I’ve been so busy lately, that I’ve failed to take the time to transcribe my grid-paper (working) version of my little house floor plans into something a bit more palatable for public consumption.
There is still much to be done, of course, but I did take the time today to learn how to use Google’s SketchUp drafting program, and used it to create my floor plans to share here on WickedBlog.
Top-view of the first floor
So after many years of pursuing my dream of living in a little cabin in the big woods where I can live, write, love and just BE ME… it’s finally happened! Sometimes I pursued it with a passion, sometimes it had to take an unfortunate back seat to everything else that was going on in my life. But, the dream was always there. ALWAYS.
I now own 25 acres of woods with a tiny house of my own design and it’s MINE. It’s not something that I’m making payments on. It doesn’t come with the anchor of a mortgage or debt. It’s for keeps.
From the beginning of November until January 10th, I worked on it (and hired help to work on the parts I simply couldn’t do myself.) I lived in the most outrageous conditions these last 2 1/2 months — almost to the point of insanity to make it happen now, not later. Nothing made it take a back seat this time. Nothing. Continue reading
Freedom: A Heart-felt Sentiment
I moved from Lexington to the farm at the end of October. In the first couple of weeks, we got electric, a septic hooked up, floors finished upstairs, most of the woodwork complete and a shower that actually sprays HOT water on me when I want to get clean… all in my little cabin in the woods.
That’s a LOT of progress, but there’s still a lot more to go. In the last week, I’ve secured a way to get Internet on the farm (using a Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 Mobile Wi-Fi Modem), which thrills me, since I’ve tried everything else known to man with limited success. Now I can work where I live again. JOY! My biggest concern now is the monthly bill — not the ability to connect. That actually makes me really happy!
I’ve also had the opportunity to travel quite a bit in the late summer and early fall. On the weekends, I’ve traveled to see band competitions, I spent the last part of the summer riding on the back of a motorcycle every chance I got, and I’ve had some of the best conversations in recent memory. Life is pretty darn good.
I’m spending time with a wonderful man who makes me feel like HE’S the tech-geek between the two of us and like I’m some kind of political liberal or something (that’s new!) I’ve never dated anyone who knew more about computers, current events or politics than I do. I must admit, it’s nice to be intellectually engaged in daily conversations.
Alex is loving life on the farm and seems happier than she’s been in ages. She also has a pet – a black Lab named “Max” and she spends every chance she gets running in the woods and dancing in the creek with him.
The downstairs still needs some work, but it’s coming together. I have a great subcontractor that doesn’t say “you can’t” or “I don’t know how” to anything I request. That’s pretty cool. Nevermind that I spend so much time with and on the phone with the contractor that my actual boyfriend calls him my “other” boyfriend. 
I’m planning my garden for the spring, hoping to survive the dust from the construction until we can call it done (hopefully by January), am homeschooling Alex and am taking care of a few choice clients.
December will ramp up homeschooling since the move and all the work we have had to do out here hasn’t been conducive to traditional academics. Alex has learned quite a bit about construction, how a septic system works, how to plant lily of the valley bulbs (several bags full), how to manage recycle vs. burn vs. garbage dump materials from household waste, how to paint walls and how to scrub mortar off freshly laid floor tiles.
It’s all good stuff to know, but rather difficult to document in a lesson plan. Her daily journal, math lessons and constant reading are the only steadfast “lessons” of a traditional nature that have survived this November on the farm. December will be more “traditional” once again.
I’m not taking on any new clients right now and am perfectly happy to serve the ones I have. It’s enough. I don’t have to make money 24/7 to be comfortable on the farm and as the construction costs end and the house gets settled, it will take even less.
I can’t think of a time when I’ve been happier. I literally wake up every morning delighted with my life. I’m not even waiting for the other shoe to fall — I’m just happy. I smile all the time… so much that people comment about it. It’s weird.
There’s much to do and life is going at a break-neck pace with all the projects (both professional and personal) that I have in progress at the moment… but I know that it’s only a SHORT period of time before life slows to a manageable, almost leisurely pace. And the chances are pretty good that it will remain relatively relaxed.
I’m really looking forward to getting the downstairs finished and getting in a kitchen that’s full-size, not the temporary one I am hobbling by with now. It may take all of December and all of January, but this cabin will be exactly what I always knew it could be!
Next week, I’m picking up the van and I’ll then have a little “playhouse” on wheels for weekend trips and the joy of going where ever I want and coming back when I’m darn good and ready. It’s silly for a grown woman to want to have a playhouse, but that’s what it is and I WANT IT!
