Pork, etc.

The pig directs. We abide.

A few kilometers outside of Stratford, hugging the intersection of Perth Road 107 and Highways 7 & 8, lies the hamlet of Shakespeare, Ontario. There are two things that you notice immediately while driving through this tiny town amidst fields, barns and silos in rural South Western Ontario. The first is the imminent demise of the town itself (and, subsequently, the death of a delightful pun). The second is a giant pig.

Giant Pig

Regarding the former, large yellow "X's" were taped on the sides of buildings and trees that line the road through town and "Save Shakespeare" signs were posted about, protesting future plans to widen the highway, which would effectively eliminate a significant portion of this quaint town full of antique shops and old homes in various states of disrepair.

The sign says it all, I think

And the latter, the giant pig, marks the gateway into a wonderland of pork (and lamb, too). Set on a farm with cows, rabbits, pigs, and sheep, The Best Little Pork Shoppe is a small store with a big sign, and variety of (mostly) pork products available to satisfy your meatiest desires.

Unfortunately, we didn't buy anything, as we forgot our cooler and LSB prefers not to travel long distances with warm meat.

before

Adjacent to T.B.L.P.S. is the "Perth County Welcome Centre and Artisan Market" which sells a little bit of everything and a lot of local kitsch, but not the awesome refrigerator magnet I was looking for.

We missed the "li_e demos" of "sausage on a bun"

If the yellow "X's" along the road are a harbinger of Shakespeare's ominous future, then maybe the giant pig speaks to its delicious, yet fleeting present.

Shakespeare is for pork-lovers

Or perhaps it's just a giant pig by the side of the highway. Regardless, I bought a T-shirt.