Good things take time. And so much patience, you might lose it once. Or twice.

Building a house take more time, more money, and more energy than you ever thought when beginning the project. This is a known fact, right?

Then why did I believe it didn't apply to this house? Just because it's tiny doesn't mean it can't encounter just as many problems. And I certainly have already. Here's to hoping my string of delays and stresses were just the world helping learn that lesson.

Remember that Uship guy I was politely complaining about last post? How weather this, and just one more week that was pushing the trailer arrival back and back and back? Well he got banned from Uship for doing that crappola to one too many people and then I was stuck exactly where I was THREE WEEKS AGO! I felt a fool for letting it go that long, but one more day plus one more day added up quicker than I thought. And there I was, 1/3 into the time I have off from work to concentrate on the tiny house, and nothing to show for it. That's just plain depressing.

But I have a Superdad. The kind that puts together a team of also awesome people and drives through the night to Florida, turns right around, and comes back with a trailer. That kind of dad. The one that deserves rewards. And lots of thank you cake.

                            There it is attached to my Dad's truck at the boat getting measured!

Our family friend and carpenter Pat is helping us out with the framing and we'll start next week. At first a part of me just wanted to do it all myself. But I very quickly realized that was just my pride speaking and only fools turn down help when offered. The other day we went over moving the bathroom to the left side of the house instead of in the back like my plans have laid out. He already pointed out some really obvious things I would have missed, like the fridge should go in the back since its so wide and would severely limit the working/ walking space in the kitchen. Of course! Thinking about that stuff is what he does all day, and I'm grateful to have his expertise.

Speaking of help, after next week framing should be complete and then I'll be enlisting all of you willing souls to help me put in windows, shingle, and figure out how to install a metal roof (that's a whole other post, that roofing thing). So put it on your calendars, the first week in March is Tiny House Big Party Time (Exterior Addition)! I'm so happy and excited to have this coming together. The more you wait, the sweeter it is right? Well this is pretty gosh darn sweet.

It snows in January.

The trailer was supposed to be here Saturday the 25th. Construction was supposed to start tomorrow, the 3rd. Materials were supposed to be gathered and ready to go.

O, supposed to. Its also supposed to snow, and blizzard, and storm in January. And February too.

First we had a storm up here. Snow day Settlers of Catan and pancakes are always great, but it did make travel unsafe for my uship driver, so the trip was postponed.

                     Laura Poole went adventuring and took this pretty picture on India St.

Then it  was freezing cold and the ice never left the roads and my uship guy took the time to travel home to Georgia. And then, guess what? Storm hit Georgia with a ferocity that the plow-less counties just hadn't seen before. He's still stuck. And the trailer is still stuck in Florida. And I'm stuck pushing everything back too.

After this second set back in just the first step, I was so frustrated. Its just so discouraging! I was ready to scream or cry. Or both. But thankfully I've got the best support system there ever was. My dad let me rant and rage. My mom ranted and raged with me. David reassured me this was only the first bump on a long and beautiful journey. And then I felt better. I can't control the weather, no matter how much I want the tiny house to begin.

Breathe in, breathe out.

And focus on things I can control.

Like streamlining our belongings. I've been culling my wardrobe weekly, cutting out what I don't use often, what doesn't fit, and what I'm just plain over, and bringing it all to the take it or leave it. How I love the take it or leave it. We just started going through our thing things- books, knickknacks, papers. That's where it gets difficult. David had a bonfire in the front yard of all his saved scraps of paper he's been carrying around for years.

 

                                    
I also ordered some seeds this week for a garden I'm very excited to grow! It's been a long time since I've planned on living in one place for more than a year. More than one spring to plant things. More than one fall to harvest. I'm excited at the prospect at putting in the energy and seeing my efforts come to fruit in a little, well loved garden. Who doesn't love a cottage garden? I got lupines to scatter, nasturtiums to climb, snap dragons because they're David's favorite, and kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate because its so pretty. I got the herbs we most use for tea- chamomile, echinacea, valerian,, hyssop, and yarrow- all which happen to be beautifully flowering. My herb garden is going to be a beautiful cluster of pink stocks, white bunches, purple bushes, and daisy dots. I'm so excited. As for veggies David is growing beets, purple peppers, dragon tongue beans, purple cauliflower, chocolate pear tomatoes, purple jalapenos, some really cool cucumbers, and some beautiful amaranth. I've got a lot of purple. Its going to be beautiful! Let me know if any of you want to seed swap!

Still waiting, but trying to stay positive, and with so many great things its not too hard.