#2998 "Singleton Split Cedar Fence"

#2998 "Singleton Split Cedar Fence" 
11 X 14 (inches).
Started at 9:30 am Friday, February 6th, 2026

I was in a pioneer mood after completing #2997 "Singleton Pioneer Cedar Rail Coral". There are many sides to this story, just as there are many potential paintings. 

I strolled into the paddock where the livestock had been safely kept. It was not very large, but they probably only had a couple of horses and maybe a cow or two. Trees were used as handy posts for the corners of the paddock. Modern steel "T-Rail" fencing supplemented the original structure. 

There were a lot of critter tracks in the snow, which made the scene even more interesting. Rabbits, squirrels, coyotes and deer were the makers of those tracks. Of course, I made a few footprints as well, but that is all I left behind. 

The following collage gives a current look at the remains of the pioneer structures. The satellite view (above right) has north at the top, allowing the viewing directions mentioned, to make sense of the images below.

There are 19 UNESCO Biosphere Regions across Canada helping communities thrive in harmony with nature. These unique and important regions are spread from coast to coast to coast. See the names on the map!

The First Nations lived in close communication with nature and the land. 21st-century humans have lost their way and are squandering the environment in a headlong lust for profit. Just my opinion, of course, but the laws of physics will prevail over those of man. The Climate Crisis is upon us. 

The Frontenac Arch is one of those select few recognized as a globally significant and unique treasure with one of Canada’s largest diversities of plant and animal communities. As a sustainable travel destination, the Frontenac Arch Biosphere, FAB is dedicated to sharing travel options that benefit the social, economic, natural and cultural environments of the biosphere and surrounding area. By choosing sustainable travel options when you visit, you help to protect the biodiversity of this beautiful region while supporting local economies and businesses striving to be more environmentally sustainable. The proposed ALTO High Speed Rail Project would bisect the FAB and is in no way sustainable. 

Singleton Lake is right in the middle of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere (the area within the green outline below), as revealed by the following map. All of the unique and special species find a safe haven here. We work hard to keep making it better every year. It is a labour of love, and that keeps us so busy that there is no time or desire to leave the sanctuary. 

I chronicle this special place with my art in the same way that Tom Thomson recorded Algonquin Park - not that I am Tom, but we certainly share many things, even being separated by 70 years in time. As the "Group of One", I do not feel any need to venture to the south of France to paint. Everything can be found within the FAB. 

The grey rat snakes go so far as to even call our home their home. They are quite harmless, and we love to have them around, keeping the mice at bay. The snakes like to sun themselves on the front door mat. I watch my step across the threshold every time I open any of the doors. 

Nature is another reason to just stay home and paint. This place is quite unique and worth caring for. The British engineers, as described in #2997 "Singleton Pioneer Cedar Rail Coral", were absolutely wrong when they surveyed the FAB two hundred years ago… totally missing what is really valuable.

Henry David Thoreau was right… a prominent transcendentalist, deeply valued nature as a spiritual "tonic" and essential for human existence, famously stating, "in wildness is the preservation of the world". 

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 

PS: Money may talk, but as humans will discover, nature and physics carry a much bigger stick. Humans will be a big part of the Sixth Mass Extinction brought on by the insatiable greed for fossil fuels and the climate catastrophe. Humans failed to discover how important it is to be empathetic and to live in harmony with others and nature. Respect is the single word that sums up the issue. Respect for nature, the environment and each other is desperately needed. 

PSS: The proposed High-Speed Rail system is exactly the wrong thing to do. Many have written about this ridiculous proposal in an attempt to educate the politicians. The proposal would effectively destroy much of what FAB has to offer. Simple greed and corruption ... Thoreau also said: "Our duty is to use the land well, and sometimes not to use it at all."