This Week Did NOT Go As Planned - Tiny House Reality Check

Day 59 in our tiny house journey, and this week taught us an important lesson: sometimes life doesn't just throw you a curveball—it cancels the entire game, reschedules, then delivers the wrong equipment.

We had high hopes for this week. The calendar was packed with progress: skirting installation, punch list completion, and carport construction moving forward. So much potential! And then... reality had other plans.

Contractor Roulette: Who Will Show Up Today?

Punch list day arrived with promise. Our builder's team came ready to tackle the 39 items we'd carefully documented. By day's end, they'd fixed an impressive 33 issues—from leaky faucets to loose fireplace bricks and everything in between.

But a few of those last 6 items? The ones we particularly cared about? Still waiting.

Our closet rods remain positioned at what can only be described as "toddler height." Our paperwork clearly indicates we should have a porch light. Yet there is no porch light to be found. The soft close drawers are a bit of an oxymoron--because it takes two or three shoves before the soft close engages.

The Disappearing Carport Crew

Monday through Wednesday, our carport construction team was a flurry of activity. Drilling, sawing, hammering, significant progress. Things were looking up!

Thursday morning? Crickets. Empty driveway.

Friday? More of the same nothing.

We've discovered that "project manager" is apparently code for "your dog staring forlornly out the window, waiting for someone—anyone—to arrive." At least she's dedicated to the position.

The weekend brought a surprise return, so we're back to cautious optimism. Very cautious.

The Skirting Saga

Friday was supposed to be Skirting Day. After weeks of waiting, we were ready. Then came the call: they received the wrong color from the manufacturer.

Why does skirting matter so much? Because without it, we can't install fencing for our dogs. These patient four-legged family members have gone from a spacious fenced yard they enjoyed for 9 years to four months of leash-required outings. That's approximately 47 trips outside daily, in all weather conditions.

Monday is now the new target day. We'll see what happens.

Finding Control in Chaos

When the big plans crumble, you turn to what you can control. For us, that meant focusing on small improvements that make daily life better.

We stained and put up some kitchen shelves with baskets hanging from the bottom—transforming our morning routine from a competition for counterspace to organized efficiency. In tiny house living, these small organizational victories feel disproportionately satisfying.

The loft space got some new night stands that fit perfectly. Until now, glasses, phones and small lamps were on the floor-like the college days!

And that one corner that had become the "I'll deal with it later" zone? Finally conquered. In 399 square feet, there's no room for project supply corners. Reclaiming even a small space makes the entire house feel more spacious.

These aren't Instagram-worthy transformations. They won't go viral or win design awards. But they make living here easier, and that's what matters.

The Invisible-But-Critical Fix

While the visual projects stalled, one crucial improvement did happen: addressing the drainage issues around our foundation. After last month's heavy rains, we noticed concerning water pooling that needed attention.

When your entire home sits just a few feet off the ground, proper water management isn't optional—it's essential. The solution involved redirecting gutters and strategic grading work around the perimeter.

Now we're in the "monitoring effectiveness" phase—a fancy way of saying we watch puddle patterns during rainstorms. It's not glamorous, but it's the kind of maintenance that prevents bigger problems down the road.

Measuring Progress Differently

Was it a good week or a bad one? The answer depends entirely on how you measure progress.

Did we get everything we hoped for? No. Some punch list items were unresolved, but honestly, we weren't expecting all of them to be fixed. The carport stands half-complete. Skirting is still a future dream.

But we adapted. We focused on what we could control. We made our space more functional. We practiced patience.

This is the reality of tiny house living that doesn't always make it to perfectly curated social media feeds. It's not always dramatic transformations and stunning reveals. Sometimes it's just waiting, adapting, and finding small victories amid the unexpected challenges.

Looking Ahead (Cautiously)

As we close this "sideways" week, we're maintaining cautious optimism about what's next:

The skirting team is scheduled for tomorrow morning. The dogs have been keeping count—120 days without a fence and counting. Their expectant faces at the window are both heartwarming and guilt-inducing.

We have a meeting scheduled with the construction company about pet fencing next week—another step toward canine freedom.

And the carport? It might be finished soon. Or not. We've learned not to make predictions.

Perhaps the biggest lesson this week has taught us is that tiny house living isn't just about adapting to smaller space—it's about adapting expectations. Progress happens, but rarely on the timeline or in the way you anticipate.

The journey continues—sometimes sideways, sometimes forward, but always moving.

Until next time,

-Kathy & Bryan

Learning as we go

What about you? Have you ever had a week where nothing went according to plan? What home improvement project took far longer than expected? Or what "rustic charm" feature have you decided to just live with rather than fix? Share your experiences in the comments below!

To see our "sideways" week in action, check out our latest YouTube video where we walk through the rollercoaster in detail.

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