Freedom. Yeah, that’s the word. That’s what I’m feeling these days, an overwhelming WAVE, a warm and comfy quilt, an entire environment of freedom.
It’s nice.
I was contacted recently by a reader who asked if I’d managed to find a real estate agent that specialized in tiny houses and unique settings. (I haven’t.)
Linda Paulus said she was a fan of my blog and, although I didn’t know of a real estate agent specializing in “living small,” I took a look at her little country cabin and all the lovely photos and decided to steal a few of the photos that Linda has up on her site to share here with my readers who are also tiny house lovers.
These are nice, but some of the photos she has posted are exquisite. Continue reading
The last two weeks have been amazing.
*Shhhh!* (Just saying it may jinx my luck, so I’ll whisper the rest…)
I’ve not even taken the time to blog because I’ve been so busy and so bubbly and I didn’t want the good stuff to end. (Yeah, sometimes I really AM that superstitious.)
Eliminated the Storage Unit
I’ve made so much progress since the first of December, that I’ve been amazed. During the first week, my youngest son came down and spent four days with me, helping me to clean out my storage unit (there are only three items left — and those will be cleaned out by the end of the month). So that’s one monthly bill that’s now been eliminated. I despise storage units. I think they represent the conspicuous consumption in our country.
Having one was a painful prospect for me, but with all the moves in the last two years… one became necessary. Now, I’m glad I had it. My son just got his first (rental) house and with the stuff in my storage unit and at my farm, he’s got pretty much everything needs now. It felt really good to help him get started. That was my combination Christmas gift and housewarming gift for him.
Organized Boxes
Byron also worked with me to organize and clean out the boxes of stuff that needed to be sorted. I donated a slew of stuff to Goodwill and go the farm in a condition that I can begin working on the cabin again. THAT feels really good!
I also “found” some of the things I’d been missing that was driving me crazy… like the charger and extra battery for my camera, among other things.
PurpleStates.tv and CNN
In November I was invited by PurpleStates.tv to be their representative blogger from Kentucky. They invited one blogger from each state to talk about the economy and politics and the impact on the local area. Quite a feather in my cap… and a great deal of fun. Then, my particular piece was picked up by CNN. Nice, huh?
Airstream finds a new home
During this same first week in December, I received a deposit to hold my Airstream for an out-of-the-country buyer. Her representative flew up on a Wednesday (in his little Cesna) to take a peek at Serenity. The details were all arranged and she was delivered to North Carolina today.
The most exciting thing is that the buyer (currently residing in the Bahamas) is shipping her overseas to the UK where she plans to summer in her during 2009. An interior decorator, she plans to completely rework Serenity. I feel confident that Serenity’s found a good home with someone who will appreciate her. Of course my RV is doing more traveling than I am. *shucks!*
Like my purchase of the farm from a lady in Israel, my sale of Serenity has an interesting international twist. God bless the Internet! (The buyer found me on Marketplace on Facebook.)
The Credit Card Bites the Dust
By the middle of next week, my credit card will be paid off and filed away for emergencies only. In the current economic situation, I can’t afford to owe money, so I’m eliminating that as much as possible and as quickly as possible. I’ll be running on a cash basis now.
Too many people owe too much and acquire what they can’t afford and don’t need and hope that they never have to pay more than the “minimum” without any intent to pay off their debts in full. It’s a disease of our society and it’s sinking our country. I refuse to be a part of it.
The Apartment Comes Together
I’ve been living in this apartment for six months. I’ve lived with very little of what I want and need. Why? Because I couldn’t get what I wanted and needed moved in by myself. So, I’ve lived in this limbo-land. I despise limbo… it’s my least favorite place to be.
Byron helped me get things moved in last week in between all the other stuff we did. Last weekend I arranged, decorated and organized everything in the main room. This weekend, I’ll spend the time required to finish the work up.
Pops has agreed to help me build the euro-style sink and cabinet I need to add the final touches. I think we may try to do that in January. I still need to get my final measurements and draw up the plans.
This tiny apartment is becoming the efficient, organized, workhorse that I always wanted to create in a small space. I love tiny houses and tiny spaces. Always have. Now, I’m creating one here. It’s pretty amazing.
My father saw what I’ve done here and informed me that there’s “apparently a whole movement on living in smaller spaces” — duh… really? Go figure! I don’t think that man has ever read any of my blogs. And sometimes I wonder if he actually HEARS me when I speak. EVER.
A lead on the truck
I bought a truck a few months ago that needs a new transmission. It’s been sitting and waiting for me to find the time and the money to get it up and running. The only thing I wish that it had that it doesn’t (other than a new transmission) is a manual transmission. Last night, while talking to some family, they told me that they knew of a truck of the same model that was for sale. It was priced right because the body isn’t great. The engine and the transmission (a manual, btw) are both in great shape.
