simple dreams

{all photos in this post were found with Google images}

I often dream of a little summer getaway for our family.  A place where candles are lit, streams are explored, books are read, and simple memories are made; be it in our own yard or on a slice of unexplored crown land.  Though I know it will be a reality, I often wonder how we could create that oasis on one stretched income.  I have explored each of the following to their end and have been rewarded with the perfect solution.

• A cottage or cabin is out of the question and renting something is too impermanent and impersonal for me. 

• A yurt is lovely, but expensive and not so easy to travel around with.

• A VW van could take us lots of places, but neither of us are handy and charming old vehicles need not so charming maintenance.

• A gypsy caravan would be ever so romantic, but expensive, hard to find and where would we store it in the long, cold winters?

And then my world changed when I stumbled upon Bell Tents...

They remind me of the summer I spent as an Ontario Ranger up in Sioux Lookout.  When we traveled to other camps we would often take large military tents to sleep in.  It had a frame made of long thin logs and we would have competitions to see how quickly we could set it up.  Bell tents are a slightly more refined alternative to that.

A quick look on ebay indicates you could get one for less than one of those prefab garden sheds they sell at Home Depot.  Seriously though which would you rather have?  I am sure, with a little digging, a new or used one could be found in Ontario to save on shipping costs and your carbon footprint.

So there you have it.  I am a simple woman with simple tastes and a new dream getaway.

Are you as excited as I am?

go gently & be wonderful

e.