A Night at the Races

We have been meaning to check out South Buxton Speedway since we moved here, and for one reason or another relating to either plans or weather, we hadn't managed to do so yet. All that changed last night.

It's dirt track racing at it's finest - not only do you get to SEE the action, but certainly HEAR (it's very loud) and also TASTE (a nice combo of dirt and fuel) the action. On an oval with no true straighaways, these crazy mofo's manage to crank things up to over 100 mph anyway while driving pretty much sideways the entire time.

Four classes of racing every Saturday night, from 4-cylinder stock street cars to high-end modifieds that are pretty much a 700-horsepower dune buggy with a thin sheet metal shell around it. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday night in southwestern Ontario.

It's easy to lose the cars in the cloud of dirt....

The Checkered Flag!

A lesson in counter-steering with the Modifieds

Dirt Track Stock Car Action

RAWK....

The May long weekend found Wheatley playing host to the 2nd annual Rawk the Coop festivities. A total of 29 intrepid Rawkers made their way to the Coop over the weekend to partake in a fish fry, barbecue, camping, horseshoes, live music and general merriment.

After a grey start, the weather cleared by Saturday afternoon for three solid days of glorious weather. The Shitflowers made an appearance, along with guest rawkers including professional cowbell artist Jane.

Lake Erie provided its usual bounty of fish to fry, and several terrestrial livestock species also gave their lives in support of the BBQ madness. A breakfast feast was also prepared, with endless pots of coffee and one tea, bag most definitely out.

A veritable cornucopia of other goods and snacks completed the table. The beer fridge was filled to capacity......despite being emptied at a constant and alarming pace.

Unless everyone lied to our faces....and I think ya go to Hell for that, people....a great time was had by all.

No police were called. No paramedics were required. Nobody lost an eye....but a few lucky people got an eyeful.

Book yer 2010 May long weekend off now folks....same time next year!

Rawking in the Coop

BBQ Smorgasbord

Shoe Fly, Shoe! Fly Shoe, Fly!

Sun Worshippers

....the COOP !!!

....it still needs more cowbell....
Pickerel, perch and smelt...oh my!!!

Relaxing on the Green

The 2nd Washroom

Requiem for a Tree

The strong Wheatley winds finally got the better of our tenacious half-dead Manitoba Maple last weekend. Given that the living half made for a lopsided configuration over he dead half, and upon further inspection the entire trunk was toast from the inside out.....well, it was only a matter of time. Still, it was a sad discovery at 7am on Monday morning.

We are clearing away a lot of the branches and brush....but have decided to leave the main bulk of the tree right where she fell, as a sort of ecological lawn sculpture. Some of the branches may still actually bear leaves this year, in spite of everything, making for a nice little natural gazebo under the limbs. Plus, the birds love it, and had several homes in the dead branches before all this happened. Who says a shade tree can't be horizontal?




Of course, SOME of the tree had to be removed for safety reasons.....which we will put to good use at Rawk the Coop.

Spring, Continued...

Some serious Spring weather finally found it's way to southwestern Ontario over the last few days. Temperatures actually topped 30 C on Friday and Saturday, leading to a whole new explosion of plant growth around the yard. Oh yeah, and a few bugs too.

This Maple is leafing for Manitoba

When it's warmer outside than inside....

Bon Jovi never sang about a Bed of Daffodils

Even the bad stuff is growing....

New Pets

Not that we go looking for these things, as they tend to find US, but in the short span of yesterday, we managed to acquire two new "pets".

This cat had been skulking around the property for a few days but hadn't come near us. The next thing we know he's whining at the back door and actually climbing the screen....with our three cats waiting on the other side of course with grappling poles and boiling oil, waiting to repel the interloper.

We offered him a bit of kibble on the back porch and he ATTACKED the food in a way I have never seen. We could feel every rib and vertebrae, like he hadn't eaten in quite some time. As you can see, he also looks pretty beat up....not sure if he's too weak to hunt or defend himself....or just a bad fighter. :)

We have named him "Holstein", since he not only bears the proper colouring but also the bone-rack structure of a tired old dairy cow.

Holstein the Cat

We also came across this sparrow on our driveway yesterday. He looked like he had died standing up, as he had not moved in hours or even responded to our approach, just sitting there in the open. Finally he moved a bit, and it turns out he's just blind. Jane scooped him up on a stick before Holstein actually found a fight he might win.

Not sure if he's just too young and fell out of the nest before his eyes were developed....or if it's a birth defect and he's blind for life, a pretty crappy fate for a bird. We're keeping him in a cat carrier in the garden shed, safe and sound with food and water, until he shows any signs of visual awareness.

Say Hello to our leeeetle friend

April Sunshine

The weekend was gorgeous, with Friday and Saturday featuring full sunshine and temperatures around 25 C, prompting a bucnh of outdoorsy type work and play. The flowers are blooming, and we're getting the garden ready for planting, having already started some seedlings in the house.

"Till" we meet again - working up the clay with the new electric tiller

Thar she Grows - Daffodils are blooming

Hocus Krokus, with Autofocus!

His 'n Hers Chillaxing