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Acrylic on Canvas
The School Bus
When our forefathers came to Canada, they hewed clearings out of the Carolinian forest, built homes, planted crops and developed farms. As more came small communities arose and in those hamlets and crossroads one room schools were built that served as, in many cases, churches and social centers. As the communities grew and prospered there was a movement to centralization for bigger and better schools and soon most children in the country were bused to these schools. Farms too had grown from subsistent farms to prosperous entities and then to businesses. With mechanization of farms and the high cost of agricultural equipment many farm wives and even farmers themselves needed employment off the farm . . . a second income to help defray the high cost of farming.
The school bus, for many, was a secondary source of cash that left enough time to get some of the myriad of chores done before the next bus run. I applaud every farmer who labours so hard and long to put food on our tables.
When my four year old grandson saw this painting he called it “Be careful, Go and STOP!!” I asked him why.
He said . . ”Look grandma . . the school bus is Be Careful, the trees are Go and the shed is STOP!”
His lesson at school that day was about crossing signals and
Gracin was an apt student.
This scene was just outside Melbourne on Hwy. 2
The school bus, for many, was a secondary source of cash that left enough time to get some of the myriad of chores done before the next bus run. I applaud every farmer who labours so hard and long to put food on our tables.
When my four year old grandson saw this painting he called it “Be careful, Go and STOP!!” I asked him why.
He said . . ”Look grandma . . the school bus is Be Careful, the trees are Go and the shed is STOP!”
His lesson at school that day was about crossing signals and
Gracin was an apt student.
This scene was just outside Melbourne on Hwy. 2
Coach Dad & Plowman Son - Ford Tractor
“Elgin County Plowing Match Collection” – 2009
This painting is part of my 2009 Elgin County Plowing Match Collection. The county held their match in 2009 at the farms of Tom Bradish near Talbotville.
Dave and I got up and hurried through breakfast and gathered our cameras and loaded my scooter. We were off and what a fine day it was. The turn out of plowmen was excellent. This coach – Dad was very focused on his son’s plowing. It’s great to see two or more generations that share an interest in Plowing. A real study in country blue or is that Ford Blue?
We had a wonderful day. 2010’s county match was held on Sparta Line in August. We went for an hour but then had to leave to get to Milton for the heavy horse event at the Country Heritage Park, but that’s another story. I loved both the antique horse plowing and the many and varied antique tractors and plows. Such an assortment to please any and all fans particular fancy!
- Jenny
This painting is part of my 2009 Elgin County Plowing Match Collection. The county held their match in 2009 at the farms of Tom Bradish near Talbotville.
Dave and I got up and hurried through breakfast and gathered our cameras and loaded my scooter. We were off and what a fine day it was. The turn out of plowmen was excellent. This coach – Dad was very focused on his son’s plowing. It’s great to see two or more generations that share an interest in Plowing. A real study in country blue or is that Ford Blue?
We had a wonderful day. 2010’s county match was held on Sparta Line in August. We went for an hour but then had to leave to get to Milton for the heavy horse event at the Country Heritage Park, but that’s another story. I loved both the antique horse plowing and the many and varied antique tractors and plows. Such an assortment to please any and all fans particular fancy!
- Jenny
Tinkering on Old Massey - Harris #81 Tractor
Ken took some agricultural courses in St. Thomas at the collegiate that was later named Arthur Voaden Secondary School, later going on to Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph to study agriculture and then agricultural economics. While he attended both Galbraith became a reporter for the St. Thomas Times-Journal. When Ken began a new page for farmers was initiated and Ken wrote a regular column and interviewed top-notch farmers of the region. He often went to the fields and interviewed the farmer on the spot or in the dairy or while they readied for market.
I thought this painting of the two ploughmen chatting could have been Galbraith conducting an interview out in the field, so I used part of the painting on the front cover of “Does It Pay?” – over two hundred interviews that Galbraith wrote during 1925-1932.
Hope this painting brings back some great memories for you. If you are interested in reading the interviews Galbraith wrote, “Does It Pay?” is available on-line at www.jennyphillipsdutton.ca or by emailing jennyphillips@golden.net
I thought this painting of the two ploughmen chatting could have been Galbraith conducting an interview out in the field, so I used part of the painting on the front cover of “Does It Pay?” – over two hundred interviews that Galbraith wrote during 1925-1932.
