Whatever It Is, It's Amazing...

I don't know whose it is, where it is,
where it's been or where it's going, but this wooden Trojan Horse housebus certainly is spectacular...
Thanks to Victoria at Ozarks Crescent Mural for sending me the link.

Tiny Treehouses To Tempt You...

I know how much you enjoy images
of gorgeous tiny treehouses and had to share these with you.
The first two images are from Tiny House Swoon and the second two from Cabin Porn.
Both sites are featuring some other delightful dwellings so climb out on a limb and have a look...

How To Have Your Own Free Tiny Public Library...

Little Free Library is a grassroots initiative
by Todd Bol and Rick Brooks, both of Wisconsin in the US, to build more libraries around the world than the 2510 the great philanthropist Andrew Carnagie did.
These cute little dollhouse sized 'libraries' serve as free community book exchanges.
More than 200 have already been installed in over twenty countries.
Why not start one on your street corner...

Hair Today Gone Tomorrow...

There I was, and still am.
At one of my favourite places, Ray's Rest at Kaiaua, indulging in the sunshine, enjoying the respite of the La Nina winds that have been following me around Northland all summer and a lady from a neighbouring motorhome stopped by for a chat.
Isn't the day lovely she said, you're so lucky being able to stay here longer.
My husband would just love to stay a few more days and do some fishing and just relax and enjoy.
It would be so good for him too, he's been under a lot of stress lately, but we really have to go home tomorrow.
Oh I said wanting to appear concerned and caring, it must be really important to compel you to leave.
Yes it is she said, I've got a hair appointment...

The Horsebox House...

Rima Staines is a beautiful woman and a wonderfully talented artist.
We've never met
but I know these things to be true.
You've only to look at her blog,
The Hermitage, or read what she says about hers and her partners life in their housetruck to know I'm right.
There's a story of The Housebox House in
Lloyd Kahn's Tiny Home book and Rima's words have kept delighting me since the book was published many weeks ago.
I expect they might delight and inspire you too.
Here's some of them...
"The journey was both wonderful and hard.
They learned that life on the move was more raw and more real. They got to see people's prejudices up close.
Gathering the necessities of life such as water and firewood took up much of their days...
It was a tiny house indeed. The outdoors was also part of their home, which meant that their space shrank when it rained...
Bathing was done in front of the fire in a small tin bath they kept on a hook on the wall...
The wind rocked their house like they were at sea and the rain drummed up a delightful percussion on the roof...
Life on the move also gave them a sense of living in full colour. All their days were as vivid as the treasured memory of a favourite holiday. They learned to live a life without the grays, without the wishing for a 'one day' or an 'if only' sort of life.
They lived it in the minute and it was bright..."
Rima's full tale of life on the road is here...

Understanding Women...

Volume One of Understanding Women
is now at a bookshop near you.
It's bound to be a best seller.
Pick up this handy paperback edition.
If you can...

How Many Camels Can You Fit In The Eye Of A Needle?

I'm sure it's something
you've always wanted to know, isn't it.
The answer is nine.
Ten would be squashing them.
And how many prancing horses can you fit
on the head of a pin?
Only one actually.
The head of a pin is very small.
British sculptor William Wigan, a dyslexic who can now, at 55, barely read or write, is able to create some of the smallest sculptures in the world relying on nothing but his amazing talent, patience, a scalpel and a microscope.
He's able to fit nine camels inside the eye of a needle.
It takes an average of eight weeks for Mr Wigan to complete a sculpture.
It can take me eight weeks to thread a single piece of cotton in there.
When working he enters a meditative state which slows his heart rate allowing him to reduce any hand tremors and actually work his magic between heartbeats.
And then to paint his creation, he often uses a single hair from a dead housefly.
You need to know that too.
If you want to see more, have a look here...

It's A Fun Machine...

Well known New Zealand TV personality Bill Hohepa and his lovely wife Linda were at Kaiaua on The Seabird Coast yesterday and called in to say hi to The Flying Tortoise.
They were on their brand spanking new Can-Am Spyder checking out a route for a Spyder Rally next week.
This 'toy' features a 990cc Rotax engine, the same as they use on light planes and when I asked Linda how fast it goes she said 'I don't know, I just hang on...'
Their sporty machine is registered as a car and drives like one, but on a beautiful day like yesterday, a lot more exhilarating.
Bill fronts the popular TV programme 'Talking Trucks' and is currently working on a new one called 'Talking Bikes' then it's on to 'Talking Motorhomes'. Talk about fun...

Precious Time...

Next to our health,
it's our most valuable commodity.
Our most precious possession.
This Daliesque image shows pieces of time slipping away. As it does.
Moments of time never to be had again.
Moments, sometimes long, very long moments called years go by as we waste our precious time chasing after things
that are not important at all.
All we have is the now.
Make the most of it...

Tiny Earthbag Homes...

Pieces of art to live in really aren't they.
There's so many sites to show you how, you can build a house like this with virtually no experience and learn as you go along.
Considered by many to be the most inexpensive and economical way to construct a dwelling because the materials are usually on site already and free.
The most expensive item are the solid weave polypropylene bags if you buy them new.
Usually they've been used to hold rice and grains during shipment and the second time around ones are just fine.
You may have seen some of these wonderful little works of art before, they've been featured on Tiny House Living and Tiny House Listings.
So many tiny houses to choose from...

Spain Shows Off The World's Largest Wooden Structure...

Spain's medieval city of Seville can now
not only boast that it has the world's largest wooden structure, it can be assured it's also one of the most beautiful.
The Metropol Parasol, by Jurgen Mayer Architects is now virtually complete.
Located at Plaza de la Encarnacion the beautiful series of undulating parasols comprises an interlocking honeycomb of wooden panels rising from concrete bases which form walkways beneath the stunning umbrellas.
The structure houses a museum, restaurants, farmers market, plazza and more.
And too, it defines the city's iconic cultural role as a historic archeological destination.
There's more here...