Log Building

There were many log buildings at Upper Canada Village, but I loved this strand of Virginia creeper climbing this wall.

Cattle at Upper Canada Village

A couple of calves were grazing in the farmyard,

separated from the cows. The workers think the horns were left on the cows to help them if they got into brush, but no one is really sure.

Gardens

This garden is in Manotick, where we stopped for breakfast on the drive to Upper Canada Village.

This is a random photo of a vegetable garden at the Village,

while this is a formal garden in front of the grandest house in the place.

This is the view from another porch we sat on during a heavier period of rain. You can see the St. Lawrence in the distance.

Print Shop

They have used this poster at Upper Canada Village for at least 18 years, since my kids were young, and I used to wonder why. This visit, I saw how much work is involved in making a picture for one of those old presses. Would you want to create a new picture every year?

I forget the statistics for setting a page of type. Something on the order of 2 days to set it and proof it, and another day and a half to tear it apart again.

We have it kind of easy nowadays, don't we?

Amaranth

Amaranth is grown as a food crop in some areas. The seeds are tiny, and each plant produces millions of them.

There are colours other than red, but I have not seen any this summer, but there are the two types of red.

The drooping blossoms are also called love lies bleeding.

Bread Maker

One of the popular buildings at Upper Canada Village is the breadmaker. They use flour ground at the Village to make loaves of plain, hearty bread, which are sold in the shop at the gates. We were there between bakings, so the fire was simply smouldering, waiting.

Pioneer Memorial

Beside Upper Canada Village is the Pioneer Memorial.

It, and the Village, were built to preserve some of the history that was about to be flooded.

All the little church graveyards and family plots had to be moved, and these long walls are the result. I do not know if the bones were moved as well, or if they are still at the bottom of the river.

Annie and Jake

The dogs came to Upper Canada Village with us. Jake was confused when I went into a building, and talked to him from a window. He just couldn't figure out where I was.

Annie was afraid of the horses and the cows, but thought the piglet was interesting. He did not reciprocate her interest.

Fish at Upper Canada Village

In the park just before the gate to the Village, there is one of those food dispensing machines, so people can feed the fish. Last time I was there, the fish were fed through the back window of the grist mill, not by the public.

In a real village of the time, the fish would likely have been used as food before they got to be this large. All the ones I saw were more than three feet long.

Sheep

Of course, there were sheep at Upper Canada Village.

Their wool was used for so many things in the 1860's.

I like the way this little lady is peeking under the rail fence.

And here is a pile of wool, waiting to be processed at the mill.

Watery Wednesday

This is the porch at Loucks' Farm where we sheltered from a thundershower. Dogs are not allowed in the buildings.

I got lots of photos of raindrops - on hosta flowers,

falling on the hired man's house and the garden,

and on the apple tree.

Oxen

As we left the dressmaker's house, the ox cart driver was teasing husband about how much the visit must have cost him, since I was running around in my underwear! The silvery streaks are raindrops.

Loucks' Farm and Rail Fences

Loucks' farm is the main example of a prosperous 1860's farm at Upper Canada Village.

There was a yard around the main house, but the front door still overlooked the grainfield. Large boulders would have been incorporated into the fences, rather than being moved.

And there are snake rail fences, the zigzags faster to build than a straight rail fence,

but taking up more room as well.

Canadian Horse

All of the horses at Upper Canada Village are of the Canadian breed.

They are all-round horses that can be used for riding if necessary, as well as pulling.

I have never seen a chesnut before, though!