in the absence of a shower
18 Aug 2019 12:04 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cimoreneWe won't hear anything new about our geothermal pump and hence our hot water supply until Monday, and in the meantime we've got to use the sauna at Ängisbacka in the absence of any shower. This is the least convenient bathing arrangement so far, not least because you have to turn on the woodstove and light it and then wait for it to heat the sauna building. But on the other hand, it's been a couple of years since I've had a sauna and I love the woodstove smell.
The cats haven't had another chance to go outside yet since we got here - it's been a rainy and busy week - but they're loving the piles of boxes, which are a heavenly jungle gym for kitties. They spent a couple of days mostly locked in the bedroom because the sinks in the kitchen and bathroom had to be finished up last week, but otherwise they are having a ball.
We built a temporary bunny cage on top of a layer of cork insulation and throw rugs where the front of the cage itself folds back and clips to the sides of their folded up playpen, so they are fenced in even when they're let out right now. This is because (1) Rowan ate the wallpaper at MIL's old flat, and we got off without paying for it apparently because they were already prepared to fix it and the new owner is an understanding houserabbit keeper OR because her grandmother is pals with MIL, not sure which; (2) there is still construction in the other side of the house, and potential contractors, and potential open doors; (3) it's impossible to completely bunny-proof a room with so many piles of boxes and ikea bags full of stuff in it, so while it's probably safe, there may be construction dust, or stacks that could become unstable and fall if climbed or chewed on by a bunny. Once we are moved into our side of the house, we will build a proper pet gate between the two wings of the house (not a whole door because per code/to prevent absent-minded falling you can't have a door right at the top of two steps down which is, unfortunately, what the doorway between the wings has) and they will have the run of downstairs. They seem okay though. The bunny run area is large enough for binkies, although it isn't really big enough for the longer sprints they do for fun sometimes. We need to get more materials before we can make it bigger.
The cats haven't had another chance to go outside yet since we got here - it's been a rainy and busy week - but they're loving the piles of boxes, which are a heavenly jungle gym for kitties. They spent a couple of days mostly locked in the bedroom because the sinks in the kitchen and bathroom had to be finished up last week, but otherwise they are having a ball.
We built a temporary bunny cage on top of a layer of cork insulation and throw rugs where the front of the cage itself folds back and clips to the sides of their folded up playpen, so they are fenced in even when they're let out right now. This is because (1) Rowan ate the wallpaper at MIL's old flat, and we got off without paying for it apparently because they were already prepared to fix it and the new owner is an understanding houserabbit keeper OR because her grandmother is pals with MIL, not sure which; (2) there is still construction in the other side of the house, and potential contractors, and potential open doors; (3) it's impossible to completely bunny-proof a room with so many piles of boxes and ikea bags full of stuff in it, so while it's probably safe, there may be construction dust, or stacks that could become unstable and fall if climbed or chewed on by a bunny. Once we are moved into our side of the house, we will build a proper pet gate between the two wings of the house (not a whole door because per code/to prevent absent-minded falling you can't have a door right at the top of two steps down which is, unfortunately, what the doorway between the wings has) and they will have the run of downstairs. They seem okay though. The bunny run area is large enough for binkies, although it isn't really big enough for the longer sprints they do for fun sometimes. We need to get more materials before we can make it bigger.
(no subject)
Date: 18 Aug 2019 12:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 18 Aug 2019 02:23 pm (UTC)Today MIL appeared without warning and walked inside after knocking without waiting for an answer and I put on headphones, turned the music up to 100%, pulled my hoodie up, discovered it wasn't enough of a hood because I could still see people moving in my peripheral vision while looking at Tumblr, and draped a scarf over my head.
Also my wife says she can't insulate me from the likelihood of flipping out and having a hysterical screaming or shouting rant due to MIL incursions because she's hanging onto her sanity by too slender a thread to try to reduce contact or control when and where her mom appears!!!
(NOTE: it's not that she's MIL specifically, just that MIL is the only person making these appearances. These are reactions that apply to anyone not my wife, because I am in introvert overload and need to not be seeing people, especially when they appear without warning and start talking or, worse, wanting me to talk and make human faces)
(no subject)
Date: 18 Aug 2019 02:50 pm (UTC)It really sucks, waiting on a confrontation like that because you're just too tired to head into it. I hope both you and Wax know that if this does come out explosively, it's not your fault. A lot that has been extremely out of your hands has happened lately.
(no subject)
Date: 19 Aug 2019 01:12 am (UTC)