Inlaws and Outlaws

For two reasons I feel like a cheat when saying we live in 629 square feet.  One: The Garage.  Two: Nana's Casita.  

First, the Garage.  Our cars don't dream of rolling in under our house.  It's for our bikes and tools and washer and dryer and camping gear and dry food storage.  In our small house priorities, these things seem more worthy of precious cover than our cars.  Besides, I've lived in snow country my entire life and never parked under cover.  Why spoil myself now!  When we designed our place, finding a spot for a washer upstairs meant trading for precious cabinet space.  Walk my laundry down to the garage?  No problem!  It's not like it's across town or anything.  Besides, it give me a reason to go outside.  Evidently, 50 years ago, the garage was a common location for the laundry center.  But now the laundry keeps getting closer and closer to the bedroom....I'm not kidding.  Homes are now being designed with washers and dryers in the walk-in-closets.  I guess it's good cover for the bed squeaking...hee hee.

Another major reason I feel a bit disingenuous describing our house as small is Nana's Casita.  In a previous post I mentioned we remodeled the back of the existing house next to us to fit a small studio apartment for my mom to stay in.  With its own entrance directly across from our front door, we wake up and look out to see if the other has parted her curtains to signal a welcome.  Then, either I send Mason over to say good morning or she comes over for coffee.  She stays there about twice a week (she lives in Yampa).  While other homes accommodate their guests in a bonus room, we had the opportunity to create a totally separate zone.  It has its own bathroom and kitchenette,  and its own heat we can turn on or off as needed.  Best of all, it stays clean and free from my propensity to fill it with miscellanea!

I will say it has been stressful trying to complete our own house and hers at the same time.  Needless to say, neither is done!  But, we'll get there.  Hers is done enough to have her pals over for wine and  give us the opportunity to yell, "Keep it down over there!"

I think a lot about auxiliary space--living space not connected to your main house that you can use when you need it, but not all the time.  You only have to heat, clean, attend to it when you use it.  Rather than everyday.   My mom loves her casita because she can be close to us but doesn't feel as intrusive as if she was IN our house (in our case, on the couch).  She has her freedom, and we have her!  Which is priceless!

The next auxiliary space I am dreaming over: an old camper retrofitted to be our library.  Imagine that!  "I am headed outside to the library.  See you in a couple hours....."

Mama Got a Brand New Job

A list of future posts about our lives in our little house sits next to our computer, undeveloped.   So many entertaining things are happening!  But all I've been able to do is keep adding ideas, rather than write about them.  Yes, against my better judgement, I got a job outside of our construction company and property managment company and child raising company.  I got this job because I need a way to pay for preschool and daycare. My wish: two days a week to myself when I can FINISH OUR HOUSE  and NURTURE OUR BUSINESS.  The daycare expense of these two days: $800 a month.  Whew!

I have yet to spend one day doing these sought after tasks.  Isn't that life?  You start with one desire, and the hoops you jump through--the journey--become the thing that consumes you.  Much more so than the original goal.  At least that is how I feel right now.  Caught in the logistics.  Memorizing menus, martinis, and mercurial staff.  Shuttling the kids from me to Scott each afternoon.  Trying to keep myself and the family balanced, rested, fed, nurtured.

After nearly two months, I feel we are close to getting in a groove.  Which will include me posting some fun stuff on the blog--hopefully photos of my progress on the house!  Thanks for staying tuned.