Day Thirty-One

The last day of January.  I made it a whole month.  Who knows, maybe I'll make two...

Yo may recall the other day we were delivering the Glebe Report.  As we walked past Capital Park (we call it Ella Park) we discovered this little rink.  Pretty cool that someone takes the time to make and maintain this!  What a great place to live!

Day Thirty

This morning both my kids' classes had a morning skate on the Rideau Canal and I was a parent volunteer.  How amazing is it to have the Canal right next to your school!  I used to do it when I was a kid at First Avenue PS. 

Today is also the first day of Winterlude so I expect there will be a bunch more photos of winter in the days to come!

The photo is of Patterson's Creek, a small offshoot of the Canal.  The bridge in the distance is where it exits to the Canal.

Day Twenty-Nine

It is finally starting to get lighter longer.  I often walk home from work and by the time I get to the Glebe in December and January it is dark.  Yesterday when I arrived there was still some light.

This is the view South on Bank Street shot from under the Queensway overpass.

Day Twenty-Eight

Something the Glebe seems to be good for is unique businesses.  Many don't ultimately succeed but many do and add to the unique nature of the neighbourhood.  One that I've enjoyed is Flapjack's Pancake Shack.  Hidden in the alley behind Mrs. Tiggy Winkles this is a great place to get your pancake on!

Day Twenty-Seven

This is my fourth winter living on Holmwood Avenue and I have enjoyed this guy down the street each year I've lived here.

Day Twenty-Six

When I was but a wee lad, I attended kindergarten and grade one at Mutchmor Public School.  ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutchmor_Public_School ) In grade two the French immersion program moved to First Avenue Public School and so did I.

Fast forward a few years. Because of overcrowding at First Avenue PS, junior kindergarten for both of my kids was held at Mutchmor PS. Next year, the entire French immersion program from First Avenue PS (along with my kids) will be switching buildings with the English and enrichment programs that are currently at Mutchmor PS.  Interesting how I moved one way while they will move the other.

As part of the move, a bunch of new classrooms are being built at Mutchmor PS.  I took this photo of the original part of the building the other day.  I will post some of the new construction once it is complete.

Day Twenty-Five

I walked up to the grocery store this morning and came across two pieces by local artist Christopher Griffin.  ( http://www.christophergriffin.ca ) I am a fan of his work.  The elephants are my favourite.

This summer, the artist worked with some local youth and created racoons at the Glebe Community Centre.

There is a new parking garage being built behind the Metro grocery store and he will also be creating art for the outside walls.  I am looking forward to seeing it.

Day Twenty-Four

One of my favourite pieces of public art is on the patio of Starbucks at the corner of Bank Street and Third Avenue.  This pieces was painted by Bhat Boy ( http://www.bhatboy.com )

Day Twenty-Three

The Glebe has been around a while and is characterized by a great variety of architecture.  As time passes, some older houses are demolished and replaced by new.  Sometimes the new homes are designed to match the older architecture and sometimes they are very modern in appearance.  I find the mix of styles to be pleasing to the eyes.  I expect I will post a number of photos of houses over the course of the year.

On the weekend, it was suggested that I take a particular photo on Clarey Avenue (which I will post another day), and I came across this house.  I was taken by the juxtaposition of newer front mud room with its bright colour and the older brick house. 

Day Twenty-Two

Winter often seems dark and dreary - shorter days and white snow everywhere.  As I have been walking around though, I am noticing a lot of colour that I hadn't always remarked on before.  This is a bush with bright red berries that caught my eye.

Day Twenty-One

There is a new trend sweeping the Glebe on Instagram - alright maybe not sweeping - ok, a nascent think that I hope will take off.  The hashtag #foundintheglebe. It was created by The Glebe Report Instagram feed (glebereport).  I think this could be a lot of fun.  So, today's photos are things #foundintheglebe on my walk to work this morning.  They are crossposted from my Instagram feed (613john).

Pinwheel

Generosity and caring

Day Twenty

As I was walking home on Sunday, I came across this tree/bush on Holmwood Avenue filled with fat tweeting chickadees.  One of the things I enjoy about the Glebe is the variety of wildlife that can be encountered right in the heart of the city.

Day Nineteen

Another thing I love about the Glebe is our community newspaper - The Glebe Report.  It has been in continuous operation for more than 40 years.  As a kid I was a volunteer carrier and today my family continues that tradition.  In addition, I have the honour of sitting on the paper's Board of Directors.

If you are not familiar with The Glebe Report it is worth a look.  In addition to the print publication that is volunteer delivered 11 times a year to every door in the neighbourhood, it is completely archived on the paper's website.  You can also find an electronic version of the current issue there as well as a link to download it to a tablet or e-reader.