Hope this painting brings back some great memories for you. If you are interested in reading the interviews Galbraith wrote, “Does It Pay?” is available on-line at www.jennyphillipsdutton.ca or by emailing jennyphillips@golden.net
The Old Hay Baler
In the 1800’s and earlier, hay was cut by hand and then piled in great haystacks. Machines were developed in the 1860’s. Our modern mechanical balers and mowers evolved from these early crude machines.
The Second World War was raging in Europe with many of Elgin’s finest young men participating. Talk was the 1940 International Plowing Match would be cancelled but the consensus was that it was important to grow and harvest as much food and in a most efficient manner as possible, so the match was held on Sunset Ave., outside St. Thomas, at the Ontario Psychiatric Hospital Farm.
In addition to the plowing match there were tents with exhibits and demonstrations of all types of equipment and appliances a farmer or his misses could ever desire. There was a demonstration of the latest hay baler on the market.
According to an attendee . .who tells very colourful stories . . . the new baler’s tension was set with very heavy wet hay. When demonstrated later in the day dry, light weight straw was used. According to this story teller the baler set the straw bale air born and it landed on a nearby tent filled with spectators. One woman cried out in a panic “The Germans have bombed us. Run for your lives!”
This New Holland 273 Hayliner baler . . .circa 1972-1977 . . .pulled by a Massey-Ferguson tractor was a common sight in Elgin County . . .so much so, that no less than a half dozen farmers claim I did a painting of their baler. I saw this one at the side of the field at mealtime near the Southwold-Dunwich line.
The Second World War was raging in Europe with many of Elgin’s finest young men participating. Talk was the 1940 International Plowing Match would be cancelled but the consensus was that it was important to grow and harvest as much food and in a most efficient manner as possible, so the match was held on Sunset Ave., outside St. Thomas, at the Ontario Psychiatric Hospital Farm.
In addition to the plowing match there were tents with exhibits and demonstrations of all types of equipment and appliances a farmer or his misses could ever desire. There was a demonstration of the latest hay baler on the market.
According to an attendee . .who tells very colourful stories . . . the new baler’s tension was set with very heavy wet hay. When demonstrated later in the day dry, light weight straw was used. According to this story teller the baler set the straw bale air born and it landed on a nearby tent filled with spectators. One woman cried out in a panic “The Germans have bombed us. Run for your lives!”
This New Holland 273 Hayliner baler . . .circa 1972-1977 . . .pulled by a Massey-Ferguson tractor was a common sight in Elgin County . . .so much so, that no less than a half dozen farmers claim I did a painting of their baler. I saw this one at the side of the field at mealtime near the Southwold-Dunwich line.
Honouring Elgin’s Past Provincial Ploughing Matches
Jenny’s painting features a weathered ploughman and his team of Clydesdale horses ploughing at a provincial match. Onlookers from both city and country observe and compare each entry. In the background is the famous tent city with exhibiters’ flags flapping in the brisk fall breeze; glimpses of attendees’ pickups, autos and RVs.
Can you feel the excitement?
The first Provincial Ploughing Match in Elgin County was held in 1940 on the grounds of the newly constructed Ontario Psychiatric Hospital, across the road from then Premier Mitch Hepburn’s own farm. Mitch’s Liberal government leased the yet unoccupied hospital to the federal government for a technical training centre for the Canadian Air Force. The surrounding Hospital farm lands were ideal for the tented city and the ploughing competitions. Hepburn’s eight horse Clydesdale hitch led the opening parade.
Artist Jenny Phillips’ grandfather, uncle and father traveled from Waterloo County to compete with their teams of horses. Jenny’s grandfather won a prize and her fourteen year old father took home
the youngest ploughman prize.
Later at the 1960 match held in Springfield, in the eastern section of Elgin, Jenny’s father again competed. The Springfield match held the first ‘Queen of the Furrow’ competition with Linda Prong, from Elgin, capturing the crown. Linda, her coach/father-in-law, Ray Prong and Minister of Agriculture (1956-1961) Wm. A. Goodfellow, MLA for Northumberland, are seen in the painting, to the left of the plough team. 1960 was also the launch year for the John Deere 3010 New Generation tractor. The Elgin Ploughman’s Association has a similar restored tractor that will be raffled off in 2010.In 1985 St. Thomas and Elgin again hosted a provincial match, this time behind the Ford Motor Assembly Plant at Talbotville. The RV Park that is enjoyed by so many each year was initiated there in 1985 and to honour the twenty-fifth anniversary of that occasion, Jenny has included an RV and a bit of a camper by the right rumps of the horses.
