Finishing details

Not a lot of time for a whole bunch of talk, but I will give you guys some pictures!

Our beautiful ceiling!

David in the storage loft

Me in the sleeping loft

David and is wonderfully functional drawers!

Book shelves

More drawers, David has become an expert

We rested

Spectacular wall paper in the bathroom

Emma came over and we planted some seeds

And she waters too!

Look at that! An outdoor shower- with hot water!

Moving countdown, and plumbing a tub.

 

 

 

 

We are moving forward! We always are, there's never any going back, but you can really see the progress. This weekend we put the tub in place. The big ole' galvanized tub got a whole cut through, a compression drain was threaded through, and fit through the hole drilled through the floor. Drilling through the floor was a little terrifying. After building so many layers of weather proofing and structural integrity, cutting straight through the five layers of floor was nerve rattling.

Here my dad drills up through the pre drilled floor hole into the tub to get the drain centered, as much as structurally possible. My feet are holding the tub down so it doesn't resist.

 

 

The tub is great. So is the reused outdoor shower cedar. I love this bathroom.

 

Here is the before picture to compliment the after! and I'm sure there will be an after after picture too.

This was when the tub came, sometime in March it looks like, judging by the snow.

 

 

Along with the inside plumbing comes the outside plumbing! We have the luxury of a well so close to our home site that we can put in a standing hydrant! Its frost free which means we can have water into the winter, at least at the well, if not the in the house.

Along with that came the propane hookup for the on demand water heater. A family friend came out to help us with the tricky stuff, and his generosity really made me appreciative to be raised here in this island community.

 

David has been working on the cabinets, and we almost finished the window seat/bookcase.

 

 

It really looks livable! places for our books, places for our crafts and tools, and check it out, window sills!

 

The window sills gave me nightmares. Really. It was one of those things that I thought so much about- all the ways it could be done, all the things I didn't know, all the things I wanted them to be. To me window sills were such a sign of completion. It makes the inside look done. Compete. Pretty and neat. They are simple, we decided to go with what we know, and they are beautiful and functional. David's family was here this weekend and we made an assembly line of window sill cutting, nailing and tongue oiling. It went so much quicker than I could have imagined!

We're moving out of where we are now, so we'll be moving into Sweetpea soon. We have a few things on our priority list that need to be done this weekend to make it possible, but its so close. There will always be projects, its part of owning a house, but by next week the projects should be small and manageable. We are of course still waiting on our awning windows, and that is a big project for sure, but those will come when they come. Before that we will replace the wood glue and chalk line in the kitchen shelves with millet and flour, and make this house into a place we live, not just work.

 

Tackling the hard stuff

We made such amazing progress this weekend!

 

 

That's our on demand water heater! I learned phrases like pipe dope on Saturday. That's me applying the nylon tape before adding the pipe dope (its sealant) and my dad, with his super big hair, double checking the valves.

This is where the water heater will go. A bit high into our kitchen counter, but hot water is important. More important than pretty bowls that might otherwise have that space. Where you see the plywood will be covered by kitchen counter soon. Part is already framed out, you can see just a smidge in the lower right corner. You don't really have to frame a kitchen counter, I've been told it can just be a plywood box, but that sounds way harder to me. I stuck with what I knew.

 

And it gets attached!

And David made drawers! The proper tool makes all the difference. Once he got a table saw, David cruised through box making, which translates into perfectly functional drawers. We got one side of the bookcase done too with a scrap piece of 1x10 my dad saved, and it looks really awesome.


I woke up at 6 in the morning on Saturday and woke David to talk about what we would do that weekend. It was raining out and we probably could have slept in, but I was like a kid on Christmas. We got all wet taking our dump run, but we dried when the sun came out. We're getting there! It's going to happen!

I'd love some help

Hey guys.

We're trying to move in by May 31st. Before we can move in though, we have a lot to do. We sure could use your help.

We've come up to projects that neither of use have a clue about even starting. Window jams? No idea. Finish carpentry? I'm trying. Plumbing? oo boy.

