Ontario

Sweet Little Ones

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Laura

Leo came and put the eves trough up.  Now that I have a ladder, this means that all I have to do is hook up a barrel to it next spring in order to have running water in the in-house.  I decided to put two downspout holes in it.  One for the garden water which is using chain instead of a downspout simply because I saw this on the internet and liked the look.  I will let you know how it works.

He brought someone fantastic with him.  Beautiful blue eyed Izzie.  She was a very good sport about the thousand kisses that Rudigrrr placed on her little cheeks.  She is a very quiet little girl, totally easy going.  I had to play with her of course!  I also sang and played a bit of music for her and she never once complained.  I am not a good musician so this was pretty cool.  She also let me read “The Giving Tree” to her and since I don’t know her that well, I totally can’t believe how easily she just let me entertain her!  What a sweet child!

When Leo, Kyle and Izzie left, we worked on the cloth porch to get it closed up but did not get quite finished.  The green tarp had a salamander living in it, and while trying to help it to the ground the poor thing fell about 5 or 6 feet from the tarp to the ground.  It walked away after laying stunned for about 30 seconds.  I hope it will be okay.  Anyone know anything about salamanders?  This sweet little one was a darkish colour with a yellow stripe.  We have a lot of them around THO, but I don’t know much about them.  They sure are cute and tiny… I love their itty-bitty fingers.

Categories: Cloth Porch, Dog, Family, Magical, Music, Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Tiny House Ontario, View | 2 Comments

Music of the Heart

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Laura

We arrived safely at THO at about 1:00 and shortly after, I had a visit from someone who played a more than significant role in my life.  Kiki is the sort of person that we need in our life, who believe in you when you not exactly the greatest human inspiration.   Who know how to inspire you to be better, even if it is a little kick in the ass that is required.  She opened doors for me in a time of my life when it seemed that I only faced closed ones.   It was just awesome to see her!

As a way of paying forward the kindnesses that I experienced all those years ago I made a fast stop  to do a small pay forward.  Getting through is not always easy for brilliant and creative people.  It is sad – at least it is for me – our talented artists should be able to make a living from their talent!  Do you agree?

After Kiki’s visit, I had to skip to Kingston after to pick up a few things and also stop to see Leo who is coming this morning to put up the eves trough.

We had a bite to eat and after dinner Tiny House Ontario was just starting to warm up so Hj and I took turns playing the McNally Strumstick (G).  This is such a great little instrument!  We are both not musicians and yet just like McNally promises you can’t hit a wrong note and right away you feel like you might be able to do it.  The guitar I have only wishes I could play it as well!

What can I say, today at THO there was music of the heart.

Categories: Friendship, Magical, Music, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, Trade, View | 7 Comments

THO @Tiny House Talk

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Laura

Tiny House Talk a Tiny House Ontario article here.

We are really fortunate to have awesome friends and neighbours!  Don’t you think?

Thanks for the opportunity Alex!  xo L

Categories: Friendship, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , | 1 Comment

Going Up The Country

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Laura

Update: Not five minutes ago I posted this and turned off my computer, HJ bent over to pick up the dog and can’t stand up… something in his lower back… So, I won’t be leaving tonight after all… just sitting here listening to Canned Heat and Hj whining…  He will not (of course) go to Emerg.  Men!

We are leaving Hamilton now.  It is nearly 3 hours later than we expected to go… Hope the traffic is totally clear.  If it is we should be there by 1:00 am or even a bit earlier.

Keep your wheels on the road, that is the plan.

See you soon Tiny House!

xo L

Categories: Forest, Music, Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Time, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: | 4 Comments

Cloth Porch Adaptive

Posted on October 11, 2012 by Laura

I am facing the awful Toronto traffic again this evening to head back to Tiny House Ontario.  I started a project last weekend and I am going to finish it up this weekend.

Project is: I decided to cover the cloth porch roof, 2×8 boards, 17 of them butting each other in order to keep the snow out in winter and rain out in summer.  I have a huge green tarp which I will use to cover the porch. I think it will be large enough to cover the top and two of the sides.  The other side I will close up with another small white tarp because this will allow some light in.

I think the cloth porch will be a good makeshift shed to bring in items for winter such as the bike, the BBQ and wheelbarrow.   It should also serve as a good spot to put a small wood stove and some wood too.  If I find a Tiny wood stove (cheap) and figure out how to hook it up safely.  My cousin Sandy, who is an outdoorsman says that there are Tiny stoves designed to heat a tent and this should work to heat up the porch and house too.  I was thinking that a few bales of straw would probably help to shelter it a little more as well, but of course then I would have the problem about what to do with these afterward, so I think I will just tarp it up and hope for the best.

A stove will mean poking a hole in the cloth.  I am okay with this because the front cloth is on its last legs now.  It has many small holes in it and some big ones too that I sewed up.  I already got replacement cloth for the porch when it when the $2.metre sale was on in the spring, so when the tarp comes off the new cloth can go up.

I understand that by covering the roof on the South side of the house that I will be giving up a lot of light in the house; however, if this goes well, it will mean that THO will be used a lot more this winter.  Keeping warm is more essential than light, particularly now that I have the 12v system.

I have to add, that the hilarity of how this will look is not lost on me… tarp room with a wood stove, BBQ, motorbike, makeshift kitchen, garden tools, and woodpile attached to the house, sounds like the epiphany of red-neck additions.  Seems like a great place to stop by with the sleds and drink out of a wineskin.  It is making my rural heart sing!

Categories: Cloth Porch, Family, Friendship, Magical, Off Grid, Ontario, Tiny House Ontario | 1 Comment