Off Grid

Sanford and Sons

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Laura

S&S Rock version

Yesterday I hauled in a couple of loads of rocks.  I think I have all that is required to finish the job.  It does however look a little like Sanford and Sons… the quarry version.  There is so much work to this job!  I have a new found respect for the persons who do this work for a living.

I imagine I still have about four more days of work to do just to get the rest of the patio level.  One of these will be unhooking the solar connection to the house at the battery, laying the stone and then hooking it all up again.

It is a lot of work, but it is worth it.  I think it gives THO a very enchanting appearance despite the mess of extra stones.

Categories: Off Grid, Ontario, Tiny House Ontario, View | 9 Comments

Updated Image

Posted on July 31, 2013 by Laura

I am back to work after a bit of a hiatus.  The cloth porch is looking better bit by bit.  I guess it is about 2/5ths level now after spending a few more hours on it.  I still need to get a little more rock but have not been able to do this because of work being done at the quarry.  I can’t gain access.  Thankfully my brother-in-law is willing to keep the truck on the road for a little while longer so I can get this done (I am paying for the insurance).  Thanks B.I.L!  You are awesome!  Patio as of July 31, 2013

Categories: Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View | 3 Comments

Getting More Stoned

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Laura

I was at the quarry again today with my little sister T-rex.  When I arrived Dan had three piles of shale all ready to go so T-rex and I loaded the truck in a flash.

At THO there is now enough stone to finish the patio as well as the path down the West side of the house.  There is more than I need this year as well.  I am planning on 3 or four more trips to the quarry to get all the stone I need to finish the planned work for next year too.  This is because my brother in law is retiring his truck at the end of this month, so getting all the stone now is sensible and inexpensive.  Grandma used to call this sort of planning “a stitch in time”, you may already know the adage.

The temperatures here have climbed with the humidity so the job gets more difficult and uncomfortable.  Hopefully next week the temperatures will drop a little so that the levelling job will not be so miserable.  

This is the stone for the path to the garden (for next year)Stone for next yearThis is the edge of the house all level and settling while I finish the rest.

Edge of the house all set in stoneThis is the majority of the planned patio all laid out but most still needs levelling.

most of the stone is laid for the planned patio.

 

This is taking a long time because it is the first experience I have with this sort of work.

Categories: Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario | 12 Comments

Man of Stone

Posted on July 10, 2013 by Laura

I went to the quarry today and picked up some more shale.  There is an awesome guy who works there.  He is as cute as a button with a big warm smile.  Not surprisingly, due to his work he is strong as an ox!  He is thoughtful too.  Just because he knows I am coming, he is collecting sheets for me while he is digging with his giant tractor like thing.  You gotta love a Canadian man!  He had it all set up and ready, so when I went today there was no climbing.  It was all set out in neat little piles and ready to go.

As a matter of fact he helped me lift the stone up into the old truck!  Awesome eh?

Either the guy is a gentleman or he wants to get rid of me quick!  Six of one and half a dozen of the other… right now, he is acting like one of my best friends (or at minimum as a person who appreciates my business).  He is another living proof that there are good people everywhere.  Too, having a friendly face on one end makes this stone hauling a lot more fun than one would think!

Not sure if you read Tiny House Ontario Dan, but my hat is off to you!

xo L

IMG_0434

Tiny House Ontario with the stone work underway.

Categories: Forest, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario | 10 Comments

Looking Good

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Laura

I am just starting to feel better after being struck with a flu that is traveling around the Kingston area.  It was not a nice experience.  My sister and I both caught it from our little niece who brought it home from daycare.  It was so awful that both she and I begged to be shot many times during the worst 18 hours of our suffering.  It reminds me how difficult it is to suffer for those who are living in chronic pain or illness.  The frustration must certainly be overwhelming.

Now that I am feeling better I decided that a super cleaning was certainly in order.  I don’t often use bleach but make an exception when contagious illness enters my home.  I also use disposable towels too.  I put a little watered down bleach on the towels and I wipe down everything, then I throw the towels in the trash.  I super cleaned every inch of the in-house in this manner and treated the counters and floors in the tiny house the same.  After I bleached the floors I also covered them with wax because they were getting sort of dusty looking anyway and I sort of like my floors to shine.

Here are the results of my cleaning gig.Cleaned in-house

Cleaned floors

The stupid thing was I did not think about gravity opening the drop leaf table before I picked it up off of the sofa (to put it back on the floor).  Sooooo…. when I picked it up, it grabbed ahold of my skin on my tummy and pinched me.  It will take a few days for this little nasty to heal up.  Thankfully, I don’t wear a bikini anyway….

tummy pinch

Categories: Off Grid, Tiny House Ontario | 12 Comments