Happy October, everyone!
Well, I’ve got something a little fun & different to share today. A few months ago, the wonderful folks at Tiny Home Tours reached out & asked if I would be willing to give a tour of my home, Rivendell, for their YouTube Channel. Tiny Home Tours exists to inspire those wanting to pursue this unique lifestyle by showcasing others who have achieved their dream, whether it’s a tricked-out van or a cabin in the woods. So I couldn’t help but say yes!
For those of you who don’t know, I spent the better parts of 2019-2022 trying my hardest to live a simpler life among the trees by “going tiny”, as they say. It turned into quite the saga, from selling my house in Nashville to buying land in the PNW, from having a custom tiny-house on wheels built to seeing it roll away after a bureaucratic nightmare (during COVID, no less), and then starting over from scratch & building my dream cabin, which I’ve now lived in full-time for over two years. Talk about an unexpected journey! But in the end, it was all worth it.
There are so many others on this path to living tiny & who are reprioritizing their values of what a home can look like. Dwelling in a small space, especially full-time, comes with its own set of creative challenges & limitations. So being intentional with your space is key. It truly is a balance of form & function, which looks different for everyone. And this is what my balance looks like!
The video above is just a teaser, but you can watch the full episode here.
In the end, it’s all about reconnecting to nature. Just like with my book, WILD WONDER, I built Rivendell as a way for me to slow down & live well. And when it comes to curating a living space that I am always inviting others into, I’ve taken great inspiration from… you guessed it, The Lord of the Rings. 🤓 And maybe this will inspire you as you think about your own home, as well!
“Frodo was now safe in the Last Homely House east of the Sea. That house was, as Bilbo had long ago reported, ‘a perfect house, whether you like food or sleep, or story-telling or singing, or just sitting & thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.’ Merely to be there was a cure for weariness, fear & sadness.”
~ JRR Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
WILD WONDER BOOK TOUR
Speaking of tours, I’ve just started the next (& longest) leg of my book tour! Tonight, I’ll be kicking it off in Carlsbad, CA with my friends Roy & Christine Cochran who are hosting an intimate gathering & dinner in their backyard with some good friends.
The next few weeks are going to be filled with so many wonderful reunions & reconnections with friends, both old & new. If you’re in any of these places, I’d love to invite you to come hang & celebrate the beauty of nature with me. Hit me up if you’re able to make it!
Details for each event can be found on my website HERE.
Peace be with you,
Stephen
A Tour of My Home, Rivendell