Waiting at the Welders:

Just a picture update folks:

Here is the hummingbird waiting at the welders to be modified for the new Vardo I'll build.

If I can't make Gulf War, I'll take those two weeks I have schedule off and work on the Vardo and perhaps take the train to Oklahoma City for a few days. (But, I'd really rather go to Gulf War.)

Happy Yule Y'all!

HeHe

I got the title in the mail today.

I am invincible!

The right trailer at the right place at the right time

I have finally gotten the hummingbird trailer to the welder at the school.

HUZZAH.

He'll be working on it over the holiday break, as he said that he wanted to have something to do.

He has all my build plans and my phone numbers, both my cell and my mother's number. Which will really be interesting as she doesn't know what I'm working on. Long story. :)

And my new Library Assistant reminded me that I have a whole staff of really nice maintenance staff that I can ask to check my work. 

I fear however that my dream of attending Gulf War may be toast at this point, I still do not have anywhere to do the build and it has taken me so long to get to this point I know I won't be able to finish on time. Plus I will lose two weeks for the Yule break and a few weekends as I have to attend ALA, etc.

So, I'll find a place to do the build*, work on it on the weekends, and then I may take my vacation and spring break and work on the Vardo trying to finish it with the two weeks I'll have then. 


The reasons to get it finished as quickly as possible grow daily.

*Which is starting to annoy me as my landlady said I couldn't have trailer on my rent property, yet she is allowing the people who rent a house from her down the street have had a horse trailer parked there for at least a week.

I really want a Vardo

The Texas Ren Faire was wonderful. I met lovely people camping out, and bought a fabulous new winter cape.

Then the weather changed, a cold front moved it and with it rain.  So it rained, then it rained, and finally, it rained some more.

All of my bedding and clothing got soaked. The small tent I have on the back of my truck is not large enough to put any kind of heater in, I had to give up and pack up everything and head out early before I froze.

And I think to myself, if only I had a Vardo with a roof over my head and a small cod stove to warm the space up.  Sigh.

There has been a major shake up at work this week, so my trailer, which is still at my friends house, will be moved to Rick my welder early on Tuesday or Wednesday. 

Updates will be sparse until after Yule at this point.

Tags Title & License

When it and paid for my legal stuff at the county courthouse.

Notice the tote board has changed.

Then I realized it had been one year exactly since I had originally gone in to ask the ladies at the counter about the process. I'm planning on  the rest of the build to be a bit quicker than this.

Thanksgiving dinner is in the oven and I'll pull it out in an hour and a half, the truck is half packed for the Ren Faire. The fire ban has been lifted at the Faire so I'm taking along my fire pit and have picked up some wood. The chances for rain continue to drop for the area &  the cat sitter is on stand by.

As I begin to sort out the items that I need to take with me, can opener, a pot and skillet, etc.,  and I think more and more about all the things that I wouldn't have to pack, tent, futon pad, lots and lots of plastic sheeting, and move if only I had gotten serious about this a little sooner, and that they would be in the Vardo ready to go.

Meet the Hummingbird

Another trailer hitch fix

Well, I'm back from the Ford Dealership and $385 lighter in the pocket.

That's how much the correct trailer hitch plus electrical brake controller now installed in the cab cost.

(Ok, that total includes $35 dollars for the oil change for the truck. )

It took four hours and they had to check everything against the cruise control as well.  

I have to take the truck back to the dealership because there is a bracket piece that wasn't in stock that needs to be attached to make everything nice and tidy.

This morning as I was driving to pick up my trailer from Tri Tex, a woman in a white car just drove out in front of my truck.

I slammed on the brakes and swerved but it was a near thing.

It was like she didn't even see me.

It reinforced my decision to go with a brake on the trailer, because I think that if I had my trailer on the truck this morning, I don't think I would be making this post. 

I paid the $385 with out batting a eye.

Pics coming soon.

Two Steps Forward! Kinda

First, my friend that has a bit of land would be happy to let me park the vardo at her house.
Down side: no outside electrical outlet. But I'll work on it.

Next, the problem of the trailer plugs. Notice from the earlier posts, that they don't hook up? I've checked three stores, there is not a adapter that I can get for this problem. I have to go back to the Ford Dealership and get an RV hook-up package, with a brake switch. I have an appointment tomorrow at 10:30 am:, and they want me to bring the trailer along so that they can order the correct part, and make sure everything works properly. They also will not mind holding on to my trailer until the parts come in, assuming they don't have what I need in stock, so I don't have to park it out my landlords rent house.

So as long as I am there I'll get an oil change for the Ranger before I drive it to the Ren Faire, later in the week.

At which point, every time I tell someone that I have a Ford Ranger to pull this trailer, a sales being suggests that I get a bigger truck. Sigh. No I'm not getting a bigger truck until I get this done and find out the weight of the trailer, thanks.

And finally, and I'm really pleased about this! 
I have the paperwork in hand for registering the trailer. :)

Little things no one talks about:: Update

I'll be mentioning a lot of these little things that no one I have found talks about:
Today's small annoyance is the wiring on the trailer.

I ordered a trailer built with a brake:
The trailer hitch that the Ford dealership installed is a four flat lights connector.

Pictures of the two coming soon.

What I have:




What came on the trailer:

Going back to the Ford Dealership they quoted me a price of about 120 for labor plus parts to have the dealership now fix the electrical on the truck to meet the new requirements of the trailer.

