Guildwood Inn: Not Open for Lunch

More Guildwood Stone Flowers

Guildwood Stone Flowers

Guildwood Inn, Scarborough

I took over 500 photos today at the Guildwood Inn. This is just a preview of one of the sculptures before I get to bed tonight.

Kresge Isn't All Gone

My Mom remembers when Kresge was a department store chain. Now there are just remnants, like this one which I photographed today on Danforth and Woodbine.

A Touch of Agoraphobia

I was back with my Mom for a few days, over the weekend and a bit. My sister and her kids came out for Victoria Day, a bonfire and a picnic in the backyard. My Mom talked often about dieting, losing weight and so on. Which I really have heard enough. She told me how I am the prettiest of the girls (her three daughters) if only I were slimmer. If only.... how many times have you had a compliment qualified like that. I think it becomes meaningless if you add 'if' to it.

Over the afternoon they asked me to take photos. Which is fine, my sister has a camcorder and several cameras but she never seems to bring them out for taking pictures of her kids. I like getting some pictures. The kids won't be little for very long. Also, nice to have their Grandma in pictures with them. So, I took photos. Zack and my Mom used my camera too and got photos they wanted. The only thing I didn't like was being in the photos myself. My Mother (being a Mom) wanted photos of me as well.

Yesterday I set up the new computer and was then ready to upload all the photos. I hate seeing myself. When you don't look at yourself you can think you look ok. But seeing photos you know just how gross you look. So I've been a shut in for the last two days, not wanting to go out, be in public, visible to all. I tried to get out today but the weather has become hot out (cold still in the basement apartment) so I couldn't hide under a jacket and then I just decided not to go anywhere.

But, I can't live like this and keep doing this to myself. So, I am making a break for it in the morning tomorrow, early. As early as I can so that I have the excuse of the chilly morning to be wearing a jacket outside on another day that is going to be an early summer scorcher. The plan is an early breakfast and then a trip all the way downtown. Once you force yourself to get downtown with all those perfect people you can get over the intimidation. At least it has worked for me in the past.

Funny/ sad how you can get yourself all wrapped up in what other people think. When in reality I'm nothing more than a passing thought to anyone who notices me.

Maybe moving to Barrie, back to the outback of Ontario will be a good thing. I'm just not someone who fits the city lifestyle, spending big money on drinking and clothes isn't who I am - or who I want to be. My sister fits in well and has friends and things she does on the weekends. I don't. I tend to make my own weekends by myself. Before I go I'm going to get to the ROM and get a few more urban exploration photos.

Old Buildings Along Queen

These were around the Queen and Broadview area too. I like the big half circle windows on some of them.

I was in the bookstore in the Eatons Centre and came across a beat up book about architecture. It was geared for the hobbyist who wanted to learn the proper terms for structures and styles. I would have liked to get that book but, just not the right time to be buying more books. At least the photos are free.

The Other Bank on Queen

It's not easy to see but this old bank says The Royal Bank of Canada across the top. It was in shadows that morning so I never got a really good photo of it. I took a few tries.

Queen and Broadview Bank

This is a renovated bank on Queen Street East. I took photos from the side and front and close ups on the stonework.

At Museum: Houses on Charles W.

I noticed these boarded up houses when my brother dropped me off to catch the subway at the Museum stop on Monday. I meant to get back sooner but, I did get there today. As I was taking the photos I wished the windows weren't gone. Sometimes those old places have stained glass and leaded panes and other nice features in the windows. In houses now it's something you order and plan after they are built, if at all. Or just some sticker type thing, not glass at all.

These houses will be gone before long. The construction crews were around, working on a site one street down. No idea what would have been there before. I'm glad to have some photos of these houses while they are still around. I don't nearly enough about architecture to guess how old they are. It was interesting that they were all very close and yet each had a unique look. I would guess they were all built at the same time but maybe by different people/ builders.

More of Charles W. Houses

The back of the row of houses, the middle and the side. On the side photo you can see the sign with the name of the side street, Thomas.

Closer Up on Charles W.

At Museum: On Charles W.

Taken from across the street. I thought I needed the distance to get in the whole building from top to bottom. The parked cars were in the way to see the bottom and the trees were pretty scraggly looking in the rest.

At Museum: On Thomas

The houses along this part of the street are not up for demolition so far, at least the windows were not all boarded up and I saw people living there who were coming in and out. I noticed the sign up for Tradesmans Entrance and took a picture.

At Museum: Thomas and Charles

 

 

 

This house was around the corner from the ones I came to see. I noticed it in the background as I was taking pictures. Looks like that whole corner is being knocked down for something modern to be poured into that space. Lots of space just seems a shame to lose more old houses.

Bits of Old Trim from Bay and Carlton

These came from the building that is a revamped Winners now. I'm putting these up mainly to help me remember where I was when I saw them.

Bay and Carlton

 

 

 

 

Noticed this old beauty as I began walking back along Carlton from the Toronto BookCrossing Meeting. The building beside it was nice too. On the side of the street I was standing on was a really neat building made over into a Winners store. I got a couple of bits of it but will go back for more (when I have fresher, happier, batteries).

Bay and Carlton Too

The building on the other side. I always think buildings like these started out as banks or some other government/ official type of place.

Beaches Firehouse in Detail

My camera had trouble. It kept shutting down on it's own. So I didn't get more pictures than these. I was thinking to go down to Lake Ontario. I could see it from where I caught the Woodbine bus. The waves were throwing themselves ashore. It looked really dramatic and COLD! Another day I will try it. Makes me wish I had the car though. I could park close and run back into the warm car instead of walking back to wait for the bus.