One of the finest mausoleums in Canada

Fulford - Pixley Mausoleum 

 I got a request for my photo of the Fulford - Pixley mausoleum in London. This call rekindled my interest in the mausoleum and I shot some new pictures of the incredible structure.

Annie Pixley was a popular stage actress of the 1870s who won international acclaim for her stage performances. After marrying fellow actor Robert Fulford she frequented the London area, spending many summers in Port Stanley south of London on the shore of Lake Erie. On occasion she performed at London's Grand Opera House (now the Grand Theatre). 

Tragedy struck in July, 1886 when Annie’s 12 year old son Thomas died of what was known as "brain fever". He was buried at Woodland Cemetery. Tragedy would strike again Nov. 8th, 1893, when Annie died while visiting relatives in England. 

In memory of his wife and son, Robert Fulford built the Fulford - Pixley Mausoleum. It was completed in 1897. Today it is a popular attraction to visitors in London. It is considered to be among the finest funerary monuments in Canada.

No masks. Are these two sisters?

Most, but not all, folk at the park were not wearing their masks. It did appear that people were clumped together in what may well have been family units. A dad, a mom and some kids. The groupings kept to themselves while keeping distant from other small groups.

These two girls, with their smart phone, were clearly sitting too close together -- unless, of course, they were both members of the same family. Possibly they were sisters. I certainly hope so.

Long lens visually bunches crowd

The effect is known as foreshortening, perspective compression or forced perspective . It makes objects in the distance look closer to other objects in the distance than they actually were. In other words, the folk crowding the sidewalk in Springbank Park Sunday were not breaking all the social distancing rules despite what the photo shows. But the park was packed with thousands of Londoners eager to get out and about thanks to the warm spring temperatures.

Spring is definitely here!

The snow has melted. The breezes are warm. We have sunshine into the early evening. Spring beckons and Londoners are responding by heading for the city's many parks--often blue masks in hand.

Is this a turret?

What is the cone-shaped roof above the porch of this Victorian home called? I'm not an expert when it comes to architecture. I think it may be a turret. This home appears to have been built in a somewhat simplified Queen Anne Victorian style. This would explain the very simple turret.

A heart healthy meal inspired by a local London doctor

 

Today's post was inspired by Dr. David Spence at SPARC (Stroke Prevention and Atherosclerosis Research Centre) in London and located at Western University. When Dr. Spence wrote a book on how to deal with stroke prevention, a big part of the fight to remain healthy is eating right. The last part of his book was dedicated to heart-healthy recipes. 

 

I try to follow Dr. Spence's guidance and last night I discovered I had a fridge full of leftovers. Oh well, when life hands you lemons, make lemon sole, I say. I'm now out of sole, breading, sweet peppers and mushrooms but I do still have lemons. Can't get rid of the damn things. Oh well . . .

 

Dinners like this, very light on the saturated fats and low in cholesterol are an important weapon in the fight against heart disease. Cheers! (Sorry about the yellow tint but photo taken under warm, indoor lighting.)

Almost 150 years old, spinner's home a heritage property

 

Alexander Murdoch built a simple home for a young, working, family man. The 29-year-old was a spinner at a local mill when he built his home in Stratford. What was a spinner? A spinner was the operator of a spinning jenny or spinning mule used in the local mills to make yarn and other textile products. Some of the larger mills had upwards of 200 employees. The mills were the third most important business in Stratford at that time after the furniture factories and railways.