More Laneway Houses

 

Yet more laneway houses that I recently spotted. They seem to be popping up all over the older parts of the city which have laneways. I much prefer the one on the right with the wood facade. The one on the left disappears behind that large shrub.

Hidden Dogs

 

At a first glance this looks like a totally abstract mural but then you notice the little dog down in the bottom left. Looking around you can see a little pink dog just right of the middle. The only artist info is WF25.

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

A Nice Welcome

 

There is something about this house that feels quite welcoming to me. And of course I like the nice balcony upstairs.

Got Any Treats?

 

This cheeky squirrel was just a few feet away fro me as I walked along a path and he was quite determined to get some type of food from me. I had lots of time to pull out my camera and take a few shots while he stared me down.

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

Like A Mirror

 

Earlier this summer this pond in Wychwood Park was covered in duckweed but as the weeds die back the reflections have appeared. As you can tell the pond is totally surrounded by trees.

Autumn Is Here

 

The Goldenrod is flowering which is a sure sign that the seasons are changing. This large patch was growing by a small creek and looked so lush that I had to stop for a pic.

Transit Signs

 

This collection of transit signs was found along the wall in the Wychwood barn which I showed you yesterday. These are major intersections in the city and it is likely that the signs were on display in those spaces. I love the graphic look of them.

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

A Fine Reuse

This is the interior of one of the old streetcar barns at the Wychwood Barns community centre and park. The barns were built as a streetcar maintenance facility in 1913 and have been converted into a multi-use space with theatres, artist studios, event spaces and more. This is barn 2 which is used as a space for a weekend farmers' market as well as various shows and even for wedding receptions. It is a great space with all of those skylights.
 

Happy

 

This happy face was spotted on a utility box outside of a public library which is a good spot for a cheerful child.

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

Careful Walking

 

This another shot of the fountain in Mirvish Village. It is activated by pressing a button over by that wall on the right. I can foresee lots of unsuspecting people getting wet while standing near the fountain when the sidewalk spurts up suddenly around them.

Keeping Warm

 

We had a cool morning a couple of weeks ago and I happened to be at the grocery store where there is a flock of about 20 pigeons who live around the parking lot. It was the first time I have ever seen them all down onto the asphalt trying to keep warm as it had been sunny earlier. There were pigeons hunkered down everywhere.

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

Brunch Anyone?

 

Brunch is a very popular thing here and this was the recent scene at a restaurant as people lined up to get a table. It would have to be very good food before I would wait that long.

It's A Jungle Out There

 

This ivy had grown all the way up a telephone pole and was beginning to cover over the streetlight that I spotted along Palmerston. It all looked quite lush.

A Fun Teacher

 

I saw this sign posted on a pole and thought it was great. Some raccoons are so talented.

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

Ivy House

 

I have always liked this house in the Annex neighbourhood, particularly the details around the porch. The ivy along the side wall looks so lush and it looks like they keep it trimmed.

Neighbourhood Watch

 

The chicken mural that I first showed a couple of weeks ago is finished and those eyes are now keeping watch along their laneway. The artist for this one is roanTO.

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

A Beauty

 

Another beautiful Hibiscus that I spotted at a corner store. I have still resisted buying one even though I love them.

Slow Walk

 

I think this is a cicada which I spotted walking very slowly across the pavement in a laneway. At first I thought that it was dead but when I got closer to it the poor thing started to walk faster. It has the look of an ancient fossil about it.

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

Among The Trees

 

I usually take pics of these turreted homes in the Annex neighbourhood in winter when there are no leaves to block the view but this looked so peaceful as I wandered by. And the young man on the left busy on his phone was just a timely addition.

An Entranceway

 

I like the contrast between this old Annex house and the modern metal planters along the walkway leading to the entrance. And all of the plants look happy.

Party On!

 

I love the name of this bar on St Clair Ave W. It sounds like the perfect place for a party. I had to stand out into traffic for the pic so have cut off the bottom of the place.

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

Pretty Pink

 

It seems to have been a good year for Echinacea since I have seen lots of it around and it all looks quite healthy like these ones do. I love the pink.

A Big One

 

It was impossible to get the whole of this mural into a shot and so after trying several times this is probably the best I can do. Titled "Yellow Oasis" by artist Yasaman Mehrsa, it shows how nature is around us often hidden underground like some old creeks are or just in gardens and green spaces.

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

Shady House

 

A week ago I showed you a nice apartment building on Palmerston Blvd with the great balconies. This is the house right beside the apartment and it also has a nice balcony but I really wanted to show the wonderful round street lamps which line this street. They make the street look so elegant.

Foraging

 

These little devils are very busy at this time of year as they forage for food to store away and also look for places they can get into for shelter in the winter. It seems to be a constant battle to keep my tomatoes from them!

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

Inside the Mystery

 

I showed you the outside of this mysterious building a few weeks ago (HERE) and happened to go by recently when the front wall was totally open. A nearby security guard told me that the space is to have some kitchen areas with some demonstrations and that people would be able to sit on these large 'stairs' to eat and watch.

Old And New

 

This is a shot of Markham St in the Mirvish Village development on the old Honest Ed's site. Ed's store was where the new buildings are but he also owned all of these old Victorian house that were rented out as studios, shops and restaurants all at reasonable rental rates. The houses are being restored and a few are again occupied. The building on the right was a pub before and now is open as a restaurant with a small patio out front. We have to wait to see what the others become.

