Blog
Still Here
Well, hello there. It’s been three years since the last post, and as you can imagine, a lot has changed — I now have a 22-month-old toddler, and we’re currently on day 62 in isolation, sheltered in place at home, during this pandemic. But we’re still here on this half-acre in Northern California, and we … Continue reading Still Here
Out of Hibernation
After over a year, the tiny house is out of hibernation. Continue reading Out of Hibernation
Transition
Summer turned into fall. And now we prepare for winter. Our tiny house sits patiently on our new property, waiting for its next move. Continue reading Transition
From Tiny to Small
After a year of tiny house living, we’ve moved on. Continue reading From Tiny to Small
Chuck Wendig on Tiny House Hunters
The idea of tiny house living is easy to sell on television, Pinterest lifestyle boards, and Sunset and Dwell spreads. I mean, come on: I’m not easily seduced by anything, yet here I am. Continue reading Chuck Wendig on Tiny House Hunters
Powered by the Sun
To me, this is one of the highest points of this experiment so far, and I’m reminded of what this tiny house really is: it’s less a tangible, static place to “live a dream,” and more a fluid yet controlled space to take risks. Continue reading Powered by the Sun
Tiny Reads
Three tiny house reads, from a post on my personal blog to pieces at Jacobin and The Establishment. Continue reading Tiny Reads
Five Things to Change
My dream home? Far from it. Here’s a list of five things that I don’t like about my tiny house. Continue reading Five Things to Change
Year of Firsts
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 tiny house, anything can happen. Continue reading Year of Firsts
2015
We have very rough sketches of grand plans in our heads: ideal scenarios, bigger chess pieces in play, long-term goals. It’s up to us to create that path, which is daunting, but I’m incredibly grateful to have that choice.
Looking forward to 2016 and seeing where the tiny life takes us. Continue reading 2015
Things I’m Learning, Things I’m Admitting
A random list of things I’m learning — and things I’m admitting — after living in a tiny house for four months. Continue reading Things I’m Learning, Things I’m Admitting
Hello, Autumn
I promised a photo tour once we were settled, and this week, I finally got around to taking more pictures. Continue reading Hello, Autumn
The Space Between Home and Elsewhere
If you think you want to build and live in a tiny house on wheels, one good exercise is to ask yourself these questions: What is my ultimate goal? What do you hope to achieve by building and living in one? Can you reach this goal without a tiny house on wheels? Continue reading The Space Between Home and Elsewhere
Tiny House Worries Aren’t So Tiny
In this 131-square-foot house (that we’re close to paying off, yay!), you’d think there would be less to worry about. We want to live simply and sustainably, we want to free up more time and money to do the things we truly enjoy… I recall the idealistic vision on our About page when we first created this site, which I’ve since changed because, well, it was silly.
I think in time, we’ll settle in as much as we can, but what I’ve realized is this cute tiny house is also a big heavy thing. Continue reading Tiny House Worries Aren’t So Tiny
Our First Several Nights: Getting to Know Our Tiny House’s Quirks
I’m a bit disoriented and out of my element, but also quite curious and excited about the things I can learn from living in this space, on this land, and about myself. I’m also relieved and happy that we really did it and we’re finally in here. Continue reading Our First Several Nights: Getting to Know Our Tiny House’s Quirks
Things I Learned From Parking a Tiny House for the First Time
When looking for land, think hard about the practicalities of how you’ll set the house up. Don’t just fall in love with the view — a tiny river on a whimsical property is not enough. Continue reading Things I Learned From Parking a Tiny House for the First Time
A Cozy Interior
The rest of our interior, from the kitchen to the sitting lounge, is done. These last bits of our house were built shortly after I published the recent interior tour. Continue reading A Cozy Interior
Almost Finished!
Our tiny home on wheels is nearly done! Here’s a preliminary house tour of Little Leavenworth, from the kitchen to sitting lounge to bathroom. There’s just a few more things left on the construction to do list. Continue reading Almost Finished!
Sneak Peek at the Exterior
Construction on our tiny house has finally begun! Here are a few images of the exterior, courtesy of our builder, Molecule Tiny Homes. They’ve installed our white Marvin Integrity windows, laid the siding and window trim, installed the door, built the porch railing, constructed the utility box, and started to wire the interior. Continue reading Sneak Peek at the Exterior
On Landscapes
But the places we inhabit both reflect and shape us. It’s natural to seek these variations in the landscapes we call our own, which ultimately give us the space to grow. Continue reading On Landscapes
Trying a Location on for Size
For someone who has always loved to travel and try locations on for size, window-shopping for places to live, this tiny-house-on-wheels project is incredibly exciting. Continue reading Trying a Location on for Size
Ruminations at the DMV
Why have we introduced these complications — this avalanche of minutiae — into our lives? Continue reading Ruminations at the DMV
Like a Child
And so while I laugh at the thought of a tiny house shower, I also think about the items we need for this journey. Solar panels and batteries. A composting toilet. Windows and a door. A wood stove. A water heater. Lots and lots of wood.
Does it matter that we’d be asking for propane tanks instead of diapers? Continue reading Like a Child
A Future With a Front Porch
But as I think about the types of houses I’ve lived in, what I enjoy, and what I miss, I understand why I’ve grown attracted to and have fallen for the Elm: it’s symmetrical and traditional, which speaks to the part of me that craves a sense of order and ownership; and also has a porch — a shared space that links the public and the private. Continue reading A Future With a Front Porch