There might be an adapter at Tri Tex for a lot less which might work in the short term: I.E. Getting the thing build to being usable and movable.

OK: Checked with Tri Tex. (They are still working on my paperwork, they forgot oops...)
They told me to go down to Herman's auto parts store, that's where they get their adapters from. They work great for either the short term or long term according to the guys at Tri Tex!

Pic of Adapter:

ONLY 8.95

Ok; Ten Bucks vs. 120+ that I need for building materials: NO BRAINER

LATER:

I got home and I started to notice a problem. Can you see it?

Pre Construction

I'm rather hopeful that this really will be pre construction. Tri Tex will have the paperwork for the DMV ready by Monday. I will ask if they will let me leave it in their parking lot until Thursday when I can move it to the college's welding lab.

It is also a trip back to Ford. I need to fix the trailer electrical on my truck to accept the new lights and brake plug that goes with the new trailer. The plug does not match what is on the new trailer. I would rather fix it to meet the new trailer standard than get a adapter.  This falls under the do it right the first time motto. 

Mike, my welder assures me that all welding will be completed to my build plans by the end of December.

So I have until then to find a place to do the build. And a builder to help me get it done on time. This is a small west Texas town area. I don't have as many friends as I like that I could call upon to help me get it done on time. So a builder may be my best bet for getting it at at least a weather and road ready shape in time for Gulf War.

NEW TRAILER IS HERE

The new trailer arrived at Tri Tex today!

I've paid the balance for it and have taken the pic above this afternoon.

It really stands out in the line of black trailers there. 

Still no where to park it so I can work on it, but they are happy to hold on to it until Monday.

Paperwork for tax tag and license will be ready to go on Monday.

So Monday it will be moving day.

As you can see they did not follow the PAD plans: I'll talk to the welders tonight. :)

I'm thinking of calling it Hummingbird!

BUZZARD GONE : EVEN BETTER NEWS

TRI TEX was happy to take the Buzzard off my hands.

Bad News: It was less than half of what I paid for it.  Oh Well: A learning experience:

GOOD NEWS: Tri Tex had just had a call from the trail manufacturer just before I dropped off the Buzzard!

My new Trailer has started construction today and should be delivered Tuesday or Wednesday Next Week:


HAPPY DANCE ENSUES

Sunset for the Buzzard

Meet the Buzzard: It will be gone by tomorrow.

As long as my Landlord doesn't scream because it's parked out front at the moment.

Buzzard Trouble

Still trying to get rid of the Buzzard.

I wanted to pick it up last night and then take it over to Tri Tex today.

No go. The gate was locked last night so It might have to wait until sometime next week.  Sigh.

Good news, I'm off on a shopping trip to Fort Worth tomorrow: Fabric and a visit to the Habitat Restore.

Wonder if the guy with the Corian counter tops would be available for a pick up?

Random Thought: With a trailer this massively strong, should I just build a tiny house? Make it look period?

Buzzards

So I was laying on my back tightening down screws and finishing replacing all the wood on the old trailer.

When I look up and see buzzards circling.

I'm calling this trailer the buzzard trailer from now on.

I love my trailer seller

So I got a call from my trailer seller (Ken) this morning.

Tri Tex was contacted by the trailer manufacture.

Do I want pin strips on the trailer?

LOL

I asked and yes the 2 inch ball will work fine.

Then I asked about letting them know what I'd be doing, maybe get the trailer made to the PAD specs. Ken said let me check and I'll call you back. He called back and gave me the trailer makers fax. I've faxed off the plans this afternoon. Cross fingers folk, they haven't started the build and if they can make it to spec. I may cut several weeks of the prep work, and move straight to build. 

And when I mentioned that I need to get rid of the other trailer, Ken said, "Oh really, bring it in and we'll see what we can give you for it." At this point, while I do care about how much I could get for it, I'm a realist. I won't get what I paid for it, and what ever I get I'll have them credit to the total for the new real trailer.

As to the old trailer. I spent 2 hours putting it back together today. I've still got to figure out where the last boards go as, the homemade trailer maker didn't seem to measure anything. It's a jigsaw puzzle putting the boards back together in the right way. Sigh.

For Sale One Trailer : Slightly Used:

So annoyed beyond words, at myself and the world in general and needing to make positive steps to get a life and keep this project moving...

I went down to the farm and ranch tractor dealer (Tri Tex) who does trailers and ordered a new one.

Rick the gentleman who owns the business called his supplier. Who right there on the phone quickly put together a price for a 5X14 dual axle with brake trailer. (The Vardo Plans are for 12 feet but the supplier won't put duals under anything smaller than 14 so I'll have a two foot porch.

One more hitch in the process is that currently the trailer maker is about two weeks backed-up with orders. Not caring and startling the poor man I told him to go ahead and order me one. Then I immediately put a down payment for it.

Rick looks at me and says, so the trailer normally comes in black but I can have the trailer to painted to match your truck.... I grinned and said John Deere Yellow. Both gentlemen, another customer had wondered in... cracked up... I explained it was a design decision that I had already considered because I wanted a yellow roof, and yes let the jokes begin.

