Category: T’s Tales

TINY TRAVELER

Published on by Tammy Blue

“You’re taking your cat?!” You can imagine the tone and surprise in that response when I mentioned to my co-worker that I chose to take Yang (my rescue cat), with me on a weekend trip.

I have seen a plethora of accounts on Instagram with cat owners proudly walking their felines down a hiking trail or beach – so why not? Although I draw the line at taking them ALL on a trip at the same time or ever putting them in a ridiculous situation that could be a danger – it was a great experience and I know Yang had fun.

For this tiny traveler getaway, my focus was on a destination that wasn’t too far from Birmingham (just in case he got so stressed out I had to bring him home). Although I had been up to the area on a previous trip last year, I decided on Fort Payne, Alabama because I found the most interesting stay – a tiny bus.

The host (Tanya) was super fantastic. She was very pro-cat and was excited to have someone stay in her place with a cat. The best part was, she didn’t charge a pet fee and asked for pictures. Yang and I felt very welcome there before we even arrived (which is usually not the case for cat travelers).

Before we hit the road, I set up the food and water for all the other cats staying at home. I think Samson and Delilah were happy to get a little breather from Yang’s endless supply of kitten energy. I was really excited to try the “car pods.”

A few months ago, I invested in a travel friendly carrier that has more room to accommodate all three cats at one time. And since Samson doesn’t travel well (nerves), I wanted room for an actual litter box for the times he has to be in the car. This worked perfect, although Yang didn’t use it at all during the commute. He was pretty good (for the most part), and only tried to claw his way out a few times. So far, he’s been unsuccessful in escaping that, or his harness (yay!).

The drive wasn’t long at all, less than two hours, and the surrounding farms reminded me a lot of Pennsylvania. The bus was more of a permanent fixture with add-ons of a downstairs master bedroom and large bathroom. They built a loft bedroom above the bus with interior ladder access and room enough to stand!

The best parts were the added front porch and roof decks, which lost a little glory in the gloomy winter weather but were still really enjoyable. When we arrived the weather was nice, and it was still daylight. The property is well lit but completely private so it really felt like being off-grid; especially since there was no WIFI or live TV.

I had decided to cook most of the weekend meals in the “bus” because there was really nothing around restaurant-wise. Unloading the car didn’t take long, I left Yang inside his portable backpack carrier with the door open, but he wasn’t quite ready to come out.

After I finished organizing and doing my own exploring, I attempted to “Yang-proof” the bus and get a good idea where he might run to if he got scared. There was a lot of space under the bed downstairs. I had to make sure there wasn’t anything under there he could get stuck in – so I laid down on the floor and scooted myself under the bed to check it out (yes, really).

If you have ever had to fish a cat out of a piece of furniture, you understand why I needed to be sure. Luckily, all that was under the bed were Tupperware storage bins for the host supplies, and although I wouldn’t be able to reach him if he decided to camp out there, he wouldn’t be able to hurt himself or get stuck.

It was not lost on me that the host is a clean person, which I appreciated, because the under the bed experience could have gone either way. Then I realized the plants were going to be an issue. Luckily, the bathroom was huge enough that I moved the live plants in there and was able to close the door. This was necessary anyway since Yang managed to get stuck behind the washer and dryer in the bathroom the very first time I used it.

The ladder to the loft wasn’t going to be an issue, there was no way he was going to get up there, so I felt confident letting him have the run of the bus. I went outside to explore and take some pictures and didn’t see him when I came back in, so I started to look for him and call his name.

I walked over to the loft ladder and looked up – there he was, with his adorable face looking back down at me. “How the hell did you get up there?” I asked him – half impressed but mostly pissed. By that point, he was attempting his first descent down the ladder, and I was having tree climbing flashbacks from when he and his brothers were tree climbers.

Turns out, the shelves built behind the ladder gave him just the right path to maneuver up it. I relocated the shelf contents so he would have more room but ended up having to assist him with coming back down more than once. He was adorable about it though. It was like he was a little kid who finally had his own dream bedroom.

I’ll admit, I loved it too. The loft was super spacious and because you were higher up, it felt like a treehouse. Could I someday have my master bedroom loft be this open in a tiny house? I did a half-assed guesstimate of the height of the bus and the addition (most THOWS have a 13’ limit) – this seemed pretty close. I won’t mind at all sacrificing a little bit of headroom on the lower level under the master to give me that type of loft space – SOLD.

The loft window is also how me and Yang accessed the roof deck. The sliding windows in the loft are huge and there were no screens. I am 100% sure that the host doesn’t intend for her guests to get out on the deck, but it works. I put on Yang’s harness and leash and carried him out to the deck. We sat down on the furniture and watched a little of the sun setting.

Yang was curious but cautious – and although I didn’t think he had any desire to run away, I did not want to have that kind of evening, so I kept him on a short leash – literally. We came in after the sun went down and I popped in a DVD while I made dinner. We felt very much at home.

Whenever I travel, I usually wake up in the middle of the night for some reason or another, and in this case with Yang it happened a few times. Cats are night creatures, and since he didn’t have his typical playmates, he kept himself occupied with other enrichment. Luckily, he didn’t destroy anything, or hurt himself going up and down the ladder – so all was well.

I left Yang alone in the bus to take the 20-minute drive to an old antique mill that was now a consignment shop and restaurant. I wasn’t gone for very long but had a lovely time talking with locals during lunch and shopping. I fueled up the car, got some morning road drinks, and headed back to the bus.

When I got there, Yang was nowhere to be found. I didn’t panic – at first. I put stuff away, visited the bath/plant room, and then started to sweetly call his name. “Yang…Yang-y baby…Yang-y….YAAAANNNNG-YYYYYYY.” I crawled under the bed and shined my phone light to get the eye reflection – he wasn’t there. Same for under the couch. He couldn’t get IN anything…and I was sure the bathroom door stayed closed the whole time I was gone. But I checked behind the washer and dryer anyway. He wasn’t there.

I checked drawers (there is a way to get stuck in those, he’s done it before), but there really wasn’t any furniture. Then I panicked and thought he somehow got the upstairs window open and went outside. I “ran” up the ladder as fast as that is possible to do – turns out that isn’t a good idea. I don’t know exactly how I managed to do it, but I slammed both kneecaps on the lip of the shelf behind it and it about knocked me on my ass.

