Addition BEFORE and AFTER.
Our previous owners had nothing short of a fetish, for intensely pigmented and blindingly obnoxious paint…
Their criteria for choosing colors seemed to be the question: what will be most jarring?
If you have not seen the before pictures of this house, they basically painted every room a different color.
The orange in the addition was the last surviving evidence of their dedication.
Above is where we were two weeks ago.
Before I show you the AFTER, let’s remind ourselves what the addition looked like BEFORE.
Before we:
gutted the bathroom.
took out the floor.
installed the windows.
And yes, my husband DOES still have tanktops from 1999… Paul’s theory of clothing is that if it has not absolutely disintegrated it is not time to get rid of it.
I have been trying to finish this post in a coherent way for going on two weeks— there is more to this project that is worth explaining… but Elvis hasn’t been doing well, and I feel like my brain is in cement.
Last week her eating started to go downhill, but then over the weekend she rallied… not in a way that makes me think she changed her mind about the finale, but enough that I’ve had a brief reprieve from the shock of realizing that I only THINK I am at peace with the next part.
I know I don’t have to explain to you the degree to which this is leaving me frantic but also paralyzed.
The strange thing is that other than poor eating, she seems FINE. She is not having any of the issues I expected (yet) and she is still enjoying all of the things she loves; her favorite activity is being brushed while she rubs her face on her fuzzy ball in a blanket nest… so that’s mainly what I’ve been up to.
Other than that, I am unable to cope with anything. Including some really important things I’m supposed to be doing and soon they may catch on fire. I should be concerned, but the cement-in-brain issue is preventing me from even caring.
Instead I’ve been re-reading comfort books, (particularly this which is magic— about grief and human friendship and how animals save you.) And buying earrings I don’t need, in a push to fill the dark, sad pit in my soul with shiny things… my aptitude in this area seems undiminished, proving concretely that my life skills are useless to anyone, myself included.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:28 am
hugs to you
(and tears with you)
and I really have nothing more to offer, which makes me sad
but know I’m I thinking of you guys
June 28, 2016 @ 11:31 am
I hear and feel you. We just lost one of our dogs and it is truly paralyzing and nothing else matters at this time. They give us so much.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:31 am
Victoria,
I am so sorry to hear Elvis is struggling a bit. It’s never helped me to know and understand the eventual end to a pet’s life. I am still struck by the helplessness that occurs when a furry family member is old and/or ill.
The transformation of the kitchen and adjacent space is amazing. I know it will be wonderful!
Best to you during this trying time with Elvis.
xo,
Karen
June 28, 2016 @ 11:31 am
I cannot get over the difference between “before” and “after”, which know isn’t really AFTER, just “part of the way through after”. How are you coping with the never-ending kitchen renovation? I’m 4 weeks into a hopefully 8 week project and feel like I want to cry and order out every night. Thankfully I mostly ignore both of those feelings.
And I’m so sorry about Elvis’ downward spiral. I can’t imagine how difficult this is.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:31 am
Spend as much time as possible with your baby, you will never regret it. Everything else will work itself out. My heart is with you.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:37 am
<3 Elvis <3 🙁 🙁 it's always so hard, which is as it should be except that it's awful <3
June 28, 2016 @ 11:38 am
I can absolutely appreciate the “brain in cement”, having just lost a much beloved pet. I’d say the brushing while Elvis rubs her head against her furry ball in a blanket nest is a prime activity right now. Remind yourself of what a splendid life you have provided, and continue to provide, for Elvis, and how much joy she brings to you … right now … today.
Hugs and good thoughts to you. Your readers love you and appreciate every dimension of what you share with us!
June 28, 2016 @ 11:38 am
hang in there…….
I’ve be en there, done that, got more than 1 t-shirt as it were. With our cat Mittie, my husband Paul sat out with her in the sun of the back yard for hours on her last day. And with our dog Sasha…………our last day with her………..we made clay footprints of her paws, gave her her favorite junk food, her favorite place to walk………..
our cat Pucky – a good smoothing brush.
and I was happy to say I had an painter-friend (Connie Townsend) do their portraits!
Aren’t we lucky they have been in our lives!
June 28, 2016 @ 11:39 am
Elvis.
Nothing else matters.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:40 am
Prayers for Elvis from FL. I was almost in tears reading your post.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:40 am
oh, and I like the paint color in the kitchen! Very close to mine (great minds think alike?)
June 28, 2016 @ 11:45 am
Dear sweet, beautiful, Elvis; I totally understand the cement brain. Totally. Do what you can and don’t be hard on yourself, as a fellow pet mummy I too have been where you are. Just be and don’t worry about anything else. The new look for the sad room is fabulous. Take care. ?
June 28, 2016 @ 11:47 am
I’m so sorry for you and your Elvis, but you are very lucky, as is she. We took Oscar to the vet because he wasn’t himself – thin, no spunk. I had no idea that we would be coming home without him, no time to prepare, plan, nothing. Feel peaceful knowing you’ve left nothing undone. You’ll be ok and so will Elvis.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:48 am
I know how hard it is to face the inevitable. But it is good that Elvis has you and you’re taking the time to make the most of the time you do have. Your paint job looks so much better than that godawful orange. Sending a big hug!
June 28, 2016 @ 11:50 am
Love Elvis and enjoy this time together. Thinking of you three.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:51 am
Sorry to read of your worries for Elvis. He has been a wonderfully loved soul you have been blessed to love. Be tender with yourself
June 28, 2016 @ 11:53 am
Dear heart,
(((HUGS))))
I highly recommend falling apart as needed.
Also perhaps keep reminding yourself that this a part of life. Elvis knows and accepts this and is not bothered in the least. Follow Elvis’ lead and all will be as it should. Your relationship is highly successful, you are blessed. Elvis is loved.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:54 am
Hi! I’m sorry to hear Elvis isn’t eating well. Something you can try is called Forti-Flora. It’s a probiotic for cats but cats LOVE the taste! Sprinkle it on Elvis’ food and most likely he will eat! It’s like kitty crack. I’ve used it for my kitties through chemo and radiation, as well as kidney disease. Good luck!
June 28, 2016 @ 6:51 pm
can it be given to cats with hyperthyroid? my 17 [almost 18] year old beh-beh is getting so skinny and the vet said he isnt allowed anything but his prescription food.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:54 am
The room looks like a totally different place. It’s fantastic!
There are no words for the rest. You are awesome and I’m sure Elvis appreciates you.
June 28, 2016 @ 11:56 am
Cuddle Elvis. Everything else will be there later.
(Some of it may technically be a pile of ash later, but that just means you can sweep it up easier.)
Also, if it makes you feel any better, eating is only one of the signs you’re meant to watch for. It’s pretty meaningless if she’s happy and comfortable otherwise.
June 29, 2016 @ 2:46 pm
I second this about the not eating. When my Pan more or less stopped eating, he lasted for much longer than I thought was possible, and was happy to lie in the window or on my lap. Only when he couldn’t jump on the bed on his own was it really time; up to that point, he was skinnier and skinnier, but still purring and happy. Spend as much time with Elvis as you can.