In 1985 both Jenny and her father had commercial exhibits; Jenny for her art work depicting the rural lifestyle and her Dad with his hot tub business. Jenny won first prize for her popular exhibit and is extremely honoured and excited to be a part of the 2010 International Ploughing Match September 21-25 in St. Thomas and Elgin County.
Elgin has a history of great, enthusiastic farmers and ploughmen, both at the township, county and provincial levels. These men and women will again bring focus and honour to their community while educating and entertaining the urban and rural visitors. Plan to attend for a great time.
Jenny Phillips is the feature artist for the 2010 International Ploughing Match..
Two Plowmen Chatting in the Field
Richmond Farms, Newbury, hosted “Horse Days” so the public could see how farmers tilled the soil and planted crops before the gasoline engine tractors came into use. Dave and I felt like we were transported back in time. Everyone talked about the “Good Old Days” but from what I observed, the “Good Old Days” were filled with hard work.
The day started out cool with some ground fog. When the mists were burned away by the sun, the day became increasingly warmer. Both horses and masters needed a break. These two old friends had much to chat about . . . the weather, the crops, the price of seed and the ever changing government regulations.
As a young farm boy, John Kenneth Galbraith endured the tediousness of walking row on row behind the plow. He wanted more than that out of life, because even after all the hard work, there were the vagaries of the weather and then the market.
Ken took some agricultural courses in St. Thomas at the collegiate that was later named Arthur Voaden Secondary School, later going on to Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph to study agriculture and then agricultural economics. While he attended both Galbraith became a reporter for the St. Thomas Times-Journal. When Ken began a new page for farmers was initiated and Ken wrote a regular column and interviewed top-notch farmers of the region. He often went to the fields and interviewed the farmer on the spot or in the dairy or while they readied for market.
I thought this painting of the two ploughmen chatting could have been Galbraith conducting an interview out in the field, so I used part of the painting on the front cover of “Does It Pay?” – over two hundred interviews that Galbraith wrote during 1925-1932.
Hope this painting brings back some great memories for you. If you are interested in reading the interviews Galbraith wrote,
“Does It Pay?” is available on-line at www.jennyphillipsdutton.ca or by emailing jennyphillips@golden.net
The day started out cool with some ground fog. When the mists were burned away by the sun, the day became increasingly warmer. Both horses and masters needed a break. These two old friends had much to chat about . . . the weather, the crops, the price of seed and the ever changing government regulations.
As a young farm boy, John Kenneth Galbraith endured the tediousness of walking row on row behind the plow. He wanted more than that out of life, because even after all the hard work, there were the vagaries of the weather and then the market.
Ken took some agricultural courses in St. Thomas at the collegiate that was later named Arthur Voaden Secondary School, later going on to Ontario Agricultural College in Guelph to study agriculture and then agricultural economics. While he attended both Galbraith became a reporter for the St. Thomas Times-Journal. When Ken began a new page for farmers was initiated and Ken wrote a regular column and interviewed top-notch farmers of the region. He often went to the fields and interviewed the farmer on the spot or in the dairy or while they readied for market.
I thought this painting of the two ploughmen chatting could have been Galbraith conducting an interview out in the field, so I used part of the painting on the front cover of “Does It Pay?” – over two hundred interviews that Galbraith wrote during 1925-1932.
Hope this painting brings back some great memories for you. If you are interested in reading the interviews Galbraith wrote,
“Does It Pay?” is available on-line at www.jennyphillipsdutton.ca or by emailing jennyphillips@golden.net
“150th Anniversary of the Queen’s Plate – Woodbine” - 2009 Queen’s Plate
Photographer Nick Turchiaro very kindly gave me permission to use his photo of the 2009 – 150th Anniversary of the Queen’s Plate Race at Woodbine as a reference for this painting of mine. I truly appreciate his generosity.
I love to record our ever changing rural lifestyle. . .whether it is farmers working the fields, plowing matches, country fairs, rural landscapes, historic buildings or in this case . . . equine competitions.
