HandyWoman-MacGyver style

When I first decided to take on breeding, of course I researched what I was in for.  I knew I'd need a whelping box for Maggie to deliver & rear the pups in.  I gave up on the people who said they'd make one for me & made my own...MacGyver style.

My first idea was to have a box made & put it in my basement near the fireplace.  She'd have warmth & privacy.  Then I got to thinking that she'd no doubt try to give birth IN MY BED, as she sleeps there every night.  So the next idea was to put a kiddie pool beside my bed just for her to birth in & then move her & the pups down to the basement.  More thinking....that wasn't going to work as I have to be able to ref the fights my kids have over the xbox, and being downstairs most of the time wouldn't allow me to cook, clean, REF etc.... so keep her in MY room, beside my bed the whole time seemed a much better solution to my problem.  My other problem is still in the works of being fixed...I need to keep my boy dogs out of the room (they sleep there all day & night!).  I need to find someone to take my Great Dane,Ozzy for at least a few days...the little dog can stay in my sons room...but 1 problem at a time...

Anyways, I've come to realize....she's way too big for the kiddie pool (it's ok for just sleeping in...not to birth in !)...now I have to make a whelping box.  Buying one was out of the question...too expensive.  Asking someone to make me one...too unrelieable.  As with all things, I'd have to do it myself!  After more thinking, I was almost going to go with a cardboard option, but too unsanitary. 

Now, I have an old TV unit that we don't use & the boys have seemed to wreck.  Wheels turning....if I cut the bottom portion off & left the area where the TV & stereo sat, that would make a perfect size area!!  So after the hubby gave the ok the use it, I went to work.  All I had to cut it with was a hand saw, which was ok because the stand is made out of chipboard anyway...very very easy to cut.  The problem was...the crappy old hand saw I had had a nic at the top...so I could only saw half way before the saw would get stuck!  Another problem...American Idol was on (1st show) & I wanted to watch it.  Solution:  work on box during commercials!!  Did I mention just how smrt I am??   : D 

Finished all  I could last night, I'd run out of things ( I did recycle all the screws and brackets I could though...yay for me & my enviromental/economic thoughtfulness!).  So this morning after dropping off the kids at school, I went to see how much a sheet of chipboard would cost me & if Home Hardware would cut it for me....$8.00 later I walked out with my sheet cut & a bag of nails.  Now all I need to get is that sticky paper used to line drawers and shelves for the bottom, make a doorway (I'll be using the cupboard doors as they already have hinges on them...more saving $), and seal the edges with silicone & I'll be all set.

I've always told my boys...if you see your Dad doing something for me....it's not because I CAN'T do it...it's because I don't WANT to do it.

I should have taken pictures of the before...I'll post after pictures when it's done.