Perhaps I shouldn't even say this - and maybe it's just all the in the way that the writing hit me today - but I found the description to be a bit ... well, pretentious. Maybe I should read deeper into the blog and see if I get a better feel.

But I do love that house...and that amazing fireplace...how did they do that ??? is it sand ??? and the tea pot...not sure how they did that either...charming. c

Maybe even more perfect just for one. I can see living in a place like that all alone. (Well, maybe I'd have to have a cat.) I love my husband, but I don't eat and breathe his words, and I do love my solitude, so having a place to escape by myself is a vital part of living as a couple in my world.

Most of the lighthouse keepers got larger dwellings, eventually.

There's a lot of pretentiousness in the world and I don't find it any worse when it's in a small package than when it's in a large package. It's pretty hard to be simple in this country today, yet you can always find someone simpler, as well as someone more grand.

The art of conversation is fine, indeed, and I wonder whether my husband and I could ever develop it to a fine and satisfying subtle level (where we talked to each other like Jane Austen's characters, all layered and nuanced) even if we lived in a sweet house like this. Maybe if we'd been working on it for 25 years..... It's a nice fantasy... books, minds, God.

The books are all luxuriously bound, from what I see ; and about the books, she said

"that it was not until I saw them all together, illuminated by the fire at Innermost House, that I realized nearly every one was first written by firelight."

I do not understand that .

All the elements of the house are soothing and nice to look at, inviting.
Although I can't wrap my head around living with another being in such a small space.

thanks trail for sharing this, it's indeed fascinating.

Also read the innermosthouse site and suspect there are a few interesting stories we are not told. Their lifestyle certainly is not for most of us and how they came to it would be illuminating. It would be fascinating to hear either of these people speak.

The lady, not so much.

DLM caught what puzzled me as well. What exactly does her husband do as a confidant to public figures? And why does a 'partner and friend' give them land to build a house? What exactly is this special kind of conversation he makes possible?

Clearly I have a petty and salacious mind because it rang a warning bell in my mind when I read it, of something that seems a bit shady. Actually tried to google the husband's name but all that comes up is stuff related to her blog and the house. Odd.

I like the mindfulness that she expresses well in places...really one with her environment . I would be interested also in hearing how they come to be "what they are".

He is obviously well connected as is she and from wealth or at least presently very well taken care of. The person on who's land they live gave it to them and is one of her DH's confiders. I believe that the purpose he serves would be similar to a therapist but the person using him would not , for whatever reason want to admit to that relationship. What they have to confide would probably curl your hair...these are people with great power. I am surprised she shares his occupation as I would think it could lead to consequences. Wouldn't take a very smart detective long to find who and where he sees these men...oh well...not going to spend anymore time thinking about that :)

pal ...only thing I think you may be missing is he has the followers that pay the bills...men that use him and he uses them...that is what makes the world go round. It appears they have a symbiotic relationship. She says what is not there is due to her and what is there is due to him...very interesting !

Oh well I love the house and think we could probably do OK together there. We spend a lot of time in pretty close proximity and have 42 yrs together come Feb. Breathing each others words...well...maybe not :)

Glad to see such an interesting convo on this. Hope to hear more . c

Could it be ashes in the fireplace? I love some of the pictures on the blog, particularly the still life photo, with the sink, the radishes, carrots - it is just lovely and I think really represents the mood of the cabin as a whole.

I'm not that into what she is selling either, but she isn't *that* terrible. I'm all for promoting meaningful conversation. Although when I have guests over meaningful conversation is typically lost by the third bottle of wine or mojito! Oh well, we try.

So the images of that cozy sitting/reading/conversation area are powerful. Regardless of size that is something that I think is a wonderful image and goal to strive toward in any home: creating that 'center' in which those who live can feel utterly comfortable and protected.

But I still wonder just what the heck kind of services the husband is providing :). Trail, the kind of sensitive personal issues the powerful might need to confide seemingly would be better served by seeing a licensed professional who is bound by legal and ethical considerations...not a 'partner and confidant'. As we've seen all too often and just recently those kinds of special relationships can end up very, very badly in a very, very public way when things go wrong!

