So my hope was that I would begin my tiny cabin in the woods in the fall of 2014. However, we just didn't have the time, and waiting allowed me to gather a little more money and materials before building time.  Next week we are supposed to have a warm up, and I am going to get out there and take some pictures of the site and batter boards. A few weeks ago I purchased the entire roof, except for the ridge cap, which will be purchased soon. I still have a few minor items to purchase, and I see us getting started on construction in late February or March, when things warm up.
     
     We also have some small trees to cut, as I am planning on using 4-5" diameter trees in 8' lengths for the upper story floor joists. I think they will give a real cabin feel to the place, not to mention save me a little cash on materials. I am considering painting them with a little varnish just so they can keep their bark on. I love the idea of the rustic look of bark.

     I am really excited about getting this place up! I have worked really hard to make my dream of this little cabin happen. The money invested will be nominal, but it will be sturdy. It is not impossible to build something inexpensively when you are willing to think outside the box. The final square footage of what I am building now will be 192 sq ft. This will be small, but I think for its purpose, it will be just what I need. The floor plan will be easy to add to later.

     My goals for the place are to make it easy to live an off grid life when I am there. I am not afraid of having no electricity. We have power to the property, but I probably will not run it down to my little cabin for a long time, if ever. My goal is to create a place where electricity is unnecessary. Even where I am using propane, I am trying to include alternatives for dependence on those items. I want this cabin to be fully functional no matter what is happening in the world around me.

   So I am starting this blog to chronicle the achievement of a dream. For the last year I have been purchasing and storing lumber to build myself a tiny little house on some property we own. I live in a state which is actually light on building restrictions in the county, on your own land.

   This house will be totally off-grid. Water will be collected. Refrigeration will be an icebox. Heat will be mainly by wood. The size of the house will be two stories with dimensions of 12'x8' to start.

    Above Is my original floor plan. The original design was an A-Frame on top of a 4' knee wall. I have since modified it to a full 8' wall on the lower story.This will give me more wall space, reduce wood cutting, and sooth my 6'3 husband's concerns about hitting his head. 

     The A-frame roof line will be supported by 3 round log beams, 16 feet long. There will be three doors to exit the building, one on either end of the lower story, and one leading to a desired balcony on the upper story. This planned for fire safety, since fire will be integral to cooking, heating, and lighting. 

     The floor joists for the upper story will also be log beams taken off the property.They will be exposed, which hopefully give the house a substantial feel. It will be small, but it will be strong, and since I live in a tornado prone state, that is both necessary, and comforting. 

      I am building this little place as a base camp for future building projects, as well as a future studio and library once we get our permanent home built. However, I am also building it because I am fascinated with the simplicity of existing in a smaller space. It fits me. 

       I am a person often overwhelmed by stuff. In my ideal dream my home would be tiny, and I would live in more of a compound type setting, with separate buildings,which would hold my stuff, be purposed for entertainment, or work as they are needed.

       My dream is to have a cabin which functions solely as an entertainment great-room to entertain guests. In addition, I want a bunkhouse for our frequent overnight guests, a canning kitchen, a studio/library,  a chapel and outdoor fire pit surrounded by benches in amphitheater form, a shop for hubby, and of course barns and other animal confinement systems.

        However, all of these things begin with this one tiny house. A place to begin. So this blog is all about my trek to my goals! More later!