How to Eat During a Remodel (or Repair) of a Kitchen

They finally started on the ceiling! But not before I found a scorpion in my bedroom a couple of nights ago (no doubt from the open ceiling). I was livid.

Jammy, the cat to the rescue though. He found it and started batting it around. It gave me enough time to smash it into a new reincarnation. 

The crew arrived May 1st, exactly one month since the ceiling caved in. This gave me plenty of time to set up "house" on the other side of the house.

We're lucky because our house is long, but divided in half between the front facing and the back facing. We live primarily in the back. Kitchen, living room, and a breakfast nook, along with bedrooms and bathrooms.

The other side is what I call the "company side". Dogs aren't allowed there so it stays relatively clean and fur-free. This side also has a living and dining room, bedrooms and bathroom.

We started by moving a heavy table (from the breakfast nook) that I could use as a makeshift kitchen. I covered the surface with a heat resistant pad normally used for outdoor grills. I happened to pick it up at a garage sale still in its cellophane wrapper for a dollar.

I set up the toaster oven and Greg's coffeemaker. This is where I fixed Danish, frozen mini pizzas, and egg rolls.

Next up were pet essentials: dog beds, food, water, treats, and Nana's medications. 

Since there's a tv and a dvd player in the front half, all we needed was an assortment of dvds. We actually needed the noisy distraction since the work crew made a racket and were constantly talking. 

We did make sure that one of us was always with the dogs. Odin knows how to open doors, and he was not fond of the noisy strangers. 

Following is a list of things we needed and used while we were ousted from the kitchen. Also a few things to do while strangers are in the house. I hope you find it useful.

• Paper plates
  
  
• Utensils
  
  
• Can opener
  
  
• Paper towels
  
  
• Cloth towels for wiping drool, spills, or crumbs
  
  
• A cutting board
  
  
• Tv tables or small card table
  
  
• A cooler for cold drinks. We happen to have an extra refrigerator in the garage, so I stored any refrigerated drinks and snacks out there.
  
  
• Pillows (Sitting for long periods can get uncomfortable.)
  
  
• Blanket (We like to keep the house cool while people are working on it. I think they do a better job if they're comfortable, even if it means it's too cool for us.)
  
  
• Pen and paper
  
  
• Snacks, both sweet and savory. Because we were so put out we weren't inclined to eat much. A snack was enough to get us through. If we were really hungry at dinner time, we opted to eat out once the crew had left.
  
  
• Human meds. If people are working in your house, there's going to be a lot of racket. Tylenol helps. Don't forget to keep your prescription meds nearby. You don't want to have to hunt for your meds while strangers are in your house.
  
  
• Hide money, meds, and guns. Cuz, well, strangers are in your house.
  
  
• Show the workers where the bathroom is so they don't end up opening any other doors. They'll appreciate that you offered them a bathroom. I've been told some people don't allow work crews to use their bathrooms. That seems cruel to me.
  
  
• Keep any other doors closed. This prevents accidental entry and slows down dust. There's always a lot of dust, no matter how well they drape the area. 
  
  
• If you have pets, keep them secured. Jammy, the cat is terrified of strangers. Odin plants himself firmly between the door and us, while Nana has a bark that can wake the dead. We always warn people to knock first. Never open a door unless you want a 135 pound rottweiler in your face.

The first day was very long. The crew stayed long past their expected time of departure because it was all sheetrock and plastering work. It has to dry for a couple of days before the painter takes over. Meanwhile, the cabinetmaker shows up in between plasterers and painters to fix the damaged cabinet and the crown molding.

The dogs were exceptionally good. We were exceptionally tired. It's funny how doing nothing all day can keep you edgy and tired at the same time. 

To make matters even more tense, Nana took a turn for the worse Sunday night. I'm calling the vet first thing this morning. I'm hoping it's just her back leg and nothing more serious. She's on so many medications now for skin and pain, but none of them seem to work anymore. Send some good thoughts her way.

By the end of this week, I should have my kitchen back. I hope the same for my dog.

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