I laid at the top of the ladder in the loft – the window was closed, of course. “Where the hell was this cat??!!” There was nowhere to hide in the loft, so I knew he was downstairs, somewhere. I somehow managed to get down the ladder and popped two Aleve immediately knowing that I was going to really be sore in a minute.

I got down on the floor one more time with the phone flashlight and whether he had just moved there, or was there the whole time I’ll never know, but Yang was curled up in a little fluffy ball of cuteness, hidden by a piece of ripped fabric under the couch. “Yang – ugh….” Then of course, he got up, came out, and stretched.

The rest of the evening was uneventful. I enjoyed watching some movies, taking some pictures, and reading for pleasure again. I picked up Spare by Prince Harry and am really enjoying it so far. I was sitting on the downstairs bed reading when Yang decided to make his attempt of running up the ladder. I could see his thought process but how can you warn a cat that it’s not a good idea? With a full forced running start, Yang managed to clear two rungs, but then hopelessly lost his footing and tumbled down the shelves onto the floor. Shit – that was exactly what I was worried about, but no attempt I made to “block” the ladder had proven ineffective.

He seemed to have learned his lesson, because he took the cautious way up for the rest of the trip and didn’t appear to have hurt himself. I felt his pain though (as my knees are now a blue and purple color). Yang did discover the express way down however – leaping from the top of the loft to the downstairs bed.

The laws of physics would almost appear to contradict this possibility, but if there’s a will, there’s a Yang. He did it multiple times and scared the crap out of me each time he did it. Especially when I was ON the bed. That second night, something else happened – we met Ms. Kitty (the neighbor’s black cat). She came over when I was cooking s’mores around the firepit. I fed her (of course) and she hung around outside the whole time. I could see Yang’s curious little face looking out the front bus window.

Her presence added a challenge because she wanted to come in, and I didn’t want Yang to come out to see her. To be safe, the next morning I put Yang in the carrier so that I could open/close the door to load the car and not worry about him bolting. She wouldn’t leave even when we were pulling away!

Overall, this tiny adventure was my first with a cat in tow, and it was a really fun experience. Yang and I got to do a little bonding – away from the other animals and house, and it was good to discover that he has a very good temperament for traveling. It also felt like home more so than any other visit I’ve taken like this so far. I know when the time comes for us to move into our forever dream stay, the lifestyle will suit us.

Links:

OneForPets (“car pods”)

The Little Bus Stop (Airbnb)

For more pics – visit my FB page!

TINY LUXURY

Published on by Tammy Blue

I have said the same thing many times over the years – that I love my house or apartment and I wish I could take it with me – somewhere else. As much as I love The Nest (my adorable rental home in Birmingham), it’s never been the best of neighborhoods. Now with some changes on the horizon, old neighbors moving out, new moving in – I’m feeling more of a little push to relocate. If it hadn’t been for COVID, I would have already been gone after I got my master’s in 2020. Anyway… 

This is one of the many reasons I want to live tiny, I really do get tired of being in the same place for too long, not that I plan to move every year (but I love having the ability to do so if I want). Since the transition to that kind of life doesn’t happen overnight (as I am painfully learning), I try to keep my ambitions fed by traveling and experiencing new tiny dwellings so that I can borrow great ideas.  

In a last-ditch effort to squeeze out an “end of summer” beach trip, I headed to my go-to location of Gulf Breeze (Pensacola, FL), and ended up booking a THOW in the same RV park as the very first one I ever visited.  

There is nothing fancy about this RV park itself, but even with renters coming and going, you wouldn’t really know it. The RVs and THOWs here appear to never move and there’s a sense of permanency. A short walk down the green residential roads and you see million-dollar homes with private docks on the bay. What’s really incredible to me about this neighborhood is the sense of community, regardless of one’s choice or capabilities to live in an RV or a mansion, everyone benefits from this amazing waterside niche.  

I now recognize the man with the husky dog who checks his crab traps at dusk. The hipster dude who brings his dog to swim in the boat ramp access, and the old man with the raggedy dog feel like old friends. I love watching the sunset on the water with the now familiar view. It is only my third “long weekend” here.  

What I like even more about this neighborhood is having the opportunity to experience tiny living, at least on some scale, before leaping into a commitment of my own. There are a lot of ducks to get in a row even before considering major steps forward, but as I often preach – you must enjoy the process or journey, and not just the destination.  

“Tiny Luxury,” the name of this trip’s THOW, is the best I’ve stayed in so far. It’s a newer model, more modern inside with clean lines and white walls and ceiling. The darker wood accents are a great contrast and in-line with what I am thinking for myself. This visit has changed my mind about my design approach – again.  





The “Tiny Luxury” was/is the first THOW where I’ve been able to comfortably sleep in the loft bed. Ok yes, you have to crouch, and I’m not going to lie, the hardwood floor on my knees just about killed me (I’m old and have arthritis for real folks). A little carpet could likely solve that issue, as well as the slippery stairs concern. Other than that, I sat comfortably upright in bed for book reading or TV watching. It might take some getting used to going up and down the stairs, especially in the middle of the night, but there has to be a trade-off somewhere.  

I loved the bathroom, which is bigger than the one I have now, and most apartment bathrooms. The washer/dryer combo in this THOW looks really incredible, but it’s also huge. I am so glad that I made the choice I did with my recent compact washer/dryer stackable. It is going to be perfect for the future tiny. I have also given up on any idea of a compostable toilet – seriously f*** that.  

I didn’t feel like I was in an RV in this house.

If you were blindfolded and walked in here, you wouldn’t have that thought it either. The layout is super-efficient (especially the kitchen), and even though I’d have to make a few adjustments, I felt like I’ve lived here awhile, not just for two nights.  

The weather cooperated for the entire trip as far as not raining me out of beach time, but it was unbelievably hot and humid. The ocean water was like a lukewarm bath – lovely – but just a hair of a reminder, even on one’s vacation, that we are amidst a geological climate change. Luckily, the THOW had air conditioning. 

I received a great guest review when I left and gained some valuable build information. It was hard to leave when it felt so much like home, but I have a recharged focus to get my ducks lined up and ready.  

TINY TAMPA TALE

Published on by Tammy Blue1 Comment

Months ago I stumbled across the Great American Tiny House Show online while searching for more THOW festivals close-by. I was surprised and delighted that there was one in January (but wouldn’t it be too cold?) I convinced myself it doesn’t get cold in Florida (even as I was planning the trip with it being 27 degrees in Alabama). When I discovered there was not just one, but TWO festivals the same weekend – I bought the tickets and reserved a rental RV in Tampa via my old stand-by, Airbnb. I could not find a tiny house to rent nearby but was open to getting ideas from any tiny space.

