Home renovations

Progress and Our Weekend

Lots of progress has been happening over here at the Zottola Zoo. First of all, Sadie has been doing well with eating different foods. I saw corn on the cob at the grocery store for the first time since last summer, so we made some together!

Toddler eating corn on the cob

This picture reminded me of when she was seven months old and was super interested in corn on the cob. A girl after my corn-loving heart!

Also, she ate turkey last night. For a child who is basically a vegetarian, that was huge progress!! She has her follow-up appointment with the gastroenterologist today 🙏 (more…)

Huskies and Cats + Back Patio Progress

One of my biggest worries before we brought Niva home was that she wouldn’t get along with Malcolm. I’ve heard that Siberian huskies and cats aren’t a good mix because huskies have a high prey drive for small animals. It was definitely a gamble to bring Niva home to a cat without knowing how she or Malcolm would react, but we had a few things going for us:

  • Niva is a very submissive dog
  • Niva is a puppy
  • Malcolm is a very friendly cat
  • Malcolm has been raised with dogs

Siberian Husky and cat sitting together

It’s totally true that Siberian huskies have a high prey drive. They are also pack-oriented dogs. I think Niva saw Malcolm as part of her pack when we brought her home, so she doesn’t hunt him. 

If you’re considering bringing a husky (or any breed of dog, really) home to a cat or vice versa, I would take into account each animal’s age and temperament before making any decisions. It’s definitely possible for cats and huskies to live together, and it’s amazing to watch them play and live in peace and harmony when they do!

Okay, onto our back patio renovation progress. I wish I had more before pictures, but I snuck into my archives and found this one below from a post I wrote in 2014(!). Our back patio area had wooden railing and a canopy with wooden beams and a ceiling made out of…. I don’t know?!

We eventually took the old canopy down and would put up the one below when we had gatherings at our house.

Lighted pop up canopy at night

Jimmy took down the old railing and posts and put up steel beams. 

Back porch with steel columns and porch swing

He then painted the beams, made and painted new railing, and added some landscaping.

Back porch with black steel columns and black steel mesh railingsBack porch with landscaping, rocks, and mulch and steel mesh railing

Then, it was onto the canopy! It looked like this on Saturday before the boys got to work.

Steel beams for canopy in backyard

It looked like this last night while we ate dinner outside for the first time in a long time!

Black steel canopy for yard that looks industrial and modernSteel canopy painted black

Next, we will be working on a little outdoor kitchen area. Can’t wait!

Tell me about your latest project!