Our Cottage Bungalow. It's Cute. It's Quaint. It's Cozy.

Over the past seven years I've walked you through our previous houses in Oman, Israel, and in India. Though back then I usually had trouble limiting the number of pictures I was going to post due to the expansive size our homes.

This rental house? Not so much trouble at all.

Don't get me wrong. I like it a lot. It's just cozy... which in the real estate business doesn't just mean small, it means, ohmygawdthisplaceissofreakintinyitsinsane.

On a good day, this house is maybe 1000 square feet. Not that I'm complaining too much because, hey, I'm cleaning it myself. But when four people have to go to the bathroom at the same time, I can at least tell one of them to go in his pants... the rest of us have to wait our turn and do the potty dance together.

I took the house sight unseen because after finally deciding what I was looking for (a 9-month lease, fully furnished, had to accommodate the dog, had an attached garage, and was in a community where the kids could ride their bikes), the pickings were very slim. In fact, the only area where I could find a house like this was wayyyyyy down on the Newport Peninsula. Ten miles past BFE. After looking at the realtor websites, Craigslist, and on VRBO, my in-laws ran into a neighbor and local realtor who owned this house and was looking for a winter cycle tenant. When I spoke to her, she said she was thrilled to have a nice family living in her home, and not only did she accommodate all my needs, but she significantly lowered the monthly rent. As it was getting close to our departure time from India, I needed to have everything relatively squared away before our packout and move, and I was sold.

However, I was also sold a small bill of goods.

The house, which was supposed to be a fully furnished 3 bedroom, 2 bath, is not exactly that. Yes, it technically has three bedrooms and two bathrooms, but the third and second are more of a guest house in back. Detached from the house. As in, you have to walk through the kitchen door, go outside, down a step and walk about 6 feet to the door, that you then unlock to go into the third. A room that I'm clearly not having any of us sleep in. Because you can't hear a thing. I was also under the impression that fully furnished meant that the kitchen and bathroom were fully stocked. As in, the kitchen had a variety of cooking utensils, pots and pans, and the bathroom ... well, I'd just be happy if it had two hand towels.

So instead of having room to spread out, I now have the kids all bunking in one room, I'm in the other, and we're sharing a bathroom. It's rather cozy. And I've spent more money this week stocking the house at Target than I probably would have spent if I moved into a year lease and had all my stuff shipped in from India. Bygones.

But at least I only have to clean one toilet. Remember, I don't do toilets.

This is the view when you walk inside the house.
This is the entire house.
Don't blink. You may miss part of the house.
And yes, those are cans on the couches. To keep the dog off.
We leave them on all the time. We're klassy that way.

The kitchen. With my BOB outside.
And my Viking range.
Yes, it is a Viking range. And I am in heaven.




My bedroom. Our bathroom.
Though with the amount of times the kids come into my room at night
I should also classify it as "our" room.




The kids room. They love the bunk beds.
Grady loves sleeping in his pack n' play. He's comfy'ish
Libby has her own area too. Smack dab in the middle of the house.
To watch over everyone. Or coat them in dog hair.