Author Archives: Laura

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About Laura

Laura is an Artist who lives in Guelph Ontario. She is interested in societal equality, beauty, architecture, philosophy, feminism, people watching, dogs, animal rescue, ecology, as well as the generational ties between people. Laura has always been interested in peace and because she loves animals she is vegan. https://www.instagram.com/atelieroflauraleemoreland/ https://www.facebook.com/AtelierofLauraLeeMoreland https://atelieroflauraleemoreland.com

Snake

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Laura

Snake Gif

I was driving to my sister’s house the other day and had just gone around the corner from THO when I found that there was a snake directly on the path of my car.  I was not driving fast, about 30 KPH (just under 20 MPH) so I was able to swerve to miss it.  I stopped the car and walked back to be sure I did not accidentally clip it and when I did, I was surprised by the snake I found.

I had fully expected to see an endangered grey ratsnake (commonly called  blacksnake).  These often huge snakes make their home in the area where THO is located.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not a snake lover.  I admit that am only mildly tolerant of their existence.  I am not scared of them exactly, but I find the way that they suddenly move when you are almost on top of them startling.  I have no desire to touch them either. I find the way the move and wrap around things very icky.  Still,  I certainly would not intentionally kill one, as a matter of fact I find the practice of those who kill them, distasteful at best.

The snake was fully unharmed by my drive by, but it was certainly not a ratsnake.  The thing is, that I can’t identify exactly what sort of snake it was… and is the part that has kept me from writing about it.  The snake with the closest markings (frighteningly) is the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake but the snake was more slender than images I have seen.  I also did not notice a rattle but I did not get much of a look because it slithered away before I could get a good look (or my camera).  The only other similar snake (that I am aware of) in this area is the milksnake, which both the pattern and the colour were wrong for.

I have never known rattlers to be in the area, but I am concerned that perhaps they are now here because of the way that the climate is altering.

Does anyone have any ideas that are not included here?  If so, please do share a link to an image so that I can have a look and try to properly identify it.

Thanks!

Here are the Unique Features:

The snake was the same colour  as the Massasauga –  Tan/gold and brown.

It had a diamond pattern down both sides as with the Massasauga.

It was about one metre (a yard) in length.

It was a thinner snake similar to the common garter snake in breadth.

Categories: Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Tiny House Ontario | 13 Comments

Insulation revisited

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Laura

I am on grid for a couple of days because I have a few things to take care of that require water and electricity.  Part of this is preparation for my interview with Tiny r(E)volution.   I wanted to catch up on listening to the podcasts I missed.

It got me thinking about my insulation.  Unlike a lot of tiny house builders, I chose mineral insulation.  I used R15 for my walls and R45 for the roof.  Tiny House Ontario heats easily and stays reasonably cool in the day as well, but this is not just because of the insulation.  Due to the fact that I took into account the location of the house on the planet, it is situated to get optimal sun in the winter and as little sun as possible in the summer.  The large maples around the house really help with this.  Because my house is in Ontario, I would have loved to use R45 for the walls too, but I did not want to lose the interior size to the walls.  This was a concern only because I had to keep the footprint of the house under 108 square feet due to building code restrictions.

My reasons for using mineral insulation are clear.  I don’t want to reinvent the wheel so here is an article that mirrors my own thoughts on the subject.  Plus, it is light and easy to use.  If I were to build a framed home again, I would use this product again.

I have to say that it is fun to revisit these early images.  It is just 2 years ago, and I know it is a tiny building but I really cannot believe how much the site and home have improved.  It gives me incentive to keep on keeping on!

Mineral insulation going in (2011) THO in 2011, with the unused insulation bags outside

Categories: Ontario, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: | 4 Comments

Super Green

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Laura

This year is so very different from last summer.  Already by this time in 2012 we were starting into a despairingly long and dreadful drought.  This year there is ample water and the forest is coming alive again.  It is wonderful to see nature’s resilience.  Except for the mosquitos that is.Tiny House Ontario in her green forest Green to the South Green to the West

 

Categories: Forest, Nature, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Pretty in Pink?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Laura

I have a shrub at THO that has busted out in pink blooms this year.  It turns out that this nice little plant is an invasive species… a native of Siberia (and other parts of Asia).  A weed that was brought here as an ornamental plant but it pushes out the native varieties.

My first reaction was to stop and admire it… now I know what it is and am not so sure it is pretty. IMG_0272 Flowering shrub

Categories: Forest, Nature, Ontario, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , | 7 Comments

No One Here But Us Turkeys!

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Laura

This morning when I woke up the rain had just begun to fall. I flew out of bed to uncover the garden and headed back into Tiny House Ontario to get dressed and organize my day.  My cousin Tracey and I planned on a slumbie at her place in the city tonight, so I had a few things to pack into the car.

I was just about to put them there when I noticed there was a HUGE turkey just beside my door.  Instead of going out, I grabbed the camera and took a couple of photos.  Unfortunately, he got a few feet from the house… and through the glass the photos are not terrifically clear.  Even so, they are better than nothing and I did not want to scare turkey off.  These wild turkeys run fast and fly quite well so I am lucky to get a photo from 20 feet.

The turkey was alone as far as I could see.  Probably attracted by the mix I put out for the birds and chipmunks.  It certainly looked well fed and mature.  I would guess that this turkey was well in excess of 20 pounds.

I knew that there were turkeys here on our historical land because I often see their tracks in the snow; large arrows pointing in direction that they left behind.  It is the first I have seen one come so close so I am thrilled and hoping for more!

The wild turkey is really making a comeback in Eastern Ontario.  I understand from my grandparents that they were once very plentiful; however, as a child I do not recall ever seeing one nor do I recall ever hearing of anyone who hunts ever killing one.  Yet, in the last decade they seem to be thriving.  I also understand that these turkeys were reintroduced to the area from the United States.  Apparently 274 birds were brought in a couple of decades ago and now there are some 35,000 of them in the area.

No matter the details, it was thrilling to have a turkey visit THO this morning!  Now I am signing off because I am going to gobble down some lunch… turkey free, of course!

Tom Turkey

Categories: Environmentalism, Forest, Kingston, Magical, Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario | Tags: , , , | 6 Comments