A Mennonite Country Drive

Today we took a ride in the country. You don't have to go more than 20 miles east of London to feel like you have gone back in time.

You could easily envision yourself 100 years ago when you leave the paved roads behind and get off into Amish Mennonite country.

 A dusty job and four horsepower. Beautiful farms but the work is not easy.

The farmer paused to give the horses a break before ascending the hill again.  I don't think he liked me taking his "graven image".

Not all the farms looked very prosperous. It's a hard life I'm sure. One must admire their incredible religious conviction.
.
.
.

An Amazing Soldier Beetle

My "artsy" picture for today:

I snapped this shot of the colourful bug sunning on the motor housing of the electric chainsaw on the back patio. The bright sun reflected the awesome green abdomen contrasted with his red thorax.
.
.
.

Dash's Movie Agent Sent Another USD $262.50

Jukin Video in Hollywood has the movie rights to our old cat Dash's movie "Cat Fish Bowl". This latest royalty cheque brings our portion of the total to $385 USD.

The clip was apparently used on "The Science of Stupid" and "Thank You To Animals #56". As you can see the arrangement is a 50/50 revenue split with Jukin Video. If good old Dash ever knew.

.

Wendy and I ordered a few pair of Zenni Optical eyeglasses with the money.  Thanks Dash! R.I.P.
.
.

MullBain Lodge In Late May...

John and Cheryl graciously invited us to visit MullBain Lodge on Wood Lake near Bracebridge. I didn't have to think about whether we would go or not! We drove up on Friday arriving around 3 pm and returning to London Sunday afternoon at 2:30.

We have now been there in all the seasons. This trip being past mid-Spring was forecast to be perfect weather but it was rainy as is often the case with this time of year.

When the sun did come out, so did the black-flies and mosquitoes, but that didn't slow us down. We really enjoyed the screened-in gazebo and the warm 75 degree temperatures.

A Saturday morning trip to the Farmers' Market in Bracebridge.

Shopping of course.

Interesting old houses on the main street.

The river near Vankoughnet  was running hard with all the rain.

Playing Shvuckel, Pete and Donna's famous dice game. I think it's based on Farkle - CLICK HERE.

 Donna poses for the camera. We saw Pete and Donna last weekend at the Battle of Culloden and I had a picture printed for them of "The Three Musketeers".

More food than I needed, that's for sure!

The Gazebo was a popular place this weekend since we couldn't sit outside because of the bugs.
.
.
.

The Battle Of Culloden 2017

The Three Musketeers...

Seamus describes the battle.

A young fan meets the actors.

Practice shooting at camp.

Donna and Wendy.

Jared and Macey.

We always enjoy a nice walk in the adjacent park trail.

The cliffs are constantly eroding.

The whole park is basically off-limits. Wendy and I hopped the fence.

I suppose they are worried they will be sued if someone goes over the cliff when it collapses.

How sad that one of the provinces most beautiful parks is fenced off from public use.

I suppose that if the fences are easy to climb over, the legal burden is met and the "tress-passers" have fewer chances of winning a lawsuit.

The park at this time of year is spectacularly green!

Here's the ubiquitous fence that keeps tax paying "tress-passers" out.

Back at camp a battle is brewing.

Seamus describes the scene.

The British are booed as they move into place on the battlefield.

The battle begins with the Brittish troops surrounded by the Jacobite rebels.

Exciting fire volley and the smell of gunpowder in the air.

After a charge by the rebels, the British force surrenders.

Bonnie Prince Charlie addresses the defeated British troops and offers them a chance to join with the Jacobite rebels or go back home and never come back.

The British leader succumbs to the Prince.

The prisoners are marched away and the reenactment battle ends in victory for the underdogs. There is another battle tomorrow and unfortunately for our reenactor friends, it doesn't end as well. They will lose the Battle of Culloden and Scotland is part of Britain - for now. The next months and years will tell if Scotland finally separates and becomes independent.

.
.
.