I was below the escarpment today and there were four turkey vultures a few feet from me. My camera has only a 3x telescope but I thought I would share with you anyway.
I have never seen so many of these birds in one location. It is wonderful to see them bouncing back post DDT. The increase in the large bird population is proof positive that making decisions based on the environment is the right thing to do.
I got a couple of wonderful tumblers from my favourite potter – Nick Prouse of Prouse Pottery and Soap Company. Thank you Nick! He and his spouse will be having the grand opening of their business on May 4, on Ottawa Street, in Hamilton, Ontario.
I was also gifted some beautiful spring pussy willows from my friend Guillaume when I set up at the market.
I am not normally a big fan of stuff, but with art and nature I make an exception. When I put these two beautiful things together I thought they looked so pretty that I want to share them with you. Friends, art and nature, what is not to like?
Thanks guys!
Over the winter one of the new cupboard doors warped just enough that the magnet can’t catch it. I borrowed a clamp from my cousin Vernie and attached the clamp (below) before I left for Hamilton. I am hoping that the door straightens out. I have not put a finish on the cupboards yet, because they are not all built yet. This is probably why it warped. I am sure once they have some teak oil on them that they should remain warp free. At least I hope so. 
I came back to Hamilton for two reasons. The first being that we have tickets to see Leonard Cohen at the Copp’s Coliseum on the 9th. Plus, I had to buy a car and Hamilton is a large city with a better selection of second hand vehicles.
I am 47 years old and this is my first car. The reason I need a car is because I will be bringing my artwork to the Kingston Springer Market all summer and it won’t fit in Baby, my 2006 Honda Vino motorbike’s, trunk. Certainly I can’t carry a table, chair and banner on her either. The car is old. Granted, not quite as old as me. It is a 14 year old VW Golf; which in car years makes her practically a classic. It has pretty low milage and it is in reasonable shape for its age. Hopefully the car (whose name I do not know yet) is ready on the 9th as promised. She is getting new brakes as well as a safety and air test done, then on the 10th I move to THO for the year. The house is already opened for the year so all I have to do is unpack and check to see if the clamp worked.
Then the season of 2013 can begin for me in earnest.
I decided on a Golf because they have a lot of storage in the hatchback and so the trunk will become my tiny house office and studio on wheels.
I hope she will be a good car.
NOT RUNNING… INSUFFICIENT REGISTRATION
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Tiny House Ontario plans to run a Shaman’s yurt building workshop on May the 5th 2013.
The Shaman’s Yurt is a many skills learning experience where 10 to 14 people will learn to build their own Mongolian yurt from basic materials growing in the forest, sticks and rope. The interests of the group will be the topic of the single day course.
Folklorist Bear The Tinker will be your instructor and host guiding you through the building process of the Yurt’s sacred symbolism. Stories will be shared within the shamanic point of view on subjects of many interests including cryptozoology, the paranormal, parallel universe theory, and other intelligent life form from within and without of this reality.
Attendance at the course will also gain you access to visit the inside of Tiny House Ontario and a day in a natural forest just outside of Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Cost is $100. Payments to attend will be made via Paypal. If you are interested please send an email to tinyhouseontario@yahoo.com. I will email you a payment request within a day or two. After payment is received I will send details. (A full refund will be given should registration be too low)
Please check out Bear’s website for video to gain understanding about his teachings.
We did not have any rabbits who showed up on Easter Sunday morning. There was not even a tiny egg hidden, but there were a lot of visiting woodpeckers. My husband and I sat outside in the sun reading and watching the woodpeckers flying around. There are a ton of tiny downy woodpeckers around THO. They are so cute flitting up and down the trees looking for insects. They are quiet too, so if you don’t keep your eyes open you miss them. We also have at least one hairy woodpecker he is a lot noisier than his tiny cousin. Both the flap of his wings and the hammering of his beak on the trees is loud. They are quite similar in appearance. both are specked and showy with a little red on the back of their heads, but the the size difference between them makes them easy to distinguish.
My sister has a pileated woodpecker who lives near their place. Unfortunately, I have never caught a glimpse of it, though she says it is a frequent visitor. They are very noisy birds! I saw one only once before and hope that a least one will come to join me in the forest this year.
On another quizzical note. When we arrived on Friday there was a wild animal at THO. I do not know what it was. I did not see it too closely because it ran when we pulled the car in. It was the size, colour and shape of a fisher, but it appeared to have softer fur similar to a cat. It also had a bobbed tail with a spot of white on the end. This is not an April fools thing if you are wondering. I really would like to know what it was. ANYONE?
Tiny House Ontario 