Ann

My theory is that he is a qualified psychotherapist to the very wealthy and powerful. I find it interesting that there is no google response to his name. That is difficult in this day and age. Even little ol' me gets a google response! One has to wonder how he finds his clients or how they find him. My theory about her is that she is a former nun. He may also have a religious background, perhaps in the priesthood.

OK, I'm now off to write my next novel! LOL

I surmised that they were growing psychedelic 'shrooms in the woods, which is the true impetus for all those scintillating fireside chats.

Where's the TV? Sorry, couldn't resist.

How do they entertain with only two chairs & no room for anything else? She said they invite people over. I call dibs on a chair! lol

I found this sentence a bit contradictory: "It is the latest of many very small houses my husband and I have occupied over twenty-five years, all for the same reason�to make possible a simple life of reflection and conversation."

I guess all they talk about is building the next house? I'd be exhausted!

Again, it's beautiful and I could handle that in my backyard. I think my dh would love one and I could see him sleeping in it. lol

hahasunny...shrooms...boy do you date yourself !

The photographs are beautiful - some put me in mind of Vermeer - and everything so pristine and polished.

After reading through the entries in "Selected Writings," I found myself wondering how exactly you turn four ideas and utter self involvement into a high virtue.

I would be bored to the point of homicide in a week.

I did a quick search and looks like he is/was a professor at a Michigan University? My guess is he counsels (consoles?) people on end of life issues.

Pal--you took the words right out of my mouth.

Here's another pleasant small house (but definitely not so romantic), and I have to say I'd rather the meet the woman who lives in this one:

::sigh::

dee...if you look you will see that prof has a different spelling of his last name. Her talks are free it says and yes it is a conundrum..peace and tranquility without the elitist overtones.

Is she dying? She's alluding to losing her Innermost House. The "Conversation." WTH?

Are they couseling people on giving up Christianity and becoming Athiests? lol.

How is Michael important? Diana just rambles and doesn't get to any point.

What am I missing? My curiosity is really up now.

Awesome, oakley! You truly made me LOL.

Does Michael even exist? After spending way too much time googling this story I finally found a tiny supposed picture of him (gray beard) with Diana. It was on Kent Griswold's tinyhouseblog. Griswold writes about visiting them and being overcome with such a perfect experience. There were no real details other than the constant reiteration of the perfection of it all.

There were also a lot more pictures than are contained in the link above. The house is in a heavy forest, and its exterior is surrounded by a yard that consists of perfectly placed, raked gravel that has been perfectly curved along the edges of the trees. There is not one single leaf on the gravel. How do you live in a forest and have no leaves on the ground? The effect is very Zen.

Back to Michael. We can't find any example of his words or writing. Does he exist as a functioning person?

Sorry, I found the whole thing rather unappealing. Why would anyone voluntarily live in an area of twelve square feet? Being mindful of one's carbon footprint, eschewing an excess of possessions to simplify one's life, these things I can understand. Her response to these issues, however, is irrational. It's like an overweight person who, instead of going on a sensible diet and losing the excess, makes herself anorexic. Pretentious doesn't even scratch the surface, IMO.

IMO the tiny house is staged, there is no way 2 people live in that house full time. I think it's a metaphor for what they are selling. And I know that sounds cynical but when people are all over the net, even on facebook, there is a product somewhere.

Olychick, the law prof spells his name differently - Michael Anthony Lawrence vs. Michael Anthony Lorence.

However, since doing this little bit of research I found the blog linked below and am beginning to see how I can apply "the Innermost principle" to myself. I think by "interviewing my Innermost self" I might more easily know how to decorate my house, choose clothing, and generally make better choices for my life. It's something I've personally been doing (or attempting to do) for awhile altho have never seen it in quite this way.

My Innermost house will never be a tiny 144 sq.ft. zen abode but thinking about this concept has been a valuable learning experience.

Trailrunner - don't worry; this has been a most interesting thread! I have had this house on my mind since you first posted; it has posed some provocative questions about simplicity, mindfulness, and identity.

Living there as a single would be one thing, but as a couple? Not for long....one of us would wind up killing the other for sure.

