#0629 "Summer Fence"

#0629 "Summer Fence" 
16 x 20 inches
Started Wednesday, July 16th, 2003.

This is another look at the fence line to the south of Watershed Farm on the very crest of the Oak Ridges Moraine. The steep slope of the land was more effective than the rickety posts at keeping the cattle on the south side of the Coulter fence. 

The family Chesapeake and I headed out around 10 am, looking for something to catch my eye. I have always liked the swoop of the terrain along this portion of the fence. It was an overcast day with turbulent stratocumulus streets aligned with the northerly winds. The biting bugs weren't too bad, which was a treat.

A lot of old fences have granite rocks placed on top as caps. The granite rock on this post was rather small. 

There are at least a couple of reasons to put rocks on the top of fence posts. One reason is to remove the rock from the land so you won't hit it with the tractor or mower. Another might be to protect the wood from the elements and perhaps rot. Sometimes farmers use a scrap piece of metal. The third would be to perhaps frighten away any creature rubbing up against the post. The rock would be knocked off and startle the animal. The horses we look after were death to fence posts as they scratched their backsides. The rock could even be used at a later date to help straighten a leaning post. In Boy Scouts, they teach how to make a trail marker like that. A rock placed a certain way carries a special meaning. The final reason would be to encourage curious people like me to wonder why someone might place a rock on a fence post to start with. It is important to remember that a rock on a fence is not the same as a post turtle.

The "old farmer" explains the "post turtle" concept, typically to describe someone in authority.

 'You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, and he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put him up there to begin with'.

The term is most frequently applied to politicians and the Dunning-Kruger Effect, which briefly states why incompetence breeds confidence. 

Blue birds used to like nesting in the rotted top of cedar posts. I have replaced those nesting sites with hundreds of Peterson Blue Bird Houses, which are much better for nesting. The blue birds love them. If you see a Peterson Blue Bird House anywhere around the 12th Concession of King Township, it probably came from my workshop. I even painted on a few of them. 

This is a special place on the crest of the Oak Ridges Moraine. It is land that is worth preserving. "The Connecting with Nature, Oak Ridges Moraine" art book received the 2009 Moraine Hero Award for demonstrating remarkable efforts in protecting the Oak Ridges Moraine. Money was raised in an attempt to preserve the environment for all to enjoy. Several other King artists were involved in this wonderful book that Herbert Pryke initiated and designed. 

I use art to connect with both the past and the present. "Her" and "Hist" story provide the roots that link us all to the land and nature… otherwise we are dust blowing in the wind. Life in the slow lane might be sustainable.

For this and much more art, click on Pixels or go straight to the Collections. Here is the new Wet Paint Collection. Thank you for reading, and stay well!

Warmest regards, and keep your paddle in the water,

Phil Chadwick