Year of Firsts

It’s been a year of firsts.

First time designing a tiny space, first time crying over DMV paperwork, first time parking a tiny house on wheels, first time leveling a trailer, first time buying a huge propane tank, first time digging a trench for graywater, first time building a compost pile in a garden, first time hauling hay in a wheelbarrow, first time pooping in a bucket, first time hearing the creaky sounds of Eucalyptus trees, first time falling asleep to the late-night moos of cows and hoots of different species of owls, first time paying off a house and owning it outright . . .

Clockwise, from top left: Little Leavenworth in his parking spot, looking down from the loft, our front porch and tomato red door, and our great room (with our red chair replaced by a desk).

I could go on with this list of firsts, and in 2016, I expect it to grow longer. While I’ve learned a lot this year simply by doing (and making mistakes), I sense this is just the beginning, and as long as we live in this house, anything can happen.

I compiled some photos of our house from this year (you’ll also find more over a yearlong period in the gallery). A fair amount are from Instagram, so they’ll be new ones if you don’t follow me there. I’m excited to do a few projects next year, from fixing our floor to painting/pickling the interior walls and ceiling, so there’s more to come in 2016.

Some of our first photos of the house, when it was wee little barn raiser.

A fisheye shot of the unfinished exterior.

The front of the house, with unfinished siding.

Composite tile in faux brick, later painted and sealed white.

Front porch and LED lantern from the side.

The house, being towed in reverse to its first parking spot.

Clockwise, from top left: a temporary parking spot, an empty storage loft, an outdoor hammock, and our Dickinson heater/fireplace.

A view out of the kitchen window (taken when the house was in a temporary spot).

A view of the front of the house.

A shot of the great room and sitting lounge.

Clockwise, from top left: our kitchen after we just moved in, a rear view of the house, our sleeping loft with king-size bed (two twin XL mattresses), and view of the house from across an overgrown garden.

Cheap and comfy Adirondack chairs, overlooking an awesome view.

Our bathroom: small pedestal sink, bucket toilet, and more white faux-brick.

Clockwise, from top left: the front of the house, working outside with the resident cat, a pink and purple sunset from the kitchen window, and a slightly side angle view of the house.

An opposite view of the main room, from the lounge. Currently missing: a table for two.

The most recent great room shot, with our new table.

I’m currently in England for the holidays and have been away from the house for several weeks. It’s the second time we’ve been away from it for a long period of time, and it’s kind of like being away from a loved one. (I’d say it’s like being away from my child, but I don’t have kids.)

Happy New Year!