I drove the 8 ½ hours on Friday and other than discovering Florida drivers are just horrible, it was a great day for the trip. I was glad to get to the RV while it was still daylight (check-in time was 4pm) – and it was so nice! Stepping up into it I was reminded it was definitely an RV because the whole place shook (of course I am a bull in a china shop most days). After I adjusted my steps it didn’t take much time to adapt. There was more than enough space, but it was definitely an RV. This is especially noted in the bathroom area with the type of toilet and shower. It’s perfect for travel but doesn’t compare to a THOW in my book – I do think this owner is pretty smart for parking it and renting it out. The location is great, only 10-15 minutes from most everything in the area, including St. Pete’s across the bay.

The first night I pretty much just wanted to relax. The host of the Legacy Pioneer (the RV) left a bottle of white wine and my favorite Fiji water. I ran to the nearby Publix grocery store and picked up their amazing fried chicken dinner and enjoyed an evening at “home” watching the large TV and relaxing. It was nice to have an internet connection unlike my last tiny adventure, even though the WIFI was spotty (likely due to the heavy winds we were getting that weekend). The shower was barely big enough for just me, but there was enough hot water for a quick one! The bed was comfortable enough to make up for it.

The Legacy Pioneer (RV)

Saturday morning I slept in, did some work, and then got ready for the first festival (which was really an indoor expo inside a large entertainment hall). Turned out to be a genius location because it was FREEZING cold in Tampa (yes, Tampa!). The wind made it crazy, everyone was miserable, so it was nice to be indoors. The problem was – when I arrived not everyone had set-up yet. There were two tiny houses that didn’t appear to have shown and there were a lot of what seemed to be unrelated vendors (i.e. a cooking show?) Who is going to buy a set of pots and pans if they want to live tiny?) After venting about the parking cost and my unmet expectations on social media – I did immerse myself in the tiny homes that were there – all two of them.

I was really impressed by the Tiny FL model, a more modern style tiny house. Although the living room had the dream feature (the TV that appears out of nowhere), it was actually not designed well for storage. The sleek and beautiful cabinets in that room didn’t even open. The built-in lighting everywhere was gorgeous, without a doubt, and I could truly see it as a luxury rental space. I really liked seeing the french doors in the master to the outside on the main level. Yet, even with two lofts it wasn’t a style that felt “homey” or really inviting to guests. I did think that considering the high-end features that the company was reasonably priced and I liked that they are located in Florida.

Tiny FL

The only other space that was available to tour was from Tiny Studios. The model on display was an aluminum framed dwelling that qualifies for “tiny” just not THOW. It was stunning and due to it being designed for Florida weather, perfect for a somewhat permanent property to rent out one day (because it can still be easily moved). I was also pleasantly surprised by the pricing at this company as well and their flexibility to also use recycled shipping containers. This hadn’t been a consideration of mine before, but I am not necessarily opposed to it if the situation presents itself to be the right fit. The use of space in this dwelling was genius. The shower was big enough for two and it had some of the nicest appliances and finishes I’ve seen without it looking too stuffy. I had the chance to speak with the designer and she was really nice, this is definitely a company for the short list.

Since I had the weekend pass, I left the expo and drove across the bay to St. Petersburg for the Florida Suncoast Tiny Home Festival. First, I stopped by a local burger joint, and I was SO glad I did. Thee Burger Spot was so busy but efficient you knew immediately it was going to be an amazing burger. I got the BBQ with bacon burger and onion “thangs” – it was so messy and I had to eat it in my car (it wasn’t a sit down type place), but it was the best burger I’ve ever had.

The drive across the bay was reminiscent of my visit to Pensacola where there was ocean on all three sides of you and you quite literally feel like you’re driving across the surface of the water. This day being extremely windy made the drive slightly less than ideal, especially with Giselle (my Nissan Versa). I was blowing all over the place, so was everyone else. Then I just looked at the seagulls mocking us all, surfing the wind gusts with zero effort – rats with wings basically. Not a huge fan. It was absolutely cool though, water all around you and seeing signs shaming you if you were to run out of gas along the 10 mile bridge.

The cool blue skoolie

The festival outside was great! Sure it was cold, but whatever, there were dozens of skoolies and tripped out vans. Everyone was so open and willing to share their homes, stories and ideas and it really does give you the sense of community (even when mobile!) No matter what type of THOW I end up with, I definitely hope to take part in these types of events when possible. My favorite non-THOW at the festival was a converted blue bus that was surprisingly high-end. The counter tops were made from rocks with a clear coat on top and custom wood shelves/surround. They even had a comfy built-in bed for their dog! It was nice that it’s possible to travel and also have happy pets – these dogs have a better life than I do!

The “Dad-like” deck

THOW time! The first one I had to see was the cabin-y looking one, although I wasn’t crazy about the inside layout, the back porch “deck” was very much my style. Two other almost identical tiny houses were also on display from Tiny House Siesta (a permanent THOW community that rents out the units on AirBnb). Although I prefer a permanent/privately THOW owned community vs just rental spaces, I am all about seeing other spaces and getting ideas. I was so disappointed in these. I would never spend money to stay in one of those wooden crates. They had absolutely no personality. Even if you can get past the fluorescent color palette, I would be really depressed if I had to vacation in one of those units. I am including the information so that potential adventure seekers can avoid it all together. I think the most beneficial thing about this festival was meeting the people, petting the dogs, and seeing a lot of skoolie options for a certain young lady I happen to know who wants to travel and write too – she has to finish high school first though.

The extremely depressing Flamingo

After the second location I was getting pretty hungry so on the drive back I stopped at a Longhorn Steakhouse closer to the RV neighborhood. I wanted a good bar and ended up having an early diner chatting with the other bar patrons. After another nice evening of relaxation and cramped shower in the RV, I woke up early Sunday and got some writing done. Then I couldn’t stop craving french toast (maybe it was the RV), so I stopped at IHOP before going back to the festivals.

I discovered the previous night that there were other companies expected to be on display at the indoor expo, so I gave it another shot (and paid $8, again, but ok). It was worth it. There were additional THOWs setup and a representative from NOAH as well. They were offering a 5-day online workshop for THOW “dummies” who can avoid costly mistakes when looking into the tiny life. I signed up immediately, as the experts are recognized in the industry and I’ve heard from many of them before.

