Friendship

My Self Shelf

Space is an issue at Tiny House Ontario.   I have read a lot of words from other Tiny Housers and they all have different strategies but for the most part containing yourself within a Tiny House takes some thought.  I am fortunate because I have a lot of time to transition because I own another home in another city but even so, living in and containing myself within Tiny House Ontario is my objective.

My strategy was to bring the things that I knew I would NEED and also to bring the things that I feel that my life would not be complete without.  Margaret Lawrence wrote in her book, The Diviners, something to the effect that she need not have kept it because her head was sturdy enough containment and I suppose she is right.  Even so, there are things that simply ground me and I guess they feel spiritually important to my person.  I have two shelves with just such items on it.  This contains:

 

A large photo of my family on Violet (grandma’s) side.

An oil burner from my trip to the Czech republic which is made by burning it under the earth in the old way.

The Black Maria pewter icon from Germany.

A Pope Joan tile from my friend Ginny.

A 75 year old mutant sheep foot.

A graduation gift from my friend Aaron it is the Queen’s shield on pewter.

Photos of my late dogs.

A Chutski from Professor Kobayashi who was one of my mentors.

Altar items such as my grounding stones, essential oils, a burning shell, tarot and medicine wheel cards, ritual oil burner.

A Tiny glass globe which makes me hope that everything in the world will become clear.

A sign I made from a slice of a tree that was removed for my driveway which says: Treating yourself like a precious object will make you strong. ~Julia Cameron

A yogi from Bali.

An inlayed box from BC made my the Haidas.

A few things that my son made for me when he was wee, as well as a soapstone carving he did when he was about 20.

Rosie the Riveter on a little black box.

A penny jar that says hopes and dreams – I put found change into this because I read once many years ago that found change has a spiritual significance, if you pick it up – it brings good things to you whereas if you ignore it, then you are throwing away your opportunity at good karma.

A photo of Violet and Bob taken near the end of the Great Depression when things were just starting to look up for them and others.

The Artist’s Way work.

Books that I am writing.

If you had only about 2 square feet to contain your favourite things, could you do it?

Categories: Family, Forest, Friendship, Laura Moreland, Materialism, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario | Leave a comment

Tie a Yellow Ribbon…

My cousin Beth’s husband Paul is returning from being stationed in Kabul.  I thought, since Tiny House Ontario has a HUGE oak tree (named Bonny) that we would welcome Paul back home by putting a huge yellow ribbon on her.

At the store I purchased two-and a half inch wide, satin yellow ribbon, in a 12 foot long roll.  I imagined Bonny with a lovely big yellow bow to flamboyantly welcome Paul home!  It made me happy to think about and be able to do a little something to acknowledge the sacrifices that he and Beth make.

I went to tie the ribbon on, only then did I realized that Bonny is not just huge but something beyond huge.  So there was not enough ribbon left after going around her big trunk to make a nice bow.

Actually, there was not even enough ribbon to go all the way around Bonny!

Bonny is apparently 14-15 feet around!  So I tied a piece of red ribbon in there for the rest of Canada so that we could all welcome him home.  He will only be here for a short time before he has to return.

God speed to you Paul.

Categories: Family, Forest, Friendship, Magical, Tiny House Ontario | Leave a comment

Pet Emergency

I got a notification on Facebook the other day about what to do in case of a pet emergency.

I thought that it was very useful, but I also thought I really better get the dogs familiarized with riding a motorcycle because this is my only means of transportation.  I am about a year late with this.  Honey is a no go, so too is Imp; both of them are far too nervous even to be put in the carry bag.  So, I hope that friends and neighbours will be able to assist me, as Liisa did last year when Phyllis died from her long ago abuse (she was rescued from a crack house and had severe injuries).

Minnie and Rudigrrr Wolf are A-OK with the bike.  The neighbours and friends who saw her  and the Wolf had a good laugh.

This is what a Emergency Preparedness for pets looks like at Tiny House Ontario.

Categories: Dogs, Family, Friendship, Off Grid, Ontario | 1 Comment

Happy Canada Day!

It is Canada Day here, which is the National Holiday.  The Saint John’s Wort is blooming now too.  I did not make any specific plans because I thought I would be putting up siding… Oops!

With nothing planned instead I weeded the garden, organized the bedroom and the bathroom and went to have a shower.  I also put on some half decent clothes for a change and drove to town with my husband.  We are at Wendy’s now having a baked potato.  Nothing fancy!

Quiet holidays like this always make me feel like I should be doing something.  They also make me think about people who mean a lot to me.  I am going to see if I can talk Hj into seeing the movie, Rock of Ages at the Cineplex, because I heard that it is hilarious from my cousin Tracey, who laughs at similar things to me.  She, Liisa and Hj are the people who I laugh with the most.  Kirk also makes me laugh but I don’t see him often enough.

For me, laughter is not a prerequisite for friendship.  Generally speaking, kindness is about the only absolute that must exist in the people who I love.

Anyway… I am off on another topic now when basically I wanted to just pop in and wish you all a happy day and to let my readers from other locations know why we are all red and white here today.

I am not really a nationalist, but rather I appreciate that I live in a country that has seen a lot of priviledge.  Just should you never have had the chance to visit us here in Ontario Canada, below is a photo of our parliament and the peace tower.  I chose to show you this because my great great great grandpa James, drew the stone up the Rideau Canal in his ship to build this.  My people have been here an awfully long time.

Have a safe and wonderful day!

Update: I have seen the film now.  I did not find it particularly funny, but I did think it was entertaining and worth seeing.  I left the cinema feeling like I did not waste my money and that I saw a film.  I think that the actors did a good job.  I would say that this is the best role that Tom Cruise has had, since Risky Business and I might be a little in love with him again.  ;-P

 

 

Categories: Family, Friendship, Ontario, View | Leave a comment

Tee Hee Hee… Oops!

Today is the day for the siding to be put up!  Yeah!

Hj drove here from Hamilton to help and I hired Leo.  We got up nice and early, had a coffee, prepared the site, opened the packages so that when Leo arrives with the generator and cutting tools it will all be ready for him.

We sat petting the dogs after we were done this and waited for Leo who normally arrives between 8 and 9 when he is working at Tiny House Ontario.

Tap

Tap

Tap…

9:00 no Leo…

hmmm… what is it they say about watched kettles?

At 9:30 I when he had still not arrived I realize that I WAS supposed to CALL HIM to let him know when the steel was delivered.  I neglected to do this…  Probably a mental hiccup because I hate the phone.

Still, I feel sorry because Hj came a long way and poor THO is not getting her promised birthday suit of new steel today.

Leo is fishing with Woodchuck.  I hope they catch something.

As for me and Hj, we are just going to hang around and do not too much.  I guess I will take it easy, thinking perhaps I am tired because this is the second truly stupid thing that I have done this week!

Categories: Friendship, Off Grid, Ontario, Tiny House Ontario | Leave a comment