Wednesday 11 December 2013

Progress . . .



Okay, I do realise Komorebi is only a garden shed, and photos of other people’s garden sheds aren’t all that riveting.  Even so . . .



Things look a bit stark right now.  As time goes on and the trees we have planted get bigger, she will be tucked inside a green and growing place.



In the morning the sunlight comes round that corner of the garden.  The back of Komorebi stays in shadow – cool in summer.  Right at the back the bokashi bins for Stage 1 composting will be stored; tucked out of sight in the all-year cool.  From my nest inside, the view in the morning is this. 




Komorebi is nearly at the bottom of our garden, leaving just room for a little quiet space to think and be.  It has a leaf composting pile in it at the moment, but that will be moved.



All around her are trees – an ancient wild apple, two birches, two hollies and a hawthorn, as well as the great ash trees in the land over the wall.



The veranda is important for keeping wood for the little stove dry and accessible, and for sitting outside on rainy days.



Next to be done is insulating and cladding the inside, and painting the outside with weather-proofing stuff.  I wanted creosote but they no longer sell it to ordinary people, so we have got Sadolin in that kind of dark brown of woods in winter.


I am away this weekend, and acutely conscious of how close we are flying with all that remains to be done in getting Komorebi ready. The winter weather is on its way.  I want to begin this in the cold, not the summer days, because the sense of the year turning is so momentous as one comes from the darkness into the light, hearing the songbirds in spring and watching the unfurling of the leaves.  And the privation of cold and dark are so deep and strong.  Living inside a regular house it feels like just something to get through; but to meet it, enter it properly, is a spiritual thing.  When I lived in a caravan in Devon, even though it got so bitterly cold I liked to sleep right by the open window on a frosty night, so I could see the clear shining of the stars and fall asleep knowing nothing stood between them and me, no wall, no pane of glass; we were together.






25 comments:

Unknown said...

It's lovely. I couldn't be happier for you Pen. I've picked up so many tips from you on my own quest for a tiny place. Will we get to see her interior as it comes along? Blessings always, Pen.

Pen Wilcock said...

You surely all see the interior, my friend - how a person fixes the interior is always of intense interest to Tiny House people, because the key to the whole thing is getting the balance between practicality and minimalism with a homely and pleasing aesthetic.

Most of the Tiny Houses I've seen go for subdividing the space - a tiny bedroom, tiny kitchen, tiny bathroom, and tiny living room. My preference is for just one space, with the activities as functions within the same space not activities belonging to designated spaces.

But our own ideas form and develop through seeing what others have chosen.

Anonymous said...

I m greatly enjoying seeing your tiny house come together and I have to admit to a little jealously that I am not able to have my own little tiny home at the moment. There just isn't space in the garden. Anther time in my life perhaps....

We must see the inside!

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) - Yes, indeed you will, just as soon as it's there to see! xx

Anonymous said...

I WANT one!

Pen Wilcock said...

Yes - there is something deep and strong in a surprising number of us that wants a tiny house. Says 'home' more than any palace.

Anonymous said...

I always wanted the Little House on the Prairie House from the TV show but without the upstairs! lol

Also, after reading the books I liked the idea of the sod house that they had in On the Banks of Plum Creek :-D

Pen Wilcock said...

I got as far as Little House In The Big Woods and thought - THAT ONE!!

Anonymous said...

Oh that was a nice house too :-D I long for a small house with an inglenook fireplace and a bread oven.

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) x

Sharm said...

I've been absent from blog land for a few months.....well absent from visiting at any rate, looks like you have been busy, and I'm going to have to search back through posts to see just how you got to this point lol. Enjoy the journey of this, hugs, sharm

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi friend - nice to see you xx

Lynda said...

It's absolutely beautiful Pen! xx

Rapunzel said...

Komorebi is "only a garden shed"???? Blasphemy, my dear! That's like saying Stonehenge is only a few rocks, or the cabin where Abe Lincoln was born is a pile of logs. It's the heart of the place and what happens within it that matters, not the material it's made from. Komorebi is a small corner of heaven. Give it an affectionate pat and a kiss from me!

Pen Wilcock said...

Hi Lynda, hi Rapunzel - thank you!! xxx

Paula said...

The little house in the big woods ended up as a corn crib. And the cat, Black Susan, didn't move with the Ingalls family but stayed in that space--the little house. I always found that fascinating.

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Hi Paula - waving! x

Sandra Ann said...

I loved Rapunzel's words! Komorebi is just gorgeous and like the others I can't wait to see the inside. Will you be living in K full time or just when Badger is working away?

Did you know that there is a company in the UK actually making bone fide Tiny Houses? So happy when I saw there web page.

Hope you enjoy your retreat.

Hugs San xx

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Hi San! xx waving!

Anonymous said...

Hi Pen
It's gorgeous! I am so happy for you and for the impact dwelling in that space will have on the work you will be able to do there, and eventually share with us through your gift of writing!
blessings,
DMW

rebecca said...

Oh, how wonderful--the windows! (Wishing I had planned larger windows in our backyard cabin.)

And what a peaceful, calm setting.

I believe Komorebi is a tangible expression of your personhood, Pen....

Bean said...

Wonderful!

Pen Wilcock said...

Thanks, friends - glad you like it so far! xx

Julie B. said...

All the things that Julie G. and darkpurplemoon and Deborah and Lynda and Rapunzel and San and DMW and Rebecca and Bean said? Me too, to the utmost. xo

Pen Wilcock said...

:0) Pacem in terris. xxx