#0580 "Homestead Lilacs"

This was painted on the front yard of Watershed Farm looking north ... toward the sounds of thunder and very blustery winds. The canvas was breathing in an out with the wind. It was difficult to control the brushstrokes on the billowing canvas. The family Chesapeake was with me chasing the green tennis ball in the tall grasses of the apple orchard.

These lilacs were likely planted around 1860 by Thomas McAfee who owned Lot 24 then. They were also probably located just to the south of the original settler's homestead. It would have been a much different existence back then. We are still using the same well though and the water was still sweet.

There were one room pioneer homes on both Lot 23 and Lot 24 back in 1860. On Lot 24 of Watershed Farm (as I named it in 1993), the house had been built at least 300 yards from the farm because of the fear of fire as was a common practice in those times. The houses were also built in the center of the land so that they didn't have to travel as far to reach the fields. It was just east of the corner where the old lane turned up to the barn. All that remains of this house is some stone/cement foundation in the ditch. This also explains why there is this thick grove of lilacs in that location. It also explains the placement of the well just to the southeast of the home site. There are probably many artifacts buried on the site. At this time little else is known about the families who grew up on Lot 24.

This plein air painting date was also the 17th anniversary of the Barrie Tornado, which killed 12 people (also on a Friday). These thunderstorms also went severe producing large hail in Barrie and a tornado near North Bay. It was my day off so I could enjoy the weather without any pressure.

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