Horse racing has been around for a millennium or more, but never as colourful as it is today. Look at the jockey silks . . .the colours, the patterns, the styles; the horse blinkers; their blankets and then the horses themselves. Look at how the jockeys crouch above the saddle with their rear ends raised, bouncing to the cadence of their horses’ hooves while their silks billow in the breeze. Look at the intensity of focus on each steed . . .wide-eyed, nostrils flared . . . . eager and ready for the challenge. They want to win!
To see this much raw horse power mobilized and pounding down the track at break neck speeds as they vie for a rail position and the lead, gets my heart pounding; my body thrumming to the beat of their hooves . . . . .and I just want to paint all of this excitement.
The one hundred and fiftieth running of the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine Race Track was a close, exciting race. “Eye of the Leopard”, # 7,challenged “Mr. Foricos Two U”, who was in the lead, and the two battled it out, neck and neck, with “Eye of the Leopard” winning by a nose. The crowd went wild! . . . .and the winner is . . . Sam-Son Farm’s “Eye of the Leopard” ridden by jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva.
This pageantry and excitement, to me, is the essence of the Queen’s Plate. Hope you enjoy this too.
- Jenny
I love to record our ever changing rural lifestyle. . .whether it is farmers working the fields, plowing matches, country fairs, rural landscapes, historic buildings or in this case . . . equine competitions.
Horse racing has been around for a millennium or more, but never as colourful as it is today. Look at the jockey silks . . .the colours, the patterns, the styles; the horse blinkers; their blankets and then the horses themselves. Look at how the jockeys crouch above the saddle with their rear ends raised, bouncing to the cadence of their horses’ hooves while their silks billow in the breeze. Look at the intensity of focus on each steed . . .wide-eyed, nostrils flared . . . . eager and ready for the challenge. They want to win!
To see this much raw horse power mobilized and pounding down the track at break neck speeds as they vie for a rail position and the lead, gets my heart pounding; my body thrumming to the beat of their hooves . . . . .and I just want to paint all of this excitement.
The one hundred and fiftieth running of the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine Race Track was a close, exciting race. “Eye of the Leopard”, # 7,challenged “Mr. Foricos Two U”, who was in the lead, and the two battled it out, neck and neck, with “Eye of the Leopard” winning by a nose. The crowd went wild! . . . .and the winner is . . . Sam-Son Farm’s “Eye of the Leopard” ridden by jockey Eurico Rosa da Silva.
This pageantry and excitement, to me, is the essence of the Queen’s Plate. Hope you enjoy this too.
- Jenny
Elgin Beef Cattle
I love to drive with my husband, Dave, along the county and township roads of Elgin soaking up the colours and images of rural Ontario. We were looking for beef cattle grazing in fields adjacent to the road so we could get some good shots. We found several fields with a variety of cattle. This particular group was in Southwold on Dave and Kandy Brown’s farm. Kandy, my sister, isn’t aware that their cows posed for me. Look at the Hereford checking me out. We probably looked very suspicious to her/him? What were we doing lurking at the edge of the field?
I think these were all Mommas in this field. My David, when he saw the photos thought they were dairy cows because he noticed the one had an udder. The only beef cattle my Dave ever saw at the Psych Hospital farm were steers. I laughed at him, his father at one time was farm manager at the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital farm and the family lived in an old farm house on the grounds. I explained about the birds and the bees . . . . and the cattle. You have to have Momma cows in beef herds as well as dairy and with beef cattle Momma cows had to nurse little bull calves so they could grow up and be transformed into steers . . . . . . thus the udder. We both had a good chuckle over this. I hope the cattlemen have a sense of humour too.
Jenny appreciates and honours every farmer who labours 365 days a year to put food on our table. _______________________ St. Thomas Times-Journal, October 29, 1927 - “We have the soil and the climate and the feed for producing the best and healthiest stock in the world. We are only now beginning to wake up to this fact. For this purpose there is no better country than the county of Elgin. Above all else, we have the farmers of high intelligence who can do this delicate and difficult work.” - John Kenneth Galbraith writing as the Farm Page Man in the St. Thomas Times-Journal - quoted from “Does It Pay?”