The Huge Blue Tiny

I re-toured the tiny studios because I just liked them so much, but then I toured the Huge Blue Tiny (link not found) and really liked the tile work and blue theme. It did seem to be “too big” as in just not the most efficient use of space. It was the company Decathlon Tiny Homes’ model that I really enjoyed. Even though it was what I normally consider too big on the outside, the inside would be more than what we would need for long term dwelling. The downstairs master and non-neck breaking lofts were ideal, plus it was just the classic craftsman style I seem to lean towards.

Decathlon Tiny Homes

I was most impressed by the Ms. Blue Sky (Bluebird) bus/skoolie – it was so luxurious on the inside it almost felt like a tiny house. I would happily travel in something like that (if I could get used to driving a school bus). After getting my fill on THOWs, I didn’t have much desire to go back to the other festival at that point and wanted to explore some more of Tampa. When I first arrived and was driving through I was less than impressed. I didn’t want to be negative, but there were very few palm trees, and it basically looked like Alabama. I determined Florida is kind of ugly unless you’re by the water or the city. But a quick google beach search led me to Davis Island only about 10 miles away. It was like being transported to luxury. It wasn’t a swim access beach but rather the classic rocks/seagulls along the bright shimmering blue water type beach. There were a lot of trails and palm trees for miles of walking pleasure. It was perfect! I was able to take some photos and watch the wildlife before heading back to Longhorn (the staff was so good to me the first night) for a beer and to watch the playoffs. The RV didn’t have live TV, how weird is that?

Davis Island

I found it ironic I heard about Tom Brady’s retirement from football while in Tampa – of all places – but it is what it is. I enjoyed the last two playoff games, and headed back to the RV. It was the first time I arrived after dark and was pleasantly surprised by the patio lights and motion detector lights, which made it very easy to see. It was also the easiest lock I ever used via AirBnb properties, so there was that. I packed up and made sure everything was back in place, hit the hay and was on my way home by 7:30. It was a great trip – I learned a LOT more about permits and transport and will learn even more with the workshop.

Most importantly – it’s a lot of fun to be working towards your goals and dreams! Things don’t happen overnight so it’s really important to enjoy the process in whatever journey you are taking in your life! Plans are in the works for “the next one” – stay tuned for more adventures!

Links to vendors/events mentioned:

The Legacy Pioneer (RV)
Tiny FL (builder)
Great American Tiny House Show
Florida Suncoast Tiny Home Festival
Thee Burger Spot
Tiny House Siesta – (Flamingo & Siesta)
Decathlon Tiny Homes
NOAH


THE ROYAL IRIS – WITH A TWIST

Published on by Tammy BlueLeave a comment

If you have been following the beginnings of my tiny house discovery/adventure, you may recall my mentioning an opportunity to stay at the “Royal Iris” in Mentone, Alabama. I had been wanting to go fall hiking for quite awhile so this 2-night getaway in the mountains was perfect! It was very last minute so there was no real planning for my man to join me, but it ended up being quite mentally therapeutic and an awesome little birthday gift to myself.

Mentone is pretty well known around this area, it’s about as north as you can get in Alabama and lies right on the time-zone border of Georgia (made things somewhat interesting). The tiny house check-in and out times were based in CST and the office that rents it out operates on EST. Not that it matters, it was nearly impossible to get a phone signal anywhere near the house or trails anyway. Although they made it very clear on Airbnb that this was a possibility, the hosts of the Royal Iris didn’t provide WIFI either – so basically, I was dead in the water whenever near the house – truly unplugged whether I wanted to be or not!

I drove up on a Sunday and the ride was beautiful with the leaves and colors changing; it was my main reason for taking the trip. Since I couldn’t check-in until later in the afternoon, I planned to explore some of the waterfalls and trails that were a little further out. My first stop was Little River Canyon National Preserve. The falls were easily accessible via a boarded path (that would be the easiest it would get for the rest of the trip). After about a 2 mile (easy) walk, I had worked up an appetite. I stumbled across a local lunch spot favorite as I headed towards the tiny house location – The Hatter. It looked like a cottage from the outside – I decided to go inside and grab a late lunch.

Inside – you quite literally fell down the rabbit hole. The entire place was decorated in Alice and Wonderland theme. It was over the top x10 and absolutely fantastic. In this case a picture is worth a thousand words – here are some of my favorite things inside the restaurant.

After a really fun (and tasty) lunch, I drove the last few miles to where I would be staying. The tiny house is located in a tiny house community, where pretty much every THOW on-site is rented out. It made for a less homey feel than the first RV park I stayed in while in Pensacola, but it was still a really nice location. The Royal Iris was the first house on the left and there was ample parking and a nice pathway to the front door. Of course – I couldn’t unlock it.

I knew immediately it was something I was doing wrong, but the keys were sticking. I attempted it several times before I noticed I had been trying for about 35 min and should probably call the office. How does a hearing impaired woman who uses an app call someone? Answer: she doesn’t! I walked to the road and managed to send a text (thankfully it went through). One of the owners was about 20 min away and so I just walked around a little, looking at the house from the outside (was really nice). When he got there, the first thing I said was, “I’m sure there’s some kind of trick to this, sorry about this.” He was very nice and said it had happened once before – of course the first time he tried it the door opened immediately – whatever.

The tiny house was HUGE! I couldn’t get over the high-end appliances and first real confirmation that there is more than enough space in a well-designed THOW. Even the spacious loft master bedroom reassured me that space will make a perfect office/guest room. The bathroom had a walk-in tub with jets and I may be spoiled forever now. I put all my groceries away and started to explore the finite details of the home. It was very cozy and helpful in providing ideas and inspiration for our own tiny house.

After I settled in, I decided to walk through the park and look around (plus it was the only way I could get reception to text anyone that I had arrived safely). I appreciated the park’s effort to add communal space and a dog park, but it lacked the neighborhood feeling I would want. The area was beautiful, quiet and so relaxing – but it was getting chilly very quickly. I wisely didn’t lock the tiny house when I left this time (just in case).

My evening was very laid back, snacking and watching satellite TV – there was no social media or texting because there was no service or WIFI. It was a gorgeous clear night, so even though it was chilly, I sat outside for awhile just enjoying the quiet and the amazing stars.