Long story short, I’ve asked them for an estimate on taking that truck and transferring the transmission to my truck. It will be alot less expensive than getting a new transmission and I’ll have the extra parts to help keep my little old truck running. It’s not that I relish the idea of having a “spare parts” truck around… but as the times get leaner, I’m sure that would be more welcome.
Chances are good that I’ll have the truck I wanted with the manual transmission that makes me happy, an extra engine and extra parts all for less money than it was going to cost me to get the current transmission fixed. Now isn’t that sweet?
I just have to find a place to properly store it on the farm so I don’t end up feeling like (or looking like) a hillbilly…*where DID I put those cement blocks?*…
Selling on eBay
I may spend this weekend getting some of the extra stuff I’m ready to discard put on eBay. I’ve been planning to do that for ages, but always have a good excuse why I’m not doing it yet. I’m too busy, there’s too much else I need to be doing, it’s a drag, maybe I should rethink it… etc., etc.
I’ve noticed that as I have made progress in these areas that are so important to me, it’s given me the stamina to forge ahead and do even more! So, maybe after the open house this weekend (a Christmas thing that my landlady is hosting), I’ll be able to do that.
(My landlady is awesome and is so impressed with what I’ve done with the little place, she asked if I would be willing to let her show it off during the open house. I’m flattered to the point of distraction and, of course, agreed.)
So, I’m going to take a couple of the boxes of stuff that need to be listed on eBay and try to get them up this weekend so they will sell before Christmas and I can get them shipped out for holiday delivery. I’m actually excited about this.
Buying on eBay
I’ve been evaluating what I want in life lately. And at the ripe old age of 42 (almost 43 now), I can honestly say that there’s very little on my “want” list. And many of the things I do want I now have or have made plans to achieve… like getting out of debt, fixing the truck, finishing the cabin, etc.
Other than these big items the rest are smallish things. I made my list. I want a nice pair of diamond stud earrings — not too small, not too large. Good quality, preferably in platinum with screw on backs so I can wear them without worry. I know it’s not “living small” but I don’t care, I want them. Besides, if I have those I can sell most of the ones I currently own on eBay, right?
I want a pair of black leather boots like the ones I wore out a few years back. They were Cole Haan, western styled and made me feel ten feet tall, bullet-proof, and a just bit cocky whenever I wore them. You simply can’t wear that kind of boot without exuding attitude. The replacements will probably have a less slick sole so I can wear them on a bike, but they must easily lend themselves to the creation of that aura of attitude.
I want a bike — one larger than the beep-beep. Probably about a 650 cc — and I want it with the running board styling rather than traditional motorcycle styling. I want it to have a comfortable seat for Alex. And I want a thick leather jacket to extend the riding season a bit. Now would be the perfect time to buy it since it’s off season, and since gasoline is now down to about $1.50 per gallon… but I’m cash poor, so it will have to wait.
This week I nailed one of those items. I bid on and won a pair of tiny diamond studs. I took a chance on them, despite the fact that they were smaller than what I wanted. I figured they would work well until I could afford the size I sought. Thankfully, the size was misquoted. The seller quoted them as just under a quarter carat for both… when in fact they were EACH right at a quarter carat. In platinum, acorn style screw backs and good quality stones… all for *drum roll*…
$76.00!
I’m a jewelry lover and this kind of find was, well, amazing. The seller received them from an old flame and said it was “time to move on” so she was selling them. It’s probably the best deal I’ve ever made on eBay! I have priced them out based on the size, clarity, color and setting. Value for these little gems is between $600 and $900! Currently they are securely screwed into my earlobes where they will stay for a very, VERY long time. 
Popping the cork
Over a year ago I bought a bottle of champagne. I purchased it in the hope of drinking it soon… when things started to turn around and life got good again. It’s now been in my refrigerator for over 12 months… waiting. Tonight, I go against my “never drink alone” rule and pop the cork on that baby. It’s not an expensive bottle… but it does have a cork and that’s good enough. (I have absolutely NO “taste” when it comes to wine and such because I despise most of what other people tell me is “the good stuff” — but that serves my budget well.) *I just hope that it’s not so old that it has turned to vinegar*
So tonight I relax in my newly redecorated tiny apartment, sip a glass or two of bubbly and reflect on the fact that despite the crumminess that has been 2007 and 2008… that ALREADY 2009 is looking a bit better!
And all this… ALL of it… has happened since December 1st!
(Pretty photo courtesy of razvandm)
