It’s been a few weeks since I last participated in Thursday Doors, so this week I thought I’d dust off some random door photos I’ve accumulated.
There was just so much to like about this first one in Prague … arched doorway, decorative transom, ornate door frame, studs on the door, … and the little peephole, netted for security.
This second one isn’t really a door, but a doorway, so I think it counts. It leads to the library within the North Wing of Queen’s Park, the Ontario Legislature.
The origins of this library go back to 1792 – 25 years before Canada became a country. By the turn of the 20th century, the Legislative Library had one of the most important reference collections in Canada… probably not as impressive as it sounds since Canada was pretty much still a wilderness back then.
Unfortunately, in 1909, a fire destroyed the entire library and most its contents. It was subsequently rebuilt with a view to fireproofing the new wing. Apparently it was successful because a second fire in 2009 resulted in only minor damage.
Found in the small town of Creemore north of Toronto was the modest St John’s United Church. A Door + Autumn Colours + Heritage Building = Triple Bonus!
This plain, wide-planked wooden door was the entrance to SS2 Schoolhouse in Whitchurch-Stouffville, now the site of a museum. The rope on the left is still attached to the bell in the small bell-tower on top of the school.
Yes – we rang it. Yes – it still works.
This last door is one of my favourite recent finds. If you look closely, there is actually a wire fence attached to that gate. The incongruence* of it made me laugh.
Thursday Doors is a weekly photo feature hosted by Norm Frampton at Norm 2.0. I encourage you to go have a look. Follow the little blue frog link in Norm’s post and discover a whole world of wonderful doors.
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* I often look up words online to ensure I’ve spelled them correctly and / or used them appropriately in my sentence. Today I looked up “incongruence” because WordPress didn’t like this word.
The results that came back from my search were – shall we say – odd.
“Incongruence is in fact a real word, but that doesn’t mean you should use it.” … hmmm, you don’t know me, because now I’m totally going to use it.
“All explanations of the second form of incongruence from the point of view of a phyletic force464 can also be shown to be absurd.” … Whaaat? Are you talking to me?
… and in case you’re wondering, the second quote apparently originates from “Studies in the Theory of Descent: On the seasonal dimorphism of butterflies”. I just knew you had to know that critical piece of information.
… and WordPress doesn’t like “dimorphism” either.
… and I’ve managed to make the whole post random and not just the doors.
These were so much fun, Joanne, especially that last one. It looks as if the gate is just there on its own. i love words, so that last bit really made me laugh. I think it’s incongruous of “it” to say that you might not want to use it. Use it and to heck with “it.” 🙂 If you love words, find the book “The Joy of Lex” and “Anguished English.” The latter will having you literally (in the real sense of the word) laughing until you cry, at least if you’re like me.
janet
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Thank you for the book suggestions. I love to laugh and even better if it’s a clever use of language 🙂
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This random selection of doors has started me thinking what I would find if I headed off into our town to look for doors…. Hm. Maybe in the holidays. 🙂
My favourite bit was the end about incongruence. Laughed out loud. 😀
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It made me laugh too … especially the part about ‘it is a word but that doesn’t mean you should use it’. bwahahahaha!
I encourage you to go visiting your own town – especially areas you never visit – and look at it as if you were a tourist. It is so interesting! I’d love to hear about what you discover!
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My goal is now to us incongruence in ever day conversation with people. I’ve successfully reintroduced troglodyte into my lexicon. Time to broaden my verbiage some more.
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When I looked up troglodyte, I laughed out loud. THAT one is going to be easy to use … and misuse 🙂
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Haha love your attitude about WordPress and its aversion to certain words. Here’s to being rebellious! 🙂
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ha! You’ve probably already noticed that WP doesn’t like Canadian spelling. I refuse to give in – they can toss all their red underscores at me, I can take it!! 😉
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Beautiful doors! Happy Tuesday ♥
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Thank you and happy Tuesday to you too 🙂
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The moment I saw your Prague door, I knew it was somewhere here in the Czech Republic 🙂 Nice doors all over your post!
