Tile Work, Day 4

I woke up at 6:15 AM, went out and hooked up the square sprinkler and started watering the side lawn.

The only ill effect from yesterday's activities was a very sore back. Oh, well, that's to be expected, I suppose. I got a cup of coffee and filled in the Blog entry.

I was looking at yesterday's work and decided that I couldn't live with those two counter rail tiles we cut on the angle, even though I already installed them. Too chipped. So, this morning I pulled them off and cleaned out the mortar. I guess I'll wait and see if "Bob" at Lowe's can help me!

After a big breakfast, I had a second cup of coffee in the porch. I just kept moving the sprinkler every 20 minutes to get the watering done. I decided before tackling the rest of the counter, I should clean up the messes I'd made so far.

I started out by picking up every scrap of tile cutting from the garage apron and lawn (I don't think my lawn mower blade would like them. Then I cleaned out the scraps of cement board, etc. in the garage. Then I took the leaf blower and, starting at the rear of the garage, blew out all the cement dust I could.

I switched the square sprinkler to the big one and started on the area surrounding my patio. Inside, I put away the drill and various other tools I no longer needed. Next I swept the kitchen floor and vacuumed the two walk-off rugs that were dust covered. I switched sprinkler positions for the last time at 11:00 AM. I went back into the garage to put something else away and was struck anew with how sad the car looked (even with some of the dust blown off).

So, I changed clothes and took it to the quarter car wash. I hosed off all the dust and felt better (I think it did, too!) Since I was out anyway, I made a quick trip to Kroger's for more ground chuck, hot dogs and buns. I spotted a manager's special on some bone-in center cut pork chops, so I grabbed them as well. I am trying NOT to use the stove too much until this project is done and the grout is sealed.

Back home, I mixed up some salt brine and put the pork chops in it, along with two bay leaves. This will sit in the fridge until I get time to grill it.

I changed clothes and finally got back to work in the kitchen. I worked steady at it and, by 4:30 PM, all but those two corner pieces of tile I need cut were on. I cleaned out the tile saw, washed down the garage apron (the saw throws a milky-white mess) washed off my old Crocs, stripped down and washed all the clothes and towels, etc., I used during this project. I decided while that load was washing, I'd take a shower and then lie down and rest my back, knees and legs a bit. So, I did.

I actually did fall asleep briefly! I woke up, feeling refreshed. I went back out and examined the project. By and large, I am well pleased.

I am annoyed that I could not keep the lines on the counter matching the lines on the wall, but I do understand that would only work if the two walls were perfectly square (which they aren't) and the counter was perfectly square (which it isn't). Jake had suggested laying out all the tiles first, but I nixed that idea, thinking it was overkill. Maybe that would have helped, as I could have increased or decreased the grout lines accordingly. Oh well, it is what it is! I am probably worrying about nothing, as once you put everything back, who would notice?

I took some photos for the anxious reader.

At 6:30 PM, I fired up the charcoal after rolling the grille outside. Back inside, I took the chops out of the brine, patted them dry and hit them with some fresh ground pepper. I got the hot dogs out of the package and ready to go. Then I made the hamburger patties.

Now, I am NOT a big fan of adding stuff into the patties. I like to put my stuff on top of the burger when it's on the bun. But, after eating plain burgers for the past week, I thought I'd make something different, so I medium-diced a yellow onion and mixed it into the meat before I formed the patties. I also added a lot of my house seasoning. Oh, I did remember to dimple the top this time.

I put the chops directly over the hottest coals and watched them close to give them a good sear. When both sides were nice and brown, I pulled them over to the indirect heat side, to slowly finish. Next I did the burgers (and Bobby Flay was right, they do plump back! Cool!) Finally, I grilled the hotdogs. I took everything inside and shut up the house and garage for the night.

I turned two small russet potatoes into "baked" ones in the microwave and topped them with sour cream, butter and some snipped chives. I ate them with a pork chop. Dinner was very, very good (and something different! I needed that!)

I watched TV, occasionally switching to the Weather Channel to check on that hurricane Gustav. I shut it off at 11:00 PM and went to sleep.