Some Sadness on a Sunny Winter Morning: January 21, 2022

Though very cold, there was not a cloud in the sky when we began our walk at Wilket Creek Park.

A highlight here is the busy birdfeeding area although there is now a seven foot pile of snow in front of it.

Many birds were about:

Mourning Doves
American Robin
Blue Jay
Dark-eyed Junco
European Starling
Dark-eyed Junco
White-breasted Nuthatch
Mourning Doves
Junco and Mourning Doves
Northern Cardinal (female)
Hairy Woodpecker (male)
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal (male)

Park scenes:

four Squirrels

Some botany:

Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
Lichen
Bur Oak (Quecus macrocarpa)

This morning’s group:

Stables and a horseback riding school were established in nearby Sunnybrook Park in 1968. In May of 2018, much of it went up in smoke after someone lit fireworks too close to the barn.

photo: CBC

As part of this morning’s walk we saw the area as it looks now. No renovation is underway.

former stable employees’ home
former indoor riding arena
former police horse barn
former stable manager home

I took some photos in the week after the fire:

A Sunnybrook group photo from happier days:

NATURE POETRY

The day is done, and the darkness
Falls from the wings of Night,
As a feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight. – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Some Sadness on a Sunny Winter Morning: January 21, 2022

  1. Lisa Volkov

    I scrolled forward to see what it was, and discovered that it was the familiar sadness of seeing what remains from that terrible tragedy involving the horses. What is left (and what is gone) continues to be a reminder of what happened (not that I want it torn down–it serves as a memorial).
    I appreciate your acknowledgement/commemoration of this event, along with providing additional pictures relating to it. The horses (and people who loved them) deserve that much.

    Reply
  2. Irene Karman

    Thanks for the photos Miles. My daughter learned to ride at the special Sunnybrook Stables. Just think, stables within a city with magnificent horses.I hadn’t seen the photos that were a tribute to the horses. Much appreciated. I miss the walks and the friendships. I enjoy looking at the pics of your daily walks. You are a machine Miles!

    Reply

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