Kingston

Jane’s Bridge

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Laura

In the summer I purchased a painting from a person who I admire; Kingston artist Geoff Smith. I Follow Geoff’s work and when he posted this I hoped I would be able to purchase it. I knew exactly where I would hang it from the moment that I laid my eyes on it. It would hang right over the window, facing South, in my bedroom, at Tiny House Ontario. What I could not decide was how to frame it, so I waited. Finally last week I settled on framing it in a locally made gallery style frame just like I put my own paintings in. Plain, I know, but I like the simple dark outline, as a finish and don’t really think of a frame as a part of the art.

The painting is called Jane’s Bridge and I love the way that it appears that everything changes if you, the viewer, dare go under the bridge. It is for this reason that I wanted to put it right to the place where I look when I wake up in the morning. I see it as a sort of dare to face the challenge of seeing all sides of all things and to take the day Jim Morrison style straight on through to the other side. It makes me happy just to look at it. 😀

Categories: Art, Kingston, Ontario, Open your eyes, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: dark outline, geoff smith | 1 Comment

A Beautiful & Practical Addition

Posted on October 6, 2012 by Laura

I have been thinking a lot about space at Tiny House Ontario and thought, if I could get rid of the table and two chairs I would have a lot more space to move around. I looked all over for a table that is the right height for eating and playing cards at the sofa as well as for writing and painting. I could not find any small tables with drop leaves that are sturdy enough to take daily use.

As you all know, I have a very talented cousin, Vernie, who can build anything. So I drew up some plans, and he gave it some thought (since I had no idea how it had to be built) and he just finished building a perfectly sublime, sturdy, functional, little drop leaf butternut table for me.

I picked it up today. I can’t tell you how gorgeous it is, so I took photos. I makes me really happy to have the opportunity to have Vernie and his family close by, but it is wonderful to have the opportunity to have him build me these custom pieces for my Tiny House. Having his art around me, makes me feel so totally at home.

Categories: Art, Family, Friendship, Kingston, Magical, Ontario, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario | Tags: custom pieces, drop leaves, small tables | Leave a comment

Fall Drive

Posted on October 5, 2012 by Laura

My husband arrived in the night with four very happy Tiny dogs who made sure I was totally wide awake before they settled in to nap themselves. This morning we enjoyed a nice bit of cuddling together and tummy rubs before getting up for the day. I miss the fuzzy babies when they are not with me. We took a quick jaunt over to visit my sister and niece Violet and then went for a little drive around to see how pretty the world looks in colour. I love the fall!

Of the images I share below, there is only one photo which is Tiny House related. The photo of the plane with corn with the hill of trees behind, is actually the escarpment where THO is built. You can’t see the house of course. It is about a half a kilometre back into the tree line.

We don’t have any plans for the weekend and this year I am finding it difficult to plan any sort of special meal for Thanksgiving due to a recent diagnosis of gluten and dairy intolerance. I am, I guess, now more vegan than I am vegetarian, but I can’t totally commit to the new title because I won’t throw out my leather footwear or protective jacket for bike driving.

I am not sure how we will spend our day today, or our weekend either. Hopefully we will find something holiday terrific to eat and to do.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian readers! xo L

Categories: Erazim Kohák, Forest, Kingston, Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Open your eyes, Tiny House Ontario, View | Leave a comment

Pleasure

Posted on October 3, 2012 by Laura

A famous quote attributed to Katherine Hepburn is: “If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased. I think that this is a very accurate statement.

Myself, personally, I have always been an outsider. I know full well what it is like to be the only person in the room who thinks about things in the way that I do. I suppose that living my life as a veg*an is a perfect example of this, so too is living in a Tiny House, being a feminist, being a writer, (having been) a single mom, being a person who for two years does not “work”. It is not unusual for people to lack the ability to put me into a neat little box and this has always been the case with me. Even when I was the kid I was visibly (in)different. It is not my goal to be like this, I think it would be far more comfortable to fit in sometimes. But it is rare enough that when people find themselves in me, that I find it exciting to think… perhaps this year might be the year that I get to blend in a bit. It just seems so much easier to blend.

Different from the norm or not, there are things that are important to me: loyalty, gratitude, friendship, family, being creative, living in a democracy and also being able to just take a moment out of my day, no matter how full it is, to take in something beautiful. Right now, Ontario is extra gorgeous. Today, I was North of the city on Montreal Street. I had a full day of driving my cousin around, discussing politics with one of the Prison Farms protesters, doing some volunteer work for a person with limited literacy, researching the Hinton train disaster, writing, missing a meeting to discuss fund raising for an agency in Kingston (rescheduled for tonight) and also spending an hour visiting with my sister and Tiny Niece Violet, it was not exactly a slow day. Still, these refresher moments are so important. Not just for artists, but for everyone.

The point is, I stopped just for just a few moments to witness the peace and beauty that was offered up to the multitudes who just drove by. Even though I don’t “work” I think that I needed this. I hope you took a moment today too and if you did not, I hope that my moment has enough breath left in it to be shared with all of you.

Categories: Kingston, Magical, Nature, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View | 2 Comments

Preparing for Night

Posted on September 30, 2012 by Laura

This morning, the first talk I want to see is at 11:00. This gave me time to walk around this land before the drive to Kingston. The nights are colder now; falling in the single digits, but under the blankets I am cozy while I read Teja Cole. I slept well this past night, even so wake tired from the big thoughts that fill my mind. The words of all these artists at once is overwhelming but worth it. This freshness in air has forced the thinnest and most unprotected leaves to put on their brightly colored coats, the rest of them will not be far behind.

I walked over to my garden and was disappointed and surprised. I suppose I should not be. Powder mildew is taking over the squash plants. I had never seen powder mildew in all my years on the farm in the giant gardens of the women who grew all the food for their family. Now this mildew finds its way deep here, into the untouched forest to attack the plants. I wonder from what biotechnology hell it pounced out, ready to kill what we we want to grow for ourselves.

The days are too cold now for the tomatoes to ripen, but there are a lot of vegetables and herbs still there. These strong beauties are still a thriving food source, but I will have to cover them soon if I am to have the opportunity to enjoy them.

All through these woods, the small asters poke their small sunny purple faces up out of the forest floor. It is a beautiful time. As though nature is a fresh faced child being tucked in by mother nature for a winter’s night.

All reminders that I must prepare for the coldness that living brings.