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Thanks! There is definitely a distinctive style in Prague, isn’t there?
Hope you are well Mara. It’s been quiet on your end of the world.
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Thank you, Joanne, and I think I can promise I’ll be back in the blogosphere in a matter of a few days 🙂 I’ve been missing you all!
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Great post, Joanne. I loved the doors and I loved your notes about the word ‘incongruence’ -which is showing a red underline even as I write… what do they know, eh? 🙂
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
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Thanks! … and to think I almost removed that section thinking it was too silly 🙂
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A great post – I especially like the church in Creemore…I’ve been in it! 🙂
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A special occasion? Or are you from around there?
We were lucky, because we were able to go in too 🙂
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I grew up near Orangeville, Ontario and we traveled around that part of the countryside often. Such a pretty area. My oldest daughter now lives in Collingwood. 😃
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While hiking the Bruce Trail, I got to know this area of the province very well. It’s full of wonderful little towns like Creemore 🙂
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great selection. I am ‘voting’ for the triple bonus photo – such a nice autumne atmosphere. and I adored the part with incongruence 🙂
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thank you. I’m glad I decided not to delete that part about incongruence at the last minute 🙂
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Still have the coolest “door” collection I’ve ever seen! BTW, I did know what “incongruence” meant but only part of “dimorphoris”. Banana plants are dimorphoris…only the female produce fruit. I thought you’d like to know! 😉
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I thought that was true of many fruit trees. I vaguely remember something about having to plant both male and female trees to get cross-pollination.
Sadly, I admit my knowledge of plants isn’t worse than poor 😉
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My computer won’t let me reply…it’s gone crazy. Time to call support!
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My computer has been behaving lately … maybe because it knows that the next time it acts up, it’s being replaced
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I.m using my backup…my other one was the new one. It had a quirk and then it was fixed and I don’t know what’s with it now but it’s time to get it to tech support again. They do a great job but it always seems I need to carve out an extra hour or so just to get it fixed. 😦
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Good luck. I know how frustrating it can be! 😦
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Joanne, my favorite part of this post was your featuring incongruence! I used to post “wordplays,” which was my catch-all tagline for using word definitions, rhymes and various usages of words. 🙂
I liked the perspective up the staircase, to the Legislative Library and how through the open door arch you see a golden lit series of arches.
Such a gorgeous ornate Prague door leading in a progression through to the simplest gate/door out in a garden setting. Your Thursday’s Doors post is rich and diversely interesting!
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Thanks – glad you enjoy all the variety and threw at you this week 🙂
Normally I don’t pay much attention to some of the oddness that Google likes to throw at us, but this time I couldn’t resist.
It just tickled my funny-bone 🙂
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yeah…once again you got some really great doors! When I saw the first one before reading, I knew it had to be from Prague…or Prague-ish! I think I took a close-up shot of that door.
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Do you happen to remember what building it was? I vaguely remember it being along that stretch of road where there were a number of embassies.
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yeah, I think that’s where it is, but no, I don’t know what building it was…if there was a sign. But I’ll check my pics, see if I shot the whole building…but I think I only got a close-up of the door!
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I really loved that first door:)
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Prague is full of amazing stuff like that. After a while, I just got overwhelmed by trying to take photos of everything that caught my eye 🙂
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I’ve never been, have to put it on my list of places to go:)
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The brick church is perfect. Trifecta!
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Thank you! Sometimes I wow myself with what comes out of the camera 🙂
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What lovely doors! I often find that otherwise beautiful – or at least interesting – doors have been marred by a sign or something else incongruous (see what I did there?) put there by someone who does not understand the importance of keeping them uncorrupted. I especially love the pic of the church framed by the gorgeous yellow leaves.
