Big Plans

Fall in the air, 

First day of school pictures everywhere

Leaves changing

Mists rising

Slow house progress

I digress

Big Plan anticipation

Getting ready for more vacation

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Back to school and Fall has me waxing poetics :)

I've been very remiss in keeping up on this blog over the past few months.  Many things have gotten in the way, not the least of which is my part-time work and keep-kids-busy summer plans.

I also just haven't had a lot to share about progress on the house because all the work has been tied into or related to one or two large projects.  My husband built a tiny shed on our small trailer in order for us to have a safe place to store all of the things we had to move back out of the tiny house while we finished the walls.  This took at least a month of weekends.  Next was preparing the house for the finish on the walls.  All of the cracks between and around paneling and around windows and trim had to be caulked, the walls needed to be sanded and cleaned, windows and doors needed to be covered and A LOT of stuff (actually during this process I realized how little I actually have!) needed to be moved out of the house and into the tiny shed.  After all this was done, my husband applied Varethane to all the walls and surfaces on the main level.  Next the loft areas needed to be done; everything from upstairs was moved downstairs and caulking had to be finished upstairs.  Finally, the last coats of Varethane were applied and we just had to wait a few days for them to dry.

After a busy summer and despite several vacations, the inside of the house is sealed up.

Next we began to seal up the outside. 

"Here comes the rain... la, de, da, da...here comes the rain..."

(I really can't say or think that without singing it...I don't even know what song it comes from but I'm pretty sure it's an oldie and I probably have the lyrics wrong)

The outside of the house will have to wait till the sun comes out and dries up all the rain.

Over the last couple months I have had several opportunities to work on my attitude about the house. When we first planned a tiny house, I was very excited about the "Big Plans" (travel, etc) we could make without a mortgage.  Unfortunately, we always seem to have work to do on the house.  I would really like to have a finished house; you know, actually, I think I might even settle for a range/oven instead of hot plate/toaster oven. It probably didn't help that our hot water heater was broken for a month (long story). A person can get pretty grumpy taking 2 minute lukewarm-to-ice cold showers for weeks on end. Ok, there were several things adding to my irritation and really I think I just got tired of thinking about the house. I'm sure I could find something to be discontent about no matter what; I've even heard it rumored that people in BIG houses have house issues too...imagine that.  I know I've had some unrealistic expectations concerning our house and the last few months I have really worked to have a good attitude about the progress we're making (because we ARE making progress).

This first year of tiny house planning and building did not provide much opportunity for "Big Plans" ... until summer came around.  Now I am looking at our partially finished tiny house and (once I adjust my attitude) I am REALLY glad we live in a tiny house and we don't have a mortgage!  We have gotten lots of outdoor time this summer.  We were able to do several fun day trips and camping trips.  We spent lots of time with friends and family.  We are planning our first ever extended vacation as a married couple, just the two of us...to HAWAII!!  

Yes, Hawaii!  

I say just the two of us meaning no kids.  We are traveling with my in-laws and I couldn't be more excited about this opportunity; first, because I LOVE my in-laws and we can truly say they are some of our closest friends and, second, we'll be in Hawaii with no kids!  

This vacation would not have been at all possible a year ago.

A Hawaiian vacation would not have been feasible for many years if it wasn't for our choice to live in a tiny house.

We might have a Tiny (unfinished) House but we have Big Plans!

I'm so glad we live in a Tiny House. 

;)