Day Eighteen

Last night after we got the the kids to bed I walked up to the Arrow and Loon to have a beer with an old friend.  I almost never do that anymore so it was a bit of a treat.

The Loon has been around for quite a while and it used to be my favourite watering hole.  They have quite a good selection of local and craft beers.

I enjoyed a Mission Accomplished IPA from Beau's in Vankleek Hill.  Very nice!

Day Seventeen

One thing I've always enjoyed when walking in the Glebe in the Winter is the smell of wood fireplaces.  We just recently began using ours.  A neighbour was kind enough to share a part of a load of wood.

Day Sixteen

It wasn't too cold this morning, so I thought I would try skating to work along the Rideau Canal.  I walked over to the Bank Street Bridge and put on my skates.

As I skated along, I snapped a few photos of some of my favourite views of the Glebe section of the skateway.

I actually made it all the way downtown too!

Day Fifteen - Updated

In the yard at Mutchmor Public School, there is a bench dedicated to Kathy, a long time school volunteer.  I have no idea who she is (maybe a reader can enlighten me) but since my kids attended school there I've considered it to be a lovely tribute.

Not long after posting this, a number of people got in touch to let me know Kathy is Kathy Aldridge, a long-time Glebe resident.  She is also the recipient of a 2005 United Way Community Volunteer Award and a 2008 Ontario Volunteer Award.  Sounds like a pretty amazing lady.  Maybe I will meet her one of these days and take a picture of her!

Day Fourteen

One thing I love about the Glebe in Winter is all the skating options there are.  From the World famous Rideau Canal (the World's biggest skating rink) to the St James rink (see Day 10) to many others that I expect I will post photos of in the coming weeks, if you like to skate you are in luck.

In addition to all the big public skating surfaces there are many private backyard rinks.  This picture is of one I discovered in a friend's backyard when I went to pick up my son after a play date.  The kids were having a blast!

Day Thirteen

 

So, I hadn't told anyone about this little project, just in case I wimped out and gave up on it.  Today my Wife told everyone about it so now I'm stuck.  Guess I'm going to do three hundred and fifty two more.

 

So to celebrate, today's photo will be festive.

 

Just up the street from me is Mary's garden.  Mary spends a lot of time on her garden and it is something to see.  She is very knowledgeable about her many many many different species of plants and can tell you what each one is along with a plethora of other information.  She is proud to have many native species.

 

When I take the bus to work I walk past and almost always stop to smell the flowers, so to speak.  The garden is also a regular target for my camera - although I rarely succeed in capturing its beauty.

 

Although the Glebe has myriad opportunities for photos, I expect that Mary's garden will feature regularly here.  Here is a tree in her garden decked out for the holidays!

 



 

Day Twelve

We finally got some more snow, so yesterday afternoon the boys and I went sledding on the new toboggan hill at Lansdowne Park.  Surprisingly, there were few people there.  The boys had a blast!  My Nikon is having issues so this was shot on my iPhone.

Day Eleven

One of the great things about the Glebe are the small business that continue to exist along Bank Street.  There are a number of bigger names that have moved in over the years - and that's great - nothing wrong with big names - but there is a soft spot in my heart for the smaller ones that provide unique products and services.

One of the long standing ones has been Brittons.  A purveyor of magazines, newspapers, books and, of late, a variety of unique products.  When I was thinking about this project, I had planned on asking to take a portrait of the proprietor.

Today I got the news that it has abruptly closed. ( http://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/iconic-glebe-newsstand-closes-doors-suddenly )

It makes me sad, but I wanted to write this, not to express sorrow, but to express thanks for the many years of pleasure the shop brought to so many Glebe residents.  As I walked up the street to see for myself that the store was closed, I saw several other people doing the same thing.  There were notes on the door explaining the situation and directing customers elsewhere for newspapers.  On one, there were penned notes of thanks and well wishes or the future.

You will be missed!

Day Ten

So, it was a beautiful sunny day today and I tried to take a lot of photos.  Unfortunately, somehow the exposure compensation setting on my camera got dialled up +3 and the cold made it it not want to work (I think).  So, I didn't get a lot of great photos.

In the winter Saturday tends to be winter sports day for my kids.  The older one skis (not in the Glebe) and the younger one is doing skating lessons (in the 'hood).  On the way to the ski hill we all stopped by the rink.

Beginning last year, because of construction at Mutchmor School, the rink that has traditionally been in one of the yards at Mutchmor has been moved to the Saint James tennis courts.  Located behind the Glebe Community Centre, the Saint James Tennis Club is a popular spot in the summer.  Now it is a great place to skate in the winter!

