So I have discovered something about being outside.

Its sunny. Really sunny. Far sunnier than I remember New Zealand being. Maybe it’s El Nino, maybe its Maybelline, no one knows. But what I do know, is I was craving some pace shady to sit out on the deck and actually try an enjoy the outdoors a little more.

There are 3 projects we have moved onto. 1 is a sun shade on the deck. It is just a temporary metal structure with a shade sail. I have no idea how long it will stand up to the wind and salt air, but it will do until I get around to putting long solid poles in the ground for a larger shade sail. Well, I think it will do. The wind can actually be violent here. We have already been through two ‘storms’ pushing 120km/h winds (75mph). Which may not seem like a lot. But we are perpendicular to the wind in a house that is 2.5m wide and 4m tall….. Safe to say that we certainly feel it some days. The Tiny House creaks and groans occasionally. But it is holding up well. Will the new hardware store shade sail fair as well? I guess we will find out.

Our second project we started is an outdoor kitchen. I’m not proud of this one. It is all a bit crooked and not so fantastic. I have never laid bricks before and for some reason I never bothered to watch a tutorial before attempting it. I’m unsure at this point if I will keep it and render it all square, or knock it down and start again. It’s a decision for another day. At the moment its protecting our washing machine and dryer from the wind, so it has a purpose.

The final project was a change in our Tiny House layout. We decided we wanted somewhere more ‘cosy’ to spend our daytimes at home. Previously the bed was upstairs as the bedroom, and a sofa was downstairs in the living room. We moved the sofa upstairs with the carpet, rug and beanbag. Downstairs we built a murphy bed. In true space saving style, we added a table and chairs which double as the feet for the bed and storage. It works very well actually.

Ow, and we purchased a BBQ. A good one. We have been out slow-roasting vegetables and meat for the past few weeks. Making the most of this beautifully sunny weather New Zealand gets for about 3 weeks a year.

I’m thinking of my next project lately. The Tiny house really affords us a lot of freedoms. I’m considering building a motorhome and taking off on a New Zealand road trip for a few months. Maybe this NotSoTinyLiving website can be about more than just my Tiny House.