Our first non-traditional buys for the barn was at a building reuse it/recycling place in Astoria, Queens. We went to look at a commercial used fridge that had been already sold.
What we did find was nine, 8’ x 3’ brand new un-hung, primed interior doors. They were selling them for $35 each and I managed to talk them into selling them to us for $30 each. We will be using them as pocket doors to retain as much wall space and flow as possible.
This really peaked my interest in what kind of savings could we reap by buying gently used or unused new materials for the build. Unless noted, they [...]
Our Big Fat Green Build ~ part two
Our Big Fat Green Build
When the first seed of the idea of building our own house took hold and began germinating it was innocent enough. I compare it to when you start imagining having your first child.
All you imagine is a sweet little, smiling and cooing cherub. You picture pink cheeks, chubby hands and feet.
You don’t picture and or smell the dirty diapers, endless laundry, screaming into the night and sleeping on a hard floor next to a crib that holds your restlessly, sleeping sick baby.
Our little house build has turned into a 14 acre, self sustained farm project of the green kind. This would be no big thing if we were very rich [...]
Perception is nine-tenths of the Problem
How we look at things can make all the difference in the world. Our own personal world *bubble* as well as the big picture.
I was sitting in my car, stopped due to road works, just outside the high school in my town recently. I was being a good doobie and had not blocked the car parks exit. I was happily waving folks out who couldn’t see to pull out and head down the other way, feeling all my karma points racking up when bliss turned to confusion.
A male adult, sitting in his new Toyota was lightening his cigarette with a match and tossed the spent match out onto the pavement. [...]