Then it was time to try the walk-in jetted tub. Much to my surprise, it was shaped like a throne/seat (I wouldn’t have to try to cram into the small floor space). It also had a handheld for hair washing and rinsing. The first downside to the walk-in tub was the fact that you have to sit on a cold ceramic tub naked before you can fill it up with water. Sitting on a washcloth helped but it wasn’t ideal waiting for the tub to fill. Luckily it didn’t take that long. Although it’s deep, the volume is probably equivalent to a normal sized tub due to it being fairly short and box shaped. As soon as the water level passed the jets, I turned them on. It was awesome, and I could see the TV from the bathroom. I was able to relax and wash my hair (there was plenty of hot water). I may be sold on this idea if they make a two-person walk-in tub, it is exactly what we need.

When it was time for bed, I decided to try sleeping in the loft. On the one side, the roof was high enough that I could sit straight up and not have to worry about bending my neck (it wouldn’t have worked if we had both come, one of us would be knocking ourselves out). I didn’t feel closed in at all – especially with the windows and head room. The bed was pretty comfortable and the temperature was pretty cozy. I was really happy feeling at ease in the loft because I really want that to be my office and guest space for anyone adventurous.

I woke up pretty early as I usually do in the morning and had my coffee outside watching the sunrise over the trees – it was amazing. Today was dedicated to village shopping and waterfall trails. As it turned out, I didn’t end up going shopping. With a little difficulty I found the semi out-of-the-way parking lot for the DeSoto falls – where visitors and would-be waterfall enthusiasts could “pick a path.” They essentially all go to the same waterfall, but there were/are different vantage points.

The trails were coded or labeled based on difficulty. I would soon discover that “easy” and “hard” were left open to interpretation. I chose the moderate difficult path because it would take me behind the waterfall. There were a good amount of people around and some were in worse shape than me – I was confident I chose wisely and started down the path (I had purchased some awesome new hiking boots just for the occasion). Moderate was about right – in the beginning. I am not sure why suddenly I was expected to essentially rappel myself down a 6ft rock face. A few meters in front of me I could already see a pair of women regretting their choice to continue and were struggling to find a way back up.

I decided to turn around, even though I was more than half-way there, and go back to the beginning to take the easier trail. I am not sure of the mileage my little detour added to the hike, but it was definitely not “moderate” getting back up. The “easy” path started out just as I would expect – but it definitely wasn’t smooth and anyone not used to hiking was going to have an issue. Although there were people on the trail – the trails are very long and I was hiking on a Monday morning. The thought did cross my mind, what if someone lost their footing and needed help out of here or had another medical emergency? It wouldn’t be easy.

The “easy” path was longer, but it was absolutely beautiful – I expected the trail to end with a large viewing area with lots of places to sit, but it ends on a cliff with an amazing view and the sound of rushing water. The long walk was worth it – I sat and meditated for quite some time and no one else came along to ruin the moment, it was perfect.

I started the long walk back and was excited to finish off my day shopping in the local shops and eateries. Below me on the trail I passed a family with some small kids and didn’t envy the difficulty the parents must be having in keeping their kids from falling and getting injured.

With my very next step – SNAP – the hot rush of pain flowed from my right ankle up towards my leg. My left foot failed to compensate and felt the full weight of my body squishing it between two huge rocks. I controlled the fall, amazingly not hurting anything else. Stupidly thinking it might be a “walk-it-off” I immediately tried to stand up on – it wasn’t going to happen. I sat down on the ground, grateful for Mark’s USMC army coat taking the brunt of the mud on my ass. I told myself to “relax, breathe, you’re ok.” Not sure I was “ok” but, okay.

I thought about calling to the family below, but I honestly didn’t want to attempt even an assisted walk out of the woods at that moment. So I sat there. It was early morning, tons of daylight and plenty of people within shouting distance – I wasn’t exactly stranded. I did wonder how bad it was going to be and whether or not I’d even be able to get back to my car, let alone get myself to a hospital. I needed to access the damage but I knew I couldn’t take off my hiking boot, or I’d never get it back on or be able to drive. I got myself up on my feet and estimated it was about .5 mi back to the parking lot. I’m not sure if it was sheer force of will or my body was still pumping some adrenaline, but at a certain strange angle I was able to hobble forward.

At that point, I would have accepted some help, but there wasn’t anyone heading my direction at that time (figures) so I just very carefully limped back to the car. Sitting down felt very good but I knew I’d be in for the night at this point and wanted to get some more things for the house (I needed soda and some creamer). I drove to the nearby Walmart and thought I would use the cart as a “crutch” but I couldn’t even put my foot flat on the ground. I drove myself back to the Royal Iris (it was my last night), and my 45th birthday was the next day. I parked as close to the house as I could and used my umbrella to hobble inside (had the unlocking thing down at this point, thankfully). This would be my first “real life” moment in a tiny house and it would be educational.

I made it to the couch (no pets to worry about tripping over, a plus). I carefully took off my right boot (my left foot would ironically have a worse injury, but at the time my right ankle was the one really hurting and non-functional). It swelled up pretty badly, I elevated and iced it right away. That’s the first really nice thing about staying in a tiny HOUSE vs a hotel room. Sure I could have gotten ice from the front desk or a machine but I had cold packs because I brought food so it was exactly the same set-up I would have at home. I even had pain reliever!

I texted my family but there was no use in worrying them when there was nothing they could do (and would have stressed out not hearing from me due to the lousy service in the area). I did tell my man who knew I’d be able to take care of myself and do whatever needed to be done (that’s always reassuring). It did put a slight damper on the mood of the trip, but birthdays never were super exciting after 21.

There were two bar stools in the tiny house which worked perfectly as a walker. After resting awhile, I was able to make myself spaghetti and meatballs and watch some TV to relax. The walk-in tub was a godsend as sitting in the jets soothed all the other aches and pains I wasn’t feeling while focused on my feet. Needless to say I went to bed early that night – I slept in the loft. How did I get up there you ask? Scooting up on my behind, that’s how. I’m telling you that little trick is a damn life saver. I was able to adequately get around the tiny house with little difficulty. It really was a good test; one that I could have gone without, but as always, I find a way to make things work.

