Friday's Sunset

After we returned from Solomon's Castle, we decided to watch the sun set. Kendra picked me up shortly and we were on our way. I don't know if the place has a name but we went to the end of Bahia Vista, then turned right onto Orange Street and took the first left. 

 This home was on our right.

 And this one was on our left.

I walked over to the brick wall in the first house and put my camera right up to the opening in a brick and shot this pic.

A safe haven for the birds to settle down for the night. It is too far for the racoons to swim to devour their eggs.

The last of the sun.

Solomon's Castle

Yesterday afternoon Kendra Cross and I went to explore Solomon's Castle, an hour and two minute drive from Pinecraft. I was fascinated with the place and all of Solomon's creations made from trash and scraps, because this fits right in with my Troyer genes. Solomon's Castle can be found here.

 Inside the entrance, looking out.

 The Castle at a distance. The siding is all tin plates from a local newspaper publishing place. For thirteen years I worked for Pathway Publishers in Canada. And these used tin plates stack up in a hurry. If we only would have build an Amish Castle we could have used every used tin plate.

 My plate of food. It was delicious and more than I could eat.

 A bird made from a broken shovel.

 Inside the gift shop, where our tour through the castle began.

 This fish is made from the bottom of beer cans.

 The man and his toilet is made from scraps.

They had a number of animals made from wire coat hangers.

 Made from scraps of trash.

 A Bike

 This chair is made from empty beer cans. It is strong enough to sit on as the cans are not the tin type.

 One of Columbus' three ships that sailed the Ocean Blue looking for the New World.

 This is the only picture I have of Solomon. It does resemble him.

 This eagle and a number of other animals are made from cut up oil drums.

 This is Solomon's very first piece of art. His carvings at the age of four years old. 

His wall art is made of tiny pieces of wood. 

 He makes their own stained glass windows. Each piece tells a story.

 This is their Plain Wall, which separates the living room from the kitchen area. These photos are just a drop in the bucket of everything on display. We were free to take pictures and all of these things are for sale, providing you have a million extra dollars.

 Outdoor seating. The food is cooked in the boat and carried outside to their guests. There is also seating inside the boat and up in the lighthouse.

 We also took a tour around the grounds and found these old beautiful rusty bikes.

 Out back is a replica of The Alamo.

 I love these doors.

 The little shed made from recycled scraps.

We took this bridge across the mote to take the nature walk. I was on a wheelchair, so at a few places the nature walk was a bit of a challenge. We wanted to take a look at how accessible everything is with a wheelchair and the best way to check out is go with a wheelchair.

 This is a Swamp Cypress in the swamp. We didn't encounter alligators or snakes and very few insects. 

 Found this flower at the end of our Nature Walk.

 Solomon's wife, Kendra and I in front of the castle.

Wednesday's Shuffleboard Tournament

 Every Wednesday evening there is a Shuffleboard Tournament at the park. During the busy season of the year I won't touch the shuffleboard court with a ten foot pole. It is just a too full and busy place. But now that not many people are left in Pinecraft, I get close up to the fence and take it in.

I think the games start at 6:30 but before that time the sweeping has to be done. John Henry Whetstone sweeps and visits.

 Jim Miller spreads the sand or crystals or whatever on the board that makes the disks slide easier.

 THen get out the disks and put them in place.

 The men talk and draw slips to determine who plays with whom.

 And the games go...

 Watching the games. Well it was more just for something to do.

 The opposite end of the games.

Omar Stolzfus is visiting with little Sammy or Bubby or whatever his name is. He is the cutest boy around. He is the only boy among three girls.

A Day's Work

 David Borntrager power-washing the apartment roofs. When the roofs are cleaned, they sparkle and shine like new.

 Herman Mullet doing some last minute work on Omar & Laura's travel trailer. Omar thinks I take too many pictures of him but I will quit now that he has left.

 Laura is carrying out things they need up north or during their travel. They left around 3 PM. 

 Emma Schlabach went fishing before they leave for their Old Kentucky Home. I think they have plans to leave on Thursday.

 Team work for Clara and Emanuel. They plan to fly out on Thursday for Martinsburg Ohio.

After a day's work the sunset.

Changes for the Better in Pinecraft

Tonight I was biking for exercise. Beings there was nothing going on of interest at the park I biked down Miller Ave, wanting to take a look at the progress of this place.

 The old house between Kruppa and Miller has been torn down and a new home is in the making.

 

 Across the street sitting between Miller and Graber is the new Musser home. A year ago the old house was torn down and this new one took its place.

 A year ago this brand new house was build on an empty lot between Yoder and Graber Ave.

 This was started in late 2013 on Bimini going in from Beneva. I think it belongs to Randy Shrock.

 This new house on Clarinda close to Beneva was build last summer.

 This is also on Clarinda, close to Kaufman. The old house was torn down and the new one is still in the making.

 This one was a remodeling job with a new addition that is larger than the original house.  This is the backkside. The front faces Yoder.

A remodeling job in the corner where the dead ends of Kaufman and Schrock meet. 

There is at least one other remodeling/addition I didn't get tonight. All of these homes are on the south side of Bahia Vista.  I guess Pinecraft is getting a new facelift.