The end of my budget for the year came sooner than the end of the year . . . sigh

Today we play catch-up with the “before” photos, but only because there is really nothing new to show by way of “improvements.  I mentioned that I am now the parent of a bouncing baby utility trench, all backfilled, plus kind Maurice used his excavator to line up all the enormous boulders and form a sort of conga-line at the rear of what will be the driveway, so I have the beginnings of a retaining wall to work with.

 

 

Here’s the ceiling of the cabin—all these boards were removed and will be used along with the wall boards to be the finished cathedral ceiling of the cabin (placed upon a $#@!load of roof insulation, to be sure!

So the ceiling of the cabin on the loft end will be the underside of the loft floor, or about 4” higher than the ceiling shown here.

 

The top of this new 10” beam will be the new wall height, which will cause a bit of a knee wall in the loft, but not much, after you take into account the size of the studs and the floorboards. Sigh. It’s gonna be tiny, no matter what I do. The only thing I’m concerned about is being too hot in the summer up there.

There’ll be a window in the loft, and an enormous venting skylight, and it’s open to the rest of the cabin, but still . . . it’s pretty close to the old rooferoo.

Other things I worry about:

will I have enough space to

hang clothes?

have an ironing board?

store all my household tools?

have a desk and a table, as well as a couch?

have a place to put outdoor clothes and things?

 

I have seen these mini-house fruitcakes. They have no possessions, 2 changes of clothes, no family heirlooms, one propane burner, and a 2x2 foot shower. I am hoping that with an exceptionally intelligent use of space, I can be miniature and manageable at the same time. I am no aesthete.

Ev pulled down the wall boards and found about 30 incredibly beautiful wasp nests.  It was a shame they turned to dust when we touched them.

This is what I affectionately called the pet door—apparently wasp nests were not the only things turning to dust since 1989—this whole corner had to be replaced.

yeah, charming.  I was really happy to  see that.  But now there is an entirely new floor and more joists, and one third of the floor is ready to have slate tile on it for the woodstove area and kitchen/bathroom.  Lots of fabbo insulation under it all, too. [note the stone chimney "heatolator" to the left--Barney was a corker!!]

Beware the costs that mount up, dear teeny house renovator!!!  Here’s my accounting so far:

Tree removal $1,500

health permit and perc/septic test holes $610

Other permits $55

equipment, plants, supplies, woodstove  $362

all doors and windows $869

other excavation $625

electrical company hookup $925

Labor and materials for roof, floor, walls $4,075

Chimney pot $260

Isn’t this the most fabulous thing you’ve ever seen?  Mike the chimney guy persuaded me to get it; it will cost less than the regular 2 feet of fieldstone, and it will make my house look like a hobbit’s.  That is Mike’s goal.  It’s important that my friends have goals.  Even if they’re not mine. J