If you have any experience, or just think you could lend some energy to the project, I'd love to see you at 17 Okorwaw Saturday or Sunday between 10 and 5.

Please and thank you!

I've been thinking about space lately.




back

Outer space a bit-

A full moon is coming, and David called me outside at the last bone pink of sunset to see Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn. What a beautiful, close shake planets give out. Not a twinkle, more alive than all that magic- a shake, a shimmy.

I know more winter stars and planets. Orion's bow is my heart string, and its coming in fall never fails to strum.                 
                                                               But the spring stars.

 I see them without Orion, much alone without his direction and grounding.

But I got a David these days. And he shows me a starless sky, full of dancing planets.



And living space.

How I move in a kitchen. How we move in a kitchen. David chops, and I stir, and how does that translate into countertop space? Some things are already decided. I framed a window halfway between the counter for a sink. It has enough space for the water heater and a trash can to the left, and some space for cutting to the right. So stirring (and  the stove top) go in the small part of the L shaped kitchen, above the fridge, and below the spices. Makes perfect sense to me. Some decisions are just made right for you.

The things that needed to be stored under and in the kitchen cabinets fleshed out what they would need to look like. A drawer for utensils. A drawer for foil, potholders, the sharp knives maybe. A cabinets for food, halved by a cabinets for pots and maybe an extra skillet. And under toe kick drawers for that weird stuff- extra chargers, a phone book, birthday candles.

David has been working on cabinet drawers for the storage in the couch. I've never made a drawer. I've never made a box. The thought of all this cabinetry intimidated me to no end, I have to admit, and maybe David would admit it too- but he did it. He made some beautiful boxes, that later turned into beautiful drawers. Slow going, but shit's getting done.


And outdoor space.

We decided on a place to live. We were blessed with multiple options, all with their pros and cons, but where we are has treated us well, and we will be staying there. Our many tomato, pepper, cucumber, nasturtium, whathaveyou, seedlings that have been sleeping over at the greenhouse now have a home. And us too, the harder we push, the sooner it will be.

front

Busy, busy, busy!

 

Look how far it's come! We have been working like maniacs, and its paying off. The insulation went in a few weeks ago and its been full steam ahead since then.

We chose closed cell spray insulation for its high R value, even though it's heavier. With the Andersen windows and the insulation, the house will be sure to stay nice and toasty in the winter, and cool in the summer months.

Next, the floor went in. We used salvaged oak my dad found extra from a job site. Its beautiful wood, and was a great find.

 And check out that built in couch! I'm particularly proud of that one. There will be drawers underneath for extra storage, and there's actually quite a bit of room in there! There will be bookcases along both ends. It' going to be a useful piece of furniture!

Then came the ceiling. David worked really hard on gathering pallets (with Jeremy's help, of course), breaking them up, and placing them on the ceiling. The result is a really beautiful patchwork of wood tones and textures.

 This has gotten whitewashed since, and looks like a sky of many blues.

We put spruce tongue and groove on the interior walls too.

 

 

For the bathroom wall we salvaged the cedar from an outdoor shower that was being ripped off a house that's getting moved soon. It looks awesome, and is semi water resistant. I think it's my favorite wall. Great thanks to my mom and dad for that project!

 

 

Before the bathroom wall could be closed off we had to get the tub in the bathroom. Its too big to fit through the bathroom door!

 

 

 

And we got a door!

 

Ani painted it a green to match the roof. We have keys to our home!

Its coming along, and more was done this weekend. April flew by. Between work, moving, and making progress on the house, we have not been sleeping much! But it will make sleeping up in that sleeping loft when it's all finished all that much sweeter.

 

 

 

Building party! Today, Sunday April 13th

Hello friends and family!

I know this is last minute, and you all are busy prepping gardens, and maybe packing for that rental shuffle coming up, but if you can lend us a half hour, an hour, two- we'd appreciate it! We're getting down to the crunch, we too are moving at the end of the month, and there is still lots to do!

