Kingston

Laura at Night

Posted on September 28, 2012 by Laura

Arriving back at THO in the night after the Kingston Writer’s Fest evening events is nicer now because of the 12v lighting.  I have lights installed outside, and as long as I remember to turn them on, I can see to put my key in the door which is great.  Best thing though is that I can be sure that there are no wild animals right there on my heels looking for a freshly delivered organic meal.

There is a call for photos of people with their Tiny House so I thought after coming home from the conference that I was tidy enough that I might try an image.

Though they are not great for the purpose that I had intended, I like them.  The lighting being what it is caused some bending in the images and so, I share them with you because I think that they warm and fuzzy, which is the way I feel when I am there.

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

Fall Writers

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Laura

Fall is clearly starting to settle in at THO.   I arrived there yesterday with my luggage, and left again immediately to go back to Kingston.  The weather is getting cold enough that I have kept the windows closed added an additional blanket to the bed and switched my thin linen pajamas for my flannel ones.  This said, I am not really at the tiny house heating it up with my own body temperature.  You see I am attending the Kingston Writer’s Fest.  I have seen Michael Ondaatje, Dionne Brand, Teju Cole, Andrew Westoll, Marina Nemat speak so far.

I had never heard of Teju Cole but I am happy that I now have.  He puts words together with absolute poetic and wondrous purpose.  Last night, I was so taken with the man’s presence and his writing that I purchased his book; I read about half of it before my eyes gave out after a long trip on the train, food, speakers, excitement and the chill at THO – it was a wonder I read at all.  His words are just so good.

This morning, when I woke, I drove back into town, on the way in I saw an immature turkey vulture on the power lines.  The creature allowed me to take a few photos before it lifted its wings with irritation and lifted off.

Now, I must get back to see the others who use words, speak about them.

This afternoon I will see other writers as well.

Categories: Forest, Kingston, Magical, Nature, Ontario, Readers, Tiny House Ontario, View, Writing | Leave a comment

This Morning

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Laura

This morning when I woke at Tiny House Ontario, it was not the forest, but the phone that greeted me.  A call about my computer and then another call to meet my cousin Sandy at the family graveyard.  I had never been there before, because no one seemed to know how to find it, but he had been brought there by my Great Uncle George when he was young and remembered vaguely.  We met there this morning about about 9:00 am.

I won’t share where it is unless you are family and want to know, but I will share that it is a bit of an odyssey to get there.  When we arrived there was just one stone visible and a little marker that says J McC.  Sandy remembered that there were more and had a trowel so we checked under the moss and found that there were a number of bits.  Here is what we found of our ancestors headstones as well as the ruins from the original house, well, barns, outbuildings.

The thread of belonging for this is:  The McConnell’s married into the Hendersons who married into the Comptons, who married into the Rickards, who married into the Morelands.  The former farm is on a Kingston escarpment where the water runs sulfur.

I think that these folks are my great, great, great grandparents – but am not 100% sure, Sandy will look at his notes.  It will be cool to get them up on Ancestry.com because they will not exist there having been buried for the last 40 years or so.

Categories: Family, Kingston, Open your eyes, View | 4 Comments

Junk in the trunk

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Laura

This is a boring utility post which has to do with living at THO.  This is my garbage and recycling.  I had a lot of it because of the steel application on the outside.

Since my computer went for a swim, I have not felt much like writing/painting/visiting/being creative, so I thought I would concentrate on the errands/and small jobs that I have been putting off, so I needed to rent a car for a couple of days.  Getting rid of this, one one such errand.

I do not have garbage or recycling pick up and besides, I had a lot of steel bits that had to be dropped off at Kimco metal recyclers in Kingston.  Everything else went to the recycling depot.

Looks a whole lot tidier, but I still have a pile of small wood bits which would be excellent kindling for someone who burns wood.  If you do this, please bring an empty box and I will load it up for you to bring home.

Categories: Kingston, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario | Leave a comment

Where My Heart Is

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Laura

I am just back in Hamilton and will go this morning to Brewers just as soon as the kids leave for Toronto to see the CN Tower.  It is comfortable here, but I miss THO when I am not there.  I miss the cozy space and the trees around it.  I miss the sounds of the wind and the chatter of the chipmunks.  I miss the howling of the coyotes but most of all I miss my community.

It is not unusual for me to long to be home among my loved ones there.  Even though I don’t pop in to see all of my friends and family every day when I am home, I still know that the potential to see them is at hand.  The truth is that I have never felt that much at home anywhere, except there, at home.  I don’t want to suggest that I have not had moments of comfort in other places.  I had wonderful friends and neighbours when I lived in Germany.  I have friends in Guelph, Finch, Hamilton and other places that I have lived.  Some of my most dearest live very far from me, those in Japan, Jamaica, the UK and my Lithuanian sister friend who is in Germany come to mind frequently. My kids are here in Hamilton area but even my love for them does not make this home for me.

My Hamilton house is small but comfortable.  It boasts conveniences and features that we often take for granted – but I do not have these at THO; It lacks for example: running water, electricity, heat, air-conditioning, a bathtub, a full kitchen, refrigeration, indoor cooking, a washer, a dryer, a bus that takes me to the indoor-farmers market and back without fighting for parking, my writing group is here, and it also has a good bright 9×12 studio space.  It is a nice solid house with a tidy German looking yard and a nice garden, but it is not my home.

Be it ever so humble and not quite done, here is my home.  Here is where my heart is.

Categories: Family, Friendship, Kingston, Nature, Ontario, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View | 4 Comments