Yurt in the Holler

Today has been a day of hard work and inspiration.  We are decluttering today, and catching up on some much needed cleaning.  I think we are all tired.  We drove around the neighborhoods, too, after taking a Taco Bell break (yes, I know, but we had been cleaning all day!).  I knew there was a house that had a yurt in the yard, and the owner was friendly.  So we found it again, and there was another yurt added!  I adore yurts, and they bring me so much joy.  I have read books and done research on the internet about yurts, but I have never been inside a yurt, or stayed in a yurt or seen a real live yurt.  Something about living in the round just really gets me going.  So anyways, we ended up talking to this very nice owner, and he was telling us about living off grid right in Prescott.  What we could see of the yurts looked so beautiful!
When we got home, we were completely inspired again.  We came home and found the best spot for our little yurt getaway.  This will allow more room inside the house for our children.  And for my brother-in-law.  We have some work to do to clear the area that we have chosen, and we are going to fence it in first (with a pallet fence, anyone have a collection of pallets?), then put up the yurt!  And water runoff from the mountain to divert.  With a wood stove and a humanure toilet, we will be good to go.  Scott and I are planning to use the yurt as a bedroom.  Then when we move, the yurt goes with us.  We are thinking to put the yurt on a platform of pallets, top that off with some plywood, then put down some heavy rugs.  The yurt is going to be a small one, just enough for the stove, toilet, and bed.  No electricity.  Kerosene lamps and candles.
The other project we are starting is a compost bin.  We are also making this out of pallets and galvanized wire.  We might also start a worm compost.  Under the sink.  Because we are starting a garden!  Yippee!  Pet worms!  I think the kids might like that project.  Maybe I will put them in charge of doing it.  They can decorate it and paint it and name it.  Sounds like fun, maybe I don't really want to let the kids do it after all.  Nah.  I might let them do it.  Possibly. 
I am really looking forward to what tomorrow might bring.  We certainly have our work cut out for us. 
PS. For dinner, Scott made ham and mashed potatoes.  I made corn and heated up dinner rolls.  Scott kicked me out of the kitchen at the end.  : )  I did the dishes.  Scott says that I did half of the dishes.  And he dried and put away, too.