What I forgot to ask, and I'll go back and ask on Monday is what is the hitch size in case I have to buy another ball, and could I tell them to not add the wood as it would be just ripped off and a waste of materials. While I'm thinking about it, I'll ask if I can give them the vardo plans, then they could build the thing to spec. and I wouldn't have to bother my welder to add things. Hey can't hurt to ask.

Back to the original trailer problem:

So now I have to put all the wood back on the original trailer, I'll wander in an hour early every day this next week to start to replace it. And now to start the process to get rid of it. I hope I can sell it for at least most of what I paid for it.  Anyone want to come to West Texas for a trailer?

Suspisions Confirmed: The Emperor has had Raban seized...

Ok: the trailer is a bust:

My welder recommends reselling it to someone else and getting something else.

I'm off to purchase another one from the trailer store on I-20 sometime tomorrow, or at least order one that will work. I'm not waiting around anymore.  

The bummer is that I have to put all the wood back on, that I've spent all that sweat equity to get off. Sigh.

At the Welder's at Last

Ok, after only slightly making a fool of myself, I backed the trailer into the gated area at the college's welding lab.

The other instructor Gene, understood when I said that it had been twenty five years since I had last tried to back up a trailer, and for the lack of practice on my part he did in point  of fact did not laugh to much. :)

Plus he then showed me how to hitch and unhitch my trailer. At this point, the gentleman that sold me the trailer and the gentleman who let me leave my trailer in his back yard, both did the whole gentlemanly thing. Each time I backed the truck up to the hitch, apparently very well, as they both connected it so quickly I didn't even get a chance to see what or how to do it. Sigh. Gene laughed as I explained that I had no idea how to hook or unhook it as the guys had been doing it for me, and showed me how to do it.


I will go an hour or two tomorrow and the next day before work and continue to remove wood from the trailer. I fear however that as the wood comes off I find that the nice looking outside has been hiding a rather not so nice inside. I'm hoping that this doesn't become a compete redo job for the welders.

Next I am working on a secondary location to leave the trailer that will allow me to work on it in my spare time.

Sweat Equity Begins

As soon as I finish my coffee and this post, I'm off to work on getting the original wood boards off the trailer soon to be Vardo.

The trailer had to come home with me last night and I might as well get some work done on it while it's here. I'll work on getting it into the locked gated area at work today and then then finish ripping off the boards tomorrow and Thursday there at the college.

Update: Two hours later I have a quarter of the wood removed from the trailer so welding can begin on Thursday. I would have said a third but there are a few bolts that are being particularly stubborn on coming off.

The kindness of friends and I Love Craigs list

My problem is not having anywhere to park the Vardo as I work on it.

My 100 year old land lady is now stating that I can park it on one of the other renters properties that she owns.

This won't work because, a) the renter in the house hasn't even been asked, b) it would be impossible to work on it, in someone Else's yard, and c) the yard conveniently backs up to a alley... can you say goodbye Vardo?


So my friends that are temporarily parking my soon to be vardo and who have a 2 inch ball hitch will be bringing it into work for me tomorrow. I'll have to work on getting the wood off the frame on Tuesday, then finding somewhere to have a shower before going back to work.

I ADORE MY FRIENDS.

GULF WAR 146 and counting...

Update:

I was looking on Craigslist as I was putting together my build list for after the welding gets done and I was thinking about a kitchen counter for putting the sink on and a place to prep food. There is a business going out of business with pieces of Corian kitchen countertops; Light and strong, great for the Vardo!

72x33x1/4 (about 400 pieces) (4 colors).$37.00 ea YEP 37 bucks for 6 feet of counter space.  Even if I cut it in half.. 37 BUCKS:  I just hope that there is a neutral cream color in there somewhere and i'll see about driving out to get it next weekend.

Making a Welder Happy = A Happy Me

So I went over at 6PM this evening and met with the Welder here at my campus.

I showed him the plans (HE LOVED THAT I HAD PLANS) and explained to him what I needed, that I would be more than happy to pay for all the supplies...

Oh No!! We have more than enough here, we'll take care of everything.  You can bring it by on Monday right??

It seems that I have the perfect project for the welding class to practice on at the perfect time.

All I have to do now is pick up the trailer from my friends house and strip all the wood off it.

If I don't need the wood, I can take it into Habitat for Humanity's Restore either this weekend or next.

149 days to Gulf War!

Welder on the horizon

Ok, one thing that is good about working at a community college is the available help you can ask for.

I called the Head of the Industrial Arts Department, who gave me the name of the welder on our campus, and told me to tell him, that I had a project, for the welder to work on. :)

Now the Department Head can't promise that the welder could do my project for FREE as part of the class but the welder could at least take a look at what I had and either do it in class OR tell me where I could get the welding done.

I'm off to see the Welder, the Wonder Welder of Oz....

Nothing is Happening II

I now have a trailer.

It's the annoying details that have to be worked out before the actual build can begin that no one tells you about. I haven't been able to talk to the welder, which has to happen before I work with the builder.

Because, he's deep into Ag. this semester.

So nothing else is getting done and even though I'm trying to have  Quality of Life time for myself..

I'm still looking to put in 50 to 55 hours at work this week.

Sigh.

Maybe I'll try for the DMV. And add a new level of craziness to the mix.



I want a welder!!

MORE RAIN

MORE RAIN
MORE RAIN
MORE RAIN

OH THANK YOU GODDESS


RAIN

UPDATE:

The rain continues, the cats are terrified and hiding under anything they can find, sofa, bed, cupboards, me...

