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Post by mich64 on Jun 25, 2012 15:20:44 GMT
A few years ago, we were invited to friends for a day of ice fishing and were introduced to their friends from the Bruce Country area in south west Ontario. They return every winter and we all look forward to getting together. On their trip here this past January, they invited us all down to their region. It was almost a six hour drive through the most beautiful countryside. Rolling hills to flat lands, this is farming country. We seen fields growing canola, soya bean, corn and wheat. Also many farm animals, horses, cows, lambs, goats and llamas! The farm we went to visit only grows hay to feed the 50 or so horses they usually have at any given time. They breed and sell Clydesdale horses. Once we arrived at our hosts home and freshened up had a quick drink, we were off to the farm! I am waiting for the pictures to download from our phone to my laptop, I will continue the stories later but will have one photo to share.  My husband is holding the reins as our friend Steve gave instructions. |
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Post by nycgirl on Jun 26, 2012 5:10:31 GMT
I think Clydesdales are so beautiful.
Sounds like a good time, looking forward to more.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 26, 2012 5:19:59 GMT
Yes, more more!
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Post by lugg on Jun 26, 2012 6:32:11 GMT
Great start , Yes more Please
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Post by mich64 on Jun 26, 2012 22:43:18 GMT
We left at 8:00 a.m. on Friday morning and met up with two others couples at a roadside restaurant for some breakfast of bacon, eggs, home fries and toast before tackling the almost 6 hour drive to Paisley. After making 4 more stops, lunch, grocery store, gas and the all important Beer Store that was closest to our arrival point (we like our beer cold), we finally pulled in to our hosts home for our stay. An excited greeting met with a quick freshening up and a beer to toast the beginning of the weekend and we were off to the Farm. Here is one of the barns where he is preparing some of his horses for show and where a few of the mares have recently given birth, a few more will in the coming days.  Inside the barn   Their new home, not your typical farmhouse but one built after some successful years of hard work.  This mare is ready to have her foal any time, we were hoping she would during our visit but instead we watched her pacing the fields while her little one was bouncing around like he/she was fighting to break out.  Our host hitched up two Clyde's to a wagon and we were off on a ride stopping to visit neighbors and few even climbed to continue on with us. His dog Lucy, a border collie, followed us along the property lines.  The weekend was also to celebrate his 50th birthday and his son bought him a horse at the auction that morning and also one for his daughter.   Some of the horses he breeds end up being sold to Budweiser, he has had a long relationship with them so his wife had this cake made for his birthday celebration.  Tomorrow I will post some pictures of the beach we were taken to on Lake Huron, one of the Great Lakes and of our view of the Bruce Nuclear Power plant that is the regions largest employer. |
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 26, 2012 23:28:22 GMT
Even though I know those horses are called Clydesdales, I've always called them Budweiser horses. I suspect I'm not alone in this.
What a wonderful opportunity, Mich -- so glad you all went & can't wait to hear more.
Your husband looks right at home holding those reins. Weren't Clydesdales once used to pull fire wagons, as well?
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Post by mich64 on Jun 27, 2012 2:09:22 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Jun 27, 2012 15:06:31 GMT
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Post by tod2 on Jun 27, 2012 16:50:25 GMT
I am really enjoying this Mich! Lake Huron looks more like a sea than a lake - my gosh it's huge!
What a lovely cake - did you get any?
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Post by imec on Jul 2, 2012 20:27:05 GMT
Beautiful animals! Thanks for this close-up look Mich!
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Post by mich64 on Jul 2, 2012 22:00:49 GMT
Thanks IMEC, have you ever been to this part of the country? I had not, so beautiful and unbelievably well kept properties. The residents mow about 2 acres around their homes! Completed with beautiful flower gardens everywhere.
Sorry I do not see the response that I thought I had posted to your post Tod, I must not have selected to post my reply. What I had written was that Lake Huron is the third largest freshwater lake in the world, felt like we were on the coast of an ocean.
The cake was delicious, I made sure to try a piece to see if it tasted as good as it looked.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2012 18:38:07 GMT
I'm sorry, but that cake is just so wrong.  The beaches on the Great Lakes fascinate me, since the lakes are as big as seas. The idea of the water being fresh rather than salty just seems so strange to me. |
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Post by joanne28 on Jul 3, 2012 18:59:22 GMT
Fabulous pics, Mich.
Tod and Kerouac, the Great Lakes can be startling in their size. I live about a mile away from Lake Ontario and when I'm down on the lake shore, I can't see the other side. Friends of mine had his mother from England visiting and her response to her first view of the lake was "I didn't know you were so close to the sea".
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Post by lugg on Jul 3, 2012 19:36:32 GMT
Hi Mich - fantastic thread , you certainly seemed to have had a fab weekend. Love the photos of the Clydes but my eye was caught by that extremely pretty pony in #4 and I wondered if it was a Newfoundland which although I have read about , I have never seen them in the Uk or maybe a newfoundland crossed with something else ?
I now also have urge to visit the Great Lakes after seeing these and Louis' post
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Post by Deleted on Jul 3, 2012 19:41:21 GMT
Okay, these wonderful photos are Lake Huron, but I still have the intention of driving around Lake Michigan. (Apart from that, my Great Lakes experience is limited to Toronto and Niagara Falls basically.)
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Post by mich64 on Jul 3, 2012 22:00:35 GMT
I am sorry to write that I do not know what kind of pony that one is Lugg, all I remember hearing was that it was a miniature pony they purchased at the auction earlier that morning, along with the other horse which was bought for his granddaughter to learn to ride on.
Joanne I agree, the Great Lakes are startling in size. I have now seen 4 of them. Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario and they are all amazing! I hope to someday visit Lake Michigan as well Kerouac.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 4, 2012 2:36:02 GMT
Aren't the Great Lakes actually inland seas?
WONDERFUL report, Mich!
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Post by nycgirl on Jul 6, 2012 23:21:11 GMT
Looks like a terrific weekend. That lake sure is impressive. I'd love to see the Great Lakes one day.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2012 10:37:27 GMT
Looking at these summery photos again today as it once again pours rain here.
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