Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Aurora Borealis

Christmas Eve Almost Frozen Night Rider Around Town of Aurora

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Mon, 30 Dec 2013 06:32:07 +0000

I couldn’t resists. What else can I do late at night when children are asleep. I took my cameras and went for a drive around Aurora around ten o’clock. It was a beautiful cold night. I didn’t realize this until later.

Iced Trees, Superstore Parking Lot, Aurora

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

The images you are seeing here were taken in Aurora ON on Christmas Eve night on December 24th, 2013. I drove to the nearby Superstore on St. John’s sideroad. The parking lot was empty and beautifully illuminated – for nothing. The iced trees dispersed light even more.

I pull over and took some surreal images of the iced trees and bushes. I couldn’t believe how beautiful these bushes looked just with a naked eye. On the other hand they kind of looked painful as well – frozen.

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

On the side note getting out that late I had to pay small prize – I was freezing myself. My fingers especially where there is not much of human mass and the metal lenses and metal case on one of my cameras didn’t do much justice. Not to mention my nose was kind of turning into – no mystery – a frozen nose. But that wasn’t the it.

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

I knew the ice will eventually go away. Last couple of days we have been experiencing meltdown – thus my urge to go out and take night photos that day. My backyard tree survived. Word of advice – plant flexible trees. The more flexible you are the better chance of survival you have – a life note here, as taken from the tree.

Frozen Bushes, Superstore, Aurora

I had a choice to turn around and go home. No I needed more. I drove on the Earl Stewart Drive along the newly installed sidewalk for which I asked and finally after 2 years the sidewalk is here. Then it hit me – oh no, I missed most of the Rebook warehouse demolition. All ruins now.

Wellington Street, Near GO Station

Yes I wanted to see the Aurora Borealis at the Town Park. When I arrived the place was beautiful and scary at the same time. All the iced trees were squeaking like they were about to fall down. But the sound was not the same compared to the creepy noises coming from the roof tops – ice expansion.

Aurora Borealis, Town Park, Aurora

I kind of dragged myself to the middle of the ice ring and I tell you that was – it. I started to freeze. I literally was there for a minute or two and my fingers were about to turn into icicles and not to mention the nose. I went back to the car for de-frost. Drove a bit along deserted Yonge Street and headed home.

Victorian Hall, Aurora

Yonge Street, Aurora

And this is how I will remember the 2013 ice storm in Aurora – beautiful, cold and painful. But it wasn’t that painful for me as it was especially for those who lost their power for many days. There are still some unfortunate families that just getting their power back on today.

Caruso and Company, Yonge Street, Aurora

Wishing you awesome year 2014. Stay warm another cold front is coming our way.

Christmas Tree, St. John’s sideroad, Aurora

Christmas 2011, A Poem By Elizabeth Milner

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:12:46 +0000

The real Christmas is over, but the holiday spirit remains. I have been in touch with Elizabeth Milner and she shared with me a very lovely Christmas poem she wrote this year. She writes one or two every Christmas. Perhaps it came a bit late to my email-box, but I think it is never too late to share it with you.

Blue Spruce, Not So Winter-y

Elizabeth is a historian, lecturer and writer and she is author of the book Aurora 1945-1965, An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change. Elizabeth grew up in Aurora during the period (1945-1965) covered in the book. How I met Elizabeth may be a very short story, but it all started with our visit to the Aurora Public Library (Aurora Library Visit, A Library Card & Introduction) and finding Elizabeth’s book, and later having my own copy.

Aurora 1945-1965, An Ontario Town at a Time of Great Change by Elizabeth Milner

Christmas
~ Elizabeth Hearn Milner

Down the sweeping stretch of time it comes
through eons of water, ice and fire.
Scraped earth is sifted, covered with rubble and swamp,
then prairie grasses, bold flowers and towering trees
that stand as majestic and mighty as gods.
Tiny creatures, that crawl in the coming fecund earth,
are replaced by mastodons and other mighty beasts.
All live, die, change and tumble down to MAN.

He is vulnerable and question filled:
lost in a forbidden place of cruel beauty
not knowing why, or when, or where.
The wary and wily ones survive the deadly maze
and survey the mystery of distant night skies.
They watch and record the changes of the moon
and understand the power of the warming sun
that brings light and rebirth to the dormant land.
Stories of creation come to minds and lips
attempt to end the searching of the curious.
A returning sun turns from sun to Son of God
and ideas stream down to us who still search.

And so we have this glorious night
to consider and ponder sun and Son.
The story of a special child with a message
given just as the sun returns.
A story of warmth, light, birth, goodness and love
and the generous heart that gives.
This is our Christmas.

Aurora's Borealis, Town Park, Aurora

Christmas Always Unforgettable Memories, Our Town The Night Before Christmas Eve

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 06:37:39 +0000

Christmas Eve next day and I have not had a single chance to get some night images showing beautiful Christmas light shows around the Aurora. Finally, after dinner Friday night I asked for a ride. Matthew was all up to it. After all he was going to see Christmas lights and Christmas trees around the town.

‘Don’t forget to take library DVDs Mommy‘ – Matthew reminded me at the door. Oh and good thing he did because they were due today. So I have noticed something, just this week Matthew changed a lot. He started to talk and behave like a young adult. ‘Thank you‘, ‘You’re welcome‘, ‘Please‘, ‘Okay I will do it‘, ‘Hug and Kiss‘ – all him.

Christmas Tree, Northwest Intersection of Yonge Street and St. John's Sideroad

Northwest corner of Yonge Street and St. John’s Sideroad was our first stop – the beautiful landmark Christmas tree. The corner is undeveloped and hopefully will remain. Where the tree stands today it used to be H.J. Charles Carriage and Waggon Works.

H.J. Charles Carriage and Waggon Works, Same Corner

‘The H.J. Charles Carriage and Waggon Works was located on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and St. John’s Sideroad until 1887. The carriages and wagons proudly displayed out front recall a time when even the need for transportation vehicles could be met by village craftsman.‘ – Aurora, A History in Pictures, W. John McIntyre, page 53.

Aurora Cultural Centre, Church Street

‘Why are we going towards Yonge Street?‘ – Matthew asked.

‘Because we have to drop off the DVDs at the library, and how did you know that was Yonge Street?‘ – I asked, and he smiled.

Yes we did in fact turned around on the St. John’s Sideroad and headed towards the Yonge Street then towards the library to drop off DVDs. I knew I will find something nice around there and then I remembered the AURORA BOREALIS at the Town Park.

Arrived at the library and the thought of the drive through book drop off came to mind – hint, why not? Surprisingly, the Aurora Cultural Centre had no decorations, but on the back the shining star at the Trinity Anglican Church pulled me in.

Trinity Anglican Church, Aurora

Door Mosaic, Trinity Anglican Church

Arrived at the Town Park and the beautiful Aurora Borealis revealed itself in front of our eyes. It was hard to capture this display with the camera, so if you have not seen it yet, it is a must visit.

Aurora Borealis, Town Park

These will be our memories of our Aurora – the night before Christmas Eve. And today and tomorrow we are on the journey to collect more memories with our families. Wishing you lots of love, joy and happiness during this holiday season. Merry Christmas!

‘May the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow.’