Yellow Roof

I've decided to go with the yellow roof and base, because I love the color green and want it on the body of the Vardo. Actually, I had a fabulous color call Mediterranean Teal that was a great blue green, but Lincoln Green is also great.  So many greens. The yellow is easy, sunshine yellow. Sigh.

I found out that the Welding dude is deep into Ag. this semester so probably won't be able to do the welding that I'll need. But probably will know who I can take it to.

Will check with a carpenter I know in town and see if he's up for a challenge.

Color

Color Color Color


All day long I have been wondering about color: I plan on having a green and yellow, primarily, trailer.

But the wonder is: Do I put the yellow on the top and bottom or the green?

(Yes, the John Deere Jokes may now start...)

What every color I choose it will have to be soon so I can start to plan what paint to buy, i.e. budgeting the expenses of the materials over several months.

Everything is down to the timeline of having the trailer inclosed enough for Gulf War which is in March.

No time to loose.

So:
Welding (Not yet confirmed)
Move to a build location (Not yet confirmed)
Hire a builder to help me (Cause I know i'm going to need help & Oh yes, let's not forget:  Not yet confirmed)

And I'm worrying about paint.

P.S. Yes, the trailer is safely stored at the friends house until I can get the welding done. One step done so many more to go.  And Gulf war is 156 days away and counting. 

MINE ALL MINE

I checked with the DMV at the county today, as long as I have a bill of sale with me, on the trip home then I can move the trailer without plates. When I explained what I was doing, the ladies behind the counter looked shocked and worried, "Oh you'll have to have that inspected." Yes, I know, we discussed this... I'll have to get the inspector's name and number again, and go over all the details with him before I start, and take lots of notes and pics during the build. Better to have the inspector involved from the start then find out something is wrong or needs modified after the paint is on..

It was a 2 1/2 hour trip each way and I had to stop for some business on the way. Only got lost once, but that's not my fault! Billy forgot to tell me to turn Right at the Y not Left.. Sigh. 

I met Billy and his wonderful kittens. He has seven, he told wife you want to keep them, they all have to be spayed and neutered and giving their rabies shots. (I so like this guy.)  

The trailer was a home made item that was originally intended for customer who needed it to haul bails of hay. But then didn't need it.  We discussed tiny houses, and I mentioned that he might make some money making trailers for the tiny house/vardo crowd. :)

The ride home was broken up by a little More shopping, seems I had forgotten something on the first pass through town. I wanted to drop the trailer at my Friends house tonight but I had to go back to work and be online in case any student needed online reference help. So I'm hoping to have it moved to the friends house, tomorrow, before the Landlord's Son of Doom, see it and get's upset. So, it is sitting in front of my rent house, and I hope soon I'll be able to contact welder at my other friends high school to see if he can either help or point me to the person who can. Because it was 'homemade' there are a few things about it, that according to the "Go House Go" booklet that I can already see will have to be modified and refitted to be suitable for a vardo/tiny house. 

HAPPY DANCE

Maybe a trailer

There is the Perfect trailer for sale on Craigs list: 7x17 and most importantly no rail bars!

I have emailed the owner to see if it is still available!

While I still would not have anywhere to put it if I get, at least I would have a trailer to start.

(So it is a little longer than I was considering, I'll just add a porch! )

I HOPE I HOPE I HOPE!!!

UPDATE: October 1th 2011

Had an email back from the owner: No one else has even inquired at this point.
So if nothing goes wrong, i.e. someone else buys it in the next two days... I have emailed to make arrangements to pick it up Tuesday!

I have warned the landlady that I would be bringing it home for a week or so, if I can't find a place to park it. There might be a chance that I could park it at work, which is why I'm not picking it up Monday, because I'll have to ask permission first. 

Lighting a candle to the Goddess now!

UPDATE ON THE UPDATE:

Called the owner Billy and told him I could come out on Wednesday. And a friend with a house has agreed to let me park it at their place temporarily while I continue to try to find a place to build. And a third friend has an in with the High School welding instructor who loves weird projects like this for his welding students to practice on, so if I need any welding done.. Grin.  Plus, and I Really Love this part: Billy went out and took the sign off of the trailer today until I could take a look at it. :) There are days I REALLY LOVE TEXAS!

RAIN

OH THANK THE GODDESS!!

RAIN!!!

Hot in Texas

Well, not much to report at this post.

The weather continues with a drop in temps to the 80's this last week but those temps will be climbing this next week.

Emergency water rationing has been called in the city and what is coming out of the sink has a slightly brown tinge to it. And donation of water, gatoraid and eye drops are being taken at local area business for the firefighter still battling the blazes that have consumed some much land, and homes.

No success yet on finding a place to work on the vardo either, and my assistant has gotten totally sun burnt and I have to go to work this evening for her. 

So all in all a rather depressing weekend.

Finding an trailer for the Fall

So I've been trying to find a trailer to rent for this November for the Texas Renaissance  Festival.

Now on the interstate there is a little house with a little Casita sitting out front.

 

Casita Travel Trailers

It's a Casita Liberty Deluxe, I found out as I went over and asked if I could rent it.

The family that owns it, just laughed, they were worried that I wanted to buy it.

