Tiny House Ontario

Canadian Farmer Art

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Laura

I got tickets to see a number of the Piccaso works.  His paintings are on loan to the Art Gallery of Ontario until the end of the week because their home in France is under construction.  Even though he is long from being my favourite artist, it was great to have the chance to see them while they are so close.  I got the strong impression that I would not have liked the man much even though there are a few of his paintings that I really like.  The one I liked best is Two Women Running on a Beach but the detail of this tiny painting (maybe 8×10?) is lost in all the e-pictures I found on line.  In the original you can feel the women’s exuberance!

I saw a lot of paintings today and I have to tell you quite honestly that the ones that I loved most are the ones by Lawren Harris.  I am biased of course!  I love his work and after walking through the busy and lovely Picasso display there was a double door that said push and when I did I saw The Group of Seven and Emily Carr before me!  I was so excited that I very nearly wept!  I had no idea that they had so many Harris pieces!

One of the most interesting facts about The Group of Seven which is ignored by galleries and the artsy people is that without Canadian farmers these works would not in all likelihood exist in the way that they do.  Lawren Harris who is one of the founding members of the group was the son of the very wealthy  Thomas Morgan Harris – the Harris’ of the Massey Harris industrialists.  The Harris family money came from building and selling tractors to farmers.

Lawren Harris (in my opinion) put his money to fantastic use with this group of artists.  He and his buddy Dr. James McCallum built the group space for them so that they could work (or live) in, and Harris even financed trips for them.  In both 1918 and 1919 he put some of that tractor money to good use and paid for the boxcar trips that took The Group to Algoma to paint!  Can you imagine The Group of Seven works without the Algoma works?  I can’t!  Thank you farmers and Harris too!   Another mitigating factor is that Harris himself never had to work (though he did have a job for about two years of his life).  This family fortune meant that he did not have to be concerned about the cost of canvas, paints, brushes, housing or any life stuff, and with the luxury of both time and money he created a magnificent body of work.

I wonder if all creative people had family fortunes which allowed them to do what they wished, what kind of world we would live in?

Categories: Open your eyes, Tiny House Ontario, View | 5 Comments

Second Major Off-Grid Electric Purchase of 2012

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Laura

I went to Brewer’s Marine in Hamilton yesterday afternoon and I have to say, it is a very cool store for a Tiny Houser like myself.  Sadly, their webpage does NOT do them justice at all – it is not navigable unless you know who makes what you need.  Still, they are very nice in when you visit them there and they have all sorts of GREAT Tiny Stuff for people who are downsizing (or for you smart folks that are started or are starting small).  One of the really cool things was a tiny dish rack.  I already have one that folds so I am good but if I would have seen this first…

Tim helped me out MASSIVELY with what I need.  He tested each of the lights for brightness and counselled me about my wiring needs.  He spent a full half hour with me so that I would get exactly what I need and be happy with my purchase.  You simply don’t get service like this from huge corporations.  Again, another reason why I buy from small business when I need stuff.

The 12v items here are the ones I purchased (They are in the order shown and listed below):

– waterproof connection box (which is where the wires from the battery will come in and become divided)

– LED spot light to light the dog garden (bright but a little costly)

– 16 gage coated wire ( I could save a few cents a foot using single wire but I thought this would be neater)

– 3 LED reading lights with rotating heads and build in switches.  Two for the main floor and one for the bedroom.

– LED Tiny light for the Tiny In house

– LED 12 bulb interior/exterior light for the cloth porch

– LED interior/exterior-underwater for the North door

– 4 toggle switches for the lights that do not come with these built in

– 12v receptacle plug

The total cost was $427.70 which would be ~$100 less if I had not purchased the spot light for the dogs.  Not cheap, but the items are guaranteed for 10 years and I am great at keeping receipts.

After I left there, I went to Guillevin which is a little electrical supply store to purchase 100 feet of  metal (then PVC/both rodent and weather proof) coated wire to get from the solar panel to the battery case.  I needed a hundred feet of this and along with the Marrettes the cost was $93.17.  Holy expensive stuff that wire, but still, I have everything (I think) I need for the job now.

With the solar already hooked up, charged, working, tested and ready to go, the only thing that I have to do is install the stuff that I bought.  It means that I have to tear THO apart to get this stuff installed.  It will be a big mess, but I think I will do this one light at a time.  As well, I think that having lights, real lights without the tiny battery waste is certainly a positive.  Marine deep cells that I have for the solar system simply last a lot longer and are loads stronger; at least this is what I have read and understand to be true.

Anything I am forgetting?  Any volunteers for the installation or anyone who wants to learn along with me for your own purposes?

Categories: Environmentalism, Money, Off Grid, Tiny House Ontario | Leave a comment

Where My Heart Is

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Laura

I am just back in Hamilton and will go this morning to Brewers just as soon as the kids leave for Toronto to see the CN Tower.  It is comfortable here, but I miss THO when I am not there.  I miss the cozy space and the trees around it.  I miss the sounds of the wind and the chatter of the chipmunks.  I miss the howling of the coyotes but most of all I miss my community.

