Sparta House Tea Room

The little village of Sparta was founded by Quakers more than two centuries ago, in 1813. The Sparta House Tea Room was built about twenty years later and has served the small southwestern Ontario community ever since. It has been a hotel, a general store and even a funeral home. It sounds a little ghoulish, but today the funeral parlour is a tea room.

Sparta House is a great destination when taking kids, or grandkids, out for a Sunday drive. I have found that kids, especially little girls, love tea rooms. The Sparta House has a some outside seating making it an even better destination during these summer days steeped with the threat of COVID-19.

Another picture from Winter Wheat

The large piece of folk art sits beside the county road passing the Winter Wheat property. There is website dedicated to Winter Wheat and it is still up although the site seems closed. Possibly permanently. There is a chain across the entrance and a large No Trespassing sign hangs from its middle.

I believe the wife, Lucy Ogletree, was a painter in the folk art tradition, while her husband, Mike Roberts, was the folk art sculptor. I love the piece shown. The giant bird has wings made from scrap saw blades. Truly imaginative.

I have re-edited this post in order to add the following from a Sparta village website:

The loss of Winter Wheat by fire this winter has been a real blow to Sparta. This very popular attraction was totally destroyed. Mike Roberts, the owner is taking a year off to recuperate and may do something on a smaller scale in the future. Mike has done so much for Sparta. He started the first tourist attractions in Sparta in the 1970’s and continued to the present day. He restored two buildings in the village and then opened Winter Wheat. We are thankful for everything Mike has done for Sparta and wish him all the best.

A memory of Winter Wheat

The place was called Winter Wheat. It was unique. A local artist and her husband created it and maintained it. Sadly today it has closed.

Winter Wheat was an art gallery. The local folk art painter had a shop on the property stocked with art, much of it her own. Winter Wheat was a relaxing destination. The grounds had places to sit and enjoy the free coffee that was available. Visitors were encouraged to wander the grounds, enjoy the folk art and take a breather from the pressure of everyday life.

Tying all together was the folk art done by the artist's husband. He is truly a creative craftsperson. He takes found pieces of assorted stuff and assembles it into art. The stuff he created was well done and of enduring quality.

I have re-edited this post to include the following from a Sparta village website:

The loss of Winter Wheat by fire this winter has been a real blow to Sparta. This very popular attraction was totally destroyed. Mike Roberts, the owner is taking a year off to recuperate and may do something on a smaller scale in the future. Mike has done so much for Sparta. He started the first tourist attractions in Sparta in the 1970’s and continued to the present day. He restored two buildings in the village and then opened Winter Wheat. We are thankful for everything Mike has done for Sparta and wish him all the best.

West Five: a new approach to suburban living

The  London developer, Sifton, calls its southwest London development West Five. It likes to claim that it is the first neighbourhood in London powered by the sun. W5 is aiming to be a zero-net community. A very green dream..

Links flow through healthy communities

Healthy communities have links and strong roots. The newspaper and television station in London were once, and not all that long ago, owned by one family. The media company earned its money in the community and a great deal of the income stayed in the community. Today it's different.  A lot of the cash is siphoned away by distant hedge fund owners.

The local hospital benefited from the generosity of the Blackburn family as did many other groups. The photo hanging on the wall was taken by a London Free Press photographer and the hospital room on which it hangs may also have been paid for, at least partially, by the Blackburns. Walter Blackburn was a big and very generous supporter of  the LHSC.

Paving stones are not as green as you think

Paving stones should be green. Rugged. Long lasting. Potentially, the stones can stay in use forever with just a little maintenance. But, that is all in theory. In reality, styles change, stones begin to look dated and the homeowner has the old one lifted, removed and replaced. And what happens to the old stones? They are hauled to the dump.

The paving stones being laid are not stone at all. They are formed concrete. They are replacing older paving bricks. The small, red bricks were beginning to show signs of age. Until power washed the bricks were beginning to look stained. I called it a patina. Stain or patina, the power washer blasted it away. But sporting a clean surface was not enough to save the old bricks or make them desirable for reuse. I don't understand.

It may be my patio but, still, I think this is crazy. Why do it? Because my wife doesn't agree and one must pick one's battles. Oh well, I managed to save the decades old paving stone driveway and walk. And I kept some of old stones to repair the drive and walk if and when necessary. Maybe, just maybe, it will last indefinitely. I can only hope.

Homes that aim to go off the grid

These are the townhouses that are part of the new green neighbourhood in the southwest end of London. Note the solar panels on the roofs.

If all goes well, I believe the ultimate goal is to have these home completely off the grid. They may even be off at this time.