Let's see how well we are

"The safe oasis room on wheels became the right answer for us when our savings and resources could no longer pay the asking price for renting unsafe space and gravity was working against us as well. We are aging faster than we can continue to recover from Diaspora. The small space we have built is what we could manage and afford to build. If the choices of others affect us, we’ll move our home. What it boils down to is this: the inconvenience that make up our daily kuleana (Hawaiian word for responsibility) today is no less inconvenient than Earth’s endurances. We have admittedly been part of the problem when it comes to living with environmentally triggered illness. Now we have a chance to be part of the solution. Let’s see how well we do." - from the July, 2009 Interview "A Gypsy Life: Notes from the Diaspora" with Julie Genser of Planet Thrive

We found The Egg and Berry Farm in the summer of 2010. Within weeks Pete found gates to build, and places to use his drill and his inimitable humor. This is him and Eileen (1/2 of a pair), and the foundation of the "intentional community" we had imagined. We share 5 acres of woods and 'aina with these women. The relationship we have with them evolves and we all learn to be the best we can be; and practice acceptance and forgiveness when it's a day when we are being human.

Time has been softening the ground of our being allowing Pete and me to root and build other tiny spaces as gently as we possibly can. The Hale (pronounced ha-lay) pictured above is a metal wash house with hot water, a shower and a double stainless steel sink we use to wash our clothes(by hand with a washboard and a hand wringer). My sewing machine has a place of honor in the corner just inside that drain pipe. There's nothing I love better than a space for stitiching!

To the right the Quonset is our cooking and eating hut, and the writing/computer space. It's also JOTS hang-out, sleeping room and all around get your rubs and company place. Like the VFT the Quonset is 12 feet long and 8 feet wide.

We have four chickens who root around the lower half of the orchard, and give us fresh eggs. We used to live with ducks, too. But no longer. The chickens teach us a lot about being, and becoming dependent; and the ducks taught us about dying and loyalty and I wonder about "animal husbandry" now. Domesticating animals, enclosing them (and us). It's a subject that is tickling at my curiosity. I've not yet come to many conclusions. But wonder about domesticating.

JOTS is the real mistress of the tiny spaces. Above, the vardo porch is one of her familiar lookouts. She was sent to keep watch, and we are the lucky ones. Below, it's her first winter (2008). She found us and nestled her way into a box warmed by a wool blanket and Christmas tree lights.

This fall I took a view of the yellow leaves that brighten the woods with their seasonal magic. Taken from the corner of VFT, the Tall One (Grandmother Pine) anchors us When we first arrived it was she I chanted to specifically, asking permission to live among them. She said, "Yes." The garage (with the chimney that does not get used) provides the attachment wall for The Hale, and the rain barrel catches water.

Thank you girls!

The VFT roof and new canvas porch awning gets covered with pine and fir needles, Pete's sweeping and lifting that chin for the Raven to see.

We're grateful and humbled for the life we live. The tiny spaces we live in are small in comparison to the woods and the Nature that allows us to be here. I'm reading a good book that I'm sure to blog about before too long. It's Philip Shepard's book New Self New World. This is one of those books that offers turn-on-your-head redefinitions; like the difference between "being tired" versus "being exhausted; another loop for throwing at Darwin's theory of "survival of the fittest"; and a chunk of consideration for domestication of humans and farming and animals. All of it suits my Scorpio curiosity, and my habit of digging around.

Onward on Route 66, a highway I am told by one who has spent much time on it, "Metaphoric or real, it's a great highway."

RESCUED HORSES and The Little Prince

Dusty (on the left) and Fancy posing for Pete in the field on a blustery Friday morning
If you look closely at the abodes in the background, you will see evidence of tiny home community growing ... the dandelion wagon, a tall pointed roof line to the left (Leslie and Tony's large tiny home arrived last evening); and the chicken coop now empty of any chickens is the red home closest to Dusty and Fancy.

In relation to the home and garage of our land-lady ...

"Tiny" is different and relative

We met one of the friendliest people the other day. He was dressed in a red polo shirt and red baseball cap, and through the top half of the door I saw him chatting with Pete across the field. After a bit he started heading toward the vardo. This was a first ... a visitor! I opened the door and called out (with a raspy voice) "Hi, I'm Mokihana." "I'm Ed. This is a really cute little thing. Really cute up close. Did he build this?" "Yup, he did." This was a man with an appreciate eye and a very kind disposition. By this time Pete could see this was a person who would enjoy a good bit of the brag, and within minutes the two guys were looking at the detail of our tiny home construction. This was just the kind of praise these old vardoers needed, I gotta tell you.

Ed turns out to be Ed Bartz, one of the creators of BARR Blissful Acres Rescue Reserve, here in Bend, Oregon. From the BARR Website, I found this information about the volunteer organization that cares for large animals like "Dusty" and his mom "Fancy." These two rescued ponies are our field mates, and thanks to the friendly visit with Ed Bartz we know something very special about our field mates and the folks who care for abandoned animals. Here is a snip from the BARR website with a link to the site below.

Here at Blissful Acres Rescue Reserve, we rescue abandoned, abused, and neglected large animals. BARR provides long term care & housing, with an added goal to educate the public about responsible animal stewardship. Will you partner with us to meet these goals?

Formed in 2004 by Chamber members Linda Ayling and Ed Bartz, BARR is located on 10 acres just west of the Bend Municipal Airport . As of Winter 2009 we have 21 horses, 4 goats, 4 rabbits, 3 dogs and 2 cats. (this site shows current and past).

"Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You remain responsible, forever, for what you have tamed."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

This post has taken on a life of its own. First, I wrote the story of meeting the man with the red polo shirt, red baseball hat and kind disposition. His name is Ed. We met Ed in the field where we are encamped. Ed was in the field to tend to and check on the ponies.

One thing has led to another on this blog page, and a short while ago I found a page of the BARR website entitled "Gone but not forgotten." Rescued horses who have since passed on are pictured there. Stirred by my curiosity and slowed by this cold/virus/achy body, I looked at the horses and then noticed the tiny print at the very top of the "Gone but not forgotten" page. The quote from the book (a novella actually) The Little Prince written by French aviator Antoine de Saint-Expury is written across that page. The quote touched me at such a deep place. Like medicine not found in a jar or a salve.

I know of this novella, and might have read it long, long ago. But, I must have been an adult when I last read it because it did not reach me like it is today. Something important is happening here ...

I have linked a site that includes the chapters to this very special book here: The Little Prince. There is certainly reason for us being parked here in the field with two Rescued Ponies. Meeting Ed Bartz was our first clue that there was more to this than barbed wire fencing. I have just begun to read The Little Prince. Thank you ponies!

Have you read The Little Prince? Are you an adult?


http://www.blissfulacres.com/index.html