Apparently, I was the 15th person to wander by and ask about their little travel trailer.
While I was the 15th to stop by I was the first to ask if I could rent it. Out of luck there, they too are using it Thanksgiving weekend.

A good canvas tarp to put over my tent looks like the more economical option and as 8x16 is about 50 dollars. I'm thinking of going with that and a few inexpensive plastic tarps for the sides of my 10x10 gazebo.

Best I can do until I find a place to build my vardo.
 

Free from the Last Major CC

Ok, I'm freed from the last major credit card.

Send registered receipt mail!

I will save up and pay off the student loan within 3 months.

And have the savings account back up to a nice down payment shortly after that.

Which still leaves me without a Vardo.

Watch the tote board folks, I'll be purchasing the new vardo plans from PAD soon.

See you next week: Same Bat Time Same Bat Station.

Complete Bust : Plan B

The house is a complete bust. My realtor finally called.

Apparently, at one time the house was a HUD home, so the Bank decided to turn the whole thing over to HUD.

Which means that it could be 4 days from now, or 4 months from now or never before the house is released for sale. So basically, this house is foreclosed for the 2000 dollars that no one could agree to pay to the water filtration installer.

So, I still stuck in the house from brown and am currently moving my stuff back out of the storage unit I rented.  Still quietly, the landlady's son is still a scary dude. Three people have  moved out of their rent houses since I started living here.


PLAN B: PART ONE


I am planning on using the down payment money to pay off the last of the student loan, and the last of the outstanding credit card. I can then take the money I was spending on that and spend half on paying down the loan on the truck and putting the rest into the savings account. (That should make the mortgage people happy next time I go looking for money.) 

Next. talking to my realtor about finding a place that I can rent (cheaply) for a two or three months that I can do the build at. I'm not really feeling confident about finding a place, but I will ask.

Now Radical Concept:  Buy a commercial trailer and disguise it to look period.

NO REALLY I've FIGURED OUT HOW!!!!

First build a Viking Tent:

 

BUILD A VIKING TENT 

Then BUY: YES: BUY  

(Ok you can rent one if you can find one to rent.)

THE WONDERFUL ALINER TRAVEL TRAILER

 So Simply Park the ALINER, put your Viking Tent up around it.

And the PERIOD POLICE Can't Say Anything!!!!

Ok, so it's not much for a Plan B. But I'm working on it.

Prices have Fallen

I would like to point out that the Don Vardo from Portland Alternative Dwellings (PAD), a tiny house construction company based in Portland Oregon.(Direct from the website tehe..)

Have dropped their price on the Don Vardo Plans AND are now offering a 12 foot version as well for only...

Wait for it...

$30.

I will have to check my funds because I just bought a new pair of sandals off Amazon. (Truly, my current pair are shot and I've been in them from three years so you can tell I need a new pair...) So if  I may have to wait until the end of the month and my next pay check to pick up a copy. 

DON VARDO from Portland Alternative Dwellings

So go check it. Out.

With both this version and the Tiny House version by Jay S. plus some idea I've gotten off the web and design ideas I have from a few books, and a offer to help from Old Ben, I figure I will have something to build. If only I had a place to build.

Still in legal limbo.

Legal Limbo Continues

Even though I told my realtor I wanted a firm answer by 5pm on Friday August 5th.
She didn't call, didn't leave a message, didn't even email.
The legal limbo continues.

Legal Limbo

So I am in the legal limbo between getting scheduled to signing on the dotted line for a new house and the bank not paying attention to the situation.

Seems the original owners owe big time on a water filtration system they added to the house.

Now no one wants to handle the situation, and as the buyer, that would be me, I can't. 

So either repossess the thing, which the installer won't he knows that the thing is now broken as it was left out not used over the winter, or lower the cost of the house so the buyer (ME) then still pays the same amount for the house but the previous owners can pay the intaller, which leaves me holding the bag on the bill in a round about fashion. Add into the fact that it was at one point a HUD home that was flipped and my realtor can't seem to get anyone to pay attention, (Imagine that, seeing how they were all updating their resumes' until Tuesdays, because the right wing tea party republican looneys were holding the entire country hostage...), so that the bank can approve this...

I have no date to close.
I can't go looking for another house, because my realtor is still trying to 'Fix' the problem, so she hasn't released the contract on this one.

I am seriously annoyed at this point as, if this houses doesn't come through, I will have to go house hunting again, have to pay for another round of house inspections and termite inspections,  earnest money, finders fee money,  And I'll be stuck in the rent house from BROWN for part if not all of September. And Oh Yeah, did I say that I just had to pay rent for August?

Which pushed work on the vardo even further back. I was suppose to be in my new house July 1.

AHHHHHHGGGGGGGEERRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGG!

A new Vardo on the horizon: Hornbys Sandpiper

Nice huh: It's only their second, but very pretty!

Hail Mary Pass

Did you know that American Football is the only sport in the world that has a play that is named after a religious act.

The Hail Mary Pass:

–noun

1.

Ave Maria.

2.

Also called Hail Mary pass, Hail Mary play . a long forward pass in football, especially as a last-ditch attempt at the end of a game, where completion is considered unlikely.

And so the possibility of the house closing on Friday as planned is a long shot. 

Just in time for the debt ceiling default, I won't be getting that great a interest rate on the next house. 

