Still Under Renovation...

The electrical work is coming to a close, the doorway has been expanded, the old flooring has been removed. Plumbing is on the horizon but should go much more quickly. When we get to the stage for putting in new wall board, I'll be positively giddy.

There are paint colors under consideration, though I am leaning toward a nice bright white to lighten things up. The tile for the floor has been found and will not break the budget at $2.00 per square foot as both the kitchen and entry are tiny. The kitchen is 8x8 feet. The entry and hall are quite short, but should look nice when all is said and done. The counters will be a granite tile with the smallest grout line possible rather than a slab of stone since I'm on a budget and the cabinets are a step up from what I had.

The wires in my old kitchen light were brittle and broken once it was removed, so I'll be sourcing another. My contractor purchased a small overhead light for his garage but put it in here temporarily so that I would have light in the kitchen.

While the inches gained from the door expansion have me over the moon, aside from the physical alterations there has been a change in routine that has opened my eyes. The contractor appears at nine and most days works through to four or five. This means that I must be up by seven to take care of the cat, dress, feed both of us and tidy the bits that I can prior to his arrival. Both the cat and I have had earlier nights with no blogs, phone calls, visitors or other distractions and outings only for food and household necessities. We've been going to bed early and enjoying the quiet once the contractor departs. I have shifted my yoga and meditation to evening and have noticed a change in sleep pattern. I still often wake at 4 AM but find it easier to return to some semblance of slumber.

The downside here is the diet of frozen and microwave-only food upon which I must rely for another two weeks or so. Yesterday, after my stomach registered its discontent, I found myself in the neighborhood Target staring at photos on the boxes of frozen foods and trying to determine which had the most vegetables, the greenest broccoli or the best variety. I then bought a large salad from a nearby restaurant and ate it for breakfast this morning.

If any of you have any tips on getting through renovations successfully, feel free to comment. At this point, I'm game for almost anything.

Happy weekend!

Ya Gotta Be Kidding Me...

This is day five of my small kitchen renovation. More of the walls are gone, and one side of my front room has no electricity since the conduit and wiring were mistakenly removed and are due to be re-done on Monday. Aside from that, there is some plumbing to be dealt with before new drywall can be put in place, so still a bit to go.

While I am grateful that the contractor is methodical and realize that it is difficult trying to undo what another has done beneath walls at earlier points in time, if you sense my disappointment at not being further along, you've pegged it.

Aside from disliking microwave meals, I have little privacy during the day because the place is so small. The cat, who dislikes being confined, is coping with the situation admirably. Of course, it helps that he is friendly, curious and sociable. When let out, he is talked to, scratched and petted. What's not to like? An added plus is that once he's had his tour, he's content to stay in my lap. If only I were as easily mollified.

My new appliances await in a warehouse. The cabinets? Probably another week or so. Flooring and paint? Still to be decided upon...

First world, all of it. I hope I never have to do this again.

Happy weekend and a great summer to all.