Really?/Signs, Signs

 Bookstore, Barrie, Ontario

Are these names for real? The store is.

Well tomorrow morning we turn the page on our calendars from February 29 to March 1.  Doesn't it feel good to know the first day of spring is very, very close?

I am linking to Lesley at Sign, Signs HERE

G/ ABC Wednesday

 GREEN light at East GWILLIMBURY intersection

I'm sure this looks familiar to all of you since most large cities around the world have traffic lights,  Traffic has been a problem for centuries - even during the days of horse and buggies but before traffic lights, policemen in white gloves were typically the ones in Europe and North America to control it.

In 1868, a new invention appeared outside the British House of Parliament for night use: a gas lantern that turned at its base by a lever to reveal a red or GREEN side. Red meant stop but GREEN apparently meant caution. Unfortunately in 1869 the lantern exploded... and that was that! Until...

red/green traffic lights appeared in several American cities: Salt Lake City (1912) and Cleveland (1914). Then in 1920, three colours appeared in Detroit, and the rectangular box that held the colours were suspended by a cable to be more easily seen by oncoming vehicles. Just like now, the yellow (or amber) meant the light was about to change.

ABC Wednesday.

Port Perry/ Barn Charm

Green barn under blue sky

I like the stone foundation of this barn . Plus the green is lovely against the clear blue sky.

I am linking to BARN CHARM at Trish's Bluff Area Daily.

Snowdrifts/ Scenic Sunday

Sunset on snowdrifts yesterday

The setting sun is reflecting on the snow.

I'm linking to Scenic Sunday.

Bench Shots/ Shadow Shot

Winter shadows on a sunny day

If you - like me - are fascinated by shadows, checkout Shadow Shot Sunday to see more!

Motion/ My Town Shoot Out

 Flapping his feathers

This week's My Town Shoot Out challenge: motion

 Whee!!!

Winter pleasure

I am linking to MY Town Shoot Out

Roadside 2/ Friday Fences

Snow at end of day

A weird thing happened last Saturday. It snowed! We haven't had much of the white stuff this year.

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

White Rose/ Signs, Signs

 Vintage gas pump

White Rose, the "All Canadian" company until the early 1960s when Shell Canada bought White Rose out.

 Closeup of sign

Apparently there were stations all across Canada except in the western province of Britsh Columbia.

A mystery to me

Anyone know what this is?


I am linking to Lesley at Sign, Signs HERE

F/ ABC Wednesday

 FLAT Iron Grill, Barrie - a boring side

But wait! Look at the next photo!

FLAT Iron Grill - the interesting side

This restaurant is named after the architectural style that fits a building onto a  wedge-shaped lot.

Originally, the FLAT Iron Grill was the Simcoe Hotel built in 1876, a stagecoach stop that attracted thirsty travelers as well as workers from nearby lumber camps.  If you're thinking there may have been more than a few drunken brawls there, you'd be right.

However, Barrie is a more civilized town now, although it is said the building has a ghost, a woman in a long dress who stands in the shadows.

ABC Wednesday.

Belhaven/ Barn Charm

Cattle barn, Belhaven, Ontario

This barn is on a country road just north of East Gwillimbury.

I am linking to BARN CHARM at Trish's Bluff Area Daily.

Lake Ontario/ Scenic Sunday

The shore of Lake Ontario at Bond Head

I'm linking to Scenic Sunday.

Hearts/ My Town

 Boutique window, Unionville, Ontario

This week's My Town Shoot Out challenge: hearts

 Bleeding hearts

Yes, from my archives.

 Secret message??

Gotta let you imagination rule here!


I am linking to MY Town Shoot Out

Roadside/ Friday Fences

Fencing between road and Mitchell Lake, Kirkfield, Ontario

Vine growing on post

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

Lake House/ Signs, Signs

Restaurant, Fenelon Falls, Ontario

I like the name of this restaurant. Ah! Summer and the living is easy. Sounds especially good in the middle of February.