There is a 10 day window after the July 30th that maybe they might get it together.. and I could still say ok and keep the pretty good deal i currently have.  But I'm probably going to have to go shopping again and lay out another 250 for another home inspection and 90 for another termite inspection...

But really, there if very little chance of this going through. The house will go to foreclosure and that' that, because it will then be months before it's back on the market and I won't get it at the great price let alone the great rate I had set up...

And because of the 10 day window that they (The bank, The sellers, Whomever) can't really go house shopping until August 11th. Which pushes me into September for moving. 

Virtually banging my head against the wall.

 

To pack or not to pack.

I'm three days away to find if I get the house, I might find out something on Wednesday.

But I'm sitting here in a half packed up house wondering if I will have to pack everything else and get out of the rent house from brown by Sunday at midnight or I'll  unpack everything and start over.

Which still doesn't help with either buy or building the vardo.

Not a happy camper

I just found out that the water system that the previous tenants installed is not only broken, installed improperly, but get this. NOT PAID FOR.

There is therefore a lien on the house to the tune of $3000. Which if it is not taken care of by the sellers by the closing date, I will either a) have to postpone the closing, moving me into August and therefore fall prep, for the Fall Term at school, or b) loose the house all together. 

Both options mean that I will be set back even further on working on the vardo. And realistically there will be little chance of me being able to have it up and ready to go for the Texas Ren Fest this fall.

Sigh.

Well I can always rent for the week.

Sigh.

Total Spent Question

Just a wandering thought that is floating through my head.

Should I include the price of the house in the price of the vardo?

I'm right up front about the fact that I am buying the house, so I can finally work on the vardo.

So should the cost of the house be included?

Or should I only include the cost of the vardo to include the trailer and wood and other items that would actually be needed or attached to the vardo?

Might questions indeed.

VARDO PLANS:

Ok the Vardo plans that I have NEVER been able to find are now ON SALE on @

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/vardo/

Now just change the bottom of the vardo plans to fit on a trailer and HAPPINESS

Plus I found a place IN TOWN that can order me the exact trailer I need.

New House: If all goes well will close on the 25-29th... YES!!!

25 minutes later: Plans Purchased. Adding to Total :) 

A New place for the Vardo Build

My new year's resolution is to build a vardo. 
So far, I've bought a few books and two windows, then got a hitch on the back of the truck. But it all comes down to NOT having a place to build. (The rent house from brown will not allow any wood working.)

I am now in the hunt for a second house after the first house fell through. If nothing goes wrong, I'll move in to a new house in 38 days.  Two days later I might be able to buy the trailer I want and start the build. I have rented a storage shed as of the first of the month so I can start to move my stuff now. What doesn't get moved gets pitched.

As soon as the house closes, I'm moving the cats and me out of the rent house from BROWN. I'm sleeping in the new house as soon as I have the keys. I can't wait to get out of here. (Wonder if I can get the water turned on in time. I can live without electricity for a few days, but water...)

Update: there will be no water. Over the winter, the house hadn't been open/used. The new water filtration system that the previous owners installed froze and busted. When my inspector came out to do the inspection, the city turned the water on. There was a lovely fountain outside, water was shooting out of the water filtration tank in two different directions at once.  My realtor is trying to figure out who needs / has legal rights and responsibility for, fixing it. Because it ain't going to get fixed on my dime. Other than that, we're good to go.

Ok: Contract on the house: Still no trailer

I am happy I have picked a house. Ok, it's under contract and I'm waiting on a inspection and termite inspection.  And funding... But I still don't have a trailer. But if it all goes right I have a place to build. This is insane... P.S. The red accents have to go. Deep green or a nice sand color but red. No.

Update: June 16th 2011
The house was a complete bust. Nice outside: complete gut job on the inside. But there is another house that just came on the market 2 days ago, move in ready and in my price range. With a double spot car port one for the truck and the other for a trailer.  Working on contracts tomorrow A.M. Wish me luck.

The Trailer Goddess Is Smiling II?

Ok,

I stopped by and looked at the trailer. It's a little rough and they are asking 350 for it.

Though I want it, I can't afford it this week as I will have to pay the house inspector this week for inspecting the house to put the trailer at.More info as it becomes available.

Update:

The trailer is a little rough, and doesn't have wheel covers, but for only $350 this might be do-able. I'll try to get a picture tomorrow.(House for storing the trailer at is still a work in progress. The house inspector is going out on Tuesday so I will have to wait to buy the trailer as it will cost the same to rent the house inspector....)

Update to the Update:
I have to have the house under contract before I can have it inspected. But I won't put the house under contract until I have can have the money to back up the contract. So, I'll a) talk to the bank tomorrow so that I'll have money to buy the house, and b) stop and get a picture of the trailer. :)

The Trailer Goddess Is Smiling?

There is a true flat bed trailer for sale on the road to my work.

(The trailer from last week did not pan out.)

Showed up in the lawn of a farmer's house yesterday, with a for sale sign on it.

But I won't have time to stop until tomorrow after work to check it out.

So, tomorrow I'll stop and find out the size and price!

Putting out spirits to the Goddess and lighting a candle hoping.

Picked a house: Found a Trailer?: Or go with what is behind door number 3!

I think I've picked a house I want to buy.

And there is a small trailer that may just be the right price and the right size in town.

I'll make a call to go out and see it this week. (the trailer not the house.)

