The Crow

How is it possible for such a big bird to land on such a tiny branch and not fall off?

Just Plain Pretty

The pattern of the bare branches against the sky is one of the joys of winter.

Puddles

It's melting. Bliss!

Tagging the Hydrants

Every year, in the fall, the city comes through and attaches these tags to the fire hydrants so they can be found easily in the middle of winter, no matter how much snow we get. Thankfully, they weren't actually necessary this year.

If you squint just a little, they kind of look like small children holding balloons...

Location, Location, Location

Not only is this house utterly charming in itself, it also sits right across the street from the Stratford Public Library. Perfect!

The Garret

Don't you wonder what this room must be like? Up above the trees, hidden from the world, tucked in among the other buildings....

Down the Street

Right next door to yesterday's photo is Down the Street. Great food, great decor. A fabulous patio to sit on and watch the world go by in the summer.

Oh! Summer! We miss you!

Brickwork

One of the beautiful old buildings downtown. 

I love the way the original brick is showing through the paintwork.  It takes years to achieve that kind of patina.  Hope no one takes it into their heads to paint it!

Architectural Details

Stratford has so many great old buildings and houses that it seems like you can't walk three feet without finding something cool to photograph.

Like this pretty round window and its great brickwork on a house round the corner from us.  Love the double row of bricks above it and the single row beneath - now that's attention to detail!

Squelchy!

This time of year, we can tell what the weather is like just by listening to the cars. If they don't make any noise, it means the roads are clear and it's cold.

Loud squealing means it's snowed and it's really cold.

Squelching, on the other hand means that it's warming up and the snow is melting.

Guess which sound is our favourite?

Please Do Not Smoke

The sign says: Please do not smoke within 10 feet of this door. Thank you.

Of course, you have to get at least five feet in to be able to read it, which...

Blue Sky and Branches

Does the sky get quite this blue in the summertime?

It hardly seems possible. But then, maybe we spend so much time lying around with our eyes closed soaking up the heat that we just don't notice.

Oh Look, More Snow!

We're thinking we should record the sound of ice being scraped off a car windshield to play back to ourselves on those sultry summer days when we might be thinking of actually complaining about the heat.