There is a smell about construction. (We are in the middle of a kitchen renovation.) The smell isn’t good or bad, just distinctive. It’s a mix of drywall dust and spackle, raw wood, lingering take-out food, new cabinets and I don’t know what else. It’s like new car smell. It will eventually go away. I hope.
“End of the month” is a phrase we hear often. So far it means nothing. We are waiting for a new window and a new sink (which I just found out yesterday wasn’t in). Both are coming at the end of the month. The window was supposed to be here by the end of September, then October – you get the picture. When I heard the same phrase used for the sink (which will delay the project) the hairs on the back of neck stood up. The end of the month is next Tuesday. Why didn’t they just say next Tuesday or even next week? “End of the month” has become synonymous with “soon,” that meaningless term my mom used when she meant “never” or “a long way off!”
Without a kitchen, making do with food selection made me revisit sandwich choices. I packed a lunch from grades 1 through 8. My high school had a cafeteria and I never packed again. I rarely eat them unless they were special sandwiches like hoagies (or subs) or hot meatball. The type you don’t pack for lunch. Sandwiches are easy though and I perused the lunch meat section of the deli. They had all the old favorites my mom bought – spiced ham, boiled ham, salami, Lebanon, etc. A stroke of nostalgia made me buy a small amount of Lebanon bologna. It’s good but this will do me for the decade! Healthy eating is on hold for the moment but we will return soon (maybe at the end of the month!).
Potato chips fill in nicely. I call it a vegetable and it adds crunch to the meal. It’s also good as a stand-alone when you are starving and the contractor is still working. I have to remember to put an apple out. Fruit has taken a hit. I usually have some on the counter but with no extra space, it’s residing in the refrigerator often forgotten.
Last night we ordered take-out from our favorite Italian restaurant. The dinner came with a lovely salad, fresh bread, pasta and chicken. It was healthy and good and we have enough for at least one more meal, maybe two. Potato chips will remain in the cupboard until the end of the month. Maybe. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving in the US and my brother is cooking!
I don’t envy the hard work and disruption, but a brand new kitchen would be amazing. 🙂
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That’s the hope.
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I don’t envy any of the lengthy and disruptive process, but I must say a brand new kitchen would be wonderful! 😀
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Sure hope so otherwise we spent a ton of $$ and lost some time living in chaos that we will never get back!
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It’s going to be wonderful! I’m sure!!
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Renovation is an exercise in patience-LOTS of patience this day and age. Hoping the timeline gets back on track soon.
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Not sure. Every week brings new surprises. Some avoidable and some not.
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Hope your brother sent you home with some leftovers to make life more bearable. Potato chips are good because, if you’re a texture eater, they are especially nice for all big annoyances in life. I like Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers (Wholegrain) for general annoyances but there’s no snap to them. 🙂
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We did get some leftovers to take home and yes, it’s all about the texture with chips!
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Happy Thanksgiving. Enjoy the break and time with family 🍗🥰🍗
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Thanks!
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Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you have a great one. At least no cooking and clean-up for you.
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No cooking or cleaning but I will feed the resident cats!
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Oh, well of course! Turkey for all!
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Oh boy! Well, at least it’s in progress! And you have somewhere to go for Thanksgiving 🙂 Have a great one!
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Thanks and hope you enjoy your day too.
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Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, Kate!
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Thanks! You too!
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Have a nice Thanksgiving!
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Thanks. Enjoy your day too.
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Enjoy hanging out in your brother’s kitchen tomorrow, and by all means I’m hoping the ‘end of the month’ means lots of deliveries to your house.
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Me too but the last two months brought bumpkus!
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Happy Thanksgiving, Kate!
Hope dinner is delish . . . with gratitude (and wine) flowing.
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Dinner will be wonderful. I will spend it with three of my favorite people.
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Happy Thanksgiving.
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Thanks!
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Happy Thanksgiving! Waiting on workers truly sucks.
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I need patience!
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What clever timing to get out of Thanksgiving cooking! Thanksgiving dinner always sounds good in theory, but I found it tiring and tedious with little to no help. I’m happy that one of my children is hosting this year!
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Yay for you! The whole day is tiring but I enjoyed it when I was younger. Maybe I will again next year!
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Take out from your favorite Italian restaurant… sounds great after construction. An evening with good food and peace and quiet. When your countertops go on top of the cabinets, you are going to do a happy dance! Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thanks! It will be quiet (which is very welcome). Good food and my bro and his wife. None of us have much energy these days so we are a good match. No one will be tossing a football anywhere.
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Well, at least they aren’t saying “at the end of the year” which could be 2022… or 2023. I know that construction smell well and it immediately came to mind (or nose) when you described it. Fortunately it hasn’t been around here in a while. Enjoy your Thanksgiving!
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Burning a candle doesn’t get rid of the smell either. It has to dissipate on its own.
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Interesting they don’t say the end of what month. At least you will Thanksgiving dinner served. Maybe you will get some leftovers to take home.
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I’m hoping! 🙂
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Yo Bro cooking for Thanksgiving! Enjoy!!
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I will! He’s a great cook!
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hurrah!!
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I empathize with your frustrations. Apparently everything and the kitchen sink will be here by December 1. Fingers crossed. In the meantime enjoy your time with your brother in a house with a kitchen.
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I dropped some things off there today and fondled his sink. I miss my sink most of all. Not the sink itself but the miracle of running water. I would not make a good pioneer.
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Just think – one day (maybe at the end of the month..haha) you’ll look back at this whole reno thing and think “WERE WE NUTS” (just kidding) you’ll think it was worth it because it will be. The regular smells of the house will return, you’ll have a fabulous kitchen, and can return to healthy home cooked meals! But keep bags of potato chips on hand – you never know when you’ll really NEED them! Happy Thanksgiving……
Hugs, Pam
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Chips go with everything!
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Happy Thanksgiving, Kate. I hope that the ‘end of the month’ comes soon!
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I hope the end of the month exists!
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Nothing like a home cooked meal when you don’t have a kitchen. Very clever of you to plan the renovation through the holidays, when there are invitations to parties and dinners.
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My original plan was to have it done in the summer with picnics and good grilling weather!
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That is a good plan.
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