Art

Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Laura

Last night I went to a poetry reading in Kingston. I was caught in the pouring rain which came to us at the tail end of the Issac storm. I knew I would get wet but I went through it anyway. To tell you the truth it was sort of fun! There was lots of water so it was a bit like a ride at a water park.

We have had so little rain this year that I was glad to see it come. It was nice to be soaked right to the skin. Thing is that when I arrived I ran right in and only at the half time break when I wanted to get a card from my purse (tucked safely in my trunk) did I run back out in the rain again.

Turns out, my truck did not lock properly and it was gaping open when I went out. The trunk was filled right to the top with water – about 6 inches deep. The terrible thing about this, is that my camera and my Mac laptop were both totally submerged. SUBMERGED.

Worse… My laptop had the only copy of the draft of my novel on it. Plus all other writing outside of this blog. Over a year of my writing disolved like sugar in tea.

I have brought it in to see if they can recover the data but I am not very hopeful. I am sitting now at the public library posting. I have huge tears rolling down my cheeks as I write and I feel like I have been kicked really hard in the stomach.

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UPDATE: After writing this – I remembered that I printed a hard copy of my novel, two months ago, so even with the data lost I can type it again! Feeling like I can breathe again….

Categories: Drought, Original Art work of Laura Moreland, Stuff | Tags: mac laptop, nature | 6 Comments

Tiny House Ontario Fresco

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Laura

Who can resist the emerging octogenarian artist Cecilia Gimenez? Certainly not Tiny House Ontario!

tee hee…

Categories: Art, Ontario | Leave a comment

All My Bags are Packed

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Laura

Though this is not a terribly exciting topic, it is one that is not all together infrequent… and it is part of my Tiny House experience, so here are a few words about it.

From time to time I leave THO and head to Hamilton, Ontario. Sometimes it is because of an appointment, sometimes it is because I have company coming to visit from elsewhere and unless I stack people in my bed then I cannot host them at THO. I also head back to Hamilton for writing/art related reasons, or simply because I am escaping the cold weather in the fall (still not heated).

Whatever the reason, there is always a process. I have something that I call the “back and forth box” which is simply a large clear plastic tote box that carries what I can fit in my husband’s car as well as the items which I do not keep at both places, like paintings in the works, or containers that had food one way and belong the other way. I also bring my laundry back to the Hamilton house because there is a wash machine there.

This visit is for all of the reasons above, excluding heat but including the need to visit Brewer’s Marine about LED 12V lights.

When I pack up to leave there is a process that I use. Pack the back and forth box with stuff including my big toiletries kit (lipstick, mascara, baking soda & vinegar), pack the cooler, put together the laundry including bedding and mats, pack the garbage and recycling. Sweep the floors, dump the compost, check the BBQ is off. Last two things is to pack the dogs in their travel crates and get them safely in the car and then take one last look at THO to make sure that everything is OK.

I think it looks as though it will be there when I get back in a few days.

Categories: Art, Dogs, Ontario, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario | 4 Comments

Kingston Pagan Pride

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Laura

Today was the Pagan Pride Festival in Kingston. I have been looking forward to this for weeks.

It was held at the Confederation Park in front of City Hall. For those of you who do not know what Pagans are and are curious, events such as this are a fantastic way to gain understanding about the old religions (and why there is such a huge interest in the revival of the old religions).

Pagans are not one group of people with a single idea, there are many beliefs from many areas of the world and these are a very diverse group who consider themselves Pagan. There are Native, Wiccan, Norse, Goddess, Nature/Earth Mother and many other beliefs. I myself, identify somewhere within Native/Earth Mother spirituality. This said, I am very interested in people’s beliefs, so much so that I took a medial in the topic at University moons ago.

There were workshops, a tarot reader and some vendors too, unfortunately, I had to leave before seeing the dancing and singing. Hopefully I can attend for the whole day next year. Kingston is particularly great in this way because there are so many really great people here who are Pagans. It is a particularly friendly and open group of people!

THO is not being sponsored but, I decided to share the links where I have them because they are all small businesses (and artists) and if you are interested you may want to know where to access items in this area (or on line).

Anglin Bay Pottery
Wolves Den Pottery
Kingston Soap Company
Goddess Blends

We got a beautiful day for it and there was a good deal of foot traffic through. It was nice to catch up with people both Pagan and non Pagan.

Categories: Art, Magical, Ontario, Open your eyes | 1 Comment

Stones, Slope and Fabulous Farmers

Posted on August 17, 2012 by Laura

We got a little rain this morning so the stone dust got packed in a little bit better. This allowed us to add another layer of stone dust to it. The neighbour kids stopped by and wanted to help so I suggested that they stamp the stones in. They happily stomped away. Thanks kids!

The stone is at about the height that want it now, so I think I need to add a little more to it still because it will compress more over the winter. It is just about level so I am thinking that I have to add a small slope away from the building in order to keep the water away. I am not sure how to do this as entire property slopes toward the other side of the house so the natural way is for it to go toward this side of the house. I have to think about this, but I think that I will have to slope it to the East. Also, I am accepting any advice you might have on the subject.

After working at this for a couple of hours I went with the kids over to a wonderful organic farm in Inverary, Ontario. We were reminded that the drought is not just something that effects farmers, it effects eaters. How true.

Her garden looks about a million times better than mine. She is producing all sorts of food for a CSA as well as baking bread and producing eggs for these baskets. Plus the animals… they all need care and attention at all times. Then the crops and the … it really never ends on a bio-diverse organic farm. The entire family seems only willing to stop for in order to have a short food break and then they are back to work.