the interior. A Starbucks sign has appeared on the ground floor which was a bit of a surprise since it looks like a long time before it will be opening.

Waiting For Spring

 

This pic was taken last September on a warm sunny day. Even the Sparrows were enjoying the sunshine. There have been very few birds around this winter. We are all waiting for spring.

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

Sitting Empty

 

Almost directly across the road from yesterday's post sits this small apartment building that has been sitting empty for years now. This is a very expensive part of town so a speculator must be waiting for something before going ahead with a development of some kind. It is a shame for it to sit empty.

A Favourite

 I have always liked this 8-plex building in the Annex neighbourhood especially in summer when the residents hang lots of planters on those porches. Even in winter it looks great.

Colourful Bins

 

The city has been decorating the garbage and recycling bins that are placed in parks. At first I thought neighbours were doing it but now realize that the decorations are official. It's a good idea.

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

A Dress for Spring

 

This dress was spotted in the window of a dress designer along Bathurst St and it looked so happy and springlike that I had to take a shot. It is quite a contrast to the snowy reflection.

Bird In The Snow

I was walking along the street and happened to notice a bird along the wall along a laneway so of course headed down to check it out. The bird poking out of the snow turned out to be a beauty painted by the artist Alfalfa. I love it.

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

Details

 

When walking through the Annex neighbourhood it was the little 'hats' on the roof pillars that caught my eye on this pair of semi-detached homes. Then I noticed how the home on the right had painted the details below the eaves to highlight them while the house on the left had just painted them over with the grey paint. I still like the pair even with the differences.

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.

Lunchtime

 

This shot was taken last week before we got 60 cm (2 ft) of snow.  It was cold and these little House Sparrows were gobbling up all the seeds that they could find.

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

Astonished

 

Every time that I see one of these vehicles I can't believe my eyes. And lately I have seen a couple in really bright colours which just increases the effect.

The Patio is Closed

 

This shot was taken before our last big dump of snow. I fear to think what this might look like now. Hoping for an early spring!

A Nice Tribute

 

It was good to see this sign installed by Heritage Toronto in the Annex out front of one of the apartment buildings that Uno Prii had designed. He designed over 250 buildings around the world with many of them in the Annex neighbourhood. You can click the Uno Prii label below to see some that I have posted in the past.

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

Summer Flowers

 

It is nice to think about summer flowers and the visits they got from Hummingbirds when we are now having really cold weather. Not the best conditions for getting out for new pics! These Cosmos were out on the deck where Frank the snowman now rules.

Mural

 

This large mural was spotted on the side of an alternative school along Bloor St W. It commemorates the signing of a treaty between groups of indigenous peoples many years ago. The list of artists is on the left side.

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

A Snowman?

 

This guy does not look happy about the snow on his nose. Spotted in the front garden of an Annex neighbourhood home.

Out In The Storm

 

It was surprising to see this squirrel out having a snack while the snow came down around him. Usually they stay home and wait for better weather. Squirrels seem to be the only creatures I see these days.

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

After The Storm

 

It wasn't just snowmen like Frank that were covered in snow after our big storm last week. These stairs needed a bit of work before they were useable. Lucky it was light snow.

Snow

 

We had a lot of snow recently and poor Frank almost disappeared under it. It finally melted a bit after a few days and he is now a bit happier. Even his little nose was covered!

It's Electric

 

I spotted this restaurant while walking along Bloor St on a Sunday morning. It wasn't open but apparently they serve Australian pub food. I am not sure what that is so will have to drop by on another day. I guess that is a platypus on the sign?

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