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I have a feeling it’s going to be a new favourite word for a few people 😉
The church picture is definitely one of my favourites! I’m rather proud of that shot 🙂
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I love your random posts – more please!
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Thank you. Maybe I should change the “R” in my name from Ruby to Random 🙂
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You are a Ruby? How delightful.
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Yes, I am. Only now that I’m much older do I actually appreciate the name 🙂
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My favorite door is the one with the bell. I haven’t been to too many places with bell ropes, but they are unending fun. Lovely all around and no sign of incongruence as far as I could tell. 🙂
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I do have a fondness of bell-towers with bells that still ring by pulling a simple rope. Reminds me of the church in my hometown when I was young. Sadly it was demolished and replaced with a 70s style monstrosity.
I always wanted to pull those ropes to ring the bells and envied whoever got to do it every Sunday 🙂
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When I was a summer camp kid, the bell marked all the transitions of the day. Most of us got the chance to ring it at some point. It was a thrill!
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ooooh – lucky!!
Isn’t it funny the little things that made us excited as kids? 🙂
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I absolutely love the range of these doors. The first one looks like the statues are bent over from the weight of the building, and I love the church door and beautiful windows. 🙂
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Those poor statues do look like they’re carrying the weight of the world on them … a theme that seemed to pop up in a few places.
I’m rather proud of that church photo. It was such a perfect day outside!
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I do love the gate in the fence; I have neighbours who do stuff like that. And your shot of St Johns and the autumn leaves — stunning 😃
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Thank you 🙂
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The tree in front of the schoolhouse looks like it’s covered in buttered popcorn! WordPress doesn’t like a lot of perfectly good words.
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… especially Canadian spelling with the letter “u”. That one I’ve learned to ignore 😉
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This is a great collection, Joanne. They are all nice but I like the simple church doors the best.
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Thanks. I love that photo too 🙂
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An eclectic collection mixed with random silliness, this was my kinda post 🙂
I’m starting to think I need to get myself to Prague before I’m too broken down to enjoy it – I’ve seen so many wonderful shots from there.
Looking at the library shot I do think we both have a penchant for those angled upwards perspective shots.
BTW – I went ahead and added this to the link-up list for you 🙂
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oops – I knew I forgot something this morning. Thanks for adding me to the list. Obviously I was in a hurry this morning 🙂
That shot of the library is the only photo I have. The North Wing wasn’t included in the tour I took but I managed to grab that shot as we were rushing by on our way to the West Wing. I would have loved to get a closer shot though. Having said that, you’re right. I do like those upward angled shots 🙂
Definitely get yourself to Prague if you can. It is in my top 3 favourite cities – with Paris and Rome.
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Love the photos and absolutely adore your tidbits about “incongruence” and “dimorphism”. Being a ‘word nerd’ this has totally made my day!
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Another ‘word nerd’!! I like that expression. I might need to use it again 🙂
Now I’m glad I didn’t almost remove that section just before I hit ‘Publish’!
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Inspired by this lovely post I noticed a door on my way into town this afternoon (for an eye test) with the word ‘letters’ inscribed across the letter box. Not only did this fill me with confidence for my looming appointment but put a spring in my step. Should I ever fancy a job as a postman at least the IQ test shouldn’t hold any fears.
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….but doesn’t that leave the poor postman wondering what to do with leaflets, flyers, bills, etc? 😉
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….suddenly that IQ test isn’t the gimme I anticipated a couple of hours ago. Perhaps my application can be retrieved before my humiliation is complete… 😉
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LOL!!!
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Ha ha. Who knew doors could be this interesting, especially the incongruence of the last one. 😀 ::-D 😀 Incongruence. Incongruence. Incongruence. Ha. The word has a certain appeal.
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Let me guess … you’re someone who gets a word in her head and likes to let it roll around for while to see how it feels 🙂
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Ha ha ha. You caught me. Indeed. New words either progress to number one or they do not. *grin*
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I definitely see the incongruence of the gate with the wire fence. I wonder if they were planning to slowly improve the fence, beginning with the gate.
