In the morning you can watch the kettle boil, which of course never happens. Or you can open your eyes and look around.
Fortunately for me, in the woods there is always something beautiful to see. Today I had a look over to see how fall is settling with the hawthorn Twerp. Then I looked over the prickly pear into the forest beyond.
When I looked back my grandma’s kettle was magically boiled. The coffee was delish!
A famous quote attributed to Katherine Hepburn is: “If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased. I think that this is a very accurate statement.
Myself, personally, I have always been an outsider. I know full well what it is like to be the only person in the room who thinks about things in the way that I do. I suppose that living my life as a veg*an is a perfect example of this, so too is living in a Tiny House, being a feminist, being a writer, (having been) a single mom, being a person who for two years does not “work”. It is not unusual for people to lack the ability to put me into a neat little box and this has always been the case with me. Even when I was the kid I was visibly (in)different. It is not my goal to be like this, I think it would be far more comfortable to fit in sometimes. But it is rare enough that when people find themselves in me, that I find it exciting to think… perhaps this year might be the year that I get to blend in a bit. It just seems so much easier to blend.
Different from the norm or not, there are things that are important to me: loyalty, gratitude, friendship, family, being creative, living in a democracy and also being able to just take a moment out of my day, no matter how full it is, to take in something beautiful. Right now, Ontario is extra gorgeous. Today, I was North of the city on Montreal Street. I had a full day of driving my cousin around, discussing politics with one of the Prison Farms protesters, doing some volunteer work for a person with limited literacy, researching the Hinton train disaster, writing, missing a meeting to discuss fund raising for an agency in Kingston (rescheduled for tonight) and also spending an hour visiting with my sister and Tiny Niece Violet, it was not exactly a slow day. Still, these refresher moments are so important. Not just for artists, but for everyone.
The point is, I stopped just for just a few moments to witness the peace and beauty that was offered up to the multitudes who just drove by. Even though I don’t “work” I think that I needed this. I hope you took a moment today too and if you did not, I hope that my moment has enough breath left in it to be shared with all of you.
Beautiful isn’t it?
This morning, the first talk I want to see is at 11:00. This gave me time to walk around this land before the drive to Kingston. The nights are colder now; falling in the single digits, but under the blankets I am cozy while I read Teja Cole. I slept well this past night, even so wake tired from the big thoughts that fill my mind. The words of all these artists at once is overwhelming but worth it. This freshness in air has forced the thinnest and most unprotected leaves to put on their brightly colored coats, the rest of them will not be far behind.
I walked over to my garden and was disappointed and surprised. I suppose I should not be. Powder mildew is taking over the squash plants. I had never seen powder mildew in all my years on the farm in the giant gardens of the women who grew all the food for their family. Now this mildew finds its way deep here, into the untouched forest to attack the plants. I wonder from what biotechnology hell it pounced out, ready to kill what we we want to grow for ourselves.
The days are too cold now for the tomatoes to ripen, but there are a lot of vegetables and herbs still there. These strong beauties are still a thriving food source, but I will have to cover them soon if I am to have the opportunity to enjoy them.
All through these woods, the small asters poke their small sunny purple faces up out of the forest floor. It is a beautiful time. As though nature is a fresh faced child being tucked in by mother nature for a winter’s night.
All reminders that I must prepare for the coldness that living brings.
Arriving back at THO in the night after the Kingston Writer’s Fest evening events is nicer now because of the 12v lighting. I have lights installed outside, and as long as I remember to turn them on, I can see to put my key in the door which is great. Best thing though is that I can be sure that there are no wild animals right there on my heels looking for a freshly delivered organic meal.
There is a call for photos of people with their Tiny House so I thought after coming home from the conference that I was tidy enough that I might try an image.
Though they are not great for the purpose that I had intended, I like them. The lighting being what it is caused some bending in the images and so, I share them with you because I think that they warm and fuzzy, which is the way I feel when I am there.
Tiny House Ontario 