As work on our remodel has now extended into the part of the house we've been living in, our cat, Pipig (Swedish for "squeaky"), is no longer able to hide out in relative bliss in the back of my bedroom closet. Yesterday, for the first time in months, she was confined to her screened catio on the south side of the house, adjacent to the living room. Now, she loves her catio and, prior to the start of renovations, she spent lots of time out there watching what was going on in the garden. But she expects to be able to re-enter the house whenever she choses. That's not possible at the moment with workmen going in and out, handling materials hazardous to cats and such.
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| She squawked at me constantly from her catio prison and, when I entered, immediately left per perch on the cat walk to scold me and demand her release. (I expect she doesn't register that I cleaned it from top to bottom and that it's been freshly painted.) |
After the workmen left yesterday, we let her come through to check out what's happening in the area under renovation.
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| She wasn't impressed by the front entry, probably wondering where the rug she liked to use to sharpen her claws has gone |
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| The living room was more interesting and she really liked the fireplace, giving it a roll of approval even in its half-finished state |
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| She displayed disdain for the kitchen, seemingly perplexed as to why we've made all this fuss over it, and annoyed to find her food bowls were nowhere to be found. (What she doesn't know is that we've carved out a special feeding station on one end of the island just for her.) |
Pipig may not be impressed by the new kitchen but I think it's looking pretty good. Assuming no more unexpected complications, we should be on track to be done by Thanksgiving.
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| The cabinets, countertops, and backsplash are in. Now it just needs flooring, appliances, and lights. |
I look forward to being able to watch the sunrise from the kitchen window.
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| View of the harbor from the back garden at sunrise |
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All material © 2012-2019 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party
A look speaks louder than words: #3 photo of the first set pretty much says it all re:Pipig's thoughts on your reno. Your new kitchen is so lovely especially with that gorgeous window view.
ReplyDeletePipig is incensed that she's not allowed to wander the house at will, Elaine. For some reason, she rapidly came to terms with the closet but she isn't accepting the catio, even though that's a space with which she was previously acquainted. I guess the difference is that she chose to hide in the closet while being penned up in the catio was imposed on her.
DeleteWhat a hilarious post! Her language is so expressive, and as I've said before - Pipig has a great name. Whether she approves or not, I love your new kitchen, Kris! No doubt, you will have a fabulous Thanksgiving. Will you have a house full of people to celebrate with?
ReplyDeleteWe have no plans to host Thanksgiving dinner as completion by that date isn't guaranteed - and I suspect we'll be in recovery mode for some time after the construction crew clears out. I was hoping to have at least a small open house for friends in December but that depends upon how fast we can rebound from this exhausting renovation process.
DeletePoor Pipig, she must be so confused. I love that you've worked a feeding station into the new kitchen. And that window is spectacular.
ReplyDeleteShe adapted surprisingly well to spending days in my closet, even seeking it out on weekends whenever my husband starting making noise with projects of his own. It's only been 2 days that she's been out in the catio but she's not showing any signs of accepting that at this point.
DeleteHow exciting! The end is in sight and just in time for the holidays. Everyone will want to come to your house to check it all out. And the view from the kitchen window - amazing! So glad for you, that you're almost to the end.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be better still if Pipig and I could check ourselves into a local hotel for a few weeks, Cindy ;) This week's activity, which includes painting the interior spaces we've been holed up in for the past 4 months, is the most intrusive part of the process yet. We're moving personal belongings from one room to another, trying to stay ahead of the painters.
DeleteCats have a highly developed sense of entitlement! I can only imagine how my Gilbert would react to the disruption that Pipig has had to endure. I bet you are starting to zoom in on the light at the end of the tunnel !
ReplyDeleteI was pleasantly surprised at how well Pipig handled the first 4 months of the process, Kathy (although I swear she's showing her age, 12, to a greater extent that she was beforehand). Now, she's pissed and insistent on expressing her feelings.
DeleteLoved seeing Pipig as the tour guide for the renovation. <3 What an upheaval it has been for all of you! Kitchen is looking great and I love that wide view window. It's going to awesome to start every day there. Almost done, a month to go!
ReplyDeletePatience is wearing thin on all our parts but I suspect we'll make it to the finish line without filing for divorce - or running away from home.
DeleteIKR? This is why I don't think we could live through another renovation. Still have PTSD from the last one. ;)
DeleteYou can bet I won't be doing this again, Eliza!
DeleteI want to thank Pipig for the tour of her catio and the new remodel. I could tell she didn't particularly like the front entry. Those ears told the story. Ha... It is good to see that she will like the rest of it. You will have to get that rug ready for some serious scratching. Love that kitchen window.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's already complaining about buying more rugs for Pipig's use!
DeleteThanks for touring us Pipig! And wow, that new kitchen window is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThe window makes the room, at least in this case, Loree. I was thinking about where to hang the pictures I took down before we started demo, and suddenly realized, there isn't any place for them. The kitchen is now all window and cabinets.
DeleteCats have such an amazing spatial sense -- just rearranging the furniture sets them on an adventure. I can imagine Pipig is having a fine time exploring. It's all looking good, Kris!
ReplyDeletePipig will be much happier when all the "intruders" are gone, Denise!
DeleteWell if you make the deadline Thanksgiving will be a pretty special one this year. Keep going, it's the last stretch that seems to go on forever. It's getting chilly here now. The woodburner is installed but with no furniture to sit on around it I still have to be content with my study, grumbling all the time about how cold my toes are!
ReplyDeleteWe won't be prepared to host anyone for Thanksgiving as it's going to take a good deal of time just to pull the house back into some semblance of order but it will be very nice not to have to wake up before dawn every day to take care of a dozen things before workers take over the house, consigning us to an increasingly small footprint. And your're right, the last stretch seems the longest, if only because it's pushed into the little portion of the house we'd previously managed to hold onto.
DeleteLooking good! Best luck to be done soon. Will be great to have a happy Pipig again.
ReplyDeleteBetween the heat, confinement to her cat porch, and an increasing number of "invaders," I think Pipig will be really happy when she regains use of the full house - and her catio.
DeleteI'm so glad you are on the last lap.It is going to be worth it, what a lovely new kitchen and with a view like that, how wonderful. I'm sure Pipig will approve when it's finished.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's afraid Pipig will decide to hang out on the new kitchen countertops. She's never done that before but the view of nocturnal wildlife may be compelling.
DeleteWow! Pipig (every time I say her name, it makes me smile - I love it!) may not be impressed, but I sure am...that kitchen is glorious!
ReplyDeleteHopefully, it'll look better still once the floor is in and the dropcloths are gone ;)
DeleteI was wondering how Pipig would cope, with the noise, and the intruders.
ReplyDeleteOFF the counter! On winter mornings Zoe reclines on the ceramic hob, just there, to catch the first of the morning sun.
Pipig has spent the majority of her days in my bedroom closet, where she feels safe. She likes it there so much that she's taken to diving into it even when we don't have any workers in the house.
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