This is what my kitchen floor looks like right now. This is the part that used to have cabinets and appliances and running water.
I know this has nothing to do with the subject of this blog, but every now and then, it's good to add something totally random to the mix, right?
Actually, the real reason I need to interrupt the travel-and-outdoors theme of this blog to write this brief post about my kitchen renovation is so I don't go crazy. When you're a writer, writing is how you make sense of the chaos around you.
And believe me, it's chaos.
Calling it an adventure would be a bit of an understatement -- anyone who has trodden this path before me I think would agree.
Here are a few things I did not realize before I embarked upon this "adventure":
*A kitchen is a major, essential part of a home. Eliminating it makes life hell.
*Starting a kitchen remodel right after you return from vacation makes the post-vacation catch-up game harder to deal with.
*If you do not have a way to cover the construction zone from the rest of your house, expect to find everything you own in the entire house (upstairs as well) covered in a film of dust and dirt. Including your cat.
*Having people you know do the work saves a lot of money and worries about quality, but they cannot spend as many hours working there as a hired contractor would. You must have an abundance of patience and an ability to live with the unknown. (Neither are my strong suit.)
Personal revelations:
*I will never take my kitchen sink for granted again. EVER. Seriously, I figured I'd just live off salads, cereal, sandwiches, etc. I failed to realize that without water, you can't wash veggies or cutting boards. Cereal and sandwiches don't cut it when it's cold outside. And sometimes, you really just want to wash your hands.
*Pizza, takeout and eating out get old real fast when it's your only option. Real fast. As in, I'm only one week in and I would kill to make a meal -- any meal -- in my own kitchen.
*Borrowed kitchens can only do so much. The hauling of ingredients and equipment back and forth requires a lot of planning. And in mid-cooking, you'll discover something you forgot and need that your host kitchen does not have.
DINNER INVITATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED. (and will be reciprocated with much fanfare if I ever have a kitchen again).
Also welcome: Advice on how to survive this situation.
I feel your pain, having just finished a major kitchen re-do myself. Just keep thinking about how good it's going to be when it's finished! And this too shall pass.
take advantage of discovering all the little restaurants and food places you've never had a chance to try. make it a game to find the best specials on each day of the week. i think we were without a kitchen for a couple of months in this house. it's is sweeter than you can imagine when it's done. good luck.
During my kitchen remodel I found that the bath tub is just like a big sink!
Oh, I never thought about either of those suggestions -- thanks! I'm going to try to make a game of eating out, trying to find different places and see how little I can spend (so far that's proving tough).
I do have my bathtub and bathroom sink water, but I really don't like mixing food and bathing areas -- I'm kind of weird like that!
Jen, What a pain!! I can't imagine... it will be great when it is done!! I wish I was closer... I would make you dinner!!
Jen, sorry my 'host' kitchen is less than adequate. I'm not much of a cook..probably why I eat at mom and dad's all the time when I pick up the Lily monster.
Aim -- I'm SO GLAD you let me use your kitchen. Definitely didn't mean to complain!
I'm quite sure your kitchen will be amazing once finished. There is always a downfall to the upside. Being without a kitchen is a huge pain. It's really the most important room in the house, and I don't think many of realize how much we really do need our kitchens. Hopefully your kitchen renovation will go quickly and you can get back to normal in your brand new kitchen soon!!