Simple living

The Ancestors Noweta

Posted on April 15, 2012 by Laura

Before Tiny House Ontario was built, I thought I would build back a lot farther on my land than I did.  Perhaps it was the Pukwudgies, that made me dream about building?   I don’t think so, I feel that the ancestors have a plan for me. I dreamed a few nights before I was to build that my Grandma Moreland was standing there in the forest and she said that I should build it, there where she stood, so I did what she said.

I had been living there about a week last summer and while I sat writing I felt that there was someone watching me.  It did not scare me, but rather I felt it was someone familiar who would protect me, who made me Noweta (welcome).  When I looked up, I saw a face looking at me from a Maple tree that sits VERY close to the corner of the Tiny House.

I call this my Ancestor tree and I give the Ancestor treats like cheese, coffee and tea and I also burn sweet grass and white sage near the base.

This afternoon, I caught the Ancestor smiling at me and I decided to take his photo of the face in the tree and also to take a photo of the tree, from the upstairs window… I was very surprised to see such a straight line of trees in the forest!  Funny that I had not noticed it before but it really is right at the corner of the house so I cannot see in this due South-West Angle, at all, because of the corner beam.

I think I have to give a little bit more research into my Native Delaware Folklore!  Does anyone know about tree spirits?

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Categories: Erazim Kohák, Forest, Nature, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View, Writing | 1 Comment

Last Days Hamilton

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Laura

I am getting geared down for my summer at the Tiny House.  I expect to arrive there some time this weekend get my bike going and enjoy the warm weather months in the peace of Tiny House Ontario.

Before I go there is a lot of stuff to do here.  Today I am going to a little Arts and Crafters show and sale in Dundas, Ontario which is being held at the Community Centre at King and Market Streets from 10-4.  It is being held by the Lion’s Hall and the Westover Artists Group who have invited me to join them.  This group meets once a week, I understand, and paints.  I am considering it, but won’t decide until I have met them and also have returned from my stay at Tiny House Ontario in the fall.  To be honest, I am not sure it would work… it seems to me that packing up materials and work with others might not really be my thing.  It is a funny thing because while I long for human connection, I also find that I feel so awkward and unlikable when I am with others that I don’t want to go through the awkward stuff.  It is stranger still too, because I think that people always find me to be social, loud, and confident, which tells me that either I am a very good faker, or perhaps I have some sort of social anxiety disorder?  I don’t know if one is better than the other, but just that this is what it is.  Awkward, uncomfortable, lonely too.  Sigh….

Obviously, that little aside had nothing to do with what there is to do in order to prepare for my months at Tiny House Ontario, but this is not terribly exciting stuff – packing personal belongings, toiletries, tools, dogs and dog stuff, water jugs, paintings for the show and sale at Hatter’s Bay and so on.  It has been impossible to prepare because I am dog sitting a rather rambunctious young one who was recently adopted by a friend of mine.  He is not trained at all and has (w)reeked havoc on every aspect of my life for the past two weeks.  Still he gets picked up tomorrow, so life will resume with its normal amount of chaos shortly.

So, with today planned and tomorrow a pick up and pack up day, I guess what I am saying is that the next posts will come from my off grid experiences this summer when I am able to access a signal.  Sunday – maybe Monday… will be my first visit back here.

Until then try and find one way over this holiday weekend to live life in a Tiny House kind of way.  Even if it is something small like not buying that object that you think you need – just so that you can throw it away later.  If you are going to buy something make it something like a wonderful local food to sustain you, or a piece of local art (or your own art supplies) to brighten up your life.

I hope this weekend will be a pleasure-fest!

I leave you with this beautiful art work which I found here.

Categories: Art, Simple living, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario, Writing | Leave a comment

Celery

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Laura

A while ago the folks and Frugally Sustainable mentioned that they were regrowing celery.  WHAT?

Anyway… It is easy and it works.  I have not clipped and used any yet but I will be toting it with me to Tiny House Ontario so that when it is a little bigger I can eat some of this lovely plant, and also because my husband is a plant killer.  Just cut one or two off from the outside and let it keep on growing.  I wonder how long it will last?

Introducing Ms. Celery.  (She uses pot!)

Categories: Environmentalism, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Sustainable living | Leave a comment

Battersea Beautiful at Loughborough Lake Ontario

Posted on April 5, 2012 by Laura

I  have been pretty fortunate in my life to have had the opportunities that I have had.  Travel being one of the privileges I have enjoyed.  For me, there are places that are just so breathtaking and unique that they stay with you forever.  I have not been around the world but I have seen many places.  Few are as enchanting as Battersea, Ontario.

Right where the Canadian Shield meets the South, water, rocks, inlets, trees, sky, and marsh, are beyond beautiful.  It seems shady everywhere there, except at the store’s parking.  It is funny how mostly we don’t notice this when we come from the area, and only remember when we leave.

This, my friends, I am going to share, is the best place in the world to sit and have an ice-cream cone, or a Popsicle (for my Vegan friends).  The cars drive slowly past, the boats make their way into this little harbour to go to the store or the local hang out for a beer or something.  I don’t know why exactly, but it is just a place that you want to sit at and breathe for a bit.

I think that Erazim Kohák might say that this is a place that holds it’s history and when you are there, you can almost feel the lives of those that have been there before you, sitting right there, eating an ice-cream.

I hope that I have done it some small justice.  8×10

Categories: Art, Erazim Kohák, Kingston, Laura Moreland, Ontario, Original Art work of Laura Moreland, Simple living, Time | Leave a comment

Minimotives and Tiny Housers

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Laura

It is spring!  It is spring! Now is the time to get those houses off the ground, or off the wheels if you so desire!

This is a bit of a lazy Laura post but one that had to be done and I think, why reinvent the wheel?

In this case, Minimotives blogger and artist, Macy, has collected a wonderful list of Tiny Houser links for any of you who are researching the topic, this is a GREAT place to start!

I also have to say that her article on Tiny House design inspiration is divine!

For this little post, if you want photos have a look at Minimotives.  😀

Happy Housing!

Laura

Categories: Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny house, Tiny House Ontario | 1 Comment