Little House in the Big Woods - Re-Envisioning Space and Time

It is the first week of January.

Year 2021 is gone.

The snow is gone.

The wife is gone. 

I am alone with plenty of time to think about where I see myself in the future.

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At the time of the Christmas snow, I was anticipating the roofer to be out to put on a layer of high tech fabric over the plywood decking to "dry-in" the interior of the house before the end of 2021. No dice. With 11-13 inches of snow on the roof, no drying-in for a while. No roofers on the icy pitched roof for a while. Gives me time to think.

I sit in my trailer home watching the rain fall on the cedars next to my house under construction. Gives me time to think. 

 

On Monday the kitchen skylight and the doors will arrive. This signals the next phase of work. We have been idled by weather and long waits for construction material for over three weeks. 

 

Backside of the house as seen from 'Little Crick'

I have given it some thought. I have some modifications to make to the framed walls in the coming days as I rethink the design of the house. 

 

Rocky, the plumber, has been contacted and he promises he will be out shortly to layout pipes for a real house. Phil, our General Contractor, will follow the plumber and do the electrical. Once plumbing and electrical are signed off by county inspector, our insurance should then pay out the 2nd half of our claim. Luck be a lady tonight - baby needs a new pair of shoes and daddy needs to buy mama a pretty new house. Allstate Insurance has given me an ultimatum to have the house ready for sheet rock by March 22, 2022 - or else they will not pay off my remaining claim amount. Tough bastards.

With time to think things over, I am planning flooring, wall colors, tiles and bath fixtures and laying out cabinet configurations - in my mind. Soon to be a reality. 

A new thought. One thought that has grown on us since our recent Airbnb experience, is the idea of using the basement bedroom and luxury bath as an Airbnb rental to help finance our transition to the Pilchuck. Therefore, I've added a newly designed kitchenette and living space in the basement outside the bedroom with a fridge, sink/counter, microwave with a dinette + chairs for possible future (paying) guests.

Plenty of details to do; waiting on windows to be delivered mid-March (ordered in October 2021 - supply chain problems). I am considering laying down the wood flooring myself, also doing the interior painting and applying a thin stone veneer on the tower/turret NE corner of the house. I've got time. I am hoping to get the remained of my insurance money.

 

Trailer's small kitchen corner, Gives me shelter from the storm.

My trailer is dry and warm, for which I am thankful. The atmospheric river phenomena may be letting up after 83 days of near-continuous precipitation, mostly rain, but a healthy 12" of snow.

 

The new year and new experiences has brought a new perspective. I envision myself belonging to this place. I see a real opportunity before me to open up my new space to paying, short-term renters, al a Airbnb. It will be a lovely place for our paying guests, and even better for our non-paying guest, i.e kith and kin who are welcome to drop in. 

 

 

Who will be the first to let me host them? Operators are standing by to take your reservations.

 

2022 - A Re-envisioned use of this space and my time.