An original acrylic painting on canvas by Dutton artist, Jenny Phillips, commissioned by the Elgin Beef Farmers to present to Ron Lackey, on his retirement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food – June 25, 2015
I think these were all Mommas in this field. My David, when he saw the photos thought they were dairy cows because he noticed the one had an udder. The only beef cattle my Dave ever saw at the Psych Hospital farm were steers. I laughed at him, his father at one time was farm manager at the St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital farm and the family lived in an old farm house on the grounds. I explained about the birds and the bees . . . . and the cattle. You have to have Momma cows in beef herds as well as dairy and with beef cattle Momma cows had to nurse little bull calves so they could grow up and be transformed into steers . . . . . . thus the udder. We both had a good chuckle over this. I hope the cattlemen have a sense of humour too.
Jenny appreciates and honours every farmer who labours 365 days a year to put food on our table. _______________________ St. Thomas Times-Journal, October 29, 1927 - “We have the soil and the climate and the feed for producing the best and healthiest stock in the world. We are only now beginning to wake up to this fact. For this purpose there is no better country than the county of Elgin. Above all else, we have the farmers of high intelligence who can do this delicate and difficult work.” - John Kenneth Galbraith writing as the Farm Page Man in the St. Thomas Times-Journal - quoted from “Does It Pay?”
An original acrylic painting on canvas by Dutton artist, Jenny Phillips, commissioned by the Elgin Beef Farmers to present to Ron Lackey, on his retirement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food – June 25, 2015
Pumpkin Field
Ranger Lookout
Bi-Colored Tiger Lillies
Calla Lillies I
Each Easter my four children and their families get together for Easter dinner and an egg hunt. Sarah, our oldest lives in St. Catharines and she always brings me a pot of calla lilies. Normally they are a very pale pink. This particular year I was so surprised to find these vivid beautiful blooms. We had a great day visiting with the grand kids and catching up on news but I could hardly wait to get home and capture the beauty and richness of colour of these lilies. Hope you enjoy.
Calla Lillies II
Each Easter my four children and their families get together for Easter dinner and an egg hunt. Sarah, our oldest lives in St. Catharines and she always brings me a pot of calla lilies. Normally they are a very pale pink. This particular year I was so surprised to find these vivid beautiful blooms. We had a great day visiting with the grand kids and catching up on news but I could hardly wait to get home and capture the beauty and richness of colour of these lilies. Hope you enjoy.
Poppy.jpg
Dave and I were out for a drive in east Elgin. We were on a back country road taking shots of old mailboxes, not far from the bridge near Jamestown Line. I stopped the van on a slope. Dave questioned why I had pulled over here. He saw nothing of worth. I was attracted to some oriental poppies that were growing in the ditch amongst the weeds and pasture grass. They were so out of place.
When I took the individual photos I was captured by the movement and graceful lines of the petals; the striking contrast of the black centre and the vibrant colour of the flowers.
That night when I slept, I dreamt of vibrant poppies larger than life. I bought these big canvases and sketched out my poppies. I was currently Artist Director for the West Elgin Dramatic Society and director of the play “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody”. The set was an affluent home library. I pictured original art on the walls of the gray-blue set. My poppy paintings would add some much needed punch. I worked non-stop to complete the two canvases for opening night. I completed a portrait of the world’s ugliest dog for the play as well.
When the play was over the paintings hung in our gallery and drew much attention but not as much as November 2013 when I put one of the Poppies in the gallery window for our Remembrance Day display. So many people stopped to admire the painting and
several came to tell me how much they appreciated the fact that we were honouring veterans. I heard time and again about their personal losses during different conflicts.
Veterans gave so generously so we could enjoy our freedoms and the lives we have today.
David Phillips, senior, my father-in-law, was a veteran of WWII and a past president of the St. Thomas Legion Branch #41, as was my mother-in-law S. E. “Tony” Phillips. My mother’s brother Donald James Milne is buried in a Rotterdam cemetery in the Netherlands. My grandfather Milne’s brother was killed by mustard gas during WWI. My nephew Tim Feick saw several tours in Afghanistan. So much to remember and be thankful for.
Enjoy the poppies. Life is short.
When I took the individual photos I was captured by the movement and graceful lines of the petals; the striking contrast of the black centre and the vibrant colour of the flowers.
That night when I slept, I dreamt of vibrant poppies larger than life. I bought these big canvases and sketched out my poppies. I was currently Artist Director for the West Elgin Dramatic Society and director of the play “A Little Murder Never Hurt Anybody”. The set was an affluent home library. I pictured original art on the walls of the gray-blue set. My poppy paintings would add some much needed punch. I worked non-stop to complete the two canvases for opening night. I completed a portrait of the world’s ugliest dog for the play as well.
