Two containers, one crane, prepared foundations — and a piece of land that had other plans.
Everything was ready.
The foundations were finished, our house had been built, and the date for our container house installation was set. Because our land holds a lot of water, we wanted to do this as early in spring as possible, before everything started growing again.
Our house was made from two containers, arriving separately on two trucks. The crane arrived on time. The trucks were already waiting nearby.
It sounded like a fairly simple plan.
When the ground had other plans
Before the house could arrive, the crane had to get into exactly the right position.
And that was where the plan changed.
The ground was still much wetter than it looked, and while getting into position, the crane sank.
For a while, our house waited on the trucks while a new plan was being made. More machinery, more material and a few unexpected hours were suddenly needed before anything could move again.
Not quite the smooth installation day we had imagined.
But eventually, the crane was back where it needed to be.
And then our house started to fly
The first part was lifted from the truck and slowly moved towards the foundations.
Watching something that would soon become your home hanging several metres above the ground is a strange feeling.
And then came the second half.
Two separate containers, built elsewhere, finally meeting here.
A few hours earlier there had been an empty piece of land and a crane stuck in the mud.
Now there was a house.
Since the excavator was already here…
Waiting for the crane to be rescued had one unexpected advantage.
There was time — and machinery — to start another project.
The beginning of our pond.
Not exactly part of the plan for moving day, but then again, very little about that day went according to plan.
Worth the wait
By the time everything was finally in place, the light was disappearing.
The machines became quiet, the house was where it belonged, and after a day that had started with a very stuck crane, we got this.
Sometimes the best part of a plan is the part you never planned.
And that was the first evening our house stood here.
A little later, the house would get one of our favourite features — its green roof.