Something that's been on my "Bucket List" for a long time has been horseback riding. So Martin made arrangements for this to happen on my birthday this week. So now I can check that off the list, one slightly bruised bum later. It was quite jarring on my 63-yr.old back as well. Who knew. I probably put it off a few decades too long! Later that day we took time to explore Heritage Gardens & Petting Zoo on McNaughton, just east of Prince Albert Line. WOW! Acres and acres to delight any gardener as well as colorful ducks, geese, pheasants, and the cutest twin goats. I fed the goats some dry corn and look at them smile. We went out for a pannekoeken lunch, dessert at the Dutch Market, and then one of Martin's specialties, Shrimp Scampi for dinner at home. Thanks to all my sisters-in-law in Canada and my Tuesday sisters in Oklahoma for the good wishes. I love you all!
The bi-centennial of the War of 1812 is coming up next year which raises the question, what exactly was that all about. So we went to our local library and checked out a DVD documentary about that period in history. I learned it was a war between the U.S. and Canada and England over boundaries. One of the good things that came out of it was that the three countries decided never to go to war against each other again. And we have been allies ever since. I took the picture of Martin in a beautiful grove of trees along the Thames River where we stopped to look at a monument for Tecumseh, an Indian that figured prominently on the Canadian side. We decided to drive further that day and happened upon a battle reenactment of the battle where Tecumseh was killed. I couldn't resist getting my pic with one of the soldiers. There were dozens of men, women, and children in period costumes doing what they did back two hundred years ago: spinning wool, cooking over open fires in big iron pots, etc. I bought some prairie style bonnets for my granddaughters who are very into Little House on the Prairie.
