Big Dream: Steampunk Adventure on Wheels

Firefly

Steampunk Image

What is steampunk?

Wikipedia says "Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United States—that incorporates elements of either science fiction or fantasy. Works of steampunk often feature anachronistic technology, or futuristic innovations as Victorians might have envisioned them, based on a Victorian perspective onfashion, culture, architectural style, art, etc. This technology includes such fictional machines as those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or the contemporary authors Philip Pullman, Scott Westerfeld and China Mieville."

Its gutsy and creative:  so many possibilities! What comes to mind  immediately is Wild, Wild West and Firefly. I am a HUGE fan of Firefly and Serenity so to have this theme for a Tiny House seriously appeals to the sci-fi geek romantic in me. Imagine my surprise when I found this Steampunk caravan surfing the net.  :) Click on the caption/link below the picture to find out more about this amazing engineering feat.

www.coolthings.com

I doubt I will be able to have a steampunk themed tiny house, at least not on our first attempt.... *Hint Hint Vincent* But Serenity would be an ideal name for the tiny house.  For those non-sci/fi people out there , SERENITY is the name of the spaceship in Firefly and the name of its DVD movie release.

Perhaps it is also what my husband and I are looking for: Serenity, the state of being calm - calmness - tranquility - peace - composure. I think every parent would like serenity behind the poise you need to keep for your family's sake.  

As Wash said to the end in the movie Serenity:  "I am the leaf on the wind, watch how I soar."

Only, I will have a better ending to my part in this story!

Cheers ears,

M-

MacGyver Be Proud: Water + Bottle = ?

C'mon, we all know who Macgyver is: eighties heartthrob who could get out of any sticky situation with a role of duct tape, trusty pocket knife, and a toothpick....okay, and maybe a bit of chewing gum.  And while we all giggle about him now, he did have something going on there during our 1980's consumerism boom:  you can make some rather incredible inventions out of ordinary objects if you can think outside the square and have a bit of know how.

Thinking about building a structure that is 'off the grid' really makes you start to assess what you have into what you need and what you want. And then ask your self: how am I going to have that while living off the grid so to speak?  Lets face it, even though the cost of living has risen significantly the last few years, we still have the blessing of clean drinkable water, plumbing, hot water, and electricity to run lights, radios (to keep in touch with what is going on in the world) , and lets face it a laptop and other amenities for the multimedia experience we all enjoy.

When you get down to the nitty gritty though, its potable and other sources of water for our daily ablutions/cleaning, heating for cooking and warmth, and light that is essential to our way of life.  Everything else, even the laptop *gulp*, is what we want in life, not a need when it comes to amenities.

While I have been recuperating from my angle-grinding adventure, I have had the opportunity to do some research on the internet on alternative sources of lighting, both passive (no mechanisms) and active (mechanisms and moving parts). My husband is experimenting with vertical wind turbines (active source of lighting) and he's like a pig in muck.  :)

I put on my MacGyver Thinking Box on to look at what you can do with bottles and water in particular.  Alternative sources of lighting was my initial search and then all sorts of things came out of the woodwork.  Its all actually pretty fascinating! Click on the captions beneath the images for some pretty amazing ideas and facts.

National Geographic: Bottle + Water + Sun = Potable Water

Water + Bottle + Bleach = 10000 Liters of Light

Make Your Own Sun Jars

Pretty Awesome Travel Gadget

 The MacGyver Award 

Of all the things that sites I explored, the ultimate MacGyver Award goes to Derek (DEEK) Diedrikson of the Youtube Tiny Yellow House series. The following link is for Tiny Homes as Punk Rock interview from Faircompanies.com.  His use of recycled bottles, windows, and everything really makes the subject of alternative dwellings funky and fun.  He appeals to the practical rebel in me.  Down to earth and fun; inspiring.  

M-

Big Dream: Victorian Tiny House

Tiny Cottage in the Catskills, New York

Well I'm flat on my back for a few days courtesy of my enthusiastic angle-grinding, so I'm going to take a moment to have another big dream. 

A work-mate of mine describes a tiny house on a trailer as living in a doll house.  That was just the cutest observation and if I had my way in a perfect world, it would be the girliest affair with lots of lace and chiffon; delicate china cabinets and tea cups.  A billowy bed with gauzy curtains and what not.  The kind of place my husband would be hesitant to walk into. A lot like the tiny Victorian cottage that  Sara Foster renovated from a shed in backwater New York. The setting, the house, and its decor is whimsical, reminiscent of more chivalrous times perhaps.  