Next step buying the house so I can store the trailer.

Another option that I have not wanted to explore is finding someplace to work on the trailer and keeping the rent house. Upside: I would not be spending my savings on the down payment for a house.

I could make in roads to pay off the truck, last cc and student loan.

Downside: More wear and tear on my truck and gas prices are going up.
Still need to pay rent for where ever I can for working on the vardo.

I hate the rent house I'm in.

Confused but working on it.

Nothing is Happening

It has been a very tough week at work as we went from a campus wide event to graduation with the party in my building.

With a lot of planning, the event went off well and I have all day off today to recover before starting another 6 day work week. I will be talking to my bank about a home loan for one of the properties in the city where I work. Where I hope finally to be able to start working on the vardo.

Sigh. I have to buy a house to build a vardo, because and we are talking small town here, there is simply nothing to rent in the town. 

Later

To buy or not to buy.

So my friend pointed out that even if I bought the house, as least I would finally have a space to do my woodworking and work on my vardo.

That the rent would be the same.

That it might take time to fix the major structural problems but hey,  the house is more than twice what you are living in now.

And the realtor assures me that rent it down the road would not be a problem.

So, I'm going to call my banker on Monday and get a second opinion.

Happy Easter everyone.

Ok that didn't work:

There are few houses available in the city where I wish to live. Yes, it is that small of a town. It is basically divided into two sections. Houses were people live and well.... If you mow your lawn and find three cars, you might be a R** N***.

I looked at a house that I really loved the outside. The inside however was a terror that would require double the price of the house to gut and repair.  It had no electrical circuit box, floor gas heaters from the 20's, no AC, a two door closet connecting two rooms.

*Yes, you could walk through the closet*

No not walk in ~ Walk Through.

But the worst was that 'someone' let a water bed into the back 'bedroom' I figure that at least half of the floor would have to be ripped out and replaced. The effected area is of course the bathroom and kitchen. So, I believe I will continue to be stuck in this brown house a while longer.

 Sigh.

Buying a House to Build a Vardo?

So,

With no where I can build my vardo at the rent house that I'm currently living in, I decided to call my realtor that originally found me my rent house and ask her if a) I could get another rent house closer to my work, and b) one where the land lord wouldn't mind if I worked on my vardo.

What I found as I looked into the realtor's website was a house, on the market for three days. For well basically I could buy it on my credit card.

Now I have been living in a rent house that is brown. SO brown I am getting depressed, with a ceiling so low that I can jump up and hit it with my hand. That i dust the ceiling fan without a chair. And don't get me started on the bathroom. There will be more about this in a minute. And the road out front is dirt and the train goes by every evening at 1am and is less than fifty yards from the house. 
 
What I found as I looked into the realtor's website for any rental houses was a house for sale. On the market for three days. The house for sale looks no worst than the one I currently am renting for skads of money, or the other one before this one that had not heat or air and the toilet burped every time you ran the washing machine. So why not use my money for a place of my own that I could work on my VARDO in peace. and save the rent money for other things. As long as it has electricity and working plumbing, I can deal with it. Plus this place has a picture of a better bathroom. I'm sorry but I have had three bad bathrooms in a row I want something I could take a BATH in. 

Downsides: It's on the main drag into town and has a auto repair place next to it.
Plus sides: I won't be there during the day and  it will have lots of traffic for the cats to watch out the windows.

This could mean that within in 24 hours I'll have a new house. It has a way better bathroom than this place. Is closer to work and I could bike saving gas money and I could then rent it out later, if i get another job, this is a college town with little or no rent houses for those trying to go to school here. If you can't get in the dorms you can't go to school.  

AND BEST OF ALL IF I WORK IT RIGHT LITTLE OR NO MORTGAGE!!!
PLUS A PLACE TO WORK ON THE VARDO

I've put a call into the realtor and she should get back to me tomorrow. (Monday.)

Wanna Buy a Vardo?

Ok,  Wanna Find a Vardo? Or do you just wanna Buy one?


There is a new site for tiny house builders can post their houses for sale and for those looking for a small house to buys. This includes vardos and gypsy wagons.


Tiny House Listings

And yes there is a Vardo For Sale on the site for $7800.

Very nice vardo if you can afford it.

Another Vardo Builder!!

I am not the only person building a vardo this spring/summer


Kintala

Check out Ms. Kintala's progress over this spring and summer.

I really really really want a trailer.

Recharging Batteries?

The hotel in Philly is very nice and next to China Town, Reading Market, and across the street from the convention center. I am totally loving the whirlpool. Which is a good thing. Catching up with friends from Florida which is wonderful. I still don't feel recharged yet, but I am feeling much more relaxed.

I have all of tomorrow to do a few more meetings in the morning, shopping in the afternoon and all conference party tomorrow night. I'll then pack up and be back on the trains on Saturday.

Amtrak is my friend. I have a roomette all the way home on the two big legs of the trip.

Later

Vacation

I'm off for vacation. When I get back. I'll have to make final decisions about purchasing a trailer and making plans for what I'm putting on it.

Maybe I'll think about it on the trip.

I am so tired.

A place to build.

So, I will have to go with a trailer from TSC and then modify the design used by Scott to build his ledge:

Scott's Vardo

Click on October 2010 for pics. 

