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Hamilton

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Laura

Today, I am in Hamilton.  While here, I took a few minutes to stop at a couple of the wonderful old tiny houses that are part of the Hamilton Ontario, neighbourhood: Kirkendall North.  I left cards at couple of particularly charming ones to see if they would be interested in allowing me to tell the story of what it is like to live in these houses and a little about the history if known.  If the owners will meet with me, then I will do features about them on Tiny House Listings.

The houses I selected are all about a century old and appear to be between 3 and 5 hundred square feet in size.  I really hope to hear from the owners, not just so I can meet the Tiny Housers… but also because it would be fun to share some new stuff about old tiny houses with you, and to learn about them myself.

The great news is, one of the houses had someone at home… and surprisingly, I was invited in.  I have secured a time to come back to do an interview and take some photos.  It is a charming place which if I am well organized you will learn about next week!  Are you all as excited as me???

Here is a little info and some wonderful photos from the Kirkendall neighbourhood that might give you some idea of what is coming your way.

Below is an obscured photo of one of the houses that interests me.

Maybe this one?

Categories: Ontario, Open your eyes, Re-Use, Tiny house, View | Tags: , , , | 17 Comments

Wood Spirit and the Wolf

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Laura

I have finally installed the wood spirit that I purchased from wood carver, Steven Kenzora.  When I wrote about the purchase in an earlier post, I said that it would be put in a place of honour.

Since picking it up I gave quite some thought to where this would be. I decided, finally, to secure it in the arms of an ironwood tree and is facing the entry door of the house.  The tree is due North-West of THO which marks the line between black and white, earth and air and is directionally the mark of the winter solstice with respect to THO itself.  What is interesting, at least to me, is that the tree, an ironwood (considered to be magical by those who practice Wicca) seems to have grown in the specific location and shape to hold this carving.  Ironwood is a slow growing tree with a 7.0 growth factor; so this tree, with a ten inch diameter is about 75-85 years old.  I guess this tree is a sister to Twerp (so named for Tolkein) who is due South-West to THO and perhaps 20-30 years older than what is now named, Wood Spirit Tree.  Interesting too, I think, THO has ironwood trees that are at all four directional cusps and each is within a couple of hundred feet of the house at each of the cusp directions.

What I did not notice until I joined the two is that there is a howling wolf that was carved by nature into the wood which Steven carved into.  Like the Wood Spirit the wolf is a symbol of community and communication, but the wolf is also a loyal guardian.

A lot of symbolic meaning hidden in plain sight.  If you know about these things than you may have guessed that I have been recently influenced by a viking.

Can you see any other symbolism that I failed to mention here?

Categories: Art, Erazim Kohák, Forest, Magical, Nature, Ontario, Open your eyes, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: , , , , | 6 Comments

Drips

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Laura

Arrived safe at THO.  It was only minus 1 degree celsius in the house.  I started the heater and emptied the car while Hj shovelled up near the doorway and the gate.  I am grateful to my cousin Kenny who keeps me ploughed out.  I have been able to drive right up to the house so far any time I have come and today was no exception.  The snow banks are about half the size of the house… which isn’t saying too much… tee hee…

As soon as these few little tasks were accomplished, we tapped the maple trees.  They are dripping now into the buckets.  All feels right in the world!

Snow and buckets

Categories: Forest, Nature, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Sustainable living, Tiny House Ontario, View | Tags: | 6 Comments

The Other House

Posted on February 27, 2013 by Laura

If you are a regular reader here you will know that I downsized.  I sold a large house in order to finance the land purchase and building of Tiny House Ontario.  I also purchased a 900 square foot house in Hamilton that needs work.  Having two places is a requirement for us for the time being; my husband works here in the Hamilton are which on a good day is a five hour drive from THO and the location of THO is our longterm ideal.  There is a long transition until THO is ready and we are financially prepared.

I knew it would happen, but two weeks ago, as promised, our bathroom collapsed in the Hamilton house.  It already looked as though the 80’s vomited in there… a dusty rose and grey mess with cracked tiles on the floor, I could live with… but a tile fell off in the shower, one day, then the (older style water consuming) toilet let go of the floor the next… and the sink which was already loose began to flow out of the bottom.  So, I gutted it.  I did not think to take photos until I was already in the throes of a mess but I think this already started clean up and the after will give you a very clear idea of the work that was done.

I decided to purchase a new low flow toilet and a vanity as well.  It was something I gave some thought to because the old ones were in perfect condition (excepting the wax seal and the drain) but decided on a more ecological toilet and a vanity.  The toilet would save water and with the sleek sides be easy to keep clean and the vanity would give storage for personal items as well as tissue.   I painted the tiles and reused the fixtures as well as the shower curtain and towels.

It is now very clean and spa like in the updated room.

bathroom beforeish

Bathroom afterI have put up the piece of missing trim but did not take a new photo… sorry folks!

Categories: Ontario, View | 6 Comments

Tiny Ten Minute Task

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Laura

Like everyone else in the world people who live in Tiny Houses wear things out.  My husband’s jeans and my slippers are proof of this fact.

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I decided that these could have their lives extended with just a little bit time and effort, so I got the tools I need to do the job.

DSCF4790

To fix the slippers which have just a small hole – I used a darning technique that Grandma, Violet, taught me.  Simply… turn what needs darning inside out, knot the thread to the edge of the hole then sew with small stitches close to edge all around it.

DSCF4793

If I were darning a large hole I would not have done this, but in the case of this little one – on stretchy slippers, I just pulled the thread, stitched down the lump and tied a knot.  This took me less than a minute.   DSCF4796

Working inside of pockets is a bit difficult so I used an iron on patch and then hand stitched it to make it more secure.  I thought the hole looked cooler than the patch being on the outside so I decided to leave this showing.  After ironing it on I used small stitches all around the hole and then again all around the patch.  This took me about seven and a half minutesDSCF4798

I know that this is not exactly tiny house related, but it does save me money and time.  I don’t have to buy others right away and I used far less time repairing what I already have then I would have used going to the store to find new slippers and new jeans.  As well, I reduced, reused and recycled which is a lot to do with with the tiny house, tiny footprint morality.

So… if you are a math-E person like my husband you are probably thinking that the time does not add up… you are right.  The task took less than ten minutes, but still I had to get the tools and put them away and this took a little bit of time too.

Categories: Ontario, Simple living, Sustainable living, View | Tags: , , | 3 Comments