Victorian Tiny Texan House

I would love to have a place like that, but lets face it:  if you are sharing a tiny house dream with your husband, do you really want all that white diaphanous material around when he could just waltz on in in muddy boots and grease stained hands because he was fixing something or other?  White floors when your youngest daughter's idea of a fun day out is playing in the bush looking for insects? *SIGH* So I guess not.

Our Tiny House on a Trailer will have to be a wee bit more rugged with a feminine touch, something more like the Victorian Tiny Texan House.  I could definitely add a dash of paint here and some curtains and knick knacks there to make a tiny house we can all enjoy.  Lets face it, who wants to go on a holiday constantly cleaning white floors and linen?  The eternal girl in me says" I would",  but the seasoned mom and realist who just wants a getaway shack says:  No way JOSE. 

My big dream includes minimum house duties, thank you.  :)  THAT is travelling in luxury and style!  Everything else is icing on the cake.

Peace,

M-

Nitty Gritty: The Trailer

I got home from work today and saw Vincent working away at the trailer with something called an angle-grinder. *boggle* There were SPARKS flying all over the place!  This  looked like fun so I decided to investigate and get in on the action.  :)  

To get some perspective I have taken some photos and there is a simple spur of the moment home video that I took of Vincent explaining what we were doing with the trailer.  

Trailer

Hub

Brake Coupling

Vincent thought it would be a hoot to take a picture of me using the angle-grinder ( which was as much fun as I thought it would be!!!) and so I have posted these here.  

Sparks Flying: Watch Your Back

I've got the grinding technique right. So if I can now remember not to use my back while working (Bad posture = very sore back the next day!) there will be no stopping me.


All in all a fun way to end the day. Feels like I have taken a giant step into a strange testosterone charged world.  

Cheers and beers everyone,

M-

Corner Stone: The Trailer

We have secured a 4.1m x 2.1m (13.4feet x 6.9feet)trailer at a steal.  We weren't expecting to make a purchase so soon, but a caravan trailer (which is lowered down, etc) this large with solid suspension (which Vince says is good. *LOL*) could not be passed up.

Vincent picked it up on Saturday and I got a real idea of just how BIG ( well, tiny really) its going to be.  I will post photos and a video with Vincent explaining it all as soon as I can.  :)

Apparently a major part of all this is going to be something called grinding, with some repairs, followed by painting. The wheels will be taken off and put on blocks because Vince has to get to the hubs (whatever those are) to check the bearings and all that. *SO BOGGLE*  Oh and check on the breaking mechanism which is apparently important .....  I'm so lucky he's clever.  :)

This is really great.  Vince and I are still in that everything is possible stage where we are looking at ideas without committing to much of anything so working on the trailer will start to ground us gradually I think; give us time to make decisions while doing some constructive work. 

I want to get in there with Vincent so watch this space.  For Vince this is Tim The Tool Time Taylor stuff for me its an adventure into a guys realm.  :)  

I'm so glad I'm not fussy about the condition of my nails because I doubt they will stay pretty for long once we start.

Keep the peace,

M-

Big Dreaming: Gypsy Caravan

The best part of a project is at the beginning where you dream about what you want.  Forget about practicalities or money or any of the other silly things reality brings to the mixture like building codes and road rules.  Lets just take the time to lie on the grass on a sunny day and look up lazily into the trees ... and dream. 

I have had about a week of day dreaming (when I probably should be working or listening to something our teenage son said about about this hot chick.....NOTE: must revisit that last one with him.  *LOL*) and its been good.  So let me share my modern gypsy dream with you.

Ranch Willow Wagons

The romantic in me would love a Vardo type caravan.  They usually have lovely detailing like carvings and fretwork with exotic colours that appeal to the gypsy in everyone.  I think every outing in it would be like a trip to the past, where Vince and I can park up and just listen to the radio quietly while reading good books and what not. 

Bohemian Interiors

The interior would be hung with jacquard, romantic hangings with many pillows to lounge on.  I would love to have one of those barn doors opening from a little porch just big enough to fit two chairs on.  I'd have lead-light windows throughout with little window boxes for a plant or two that takes my fancy.  (Knowing Vince it would be a carnivorous plant of some sort.)