Today David is working on the ceiling and needs some extra hands. My mom is shingling and could use some assistance. My dad and I are on various ceiling and framing projects. There is plenty to do! If you've been curious about progress, or have been itching to get that hammer out- come on over to 17 Okorwaw, off the boulevard. We'll be there until probably around 5 today!

Hope to see you there!

Our little ship

Our little ship has a figure head, and a name!

Nantucket has the tradition of naming houses. It's a nautical island with many of its original settlers finding work on the sea, and often supplies for their houses along the beaches. This closeness to ships, with a few washed up boat names thrown in, and naming your house just like a boat seems to have evolved quite naturally.

We decided to have a quarter board with 'Sweet Pea' made up, with a nod to its green roof and general cuteness. That's the name of our ship!

And this is our figure head, just installed today-

Can't wait for this ship to sail!

We're building a (love) house

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eru8DlHoOFM

First, go start this playing.


Ready?


Me too.


David and I are building a house. We are getting married. We are becoming us, and building the first step of our future, quite literally. Nail for nail, and board for board, we are watching our future come together.

Our kingdom.

A small one for now, with a garden and a wood stove. Lots of romance and hard work, and compromise. Lots of laughing at ourselves, a few swears and tears. Learning from each other, about ourselves, and about what we expect and need from one another to make our future work.

My man. The one who was so excited to use a saws all it made me smile, and the one who talked me so gracefully out of a meltdown that my family can't help but love him. And as much as sometimes I'd like to wave a wand and have this building done and live-able, this... this right here... this is part of it too. And part of us.

 

 

That  I wouldn't give up for all the mansions in the world.

 

 

 

 

A Labor of Love

I started up landscaping again for the season last week. It was a beautiful first week with lots of sun and the bulbs just starting to appear. I even found my first blooming daffodils!

Work on the house of course, has slowed. But we've been putting every minute we have on the weekends and evening towards the house, and progress is still being made. Friends and family have been out to help whenever they have time too, and the accomplishments are sweeter for the extra effort.




Here  I am after a day of tar papering and adding cheek spines (those lines of  tape you see between the two roof levels- keeping the seam moisture tight)




 

Next we started adding the trim. We needed to get the roof trim on before the metal roofing could be started. Roof trim is categorized into fascia and rakes. Fascia are the horizontal edge pieces- straight and therefore relatively easy. Rakes are the angled end edge of the sloped roof and require a lot of geometry. The trim was a challenge, especially for my mathematically challenged brain. It took two tries with the very expensive cedar trim to get it right, and I have to admit, some cursing and a few tears. Spollet came after work the day we had to restart the trim project, and revitalized a very depressed David and Rachel and we got the fascia on with his help.

               Here we are looking rather smug with our fascia and the dormer rake on.


Next came the gable rakes with so much geometry my head nearly exploded and my dad walking 5 miles in trips between the chop saw and the gables in question. An older chop saw, my inexperienced hand, and a half degree angle difference all lead to a simple looking project extending all day. But gosh darn it we got it right in the end, much in thanks to my dad's humor and energy. And that trim looks good. Its starting to look like a house, not just a box.

       Also, just look at that scaffolding. We were pretty proud of ourselves for that creation.


You can see David taking a photo in the shot, and he got some good ones, but his phone just went caput. Hopefully the phone company can recover the photos soon, he got some great shots of Andrew and Ani building us our first stack of shelves in the kitchen!

       

Here you can see the shelves all complete. Perfect for spices or mason jars! 

 

Jeremy and his family have been out to help too. Emma was Ani's helper in building the shelves, carrying wood over to the kitchen for her. This is what its all about. All that love into a stack of shelves. Jen if you got any shots of Emma that day, send them over so I can (further) document how darn cute she is.

And of course, my mom has been cooking us dinner when we are all too tired to cook, and bringing out lunch and snacks to the work site. We've been wonderfully supported in this venture.