The experience at the Royal Iris was a great one overall – I loved the house and got a lot of ideas for our own. I determined no matter where my THOW ends up that I’ll never be without internet or phone service (you can’t NOT have BOTH). The company the owners hired trim their trees showed up at the tiny house Tuesday morning before 8:00AM to tell me to move my car. I explained my walking situation and that I had the house until 10:00AM. I complained to the owners who were apologetic but it was really stressful. The workers proceeded to cut down limbs with my car nearby so I packed up as quickly as I could (I was pretty much ready), and hobbled to the car for the drive back.

I loved the Mentone area, but don’t really feel the need to go back or take visitors – there are a lot of other waterfalls in the country/world and I plan on seeing many more of them. And I still LOVE tiny houses, and the Royal Iris, but you won’t see us reserving another stay here in the future – the neighborhood just didn’t have a homey feel. Made for a good story with a twist ending though.

Update: Since I’ve been home my ankle(s) have improved a great deal. I probably have a long road of healing time ahead (but I am ok!) and will be following up with my doctor over the holiday break.

ATLANTA ESCAPE: THOW FESTIVAL

Published on by Tammy Blue1 Comment

A tiny house festivus for the rest of us! Well, not exactly, but I had the fun opportunity to attend my very first THOW (tiny house on wheels) Festival at Avondale Estates, GA last month. After joining several social media groups for THOWs and tiny lifestyles, I stumbled across the MicroLife Institute’s event and signed up immediately. Since Atlanta is only about a 2-hr ride from Birmingham, I couldn’t miss the opportunity! I would also now have to find a tiny house to stay in (keeping with the theme).

AirBnB never disappoints so I have been using them primarily to book our tiny house adventures. There are sites out there that focus on just “unique” stays, but I find AirBnB to be user friendly and legit while some of the other sites seem hit and miss to me – but to each his own. I found Dan’s Atlanta Escape in Decatur, GA. It was a good price (I only needed to spend 2 nights) and the house itself looked adorable!

As usual, the directions and google maps led me right to the home – at first it wasn’t clear that renters were allowed to park in the driveway (that wasn’t indicated on the site), so I parked on the street and the person renting the house on the same lot showed me where the “THOW” guests park. He was so nice, and I kind of liked knowing there was a person nearby in case I needed back-up (I watch a lot of weird movies that start out with this exact scenario so it’s just my thing). Parked on a privately owned lot smack dab in residential central, it was almost too residential (little bit of a drive to really get anywhere). They did a great job with the landscaping which I appreciated. There was a nice lighted path and walkway leading right up to the door. This trip would start my “luck” with opening tiny house doors.

After about 5 tries, I re-read the check-in directions and opted to unlock the physical key box and not use the electronic keypad. It was great they had a back-up (not all places do), so I only had to text the contact to tell them I had issues with the lock and would be using the key. They were so nice and it worked out just fine. Upon entering the tiny house – I just fell in love with the entire concept all over again. This particular home originally looked like it was more RV style. Kind of a “one-room” deal without a stove or full kitchen. There was a TV, a great shower and the bed was super comfy. I definitely appreciated the option of the additional pullout bed but so far the custom made couches for tiny houses are wicked uncomfortable. I couldn’t even really sit on this couch to watch TV (luckily the bed is an inch away). I loved the all natural wood/pine walls, ceilings and floors – it just embodied the entire concept of minimalist design (almost a bit too much for my personal taste) – didn’t feel quite as homey as I know our THOW would feel. Then again – this was and still is way better than staying in hotels and I’ll book a tiny house anytime I can over a hotel any day.

The pocket lights and “internal” blinds (the ones that are installed between the window panes) are my new favorite MUST haves in our tiny house. I was obsessed with opening and closing them. I’m sure the neighbors thought I was practicing morse code or something. I didn’t love cubby holes behind my head where a headboard should be and the bathroom sink was so tiny I’m not even sure why it was there – but it was so much fun staying there – and there was also the festival!

After a restful night in the THOW, I headed to the tiny house festival around 10AM the next morning. It was wicked cold – and windy – and rained. Parking wasn’t too bad, I got pretty lucky. There were vendors with food, but I think the weather prevented some companies from attending, because there were supposed to be about 20 houses to tour – and there were only about five. That didn’t dampen my spirits! I was dressed warm and waited in the very long lines talking with other THOW lovers. Most were just interested in looking out of curiosity, a few lifers were there to offer expertise, and then there were a handful of “mes” – people just learning and loving the idea of going tiny. I listened to the solar power speech which interested me, but the guy had an agenda different from providing power for THOWS so it wasn’t super specific. There was a converted bus called The Eldon which was for sale at about $57k, it reminded me of the Partridge family bus only much smaller. Super cute, but definitely want a home if paying a price that steep, not a decked out bus – but it was really cool. There was a generic van retro-fitted out with a pullout bed!

The two homes on display that were closest to what we would want and need for our THOW were both built by Hummingbird Tiny Housing. The first is the model named The Jasper, which is used only for AirBnb rentals (as are most of their models). The main issue I had with this model was the same as most – the loft bedroom being too low to really accommodate a real lifestyle for me and my man who have limited ability to climb into our bed every night – and I’d also really like to not break my neck sitting up in the middle of the night (and has NO ONE thought about how to have sex in a loft bed…hmmmmm? That’s not happening….).

Their next house was generously shared with the public but was privately owned by a female veteran! The best way to describe the Rosebud was it was like a split level THOW. The main living area is awesome, but up in the gooseneck/loft area there is a step up bathroom AND master bedroom that you can stand in and actually walk around. I am not sure of the requirements and codes for driving a house like this down the street but it felt like it would be too big for a normal truck to pull (which is a downside for me). I don’t want to move our tiny house every month or anything – but I do like the idea of “easily” moving it when we need to – otherwise what’s the point? This home was gorgeous though, and felt like a home, which reiterated my faith that tiny living is going to be awesome for us. Before coming into this house, I noticed a young guy who was actually looking at the house set-ups like me in great detail, so I waved him up in front of me in line so we could chat and we talked about some of our thoughts on the THOWS and what we hope to do. There is definitely a community out there!

I signed my name to a list for a contest to stay in a THOW made by Hummingbird Tiny Housing – a few days later when I got home they would call me and tell me I had won a stay in the Royal Iris! (That ended up being my birthday getaway – story coming next!). I saw everything there was to see at the festival, spoke to everyone and decided not to go back the second day, but instead explored Atlanta. I “cleaned” up the tiny house and checked-out (such an easy process), it was a wonderful little Atlanta Escape. I truly hope to attend more THOW festivals in the future (hopefully even display our tiny house at one someday!). For now, the next step is going to be finding a first parking “home” for the THOW – and moving towards more detailed and serious talks with builders.