When the play was over the paintings hung in our gallery and drew much attention but not as much as November 2013 when I put one of the Poppies in the gallery window for our Remembrance Day display. So many people stopped to admire the painting and
several came to tell me how much they appreciated the fact that we were honouring veterans. I heard time and again about their personal losses during different conflicts.
Veterans gave so generously so we could enjoy our freedoms and the lives we have today.
David Phillips, senior, my father-in-law, was a veteran of WWII and a past president of the St. Thomas Legion Branch #41, as was my mother-in-law S. E. “Tony” Phillips. My mother’s brother Donald James Milne is buried in a Rotterdam cemetery in the Netherlands. My grandfather Milne’s brother was killed by mustard gas during WWI. My nephew Tim Feick saw several tours in Afghanistan. So much to remember and be thankful for.
Enjoy the poppies. Life is short.
The Old Canada Southern Railway Station
Circa late 1980’s early 1990’s
This is the back view of the historic Canada Southern Railway Station, looking northwest. This station and rail yard was once the hub of a multi-rail business in St. Thomas. The following text is quoted from the North American Railway Hall of Fame website . . . .
“The former Canada Southern Railway station in St. Thomas, Ontario ... was built by American railway promoters between 1871 and 1873 to serve both as the local station and as the headquarters of the company. As such, this large and impressive Italianate-style structure served as the symbol of the railway. After 1878 this regional rail line was controlled by the New York Central Railroad and, from 1883 until 1930, under the aegis of one of its susidiaries, the Michigan Central Railway.
Subsequently, the lease was transferred back to the New York Central until 1968 at which time the line was amalgamated into the Penn Central which went bankrupt in 1976. The company was reorganized as Conrail, which owned it until 1983 when it was purchased jointly by the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railways. The St. Thomas station functioned throughout most of this period as the company's administrative headquarters and the location of its main shops and yards ..."
Almost every family in St. Thomas and surrounding area had a relative or two who worked for the railroad. A century ago the railroad was king. Who would have, fifty years or more ago, believed that the rails would be abandoned, ripped up and sold for salvage? For further information on this historic landmark visit www.narhf.org
This is the back view of the historic Canada Southern Railway Station, looking northwest. This station and rail yard was once the hub of a multi-rail business in St. Thomas. The following text is quoted from the North American Railway Hall of Fame website . . . .
“The former Canada Southern Railway station in St. Thomas, Ontario ... was built by American railway promoters between 1871 and 1873 to serve both as the local station and as the headquarters of the company. As such, this large and impressive Italianate-style structure served as the symbol of the railway. After 1878 this regional rail line was controlled by the New York Central Railroad and, from 1883 until 1930, under the aegis of one of its susidiaries, the Michigan Central Railway.
Subsequently, the lease was transferred back to the New York Central until 1968 at which time the line was amalgamated into the Penn Central which went bankrupt in 1976. The company was reorganized as Conrail, which owned it until 1983 when it was purchased jointly by the Canadian Pacific Railway and Canadian National Railways. The St. Thomas station functioned throughout most of this period as the company's administrative headquarters and the location of its main shops and yards ..."
Almost every family in St. Thomas and surrounding area had a relative or two who worked for the railroad. A century ago the railroad was king. Who would have, fifty years or more ago, believed that the rails would be abandoned, ripped up and sold for salvage? For further information on this historic landmark visit www.narhf.org
The Spicer Trail
I have always loved woodland flowers, especially our provincial flower, the trillium. Each spring Dave and I like to go for rides looking for patches of white in the emerging greenery in our local forests. When our children were younger and we both had better health, our family of six would go camping and hiking. We hiked the Grandfather Mountains of North Carolina, the Alleghany Mountains of Pennsylvania, the Gatineau Hills at Wakefield, just a half hour north of Ottawa and Hull, Quebec, as well as Reserve Falls in Ontario. My favourite location of all is John E. Pearce Park and the lands surrounding Backus Page House Museum in Dutton Dunwich.