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Both of them look rather old, like they’ve been there for a while.
At first I didn’t even notice there was a fence. Maybe they just have a sense of humour 🙂
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I love the Church Door with its beautiful brickwork, and transom window. You framed it beautifully with that gorgeous tree in full Fall splendor!
Great selection of random doors today!
I thoroughly enjoyed the word lesson at the bottom of your post. Funny but educational all the same!
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Thank you 🙂
Every once in a while, google does something a little strange. This time I just had to share it!
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🙂
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That you have! These are some awesome doors!
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Thanks … mission accomplished 🙂
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The bell rope made me think of Lurch from the Addams Family. “You rang?” Hopefully, there are no 7 ft scary men hanging around the school. That would be bad.
I wonder if the budget only allowed for a nice gate and the rest was done on a dime. Funny, but I bet that gets many puzzling and surprised looks.
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hahaha – Addams Family! I loved the Addams Family … with Anjelica Huston and Raul Julia. Haven’t seen it in a while – maybe it’s time to look it up again 🙂
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I love the schoolhouse door, and of course you had to try the bell! But the last door is the coolest, what an illusion if you can’t see the fence. And thanks for the word lesson, too funny.
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I did ask for permission first … it seemed like a responsible adult thing to do.
Thankfully they said yes – even if they seemed rather surprised by the request. Is it possible no one’s ever asked?
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Thank you for using words WordPress and Google don’t agree with. They don’t know everything, you know! I got a good kick outta all that!
Now, to the doors — You’ve wowed me today. I thought nothing would top that fancy Prague door with its metal details and statuary framing — But the library doorway, well, that library is downright majestic! The ceiling height, the warmth, the lighting — wowza!
But then, I’m so drawn to traditional, old things — the church door took the cake! Old wooden doors, masonry, arch, window… This church has everything! Look at that yellow tree! Look at it! 😀
Great doors!
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Thanks Joey. I almost removed that section about spellcheck. I wrote it yesterday while I was in a whimsical mood, but when I re-read it this morning in a more ‘practical’ mood, I wondered if it was silly. Silly won. Glad someone liked it 🙂
Random doors can be so much fun … glad these ones were a hit. Personally, I love the church door with the yellow leaves. Every once in a while I take a photo that makes me really proud 🙂
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I like the school house set of doors. Knowing that the bell still rings makes them even more interesting to me. As for WP and its spell check, I’d like to suggest that there’s a certain “incongruence” to how they use the English language and how I do. Just saying…
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Exactly! … like wanting to constantly fix my Canadian spelling 😉
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The triple bonus is absolutely stunning Joanne! Great capture💛
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Thanks! I’m rather proud of that one! 🙂
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Nice set of doors and I like your final point about words…I do like words as well and I am always interested in finding new ones…(Suzanne)
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Thanks Suzanne. I like playing with interesting words too 🙂
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Fun post with virtual incongruence . . . What’s not to love? My favorite door is the wide plank schoolhouse door.
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Incongruence seems to be a theme in my life lately 😉
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Love the incongruent nature of your post😉. Maybe the relative invisibility of the fence is the point – to let the woods but not people in?
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Oh – that’s an interesting thought. It actually makes a huge amount of sense. Which just makes the gate a bit of whimsical fun 🙂
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Oh, the wording explanation cracked me up! What??!! Be a rebel, Joanne–use the word however you want. Too funny. The library is beautiful. I love to find something that makes you feel like a kid again–looking up in wonder at the beauty of it all. Gorgeous.
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I’ve known for a long time that there is a contrarian streak in my nature. I have a tendency to want to do exactly what someone tells me I shouldn’t be doing 😉
I’ve never decided whether that makes me a rebel or a brat 🙂
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You’re an adventurer–an awesome rebellious adventurer! And that is a good thing.
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🙂
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