Despite battling a stomach bug, sore throat, and major headache, I managed to get myself to Home Depot and buy 16 of the connectors my Dad suggested:
He also suggested I buy the matching screws, which are sold in the same end-aisle display, and don’t require pilot holes because their tips chew right into the wood. Brilliant!
When I got home I took a nap, then got up and started putting the frames [back] together. I laid them out on the living room floor to square everything up, measured carefully to determine where each bracket should go, then got screwing. After about 20 minutes, the 2 main frames were ready to go back outside to the yard. Hubby helped me carry them out, all the while suggesting I should really consider going back to bed. Sorry, hubby, not when I’m this close to being done with the frame!!!
Once everything was back out in the yard I placed the 2 frames facing each other, got them level and resting on bricks, and attached the cross beams. After about 15 more minutes of screwing, the frame was DONE!
Next up will be building the shelf slats and installing those, followed by enclosing the structure in chicken wire. Hooray for progress! Now I’m totally going back to bed…
Feel better soon! I had no idea how enormous this thing was until I saw the picture with you standing next to it. This is an ambitious project.
I don’t think anyone (even me) knew how big it was actually going to be!
You should be really proud of yourself–this is going to be AWESOME for your cats! Nice job!!
Thanks, D’Arcy! I am proud of myself!
What a fantastic job you did – your cats are going to be amazed!
I love the photo you took from across the river – love your house!
Thanks, Mom! And for all your help!
Another WOW!! It looks like a piece of furniture rather than a cat condo…great job, Dad
Thanks, Dad! Those metal brackets are genius!