I painted this to honour our friend Lorne Spicer, a veteran of WWII and a naturalist of note here in Elgin County. Lorne along with Arthur McCormick, Ted Suckley, Gord Longhurst, Neva and Ian Carmichael, Frank Latanzzio, Jamie Littlejohn, the St. Thomas Field Naturalists and others went around the county finding excellent examples of our native trees. With the assistance and skill of Catherine Spratley they produced self-guiding maps for each area of Elgin County. The Spicer Trail sign is located across from John E. Pearce Provincial Park between Backus Page and historic St. Peters Church. There are several other trails in close proximity – The Canada Trail and the newly opened wetlands Mary Storey Trail. This new trail loops around some wetland ponds and even has a viewing tower. All trails are clearly marked. Parking is at Backus Page or on the roadside.
Please note: depending on time of year and weather some portions of the area may be damp to very wet. Dress accordingly. Take nothing but pictures leave nothing but foot prints. Lorne’s son Tom and wife Janet, enjoy hiking and bird watching. I asked them to comment on what may be found along Spicer Trail.
Tom wrote:
“Here are some of the things we saw on Spicer trail on our walk in early September.
Trees: Basswood, sugar maple, black locust, Walnut, yellow birch, American beech tree, ash, black cherry, black maple and Juniper.
Plants: Perriwinkle, ferns, touch-me-nots, goldenrod, mushroom, toadstools, Virginia creeper.
Birds and animals: Chickadees, blue jays, downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers, (we sometimes see pileated woodpeckers and yellow bellied sapsuckers, but not on this walk) white-tailed deer, squirrels, catbird, yellow-rump warblers, house wrens, cardinals, chipmunk, blue birds, crows, monarch butterflies.
The trails are marked with signs. There is a beautiful stream that has a small bridge to cross. There are small hills and valleys, stumps and old logs and beautiful green mosses, as well as several different types of fungi.”
Original acrylic on canvas Sold – some limited edition prints are available.
I painted this to honour our friend Lorne Spicer, a veteran of WWII and a naturalist of note here in Elgin County. Lorne along with Arthur McCormick, Ted Suckley, Gord Longhurst, Neva and Ian Carmichael, Frank Latanzzio, Jamie Littlejohn, the St. Thomas Field Naturalists and others went around the county finding excellent examples of our native trees. With the assistance and skill of Catherine Spratley they produced self-guiding maps for each area of Elgin County. The Spicer Trail sign is located across from John E. Pearce Provincial Park between Backus Page and historic St. Peters Church. There are several other trails in close proximity – The Canada Trail and the newly opened wetlands Mary Storey Trail. This new trail loops around some wetland ponds and even has a viewing tower. All trails are clearly marked. Parking is at Backus Page or on the roadside.
Please note: depending on time of year and weather some portions of the area may be damp to very wet. Dress accordingly. Take nothing but pictures leave nothing but foot prints. Lorne’s son Tom and wife Janet, enjoy hiking and bird watching. I asked them to comment on what may be found along Spicer Trail.
Tom wrote:
“Here are some of the things we saw on Spicer trail on our walk in early September.
Trees: Basswood, sugar maple, black locust, Walnut, yellow birch, American beech tree, ash, black cherry, black maple and Juniper.
Plants: Perriwinkle, ferns, touch-me-nots, goldenrod, mushroom, toadstools, Virginia creeper.
Birds and animals: Chickadees, blue jays, downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers, (we sometimes see pileated woodpeckers and yellow bellied sapsuckers, but not on this walk) white-tailed deer, squirrels, catbird, yellow-rump warblers, house wrens, cardinals, chipmunk, blue birds, crows, monarch butterflies.
The trails are marked with signs. There is a beautiful stream that has a small bridge to cross. There are small hills and valleys, stumps and old logs and beautiful green mosses, as well as several different types of fungi.”
Original acrylic on canvas Sold – some limited edition prints are available.
Calico Barn
Dave and I like to go for drives around Elgin County country side whenever we can. We always have our camera ready. I try to paint every day and every day I see something new, in a different light or a different season. My Life will not be long enough to paint all that I love here in the country side of Elgin County. In October of 2008 we were driving back from east Elgin, taking the back roads. We were on the road to the St. Thomas Golf and Country Club. We followed the curves and there on the south west side was this barn. The fields were dull browns and harvest gold but the old barn shone a myriad of brilliant, dappled calico colours in the golden sunlight. Shades of red oxide, scarlet, alizarin crimson, magnesium blue, inky Paynes grey and raw sienna. Who knew rusted steel could look so good? I loved the texture of the harvested fields and the leafless sumacs. Old barns are disappearing at an alarming rate. It is my mission in life to preserve our vanishing, ever changing rural landscape for the next generation to appreciate.
