Tiny house

Monochromatic

Posted on January 28, 2013 by Laura

At Tiny House Ontario, the forest floor is crisp and white with snow and the trees are simply grey scale.  At night, the moon has been large and round in the sky drawing shadows across the smooth white surface.  It is lovely.  This morning when I woke it was snowing it was so breathtakingly lovely that I curled myself into a ball on the plush brown blanket and rested my head on my arm, simply watching the snow fall.   It is absolutely monochromatic here except the house which is, of course, the colour of chocolate.

I realized when my tummy started grumbling that I had been there three full hours.  I don’t know how the time got away on me, really… I felt as though I were there for just a moment.

The good news is: now I can snowshoe!  Woot!

 

Categories: Forest, Nature, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , , , , | Leave a comment

Carbon Footprint

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Laura

I took a test this morning to see what the carbon footprint for Tiny House Ontario is.

Here are the results

House 0.03 metric tons of CO2
Flights 0.00 metric tons of CO2
Car 0.00 metric tons of CO2
Motorbike 1.22 metric tons of CO2
Bus & Rail 0.00 metric tons of CO2
Secondary 1.76 metric tons of CO2

Total = 3.01 metric tons of CO2

It went on to say:

  • Your footprint is 3.01 metric tons per year
  • The average footprint for people in Canada is 20.00 metric tons
  • The average for the industrial nations is about 11 metric tons
  • The average worldwide carbon footprint is about 4 metric tons
  • The worldwide target to combat climate change is 2 metric tons

It is a pretty good result, but I have to say that I am very surprised to learn that I am over consuming in the secondary section.  Here are the answers that I gave:

Carbon Footprint Screen Shot 2013-01-18 at 2.44.03 PM

I guess this means that next year I have to hope for a better growing year so that I can reap as much as I sow. I am not sure how else I can reduce really as my bike is essential for me to get around and I really don’t buy much besides food and things to complete THO.  This gives me a lot to think about!

What are your results?  Do you see any way that you can reduce this number?

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Update: I just found that an acre of 15 year old forest will carry 1-2 cubic metres of carbon per acre.  THO forest is at least 9.5 acres of forest which means that it likely carries at least 19 cubic meters… not sure still what the different measurements are, but this does make me feel a little better.

Categories: Off Grid, Open your eyes, Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , , | 11 Comments

A Special Viewing

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Laura

Today, this blog reached 85,000 reads.  I knew this would happen so I have been holding something back from all of you.  The truth is, I wanted to mark this number by thanking you in a VERY special way.

In Canada the most famous group of artists are, without question, The Group of Seven.  I first saw their work when I was a child in grade four.  I was not from an artsy family, nor even from a family who visited galleries, museums or theatres.  Still, one of our primary teachers was an Art lover and she arranged for us to see Art, with a capitol A.  We had been to see an Andy Warhol‘s Soup exhibit at Agnes Etherington earlier in the year and so this was my second gallery trip with my class.  This time we were at the McMichael Gallery and I remember looking up at the paintings by Lawren Harris with my child eyes; these works took my breath away.  It was my first real “identification experience” with Art and it is a feeling that has never left me.  Over the years, I have gained a huge appreciation for the entire Group of Seven.  I LOVE these works they all take my breath now.  Gallery visits to see these works are serious exercises in oxygen depravity and breathing for me.  In my adult years, I think there is not a week gone by where I have not looked in on them in one form or another, be that a gallery, a book or the internet, they captured me totally.

About a year ago, I sat chatting with a girlfriend D who told me that she really likes my paintings. Can you imagine my absolute awe when in the next breath told me that she is the niece of Frank (Franz) Johnston?  Then in the next she said her mom has many of his paintings; some of these she has loaned to galleries, the others she has hanging in her home.  “WHAT?” I squealed like a little girl!

On her last trip home D, who is not really a fan of her uncle’s work (no kidding), took a photo with her cellphone of this painting because she thought I would like it.  Of course I love it and would really want to see it up close and personal!

I asked and D has given me permission to share this image with you and as far as I know this is a world premier.

Frank (Franz) Johnston's: Small House

Franz Johnson: “Little House”

Thank you for reading and enjoy the view!

Categories: Art, Ontario, Open your eyes, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , | 10 Comments

Did We Win?

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Laura

Have any of you wondered what happened with the Wichtelhütte image that was sent to Germany?  I was.

To give you some background, Wichtelhütte is a sort of pub in Neuburg on the Danube.  The business operates during the Christmas season at the Christkindlmarkt, and is opened only on the weekend.

This is the Neuburg Christkindlmarkt.

Chriskindlmarkt Neuberg am Donau

We have nothing similar to this in Canada (that I know of) but these are made up of tiny buildings; they are like the ones at old country fairgrounds and each are set up as small shops, places to eat, drink and so on.  Like most Christkindlmarkts this one is right downtown and the Wichtelhütte itself is a bar that raises funds for the community.  For example, in 2011 they collected 1,500 Euro for the Red Cross Children’s Fund and have been doing this for 12 years now.  Great cause.  Looks like a fun place to visit too!

Still, there is the pressing matter of the photo competition.  I know you are all hanging on the edge of your seats… so here it is: Tiny House Ontario was winning image for this year.  Here is our photo honourably hanging next to the fun/fund raising beverage dispenser — half the world away.

20130112_180947

I know what you are thinking, that we both have a Rüdiger, it was fixed!  This had NOTHING to do with the decision; ours is a Rudigrrr, huge difference!  As a matter of fact, I have it on good authority, that it was the gnomes as an umlaut which was the biggest hit.  All in all, it is cool in both directions, to say the least.

I understand that on the wichtlehuetten-homepage, a link “Pictures from far away” will be included. This homepage will naturally also link to tinyhouseontario.com.  😀  

To the Tiny Houses now linked to one another from opposite sides of the globe Cheers! Prost!

Categories: Awards, Tiny House Ontario | 1 Comment

Waterfront Barn on Gore Street

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Laura

I worked on this painting over the past few days.  It is a bit of a mystery as far as buildings go.  A huge barn right downtown on Kingston’s waterfront.  No one seems to know what the building’s purpose serves, how long it has been there…  If you know something about it, I would love to know.

A few years ago I heard that a sail maker was housed there.  But I am not sure if this is true.

I finished this 8×10 yesterday..

DSCF4675

 

 

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