A Lovely Day In The Neighbourhood

What seems like just an ordinary day walking down a city street.....

...turns into something unexpected as you are crossing the street.

It's a freakin' castle!

[There beyond the bridge.]

And looks like it is a favourite landmark on old Dupont Street.

And this castle has a looming presence everywhere.

Another innocuous street scene.

Until you see the damn castle again.

But for those of you in Toronto, this is not just any castle.

This is Casa Loma!

A project of early 1900's industrialist and military commander Sir Henry Pellatt.

And he built this in a very tony, very expensive and buttoned down Toronto neighbourhood in the 1910's.

Now, today, people get upset when someone builds a "monster home" next to them.  Maybe a 5,000 square foot behemoth.

Can you imagine what the neighbours were thinking when word got out about the plans for this young, brash industrialist's home?

[You can see the "regular" homes in the neighbourhood at the top of the picture.]

Well outrage is what greeted young Henry.  Tempered outrage, of course, as this is Toronto The Good we are talking about here.

But let me tell you, Letters to the Editor were frequent and biting.  A real bun fight ensued.

But all to no avail.

Construction was soon underway - employing countless scores of stone masons and other skilled tradesmen.

When it was finished, from this picture, you could almost envision angry neighbours, with pitch forks and torches, storming up the path.

Well that didn't happen.  But more Letters to the Editor did!

Today, it stands as testament to a Quixotic dream of a failed industrialist.

Failed, because he went bankrupt before he finished it and it has been languishing in various hands ever since.

And he died in virtual poverty.  But thousands of people lined the streets to witness his funeral and he was buried with full military honours.

He was a larger than life figure that will be remembered by Torontonians for years to come.

Picked The Wrong Day To Stop Sniffing Glue

Hate to wake up and see this coming!

This is a (big honking) dust storm approaching the coast of Australia.



With apologies to Lloyd Bridges and the cast of Airplane.

Another From The "Bus Shelter Doctor" File

Not sure I'd want to be basing all my future prospects on these come the Judgement Day.....

"Our guarantee; almost exactly what Jesus said."

Just The Type Of Doctor I Was Looking For!

"Frickin' eh, Bubba.  And guaranteed pay, too!  Sweet!  Maybe I'll get to use some of that fancy booking learnin'."

[Memo to self: Never go to the MP Medical Centre.]

Yes, That Would Be A Danger

Of course, even this may not be enough to keep some people safe.

"Can you believe they would put Danger - Amputation Hazard and not underline it?!"

And I Missed Mother's Day By This Much

And she loves those private rooms, too.

One Out Of Two Ain't Bad

That's a tough one to figure out.

Looks wedged in a there pretty good.

I walked by this intersection about an hour before this incident.

Then heard about it on the radio.

Then walked by about a day later.

Apparently ran a red light (the one sitting on the ground in the top picture) then hit the light standard, then pinwheeled into the good old Stop 'n' Go.

Are Women Not Very Smart?

 ...that they constantly need to be reminded about Sex Tips to "get their man"?

Month after month?

I know several men - and is one myself - and let me tell you, you don't need many tips.

One or two, pretty basic ones, will do.

In fact, "Hi" is about all you really need.

Of course, this is why I am not in the magazine business.  Or the Sex Tip business.

Hard To Keep A Good Man Down

A while back I posted about one of my favourite Banyan trees getting ripped up by a passing almost-a-tornado.

There he is (was) on the left.  A massive tree.

After the storm came through, he was completely uprooted.

[For a refresher on this guy, see Mother Nature Wins Another One.]

Like Humpty Dumpty, city workers tried to put him back together again by re-rooting him and putting irrigation piping in (white piping around his bottom) but with all that trauma, nobody was holding their breath.

Well a couple of months later and the old boy is back in (nearly) top form.

Green is growing out of everywhere.  (Which, from my experience, is not always good.)

Hey, there's even a house in behind him!  How long has that been there?

[You can see one of the aerial roots in front is still uprooted.]

Keep on truckin', little buddy.

The Sea Was Angry That Day, My Friends

All of these guys have their best days behind them.

Of course, who doesn't......

Unusual to see so many of them washed up the same day.

Not likely to be the Red Tide, as they wouldn't have been eaten.

The birds know when the Red Tide hits, and apart from the eyes, steer clear of eating dead things.

Which - after seeing these scavengers in operation - must take a lot of will power.

[Red Tide is an algae bloom that kills fish.]

Love Them Juicy Fruits

Nothing like some sweet, juicy tomatoes in the dead of winter.

I wonder what exotic country are these flown in from? Peru?  Ecuador?

Or are they local Florida tamats?

Let's see........what does that say?

Just a little bit off.    Ontario.

Kingsville.      Next to Leamington.


Peru can eat my grits!

Aren't I All Artsie Fartsie?

Better than the normal, mindless drivel.

Ouuu, slightly different angle.

Do Not Go In There!

Or buy it!

I think this Real Estate agent has her work cut out for her.

Actually, I Often Do

Oh sorry, I read that wrong.

Lick 'Em If Ya Got 'Em

I usually pass this little fella each day when out for a walk and give him a bit of a skritch on the head.

But not today!

           ....okay, getting a little lazy......

Ha ha.  The Republican Party is self destructing......

Boy, if they think this is going to help, I have some swampland.....right outside my window......

They Picked The Right Guy

The newly elected President of FIFA literally kicked off the new soccer season yesterday.

And he doesn't look too shabby doing it either.

Can you imagine if Gary Bettman, the NHL Commissioner....

 ...tried firing a slap shot to start an NHL game?

Or Rob Manfred, the Baseball Commish, throwing some high heat to Big Papi to start the MLB season?

Me neither.

But Mr. Infantino actually looks like he knows what he's doing.

Although the other guy in the photo might disagree.......

Hey. It's A Party!

This place looks like it is all done up for a fun time!

Looks like a circus or carnival going on inside.

There's a sign advertizing it.

Oh.....

"Fumigation?"

What's that other sign say?

"Danger? Deadly Poison?"

At a party...?

My Kind Of "Prep"!

Usually "prep" instructions for cooking involves cutting up ingredients, marinading meats, preparing sauces and glazes. And Prep Time is usually stated as something like "30 minutes". 

Well not this baby!