Needs Help

 

I spotted this fun sign on the gas cap of a SUV and had to stop for a pic. I love it.

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

A Tiny Oasis

 

This tiny oasis was found in a very small front garden but it made up for its size by offering a bit of shade and the sound of trickling water. It was a nice little spot on a hot day.

Chickens

 

Chickens are appearing in a local laneway but the mural is still in progress so I will have to go back. It is always fun to see the work as it continues on. There was no sign of the artist around.

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

Apartment Balconies

 

Continuing with my discovery of balconies around town I offer this small apartment building on Palmerston Blvd. The units that have a balcony are lucky and have nice shady spots that would be cool even on a warm day. And it is a great street.

Porch Creature

Earlier in the summer I showed you cutouts of animals found on steel panels around a front porch. At the time I didn't show this wonderful elephant that is also on the porch. He made a fine addition to the others.

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

A Cooler Day

 

It is hard to tell that that is a small wading pool in the middle of this pic but it is there and usually in the summer it would be full of toddlers running around in it. This was a cooler day and no one was tempted to get wet. The city always has a couple of staff members supervising but as you can see, the young woman in green had nothing to do. The next day it was hot when I happened to go by and there was a lot of activity in the pool.

Beauty

 

This beautiful Hibiscus flower was spotted on a plant for sale at a corner store and I was tempted but have had little luck growing them inside during the winter so I left with just this pic.

Play At The Park

Boxes similar to this one have appeared at many parks around the city. Sponsored by Canadian Tire stores they are linked to an app that allows you to access the equipment for free and play and then return the equipment when finished. The things provided depend on what facilities are in the park so some have soccer balls, volleyball balls and others like this one have paddles and balls to be used on the park ping pong table. It is a great idea.

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

In Bloom

Just a bit of info to go with yesterday's mural. It sounds like it was a nice community event resulting in the mural.
 

Neighbourhood Mural

 

This mural was in the windows of yesterday's grocery store and references many of the sights to be seen in the Dupont St area such as the domed subway entrance and even Casa Loma off on the far left side. And of course there are raccoons on the  right side. I will show you the sign at the right tomorrow.

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

Filling The Bus

 

The TTC and Loblaws (a grocery chain) had a charity event in support of Second Harvest which is an organization that redistributes surplus food to places it is needed. Shoppers could buy prepackaged bags of food essentials which were then loaded into a TTC bus to "Stuff The Bus". When I went by the bus was over half full and there was still lots of bags to be loaded on.

Resting Up

 

Sometimes on a warm afternoon you just have to take a break and this squirrel was resting up before it could start foraging for treats again. It is a busy time of year for them with everyone's veggie gardens full of nice ripe produce.

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

Fine Building

 

This building on Dupont St was built in 1914 for Ford Motor company as an assembly plant. There were offices on the bottom 2 floors then assembly and painting on the next 3 floors and then the vehicles went up to the roof where there was a test track if you can believe it. Ford moved in 1925 and then several different companies used the space until Planter Peanuts took over in 1948 and had their Canadian head office and processing facilities here until 1987. Today it is owned by Faema who are commercial espresso machine suppliers. Much of the building is rented out as offices and studios. It has been wonderfully restored and maintained and has heritage designation. A fine building.

Better View

 I was walking along a laneway that runs beside this house and spotted this great window. A perfect solution for a not very nice view. It must look great when the room is lit up at night.

Who Knew?

 

I had no idea that tufting had become popular so much that studios were opening until I saw this place that has opened recently. I didn't really know what it was and thought it was like the rug hooking of olden days but apparently it uses guns that fire tufts of fabric through a framed design and then the ends are trimmed. I guess that you discover new things every day. 

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

Nice Ride

 

This is not what I think of when I think of a Jaguar but it certainly has nice sleek lines. I couldn't resist stopping for a pic.

Seasons Changing

 

I liked this tree showing the change of seasons as you move from left to right. The parked bikes suggest that a family of four has been out for a nice ride. Unfortunately there was no artist info.

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

Hydrangea

 

There are some beautiful blooms around at this time of year and this Hydrangea growing along a busy street was particularly lovely. The whole bush was covered in these wonderful flowers.

UFO

 

I have been seeing this insect on various plants and surfaces for the last week but haven't figured out what it is. It looks a bit like a fly and a bit like some type of bee. Any ideas?

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

Stylish Bench

 

This bench in Mirvish Village stopped me in my tracks. At first I thought that is was in mid construction but realized that this is the finished design. It is unusual but still works well as a bench. I like it.

Balconies

 

  

I seem to be spotting balconies everywhere that I walk lately. This house has to win the prize for the biggest ones on a house. I assume that the place is divided into flats and each has its own walkout.

Leather Aid

 

The Sandal Man does a great job advertising his place. There are signs like this around town and he even puts ads on the city buses sometimes.

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

Cosmos & Friend

 

I love Cosmos and always plant some although these ones had seeded themselves from last year. The bees all love them and I have often seen hummingbirds on them but not this year so far. On the right you can see my little steel bird friend who enjoys the flowers too.