Time

Bear the Tinker

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Laura

“People who have no dreams, are poor”  ~ Bear the Tinker


It is two years since I met Bear the Tinker at my cousin’s organic farm.  A Tinker is an travelling tinsmith for those of you who don’t know (I did not).  The Tiny House where he lived and worked out of for many years, and still for much of the year is a Caravan which is drawn from place to place by his lovely horse and companion, Callum.

Meeting Bear stands out in my life as one of the great experiences.  It is hard to describe him, his storytelling, his music his wit and his peace.  The strength of presence of this man, and his connection to the past is something that one must experience to believe.

This is a clip from a great old TV show out of Canada.  Bear the Tinker lives near Kingston Ontario.

If you see him on the road, stop!  Ask him where he is heading next to tell stories and sharpen knifes, I am urging you, make Bear a part of your plan, even if you have to travel far to meet him.  If you must work to arrange it, or travel to be where he is, please do so, treat yourself to this experience.

Here are the links so that you may find him….

Bear the Tinker

Facebook

News clipping

Here is a tip (just in from Bear).  If you want to meet him, he will be at the Delta Fair for 3 days, and events at Murphy’s Point Park on July 20 and August 3. Also FYI… he offers Yurt Building courses for small groups of 10-12 people. 😀

Categories: Bear the Tinker, Kingston, Magical, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Sustainable living, Time, Tiny house, View | 5 Comments

Cuddling Corner

Posted on June 1, 2012 by Laura

I rearranged the furniture at Tiny House and have found that I really like to sit in this little corner.  It is particularly nice if one of the dogs cuddle in with me while I read or write.

The photo of Honey is not too flattering, but she does not get on line much and I won’t tell her about it, so please don’t tell her about it either.

Categories: Dogs, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Time, Tiny House Ontario | Leave a comment

Sooooo yummmmmmy!

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Laura

 

 

 

I was totally craving coconut milk the other night and to my surprise I had both a can of it and a can opener.  No recipe book.  This is what I put together and I am going to share it now for two reasons.  Both because it is good and because I have a habit of not writing down my own inventions and then I forget….

Tiny House Ontario veggies and rice with coconut milk (total prep and cook time 30 minutes)

Turn the BBQ on high

In BBQ pan put a quarter cup of water

A teaspoon of salt and another of fresh ground pepper

In pan put (I used all Ontario Organic stuff – except the coconut milk… which does not grow here)

1 large cut up onion

2 big garlic cloves chopped up

1 small broccoli

2 sweet peppers

2 vine tomatoes

Put this pan in the BBQ and cook the veggies until they are semi cooked (asian style)

Add

1 can of coconut milk

2 cups of cooked rice

Stir in and check occasionally.  It becomes a little thicker and very bubbly at the side and this is when it is ready.

Taste for salt before serving.  I needed a little more, but I like salt.  A little fresh cilantro would dress this up for company but is not at all necessary because it is already great.

I hope you will try and that you enjoy this as much as I did!

 

 

 

Categories: Food, Off Grid, Time, Tiny House Ontario | 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

Sailing Bye

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Laura

When I was a young girl, I was a guest from time to time on Simcoe Island with my parents, to visit Bruce Orr and his family.  They had a fantastic cottage there on the beautiful shore on this jewel of an Island.

Bruce’s family had owned the land for a long time and actually his ancestors had been lighthouse keepers there since, I believe, the light houses were built.    When I was a teenager and learning to paint he asked me to paint a photo of the Simcoe Island lighthouse for him.  I tried, but I did not have the skills to do it.

Over 30 years later, I can paint quite a lot better, so I thought I would give it another shot.  It is still difficult to paint because of the roof lines.  Finally, at long last, here is my best shot.  I hope you can see it from Heaven Bruce, it is just a little 8×10

(Special thanks to Colleen Murphy who gave me some great tips for photographing the water in this image.  I am sure you will agree that this is a much clearer capture than the first version which I have since removed)

This is a genealogy link to the Orr family and this lighthouse.

Categories: Art, Laura Moreland, Ontario, Original Art work of Laura Moreland, Simcoe Island, Time, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: | 4 Comments