After the death of Major General Sir Isaac Brock, at the Battle of Queenston Heights, "hostilities became sporadic and confused, with several failed American attempts at invasion.  When the Yankees briefly occupied York, in 1813, the troops seemed more interested in plunder than power." ~ Charlotte Gray, Canadian author.

Except from Penelope Beikie letter to her Brother, John MacDonell,York, May 5, 1813:

"Every house they found deserted was completely sacked.  We have lost a few things, which were carried off before our faces; but, as we expected to lose all, we think ourselves well off.  Will you believe it?  I had the temerity to frighten, and even to threaten, some of the enemy, though they had the place and me in their power...They so overloaded their vessels with the spirits of this place, that I am told they have thrown quantities of pork and flour into the lake.
"I really attribute this visit to the vengeance of heaven on this place, for quantities of stores, farming utensils, etc., sent from England in the time of General Simeon [Simcoe], were allowed to remain in the Kings stores and nothing of them did [the colonists] ever get.  Now, our enemies have them, to do with them as they please.  I think we deserve all we have got.  Keep up, your spirits, my dear John, for God seems to be on our side."
~ CANADA A PORTRAIT IN LETTERS 1800 - 2000, Charlotte Gray, Doubleday Canada, 2003.

Caledonia Building Bridges to Peace 1812 - 2012 ~

British Battle after dusk ~ Caledonia, Haldimand, for the Bicentennial of the War of 1812

Smile for Today ~

Rosie Has a Nap

One Eye Open

"It is probably true, then, that dogs don't think about art, the origin of the universe, or geopolitics." 
~ Roger A. Caras

~ A Dog Is Listening, The Way Some of Our Friends View Us,  Summit Books, 1992

Virginia Woolf wrote: 

"D'ya mean to say your silken phrases are dug for and sweated out?  I thought you dipped your brush and drew your stroke.  And as for me, I write everything except Orlando 4 times over, and should write it 6 times; and after a morning of grunting and groaning have 200 words to show:  and those as crazy as broken china.
"These are sober facts; and then we, who live in the same age, and sometimes meet in the flesh, have these mistaken ideas about each other: What then is the worth of criticism?"

~In a letter to David Garnett (Dec.,1929) A Reflection of The Other Person / The Letters of Virginia Woolf 1929 - 1931, Editor N. Nicolson; Assistant Editor: J. Trautmann, Chatto & Windus Ltd., Clarke, Irwin & Co. Ltd., 1978.

Doors Open Haldimand ~  Sat., Sept., 15
Cottonwood Mansion will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00

Curator Jill Walters-Klamer and Clayton Spears

For a complete listing of sites participating in the 2012 Doors Open Haldimand, go to www.cottonwoodmansion.ca  (View a slide show of the mansion.)


Photograph compliments of Catherine Stidsen, Vice-President, Cottonwood Mansion.  Thank you Catherine.

Nicholas Log Cabin, Cayuga

DOORS OPEN
HALDIMAND COUNTY

Saturday, September 15

Focusing on the stories of the County's early Loyalist settlers during the War of 1812.

Cottonwood Mansion, Selkirk

For sites participating in this year's Doors Open Haldimand, visit www.doorsopenontario.on.ca  Most sites will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.