Coffee, Anyone?

 During this past week (and for the next few days) the entire downstairs of the house has been in extreme disarray as workers tear out the old flooring to replace it with some lovely dark wood laminate.  This change has been in the works for months, and was originally planned for last November, but product shipping meant that it is happening now.  And that has not turned out to be a bad thing, actually -- there's been a lot of household discombobulation with Mr. H's departure, so having every room in the house feel wildly topsy-turvy seems sort of fitting.  When it's all done, it will be clean and fresh and it will give the downstairs a whole new look, and that is a welcome thing about now.

But here's what makes me grin every morning.  I had to clear off all of the counters in the kitchen to avoid the flying dust and debris while they work downstairs so I brought the coffee maker upstairs into the bathroom.  And every morning, I take a weird pleasure at being able to make my morning coffee right upstairs in the bathroom.  I can even look at myself in the mirror while I do it.

It's such an odd thing but it makes me laugh every morning.  I feel a bit like I'm in a hotel.  Sure, I have to go downstairs and out to the garage to get the milk (I had to empty the kitchen fridge because they need to unplug and move that around to put the new floor under it) but even so, it's a funny  start to the morning.  I know someone who lives in a rather grand and large home, and she has a "butler's kitchen" in her very expansive master suite, complete with a coffee maker, mini-fridge, cupboard for snacks, etc.  When I saw it I thought it was quite odd.  But now I totally get the appeal.

So here is how the new floor looks right now, partially done (and very dirty):

And here is what the family room looks like currently, with the kitchen furnishings crammed in.  This shows the bare concrete and they will be working on adding the wood today:

Oh, what a dusty mess it all is.  But then sometimes life IS a dusty mess, isn't it?  I'm in one of those times now, but gosh, it feels good to have peace ahead.  I could make all sorts of jokes about "a new foundation" or "new footing" or some such things... but it's true. 

Today, while the work continues downstairs, I plan to shut myself into my studio for some scrappy sewing.  And I'll probably drink too much coffee, just because it's so fun to make it up here.