I worked on this painting over the past few days. It is a bit of a mystery as far as buildings go. A huge barn right downtown on Kingston’s waterfront. No one seems to know what the building’s purpose serves, how long it has been there… If you know something about it, I would love to know.
A few years ago I heard that a sail maker was housed there. But I am not sure if this is true.
I finished this 8×10 yesterday..
Another little 8×10 painting finished today. This is the Wolfe Islander III heading to the island in the summer of 2011. This is from a photo taken by Mj. The day was hazy – but I like bright coloured paintings (surprised?) so I lifted up the shades…
If you ever get a chance to visit Kingston Ontario, I suggest that you walk on the ferry and visit the island for an hour and then take the ferry back. It is a nice little trip that costs nothing but time.
Today, is by the way the 198th Birthday of Sir John A. MacDonald. It is also a month since Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence began her hunger strike and to mark support of her a bronze of MacDonald was defaced in City Park Kingston last night. I have very mixed feelings about this subject.
Last spring Troy G. Who is a friend from High School posted some of his photography on Facebook. I have not seen him in many years but the photos that he took around Elk Lake, Ontario, where he now lives are stunning. Elk Lake is about 600 kilometres due North of Hamilton.
Anyway… This one, from April 2012, I decided to paint. 8×10- acrylic
In the forest surrounding Tiny House Ontario the Wood Spirits are very much present: this is despite the horrible drought we experienced here and over much of central North America in the summer of 2012. The drought was such that the insects died and the birds moved away. Thankfully we are now covered in a blanket of snow and this will give the life chain a chance to recover from the soil up. I am normally not a huge fan of the snow, but this year I am more than grateful for it!
The Wood Spirits, I am sure you know, manage the forest for Mother Nature. Their work includes: collecting food for the birds when snow covers the ground, watering seeds that bring the wildflowers, placing dew drops on spider webs, they remind the gods of wind to bring cool breezes in the summer months, and of course they paint the beautiful autumn colours on the forest every year. Everything that is majestic and vibrant about a healthy forest is the work of the Wood Spirits. Last year, the drought made their job difficult.
Still, I want them to know how much I appreciate the work that they do. I will honour them in 2013. I have purchased a beautiful carving which is done by the magical Chain Saw Carving Artist Steven Kenzora out of Peterborough, Ontario. I will hang this in a place of honour at THO.
I am a huge fan of Steven’s work as you will see if you Google Image his name. I have not yet met him nor his partner Jodi and yet THO is intrinsically connected to his work, popping up in nearly as many images as do his wonderfully whimsical carvings. This is the first of his work that I own, and though it needless to say, I am very excited… BUT… I AM VERY EXCITED!
The great news is that he and Jodi are opening a shop this spring, in Peterborough I imagine. I will be sure to let you know because this would make for a wonderful road trip and a little shopping fun that even the most non-commercial will approve of! It fits in my ideal rules for good shopping: the farm/market for food, the shop small and local, the art one of a kind from artists, support local musicians, the books of local writers, and when dining outside of home eat in family owned restaurants. I hope I got them all…
Thank you Steven and my friends the Wood Spirits for the magic you do! Magic really does make the world a better place.
Bonus: Wood Spirits are very good at bringing interesting people together for conversation.
Yesterday morning I soaked a 2 pound bag of white navy beans in my big crockpot. It turns out that this is slightly too many so I had to remove a quarter of them into a different pot. The small pot I added some seasoning to, a few of my garden tomatoes, salt, pepper, garlic and and onion and made a good heartily soup. I got four large meals and two small jars (only one is pictured here) from the first quarter. The other 3/4 of the beans were turned on last night and I salted and canned them earlier this afternoon. I got four full quarts plus a little. They will be used later for a recipe that calls for beans – or to make another soup, whatever. The bag of beans cost me $2.50 Canadian; a lot of food for very cheap and very little work. As a matter of fact boiling the jars to make them sterile was the toughest part.
The best part, is that I get the satisfaction of hearing the cans pop! Silly as this is, it even beats the cheap cost, and feeding myself slow food, with no preservatives and good taste and quality. Did you know that when you can beans yourself there is no slime in the jar at all? What is that slime in canned beans?
Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop! 😀
Tiny House Ontario 