Kingston’s Wars

This painting is of Cathcart Redoubt which is one of the four large Martello Towers that were built along the shores of Kingston in response to the Oregon Boundary Dispute.  There are also two smaller ones.  All are still standing.

The perspective of the image: from Fort Henry using a telescopic lens, so that you can easily see the tower on Cedar Island as well as Wolfe Island in the background.

One does not see Dead Man’s Bay in this painting but it should be noted that during the building of this particular tower, 17 men perished when their boat capsized there.   These men were trying to return home after a day of work; sadly, this is how this bay got its name.

These towers were pretty much obsolete by the time they were built and fortunately were never needed to be used militarily.

With the towering windmills behind the tower in this painting, the name Kingston’s Wars seemed to me to be appropriate.  Kingston has new really seen any war but for any of you who are not local and reading this, the construction of these wind turbines caused many hard feelings and disagreement between neighbours.  Now with them present, land values in question and still feelings running high, one wonders if the healing of this generation of islanders, will happen.

I truly hope that it will.

8×10

Categories: Art, Kingston, Laura Moreland, Original Art work of Laura Moreland, Tiny House Ontario, Wind Farm, Windmill painting, Wolfe Island | Leave a comment

Foiled, Spoiled and Kaputt!

For about a thousand and one little reasons, some obstacles, and things that have suddenly popped out of the wood work that need doing here, I am not going to make it to Tiny House Ontario this weekend.

It is really disappointing too because I have a new baby niece (my first biological one) even though my own family is grown up now.  I am just so much older than my siblings that I am more like the age of a mom (than a sister) to them.  Anyway, I am looking forward to meeting baby Violet and am disappointed that I have to wait a whole other week!

I am also not too happy because I have 12 paintings framed and ready to put up at Hatter’s Bay and I know that there have been many people looking forward to seeing them, so I feel like I am a bit of a disappointment.

I am also unhappy because I want to be at the Tiny House and I want to have my bike on the road and, and, and…

It is 4:30 here in Ontario right now and I have not stopped for a minute and still have not put a dent in the stuff that needs doing.  So I decided to sit down here and whine, just a little about my spoiled plans.

I am done now.  I am sorry if you have been looking for my work and have not found it.  Still, I bet you were able to find some yumminess, and that you saw some interesting stuff and ideas!

Categories: Tiny House Ontario | Leave a comment

I have done something here called reblogging.  Which means that this is NOT my work not is it my poem but I wanted to share them because I like them so well.  Both the painting and the poem capture the feeling of rain in the forest.  I wanted to share with you because I think a lot of people might never have had this experience.

Guy Nickwell's avatarMullings of Mind Tramp

No need looking for a shelter 
The nature’s giving you a kiss 
Wait for the end of pelter 
Feel in the rain the pure bliss.  

No need for getting quite wet 
Settle on an edge of waterwall 
Don’t be afraid of wind’s onset 
Enjoy that voice of rainfall. 

                                                                                                      No need for any fleeting thoughts 
                                                                                         …

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Last Days Hamilton

I am getting geared down for my summer at the Tiny House.  I expect to arrive there some time this weekend get my bike going and enjoy the warm weather months in the peace of Tiny House Ontario.

Before I go there is a lot of stuff to do here.  Today I am going to a little Arts and Crafters show and sale in Dundas, Ontario which is being held at the Community Centre at King and Market Streets from 10-4.  It is being held by the Lion’s Hall and the Westover Artists Group who have invited me to join them.  This group meets once a week, I understand, and paints.  I am considering it, but won’t decide until I have met them and also have returned from my stay at Tiny House Ontario in the fall.  To be honest, I am not sure it would work… it seems to me that packing up materials and work with others might not really be my thing.  It is a funny thing because while I long for human connection, I also find that I feel so awkward and unlikable when I am with others that I don’t want to go through the awkward stuff.  It is stranger still too, because I think that people always find me to be social, loud, and confident, which tells me that either I am a very good faker, or perhaps I have some sort of social anxiety disorder?  I don’t know if one is better than the other, but just that this is what it is.  Awkward, uncomfortable, lonely too.  Sigh….

Obviously, that little aside had nothing to do with what there is to do in order to prepare for my months at Tiny House Ontario, but this is not terribly exciting stuff – packing personal belongings, toiletries, tools, dogs and dog stuff, water jugs, paintings for the show and sale at Hatter’s Bay and so on.  It has been impossible to prepare because I am dog sitting a rather rambunctious young one who was recently adopted by a friend of mine.  He is not trained at all and has (w)reeked havoc on every aspect of my life for the past two weeks.  Still he gets picked up tomorrow, so life will resume with its normal amount of chaos shortly.

So, with today planned and tomorrow a pick up and pack up day, I guess what I am saying is that the next posts will come from my off grid experiences this summer when I am able to access a signal.  Sunday – maybe Monday… will be my first visit back here.

Until then try and find one way over this holiday weekend to live life in a Tiny House kind of way.  Even if it is something small like not buying that object that you think you need – just so that you can throw it away later.  If you are going to buy something make it something like a wonderful local food to sustain you, or a piece of local art (or your own art supplies) to brighten up your life.

I hope this weekend will be a pleasure-fest!

I leave you with this beautiful art work which I found here.

Categories: Art, Simple living, Stuff, Tiny House Ontario, Writing | Leave a comment

Celery

A while ago the folks and Frugally Sustainable mentioned that they were regrowing celery.  WHAT?

Anyway… It is easy and it works.  I have not clipped and used any yet but I will be toting it with me to Tiny House Ontario so that when it is a little bigger I can eat some of this lovely plant, and also because my husband is a plant killer.  Just cut one or two off from the outside and let it keep on growing.  I wonder how long it will last?

Introducing Ms. Celery.  (She uses pot!)

Categories: Environmentalism, Off Grid, Ontario, Simple living, Sustainable living | Leave a comment