Christmas Caboose
The Veteran's Plot
This painting is very personal for me, my husband, our children and grandchildren. My in-laws, David Phillips Sr. and Sarah Ethel (Tony) Phillips are both buried here in the South Park Cemetery on Sunset Ave., St. Thomas in the Veteran’s Plot beneath one of these white crosses. David Sr. served in both the RAF and the RCAF during WWII while Tony was a WAC. David Sr. and Tony were each President of the St. Thomas Legion Branch #41. The text on the base of the central cross reads “In Memory of Elgin’s Sons Who Gave Their Lives In Honour For Their Country “Lest We Forget’”. I applaud the folks noted below for taking the time to place these flags twice each year to honour our Veterans. I find the vision of all these Canadian flags fluttering in the breeze among the crosses, row on row, with dark skies as a backdrop, to be so moving. I can feel my patriot heart swelling with pride. I had to create this painting. - Jenny
“South Park Cemetery — located at the corner of Southdale Line and Sunset Road — was added to the holdings of St. Thomas Cemetery Company in 1910. The land was purchased from E.D. Welding whose farm was 71 acres. Testing was done and it was decided that not all the land was suitable for burial purposes; 50 acres were sold and are now owned by Canadale Nurseries. This site, so very different from the setting at West Ave., has not been promoted as people did not see and hear the beauty in the land. South Park has, not the rolling hills, but the flat, level, beautiful land of the Prairies. You can see the distant sunrise and the sunset from every angle of this cemetery. The War Veterans Association obviously saw the beauty in this land. They approached the cemetery company concerning the burials of returned soldiers. The Memorial Plot was established and the cross was unveiled in that section by Brigadier General King in 1922. The Memorial Plot is maintained, within the confines of the cemetery bylaws, by the Legion Branch #41. South Park Cemetery is now the home of a Columbarium – the cremation mausoleum. It is surrounded with lovely shrubs and a walking path, and is a most distinctive monument for eternal memories.
St. Thomas Remembers
St. Thomas Cemetery in conjunction with Wilmer and Elizabeth Alden are pleased to spearhead a project called “St. Thomas Remembers”. On July 1 and Nov 11, they place an 18″ Canadian Flag on the grave of every Veteran buried within the Five Cemeteries in St. Thomas. St. Thomas Cemetery – West Ave; South Park Cemetery; Holy Angels Cemetery; Elmdale Memorial Park Cemetery; Old English Churchyard – Trinity Cemetery”. South Park and St. Thomas Remembers quoted from this website - www.stthomascemetery.com
“South Park Cemetery — located at the corner of Southdale Line and Sunset Road — was added to the holdings of St. Thomas Cemetery Company in 1910. The land was purchased from E.D. Welding whose farm was 71 acres. Testing was done and it was decided that not all the land was suitable for burial purposes; 50 acres were sold and are now owned by Canadale Nurseries. This site, so very different from the setting at West Ave., has not been promoted as people did not see and hear the beauty in the land. South Park has, not the rolling hills, but the flat, level, beautiful land of the Prairies. You can see the distant sunrise and the sunset from every angle of this cemetery. The War Veterans Association obviously saw the beauty in this land. They approached the cemetery company concerning the burials of returned soldiers. The Memorial Plot was established and the cross was unveiled in that section by Brigadier General King in 1922. The Memorial Plot is maintained, within the confines of the cemetery bylaws, by the Legion Branch #41. South Park Cemetery is now the home of a Columbarium – the cremation mausoleum. It is surrounded with lovely shrubs and a walking path, and is a most distinctive monument for eternal memories.
St. Thomas Remembers
St. Thomas Cemetery in conjunction with Wilmer and Elizabeth Alden are pleased to spearhead a project called “St. Thomas Remembers”. On July 1 and Nov 11, they place an 18″ Canadian Flag on the grave of every Veteran buried within the Five Cemeteries in St. Thomas. St. Thomas Cemetery – West Ave; South Park Cemetery; Holy Angels Cemetery; Elmdale Memorial Park Cemetery; Old English Churchyard – Trinity Cemetery”. South Park and St. Thomas Remembers quoted from this website - www.stthomascemetery.com