I am linking to Lesley at Sign, Signs HERE

E/ ABC Wednesday

 Fire ESCAPE #1

Fire ESCAPES are a special kind of EXIT often used during EMERGENCIES. But have you noticed modern buildings rarely have fire ESCAPES any more. I wonder why that is!

 Fire ESCAPE #2

 Fire ESCAPE #3

ABC Wednesday.

Orange Farm/ Barn Charm

Under rare February blue skies on last Thursday in late afternoon light

I am linking to BARN CHARM at Trish's Bluff Area Daily.

Mitchell Lake II/ Scenc Sunday

Seen from a bridge on Centennial Park Road, Kirkfield, Ontario

Yesterday's photo was taken from a bridge looking easterly but today's is from a bridge looking westerly.

I'm linking to Scenic Sunday.

Kirkfield Lift Lock/ Sunday Bridges

Last week at Kirkfield, Ontario

Would you believe that between May and October boats cross this bridge on a regular basis?

It's true. It sure looks weird to see a boat go over when a car is going under!  But this time of year, all is quiet. This is part of the Trent-Severn Waterway, a shortcut for boats across central Ontario between Lakes Ontario and Huron.

To get an idea of what the lift lock looks like in summer click HERE.

To see other bridges, check out Sunday Bridges.

Mitchell Lake/ SOOC

Looking at Mitchell Lake from a bridge on Centennial Park Road

Thursday was a rare blue-sky day in February!

To see more photos straight out of the camera, visit Jan's  SOOC at Murietta365.

Scavenger Hunt/ My Town

 Wood in a pile under a bit of snow

This weeks scavenger hunt at My Town Shoot Out: wood, metal, stone

Okay, first a confession:  not one of the following photos was taken in my town. Yesterday my husband and I took a road trip east to Fenelon Falls. a getaway break and a reward to ourselves for having finished laying new tiles on our kitchen floor. (YAY!)

 Metal wheel for opening and closing the boat locks at Fenelon Falls 

Fenelon Falls is on the Trent-Severn Waterway that allows boats to take a shortcut between the two of the Great Lakes (Ontario and Huron) via various rivers and Lake Simcoe

Stones below the falls at Fenelon Falls, Ontario

I use the term "stones" loosely here. These stones are smaller than the rock from which they broke off.

I am linking to MY Town Shoot Out

Sunset/ Friday Fences

Fence at sunset

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

Lumberyard/ Signs, Signs

Lumberyard where my husband likes to buy wood

I think this guy means business!

I am linking to Lesley at Sign, Signs HERE

D/ ABC Wednesday

 DUCK, male mallard

Mallards are by far the most common ducks where I live...and probably where you live too as they have adapted to life on every continent except Antarctica.

 DUCK, back of male mallard's head

Males are much easier to identify than females at this time of year. They sure are colourful in bright sunlight!

Duck, male and female mallard

This female is not shy. She's asleep!

ABC Wednesday.

Rosy Red/ Barn Charm

Last Saturday somewhere south of Barrie, Ontario

Red is such a cheerful colour, especially on an overcast day! As you can see, there's very little snow here in early February. Sadly, there's hardly any sunshine either.

Longer view

I am linking to BARN CHARM at Trish's Bluff Area Daily.

Tendrils/ Macro Monday

 Grapevine tendrils

Can you see the heart? Or do I just have Valentine's Day on my brain?

This one is in quite a tangle, don't you think?

To see more macro shots visit  MACRO MONDAY at Lisa's Chaos.

Play House/ SOOC

Great place to play with your friends

This cute playhouse is in a backyard that can be seen (and photographed) from the street behind it.

To see more photos straight out of the camera, visit Jan's  SOOC at Murietta365.

Gull/Friday Fences

I'm gonna jump...maybe

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

Wheat/ Signs. Signs

At Welland Canal

In either English or French, that's a LOT of wheat!

I am linking to Lesley at Sign, Signs HERE