I agree with the others though about this place being staged. First of all, if a couple lives there and then has someone over for private and deep conversation, where does the other person go? Does someone get banished to the toilet or the front porch? Second, if you are heating water in the fireplace to bathe in, how the heck do you get the pot past those chairs? Third, do you wear any clothing in this house? If so, where do you put them? Fourth, if you are living in a space and living with your books, they don't all come so beautifully bound and arranged like encyclopedias. At 3x5, barely a phone booth, what can one do in the study besides stand there...whatever work surface is available would seem to be taken up by displayed dictionaries.

Would someone tell me what is in the basket hanging in what I assume is the potty? It looks like a basket full of hawks feathers???? Do they not use t. paper???

If this is on the property of a friend, I suspect they are in the friends house quite often making use of modern conveniences and use this place like camping out in a solid tent...with running water. That at least makes sense to me.

"I am Diana Lorence of Innermost House. For seven years my husband and I lived in an unelectrified, twelve-foot-square house hidden in the woods, in a world lit only by fire. Our life in the woods answered my deepest need for something the world has left behind. But the house was hidden in a way I could not openly share. Now we have gone to seek a new Innermost House where we may offer a wider hospitality. This journal is a record of home-leaving and home-seeking. It is a sojourner's retreat for conversation and all things concerning Innermost House and the Innermost Life wherever is lived, in the Woods or in the World."

It's a beautiful house. I love the bookshelves. But even as a single person, I'd need a tiny bit more room to live there full-time. As a retreat, it would be fine.

But Oakly, so Funny!!

I don't see how they can take themselves off Google, though. The more hits, the further up the page one gets. Interesting.

Annie was spot on about the staging, etc. And putting large dictionaries out in much needed space?

I don't believe for a MOMENT that they lived there 24/7. Nope. There's absolutely no sign of life. I think they have a larger house somewhere and maybe go to the little one in their free time, or on weekends.

I'm not buying it.

thank you sochi...I agree.

oakley..yep just as bumble said..no reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater !!

wriersblock - very cool !! They have a lot more examples on their website at Tumbleweed than they used to years ago when I first looked at them. Hers is quite charming and livable. Thank you !!

I'm guessing the blog owner saw lots of hits on her blog from here. Will show up in statistics and decided to remove some pics for privacy purposes. Since google searches what is out on the Web it will only show what is available somewhere online, unless they happen to have a cached copy.

The name "Innermost House" leads me to believe they're giving a nod to Henry Beston's "The Outermost House" which chronicles a year he spent living in a tiny cottage on what is now Coast Guard Beach on Cape Cod.

I kept thinking, if that's all I had, even I could keep it that spotless!
I wonder what they clean and polish with, and where they keep it?

I'd like to see the bathroom, or do they use chamber pots?

I'm also kind of kerflummoxed about the open fire cooking. Everyone had stoves a hundred and fifty years ago because they were so much more fuel-efficient (open range/open fire cooking was reserved for meat cooking in the homes of the very wealthy), besides making it easy to heat water and bake. (Although the fireplace is lovely, despite my concerns about having a charcoal grill inside for cooking/water heating.)

It's possible they have running water--I lived in a *very* remote place a long time ago and we had running water if someone pumped it up the hill into the cistern so that it could run down again. I suspect she doesn't do the pumping, though.

There are so many questions I'd like answers to. In one post she talks about putting eggs and sweet potatoes in the pot overnight to cook for breakfast. Wouldn't that make either extremely overcooked eggs or undercooked sweet potatoes? I admit that cooking style would make meal-making so much simpler altho I know I'd be bored with eating veggies cooked that way every day. Also in this last video she shows the bathroom which seems to have 2 (shower?) faucets on the wall. I know in one post she said they took sponge baths using water heated over the fire. Curious.

I have the feeling there is much that is deliberately hidden in this story. Why is she away on weekends and not able to answer blog questions? Where do they go? Probably don't live without electricity or running water then.

Apparently she blogs from her small rented office space.

The Luddite thing got me also. Anyone that intelligent and who has had so many 'conversations' must have heard the term. Altho perhaps their 'conversations' are on more esoteric subjects. Love to be a fly on the wall. My curiosity knows no bounds - I must rein it in! LOL

I agree that something doesn't add up or isn't being fully shared. Which is their prerogative, if they are honest with themselves and their "followers".

Yes, but both the blog and the video say they don't, which is why I'm guessing some kind of cistern. Yet another of the inconsistencies. She sure has a lot of water pressure for a cistern, though.