This process is going to take time, but once all the pieces fall into place hopefully it will manifest fairly quickly. I am really looking forward to the adventures this lifestyle is bringing. Next story to come: The Royal Iris in Mentone, AL.

Sorry to Disappoint: simply insightful ramblings of a 45-year-old

Published on by Tammy Blue4 Comments

There seems to be a strange phenomenon that to be happy with our “new” life choices or relationships, we somehow have to keep tabs on the previous situation or relationship – like a temperature check just to make sure we are “winning.” Congrats to anyone who has that kind of time – I have important grown-up shit to do.
However, I couldn’t let my 45th birthday go by without addressing some common misconceptions “some people” may have about me now that I’ve reached this milestone in my life. I am sorry to disappoint them…but I’m doing all right.

On Self-Love

It took me a long time to get here; I struggled for many years to break myself out of the cycle that my entire worth was dependent upon someone else’s approval. It’s been glorious to discover the peace and self-satisfaction that comes from not caring about that anymore. I don’t actively obsess over past relationships, I don’t wish for those people’s demise, and I don’t wish them well – honestly, unless thrown in my path, I don’t even give them a second thought. That’s not bitter, that’s not regretful – that’s maturity and self-love. The truth is it never matters what anyone else thinks of you, and no one else will ever be able to love you the way you should love yourself.

I don’t have any regrets. I understand I have hurt people, sometimes intentionally and sometimes not. I did what I had to do at the time for my own survival – and I am not sorry for that. As we mature and go through these life experiences we adjust, we learn how to survive without having to hurt others – sometimes we aren’t always successful. I’ll also never be sorry for loving someone (even if I wasn’t perfect) and I sure won’t be embarrassed by it. Sorry to disappoint.

On Children

I love the saying, “You can’t miss a place you’ve never been.” I am 45 years old and have never had a child, that’s just a fact. I’m betting some people reading that will add a tinge of “regret” to that statement. That’s THEM – it’s not ME. Allow me to explain:

I love children. I played with dolls when I was a kid (not saying that means all kids who play with dolls have kids….). I do not love bad parents, but that’s another article. I always wanted kids, but I also wanted a career. I’m not talking about a regular type of job either, I wanted to be an actress and moved to Hollywood when I was 19 with my parents so I could pursue it. For that reason, it was never a real priority for me – diapers and staying at home to do seasonal crafts wasn’t in the cards when working 18-hour days on set.

By the time that career path died down and my long-term relationship had turned into a marriage, I made a choice to not have a child. Let me say that again – I CHOSE to NOT have a child. My reasons for this were simple; although I made the decision to stay in the relationship I was not going to raise a child with someone who didn’t value me, whose family and even some of our friends didn’t respect or feel I was worthy of him (among other things). I did not regret that decision then, and in hindsight I don’t regret it now – it was one of the smartest choices I ever made, and I would do it again.

A few years after that relationship ended – I did meet the only man I ever wanted to have a child with – and mother nature didn’t exactly cooperate for us! However – the daughter of the man I love (and his former wife) is a fierce beauty, strong and smart (sassy). She’s beautiful inside and out – and she looks exactly like him. It warms my heart that her sweet spirit and energy exists, and I look forward to many more fun adventures with her over my lifetime!

And you know what else? I like her mother. That’s right, my man’s “ex” is an awesome woman. I have nothing but serious respect for her as a working mother – I am in awe of these two people that raised such an amazing person with respect for each other, humor (wicked funny humor), and affection. Maturity.

On Relationships

Best meme I saw recently is “The best sign of a good relationship is no sign of it on FB.” I must admit, my man has really turned my head around about this concept of keeping personal stuff off FB. As a writer and a smart ass, that’s a tall order for me. But I must admit there is something special about saving our private details for just us and not spewing on FB to get likes and validation. I am not against the awesome love and support couples show each other on FB, please, it’s adorable.

In fact – here is a rare rave about my man: He’s a genuine person – I don’t just love him, I LIKE him. What you see is what you get – I have NEVER heard him say a bad word about ANYONE behind their back – EVER. I know the respect he shows me continues even when I am not in the room, even if I am not in the state! He will never act one way to your face and secretly feel another way about you (that was my life for YEARS) and it wasn’t until I met him that I had finally fallen for someone who was real. His dedication to his daughter, family, and friends (veterans) is astounding and limitless – despite his own battles as a combat veteran. They don’t make men much better than him; I am his 100% and I am truly blessed.

Back to my point, there are serious manipulations and deceit going on social media to try and make people feel bad about themselves and it just sickens me. Insinuations that if one doesn’t have children and perhaps rescues cats instead, they are “sad, regretful and bitter.” That is why I agree there is something to this approach about life in general also – I do love sharing with my close friends and family special things going on in my life, but I also like keeping some details for just us – or just me! Bottom line, if you are using my FB page to try to gauge my relationship status, you’re going to be wasting even more of your time. I can simplify it for you – I’m happy.

On Life

We choose who we are every day. I choose to live my life simply and with intent. I choose to love and support the genuine people in my life. I choose to try to be the kind of person that helps others, that takes the path less traveled, that will choose “right” vs “easy” – and just always, always be genuine. So if there is anyone out there that truthfully wishes me well – I thank you and I am. To the ones who were hoping for a different reply, I’m sorry to disappoint.

THE LEMON TREE

Published on by Tammy Blue1 Comment

A beach vacation was long overdue for me and my man this year. I also had a strong desire to try out Airbnb (not to mention I jumped on and was now driving the tiny bandwagon). Much to my delight, Airbnb had plenty of tiny house choices! Although I had never been to Alabama’s Gulf Shores I wasn’t interested once I found out how close we are to Florida! Pensacola was the target city, and I found an amazing deal on the very first tiny home we would ever stay in – The Lemon Tree Tiny House.

This particular tiny home was permanently parked in a lovely RV park less than ½ mile from a boat ramp and dock by the Gulf Breeze. The house didn’t have water views but we didn’t care because the plan was to spend the days on the beach. The planning and reserving was easy, but I would end up having to go solo (work happens). My orders were to report back on the tiny house life and do some relaxing (well, and snorkeling). For the purposes of this article, I’m going to focus solely on the tiny house and not the trip itself (stay tuned for that!).

