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Where We Left Off:
The previous case file was a complicated investigation of five separate crimes to solve.
The Fort:
To end our 9th Year of case files, I’m presenting something different than a mystery to solve. I can’t believe it’s been nine years. Having Gus and Ollie at the vet for their exams this year and seeing their ages…what a shock!
For this milestone, I’d like to present a project that is now DECLASSIFIED. I went back through old photos and realized renovation Fort Winchester has been on my mind for several years. This year, I did something about it. With a lot of assistance from The Butler, I hired a contractor to make the fort more cat-friendly and to remove the decrepit, dangerous pieces.
In 2024, the dead trees kept crashing down in the yard because there were such strong winds. Previously, the fort’s roof had been impaled a couple of times by branches leaving gaping holes. When a tree falls onto your property, it’s yours. That’s the law pretty much anywhere as far as I know. Well, this kept happening and Lord and Lady Theodore kept insisting we were stealing their trees for firewood and selling it! That’s a lot of crappy, unpleasant neighbor drama that I do not have the energy for. I’ve been sick all week and can barely sit up to type this.
Jump to today, 2026. Lord Theodore has paid $14,000 for a survey of their 39 acres. The surveyor’s marks have proven that even before the trees came down or were cut down because of safety concerns, they were our trees all along. Ha! For the record, The Grumpy Old Man didn’t sell any firewood. He gave it to a friend in need. That’s something people with an ounce of generosity do. He’s also willing to give one of our generators to my meditation teacher because she’s in need. BE KIND!
As I was saying, one of those trees came down grazing the front of the fort. It took out one of my trail cameras. I have to say, I could not believe it was still working. That’s some quality, GardePro.
Phase I: The Demo & Main Construction
Phase II: More Plans
I commissioned my friend, Tina Ireland, for her graphic design expertise. I drafted out a terrible mock-up for a sign just as I had made the mock-up for the fort renovation.
I guess I dubbed the structure as Fort Winchester, not only because it sounds cool, but because Ollie is the oldest and has lived here a little bit longer than Guster. It never made sense. Gus has always had the most access for playing and working. It was time to include his name into the new fort.
Phase III: Will It Happen?
Ultimately, I’d love to have a screened in catio with a door large enough for a human to push Ollie’s stroller through. Then he can sit and enjoy the fort like Gus does while a human could sit on a shelf or have a chair.
Problem 1: The ground is sunken around the existing fort structure. It would probably take too much work to make an enclosure big enough. If an enclosure could be built on unlevel ground, maybe this can be done. We don’t need a roof. Gus can be let out if he’s supervised. Ollie can’t climb up a screen. He’s losing confidence in his formerly expert vertical jumping ability.
Problem 2: This is an emotional hurdle. The Cook periodically says all the renovations I’m doing are going to be finished in time to sell this place and move. Sometimes, I admit, I go to look up real estate listings and dream about what could be. It’s like what you do when fantasizing about winning the lottery even if you don’t buy a ticket. It’s nice to have dreams. “Life Coaches” will tell you that’s not enough without an actionable plan. Unless my Farrah Wethers series or these Winchester-Nabu cases gets me an agent and gets sold to Netflix or Hulu, it’s a dream. Yes, I want a literary agent and an entertainment/Hollywood agent; I’ve queried so much that I gave up. I might try again with something that’s not a mystery (if I ever get the damn thing done).
The Staircase in the Woods:
We did repaint the metal staircase and could move it to the fort. Gus has been enjoying it in the junkyard where it’s been for years. I’m leaning toward the idea of keeping it there and not relocating it.
Case Findings:
Sometimes you get fortunate and find just the right person to hire who shows up on time, has skills, has a willingness to teach, is pleasant, and is affordable! This perfect combination of characteristics with the money from The Butler and The Grumpy Old Man have made this renovation possible.
Case Status: Open