Vardo Roulette Caravan 5

The inside will have a comfortable bed ( because if I wanted rustic I would go camping ), a small table and chairs set for eating, a simple kitchen, and a bathroom/toilet arrangement (again rustic = camping + sleeping on the ground + bushes).  I'm not big on TV, but I do like to have a lap-top with some movies, music and such for the odd occasion.  I would also have a Kindle with a few books. Internet would be great but not necessary because being off the grid is the only way to have a true holiday.  I would also keep as much of the modern gadgetry discretely out of sight until needed which would add to the gypsy mystique.....The mood this evokes brings a smile to my lips every time!

Living Gypsy Vardo

While searching the web for some images to go with my words I came across a flicker gallery that captured what I was trying to say. So I take the opportunity to thank the author Jacksonoffice2003 for being able to put images to thoughts I wanted to share with you.  I wish I could put all the images on the blog, but that would be a wee bit silly so if you are interested in exploring the gypsy side of life and other related topics take a look at Jacksonoffice2003.

http://www.dawndoran.com/tag/vardo

Everyday living has a way of complicating life with all the things we want and in the race to achieve it that we tend to forget what we truly need: A roof over our heads, a place to sleep, enough food to eat, to experience love and feel safe, to experience beauty, life, family and friendships.....So while I dream away the hours of this detail or that, what Vince and I need is a wee place of our own where we can slow down to enjoy the small pleasures that life has to offer.

So lets keep dreaming.  We will eventually work through what our project needs as we get down to the planning. What we need to do is keep the spirit alive which is the vivid dreams we had together that kick-started this project:  to retreat, replenish, and return to ourselves and those we cherish dearly. 


Cheerios,

M-

Nuestra Casita : Our Tiny House on A Trailer Project

It all started with a PBS special titled Living large: a look inside the tiny house movement.

The idea of downsizing, simplifying and being able to go on small adventures appeals to us on so many levels.  We are not 'greenies' and do not believe in the global warming hype.  We love the environment simply because it is the world we live in. We try to follow our dreams and enjoy the little things in life when we can. We celebrate small accomplishments. .I think we are both gypsies at heart.  :)

All of this sounds idyllic taken out of context:  Our life is hectic to say the least. As a blended family of five with two dogs and a cockatiel added to the mix, we are renovating a home, working, parenting and making ends meet. 

Now take the moment to add to the equation a cherished member of our family needing full-time support in every aspect of her life and you can begin the journey to understanding the extra layer of  complexity this adds to maintaining a flourishing household and sane parents; without said parents hitting the whiskey.

How do we do it?  To be honest we don't know, but if at night I know that all our children are sleeping in their beds peacefully, tummies full, knowing they are loved then we feel that our work is somehow accomplished for the moment.  Which is how we usually measure our happiness: from moment to precious moment which we somehow discover in our days full of appointments, work obligations, equipment and clutter.  A tiny house sitting in the backyard would be a haven. And if the day is beautiful, we can pack the kids in the car, hook up the tiny house, and go to the beach or somewhere equally inspiring and recharge together.  It opens a whole new world of opportunities to us.  At times, we may even be able to have a carer in to look after the family at home for a night while Vince and I have a wee escape somewhere.  Viable options for families like ours are very precious.

Being carers has changed our lives in so many ways. There is heartache, but there is also love; infinite, endless supplies of love and patience. I can say with certainty that my eldest daughter has helped me become a better person; a different person.  

However, having tried hard to help her grow and overcome her disabling environment can at times drain your reserves. When times are really hard it does not feel like you have a life of your own.  You get sucked into a world of heart wrenching decisions that at times truly test your convictions of what is acceptable.   :(  If you are not careful, there starts the downwards spiral. You soon stop dreaming big because you feel that dreams are unobtainable. Why dream at all? It will only be another disappointment. Carers live in a world of pragmatic determination. To dream of a future takes courage.

Vincent and I have taken little steps at a time to reach the place where we can dream again; where we feel that we can accomplish this adventure together.  

So here, in this little corner of the internet, I would like to share our Tiny House on a Trailer BIG dream with you:  A moment at a time, little dream by little dream, a bit of work here and there.  In our world there is no quick fix but there is room for little steps to turn into big achievements.

Remember to dream,

M -