 

My dad came over everyday after work last week and worked until we ran out of sunlight to get the electrical done. Here is the little box squeezed in between the studs.

 And me running thermostat wire for a LED puck light in the main room.

 

 

And stapling the wires to the studs so they don't get ripped out when the spray insulation is installed. I look sorta like I know what I'm doing here, but its really all I can do to keep the wires organized. Electrical work is complicated! Afternoon coffee is a must.

 

And look the roof went on! Paul, Lester and Pat helped with this, and I was so relieved. Paul has put on metal roofing before when he did carpentry in Jamaica, so we had the huge benefit of experience. Turns out its a kind of puzzle- once you get everything cut to the right length without gashing yourself on the metal first. The green looks nice. I was worried about the obviously unusual roof color for the island, but its pretty without being so standout once its on. We could have gone with a more traditional color for sure, maybe the town would have been more easily appeased with a gray roof. But we like it. The green reminds David of his forests back home in NY, the cedar trim reminds me of my home in Nantucket, and since this is our first home together what could be better than combining our loves? So cedar and evergreen it is!

We are working on plumbing now. Still waiting on windows to arrive for progress to continue on the exterior, and insulation on the inside before interior siding can go up. I'm looking for some siding if any one has any leads! Project scrapes, job site cast offs, tongue and groove, ship lap- I'll take em! I have about 300 feet of siding to put up in total, but there's no need for all of that to match. Eclectic is good! Imperfection is beautiful! and free is glorious!

In other news David and I have been going through our stuff in preparation for downsizing. It can be an overwhelming process, but also freeing. I do feel lighter without so much stuff. We still have a long ways to go, but we have reduced our clothes by half, I've gone through my craft stuff for the first time in years, and we are both starting to get excited about living more simply. This article on decluttering and our culture's need for "stuff" has been an inspiration. The best inspiration of course has been seeing the tiny house evolve, laying out our tiny itty bitty closet and the craft/tool/shoe storage we'll have under the couch. But to live in such freedom, I'd be willing to give up all my stuff to fit!

 

 

 

Its solid.

Sunset on a tiny house building day

 

All last week I've been working on the tiny house full time. I luckily have gotten leave to start landscaping in the middle of  March, and this week David got to take a few days off and lend a hand too. We've been moving right along and pictures really will tell the best story here...

Insulation was added to the sub floor frame and then sheathed with plywood.

Next day, the walls were framed and put up one by one. Here I am screwing in the frame.

Windows are framed out- final decision time! I decided to go ahead with the side door as opposed to the front door, and added bigger windows along that back wall, which will end up being our reading nook/couch area.

Kitchen window in the background, living room window center, door forefront.

Lester and Paul working to secure braces so our work stays level while we work

Bundled.

Look at the sky. Almost felt like spring!

Next Day, started the gable rafters. Lester and Paul are standing where our sleeping loft will be!

Ladders everywhere!

Back windows I was talking about! Imagine all that light!

Sleeping loft. David and I decided to add one more joust to the loft space to make the lost 16 inches longer. It went from being exactly the length of our mattress, to a foot and some longer- much more comfortable! I had visions of kicking our quilts to the floor and having to trudge down the ladder in the middle of the night to retrieve them, or worse kicking them on to the woodstove. O hey, yea, we bought a woodstove on Saturday! Its a Fisher Baby Bear. Pretty small, but still big for our space. Hopefully we can keep it stoked low enough to stay nice and toasty but not over heat!

 

Sheathed. It looks kind of plain all sheathed! Wish I had a more focused version of my mom and that jack back there, they look pretty elegant in a strange way.

Sweeping my home! Ladder is where the tub would be to orient you, I'm in the living room, awfully close to where the wood stove will be.

up among the rafters

 



and a drink with friends to celebrate our progress!







wooooweee! its been a whirlwind of nails, lumber, and screws! Everything has been nailed, screwed, glued, and tied in. This this is as solid and solid can be. And that my friend is what we call a solid start.