It is not unusual for me to long to be home among my loved ones there.  Even though I don’t pop in to see all of my friends and family every day when I am home, I still know that the potential to see them is at hand.  The truth is that I have never felt that much at home anywhere, except there, at home.  I don’t want to suggest that I have not had moments of comfort in other places.  I had wonderful friends and neighbours when I lived in Germany.  I have friends in Guelph, Finch, Hamilton and other places that I have lived.  Some of my most dearest live very far from me, those in Japan, Jamaica, the UK and my Lithuanian sister friend who is in Germany come to mind frequently. My kids are here in Hamilton area but even my love for them does not make this home for me.

My Hamilton house is small but comfortable.  It boasts conveniences and features that we often take for granted – but I do not have these at THO; It lacks for example: running water, electricity, heat, air-conditioning, a bathtub, a full kitchen, refrigeration, indoor cooking, a washer, a dryer, a bus that takes me to the indoor-farmers market and back without fighting for parking, my writing group is here, and it also has a good bright 9×12 studio space.  It is a nice solid house with a tidy German looking yard and a nice garden, but it is not my home.

Be it ever so humble and not quite done, here is my home.  Here is where my heart is.

Categories: Family, Friendship, Kingston, Nature, Ontario, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View | 4 Comments

All My Bags are Packed

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Laura

Though this is not a terribly exciting topic, it is one that is not all together infrequent… and it is part of my Tiny House experience, so here are a few words about it.

From time to time I leave THO and head to Hamilton, Ontario.  Sometimes it is because of an appointment, sometimes it is because I have company coming to visit from elsewhere and unless I stack people in my bed then I cannot host them at THO.  I also head back to Hamilton for writing/art related reasons, or simply because I am escaping the cold weather in the fall (still not heated).

Whatever the reason, there is always a process.  I have something that I call the “back and forth box” which is simply a large clear plastic tote box that carries what I can fit in my husband’s car as well as the items which I do not keep at both places, like paintings in the works, or containers that had food one way and belong the other way.  I also bring my laundry back to the Hamilton house because there is a wash machine there.

This visit is for all of the reasons above, excluding heat but including the need to visit Brewer’s Marine about LED 12V lights.

When I pack up to leave there is a process that I use.  Pack the back and forth box with stuff including my big toiletries kit (lipstick, mascara, baking soda & vinegar), pack the cooler, put together the laundry including bedding and mats, pack the garbage and recycling.  Sweep the floors, dump the compost, check the BBQ is off.  Last two things is to pack the dogs in their travel crates and get them safely in the car and then take one last look at THO to make sure that everything is OK.

I think it looks as though it will be there when I get back in a few days.

Categories: Art, Dogs, Ontario, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario | 4 Comments

Norse Guillaume

Posted on August 19, 2012 by Laura

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Guillaume at a Pagan Moot in Kingston and hoped to have the opportunity to photograph him and share some of the experience on here.  Guillaume is a Norse Pagan who practices sverd og skjold (Norse sword and shield – combat technique).  He also teaches these skills in Kingston, Ontario.  He is a rich story teller with a deep, full laugh.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to meet him again and take a few photographs.  I wish that I had the skill of a photographic memory so that I could recall verbatim his telling of the sacrifice of Týr.  While Wikipedia gives one the basics of the story, it lacks the passion to which it was shared with myself and the others who were present.

I knew nothing of the Germanic/Norse religion before this meeting and found the story so fascinating that I got a book on the subject which is actually a little more about the Runes then the actual mythology.  Later I got some hematite runes too because I found I needed to have something more tangible in my hand while trying to grasp these totally foreign concepts.

There are many interesting aspects of these stories, but what I took away are that of sacrifice for the good of others is key to these beliefs.  Like the tales themselves, Guillaume, is a man with a huge presence.  His huge laugh brings in those around him and his ability to get to the point of the matter is not only with the tip of a sword.  It was not lost on me that he wanted to be sure that I was safe getting to my vehicle after the moot and that he was the last to leave checking that we were all safe.  The need to protect those around him is deep and ingrained.

Guillaume’s gear is a combination of hand made items, to which only in retrospect now again do I realize that I should have photographed more closely, made by his own and other’s hands.  The man exudes a beautiful hand made quality not just in his clothing but in his very self.  His willingness to allow me to take photos and run a story on him was something I also found quite fascinating.  I suspect that this security comes from the mans ability to assess the intent of those around him as well as his ability to protect himself and the others who are in his presence from any ill intent whatsoever.  Honestly, there are few men who I have ever felt quite as safe with and this is despite the fact that I know him only in passing and very little.

No matter, it was a pleasure to meet him and to talk.  Hopefully this world has many men as great.

Bide the ancient law Ye must,
In perfect love and perfect trust.
Heed these words the Rune’s rede fore-fill:
An ye harm none, do what ye will.
What ye send forth comes back to thee,
So ever mind the law of three.
Follow this with open mind and heart,
Merry we meet – Merry we part.

Categories: Friendship, Ontario, Open your eyes, Simple living, Tiny House Ontario, View | 2 Comments