Well I spoke to my land lady today. A nice woman 99 years young who has her hair dyed flaming red. She is totally happy to let me build my vardo on the property. Her son who takes care of the properties she owns is another matter entirely.  To quote Ms. Cricket..."He'd blow his top."

So, I'll go talk to friends to see if anyone can lend me yard space, and my realtors to see if she can find me either a place where I can rent to build my Vardo or another house to rent, that wouldn't mind if I was building a vardo.

The Hunt for a Trailer

Plan A: OH DEAR.

Plan B: Total Washout

On to Plan C:

Plan A was to purchase the trailer new from the Tractor Supply Company here in town. But they only have the utility trailers with the the rails around the edges. So I put this on the back burner and moved on to getting a new trailer from Home Depot.

Plan B: Home Depot, can not get me the trailer I want. Very depressing.

Plan C: Next I will check out the  trailer maker in the town an hour south.

Plan D: Is that I return to the TSC and get the trailer with the rails and work around them. (Option has merit as that I can secure the Vardo more firmly to the trailer)

Now this is all hinged onto finding out if the Landlord will allow me to park the trailer here.

But that is a blog post for another day.

A HITCH AT LAST

 

I HAVE A HITCH

Na-na-na-naaaaaaa

Na-na-na-naaaaaa

Hey Hey Hey

GOOODBYE!!!

Total Cost 293.95

Ford Parts : Ford Service

I'll get the mount and ball once I order the... 

TRAILER!!!

Now the Farm Store in town can't order the size trailer I want. 

SOooooooo...

I'm off to the Home Depot in the next big town to see if they can order me the 6x8 I want.

Really Annoyed:

I called the Ford dealership a ten days ago about putting the hitch/tow package on my Truck.

They haven't called. Now I have no time until next Wednesday to arrange getting the truck into to the shop, I have to go into FTW this weekend and elsewhere on Monday and still somewhere else on Tuesday.

Annoyed.

Updates when they occur.

Bummed

I'm waiting to hear from Ford for my trailer hitch install.

I am so bummed right now.

Only good news is that they send me another get a free car key in the mail.

As soon as i am awake and washed and dressed I'll wander down and try the key for a new CAR...

Which I will promptly change into to cash to both pay for my truck I am not selling and for the trailer hitch they are supposed to be putting on my truck. So it's all good.

6PM

Stopped at Ford. Took in my key, didn't win a car (Which I would then sell to pay off the truck...) But I did win a 5 buck Walmart card which I spent on fabric for quilting in April.

And I'm even more bummed...., no more annoyed.. the Parts Department was closed til Monday.

And the TSC store only has the 6x8 trailer with rails, this will require some re-thinking.

Waiting for a Hitch

I've called the Ford Dealership.

They are ordering the part for the hitch.

I was hoping for this Saturday but still no news.

Waiting...


Waiting...
 

Radical new concept

So, I'm at home for the day.

And I check out the tiny home blog.

There is a link to a homeless shelter that has been constructed.

This is a radical new idea for my Vardo.

Tiny Hobbit House

Ok, I'm still working on a hitch. But I'm hoping to have good news after I get paid on the 25th.

Later

Frustrated: Elated

Ok Frustrated.

The legislature has zeroed out the funding for libraries in the state.

Which is a bad thing.

Elated

We are still not yet in a hiring freeze and I have been able to hire a wonderful person for my open position.

I really don't know what this has to do with the vardo.

Just random thoughts while I'm going crazy.

Place Holder

I am run off my feet. Or rather I'm sitting on my butt. I put 25 minutes on my jogger today plus the rough week at work I'm exhausted. The most challenging will be tomorrow when I have to watch the front, clean up my office and get ready to interview four applicants for the open position in my library. I can't decide which hurts more, my brain for thinking about it or my feet from working on it.

Sigh

Superbowl Sunday: Big Whoop

Here we are on Superbowl Sunday. 

Where men with a lot less education then I have will play a game and make more than I will in more than a decade.

The median salary in the NFL in 2009 was roughly $770,000.  [ 15 years at my current salary]

And just in keeping with today's game.  

The Steelers have the highest median salary at $1.1 million,  [22 years at my current salary]

the Packers the lowest at $440,000.[ 10 years at my current salary] *

Ok fine, people like to watch football, when I was in high school I was in the band and had to attend every game. But really do we have to pay these men so much? And this is just the players, lets not forget the coaches and trainers and agents..Agents, when did athletes need to get agents, its a frakin game for goodness sakes. 

What about the people that clean up the stadium, serve the food, sell the merchandise, take the tickets, sell the beer and hot dogs. Trust me the trickle down theory for payment does not include them. 

And then why do they have to make the tickets so expensive? Real people, notice my salary up there folks, could never hope to get a ticket for a pro game anymore. 250 dollars buys a lot of groceries, or rent or car payment/repairs. 

What I guess I'm trying to say is that sports are nice, and a great pass time, but really folks, this is not where we should be spending our money. I would rather be spending it on medical research, education and our infrastructure than watching grown men, play a game with a ball.

And just so you don't think I hate football, because I don't, I'm just not as fanatical as trying to watch the FOUR HOUR PREGAME SHOW!!! That's longer than the game folks....

Go Packers! 

The only sane team in the NFL and the ONLY team that can not be traded or moved. '

The City owns the team. 

*NFL Salaries