The directions on AirBnb were perfect (plus I learned long ago not to trust my Garmin and use Google Maps). The RV park itself did seem a touch out of place in such a residential area, until I took a closer look at the set-up in the park. Most of these RVs were pretty large (almost as big as a tiny house), and had semi-permanent set-ups. One had a carport, outside grill and firepit! There were even two other tiny houses in the park (one was definitely “lived in”). I liked the tiny park itself, many times I’ve visited RV parks and had to drive around and around to find the right number. This parking spot was set-up lovely with a picnic table, umbrella, rocking chairs and patio lights. As soon as I saw the tiny house, I gleed with excitement – it was so cute! Ready for the most cheesy statement ever – it looked just like a tiny house.

The door had a key combo lock (love these) and the wonderful owners had the AC on full blast for when I opened the door. I smiled immediately and said out loud, “Yep, we are going to do this, this is it.” I knew immediately that going tiny was the right decision for us. I had never set foot in this house before but I have never been on a vacation where I felt like I was coming home to my own house. I don’t mean a vacation house either – I mean home. I could easily imagine me, my guy and his daughter going off-grid and living in one of these – but maybe not this particular one.

To state the obvious – it was tiny. After being there awhile I discovered the layout had a lot to do with the flow, some things in this particular design wouldn’t work for us. It was narrow with the living room area and kitchen counters lined along the right, the entertainment center/desk and some storage and steps along the left. Straight ahead was the bathroom and a sleeping area with a twin sized mattress. The master bedroom was in the loft. At this point I have watched hundreds of hours of tiny house programs, but still hit my damn head when I climbed up the ladder. I was able to sit on the mattress in the loft, but not without a slight neck bend. This was super dangerous to me – what if I sat up quick in the middle of the night and forgot where I was? Not to mention there was no way we were having any kind of sex up there without hurting ourselves – let me just make that clear for couples immediately – even without attempting I can tell you, don’t do it.

I was able to get a great view of the bottom floor from up there though, so that was something. Since it was just me, I ended up sleeping on the downstairs twin bed and it was so comfortable it is what inspired me to buy us a new mattress as soon as I got home. The bathroom did have a tub, and of course I tried it. It was hysterically tiny, it wouldn’t even work for a teenager really, so sticking to a large walk-in shower in a tiny house makes the most sense. The water pressure and temperature were comparable with an actual house (not an RV or even a hotel). It was actually about the size of the bathroom in our rental house. It did sound like an airplane toilet when draining the water though, but I expect that might just have something to do with the RV park set-up.

There was a downsized retro fridge, stove and microwave – more than what was needed for a 4-day vacation. I had to remind myself I was only there for a visit, I wasn’t going to be living there. It was a great experience to see how it would actually feel to be inside a tiny house for a longer period of time. As much fun as I had exploring, snorkeling and being on the beach – hanging out in the tiny house at night, talking to the “neighbors” and just living simply was the best part of the vacation.

After taking some notes, measurements and pictures, I realized our tiny house doesn’t have to be much bigger, we just need a more custom design for our specific needs (a common tiny house approach). Adding the man, two cats and the occasionally visiting daughter could completely change my perspective on this size being “plenty big”, but as long as everyone is not attempting the exact same task at the same time – I think tiny can work. I love the idea of never having to pack to move again, to be able to stay wherever we want for long periods of time, or travel as much as we want, and tiny living gives us that option.

The Lemon Tree Tiny House in Gulf Breeze, Florida, will always have a special place in my heart for showing me how wonderful and fulfilling an intentional lifestyle can be. Next stop – The Tiny House Festival in Avondale, GA.

BARE NECESSITIES

Published on by Tammy BlueLeave a comment

PART ONE: PAIRING DOWN

I can literally hear my sister’s vocal impression of Baloo whenever I think of this Jungle Book song. We always (to date) have fun singing the parts, my sis as the bear and me as Mowgli. True to Disney’s nature, they hid a much deeper message in those lyrics that didn’t even hit me until the other day when I had this song stuck in my head. Tiny living, ‘bare necessities?’ it was all making sense now. 

“Don’t spend your time lookin’ around for something you want that can’t be found…” 

I’m pretty organized. It’s pretty rare that I can’t find something. I do tend to hesitate to throw things away or donate them because as soon as I do, the very next day I need it. (I’m convinced it’s a subliminal level of trickery I do to myself, but I digress). After rewatching tiny living tips from my minimalist hero Josh Milburn on HGTV, I started to look around my two-bedroom rental house for things I could “pair down.”

I almost immediately convinced myself that I didn’t have anything that wasn’t worth keeping – this will be EASY! After all, when I got divorced a few years back everything I took with me fit in my car. I started over from scratch, never owned a house – how much “junk” could I have possibly accumulated in such a short time? 

Then I noticed my DVDs. In comparison to most, I don’t have a lot. But my Little House on the Prairie (don’t you dare judge me) collection took up an entire shelf by itself. This collection was sold when they hadn’t quite mastered the art of slimmer packaging, each season’s case (nine in total) was about 4 inches wide. They also weren’t formatted with closed captioning (ugh, why???), so should I just get rid of them? I really had to ask myself what it was about this collection I couldn’t let go – and the reason was the show reminded me of my Dad. 

The thing is – I didn’t have to get rid of anything (that’s not the idea behind minimalism). The idea of living tiny with less tangible things isn’t to get rid of them all, it is to identify the things you are passionate about. I needed the DVDs, not the bulky cases. Even though avid collectors would say I ruined the value, I took out all the discs and put them in a CD album. The stack of “packaging” on my floor was staggering. Yes, the pictures of the actors and the movie covers were nice, artistic even – but the amount of cardboard was surprising when it was all laid out in a pile. Before I knew it, I had a 13-gallon garbage bag FULL of just DVD cases. 

We don’t even need the entertainment center anymore. It’s just a big table for the TV which could be mounted on the wall. I had just eliminated the need for a huge piece of furniture. I find it really funny that it’s now pretty much just a big paperweight that I have to dust. It was very satisfying taking that bag out to recycle, and in truth I hadn’t gotten rid of anything! It was a valuable exercise in showing me it is ok to break some rules and customize your life to your lifestyle. 

Just like the song, “…when you find out you can live without it…the bare necessities of life will come to you…”

To be continued.