Day Nine

Here is one from a week ago when I was out walking.  Bank Street was totally re-done a couple of years ago.  New brick sidewalks, new street lights etc.  One of the major additions was street art.  I expect that I will take pictures of many different ones but for some reason I've always liked the one pictured below.  It is located at the intersection of Thornton Avenue and Bank Street.

Day Eight

Another photo from my walk home on Tuesday. This was on Fifth Avenue and I thought it was a nice demonstration of how lucky we are as a neighbourhood to have pretty much everything we need within walking distance.  We had freezing rain on Sunday morning and this car still looked like this today!  I know because my kids remarked on it.  Again apologies for the quality - taken with the iPhone in the dark.  Without further delay I present the dinomobile:

Day Seven

My first milestone!  One week of pictures.  Who knew I would be able to keep this up?

Yesterday I walked home from work along Bank Street.  I enjoy the walk in winter because all the shops along the street are lit up and it is quite pretty.  I often stop in at a shop or two to get dinner ingredients or other necessities. 

As I was walking along between Third and Fourth Avenues I was struck by how pretty the local toy store Mrs. Tiggy Winkles looked.  Tiggy Winkles has been around since my childhood.  It has multiple locations now, but I believe that the first one was in the glebe.  It stocks a lot of high quality toys and I love taking my kids there.

In this cold and snowy weather I haven't been carrying a proper camera so as with a couple of earlier photos this was shot with an iPhone in low light with very cold hands so the quality is lousy.

Day Six

Just after the lane I wrote about on Day Two I was walking on Wilton Crescent and saw this little guy celebrating Christmas in a front garden.  It caught my eye - so you get to see it!

Day Five

After yesterday's snow/freezing rain/rain today is bright, sunny and very cold.  I drove the boys to school this morning by way of Fifth Avenue. 

At the corner of Fifth Avenue and O'Connor Street, in the yard of Ottawa Fire Station Number 12, the sun was shining through one of the many big old trees that are characteristic of the Glebe.  The coating of ice sparkled and it looked so pretty that I doubled back after dropping the boys for a quick snapshot.  I took this one very quickly with my iPhone because my fingers froze as soon as I removed my glove.  Unfortunately the snapshot doesn't really capture how beautiful it was.

Day Four

This was the last day of our Christmas vacation and we finally (sort of) got some snow.  It fell starting yesterday afternoon and through the night; about 15 cm.  It was, unfortunately followed by freezing rain- lots of it.  In the interest of getting some fresh air, Ian and I walked down the street to the near end of Brown's Inlet for some sledding.  The rain and ice made for some fast conditions and Ian had a few good runs before loosing interest.  We were there long enough to soak my coat. I took this photo with my iPhone as we left for home:

Day Three

Yesterday my family had dinner with my parents, who live at the North end of the Glebe.  Central Park is located behind their house.  It was cold, but not so cold that a bit of hockey couldn't take place down in the park.  

Day Two

I decided to take a walk around yesterday and look for something to photograph for today.  I was struck by the number of lanes and alleys there are in my part of the Glebe.

I live in the south end of the 'hood and some of the streets meander (kinda like this post) - departing from the street and avenue grid of the more central part.

The Glebe is bordered on the East and the South by the Rideau Canal.  I'm not going to recite the history of the Canal because I'm sure there are many histories available that would do a better job than I would.  I mention it because on the southern part, just past the Bank Street Bridge, there is a small body of water known as Brown's Inlet that is fed by the canal.  In the summer, the inlet is home to many different species of birds and other animals (which I'm sure I will be sharing here in due course) and in the winter there are some skating surfaces (which I will cover in greater depth on another day).  I was thinking the rinks might be a good photo for today but, as I walked around, I kept noticing the lanes.  Then, as I circled Brown's Inlet, I discovered a walkway that I had never noticed before.  Running between Ralph Street and Wilton Crescent on the North side of Brown's Inlet, the walkway passes the front of several nice older houses.  I've lived in the Glebe most of my life and have never noticed this path before.

So today's photo is of this newly discovered lane.

Cheers,

-John

Day ONE

Here goes...

So last night for New Years Eve I took the boys to the Hogmanay celebration in the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park.  It was a free event with some great music.  We arrived just after 7 pm and it was already hopping.  Up near the front of the stage a bunch of little kids were dancing and everyone seemed to be having  great time.  I took many photos but i kinda liked this one:

And here is another showing the whole band:

We came home after an hour or so so the kids could get some shut-eye but it was a great way to ring in the New Year!