Tile Work, Day 5 (or, how I labored on Labor Day)

I woke up at 5:00 AM but decided that was too early for a Holiday. So, I went back to sleep until 6:30. I put a pot of coffee on and went and filled in the Blog.

I drank the second cup, sitting on the front porch. I noticed again (as Carla had pointed out on Saturday) just how bad the wave petunias in the hanging pots were getting. The ones in the urn are still beautiful, however.

Since I have to water the container plants this morning (as the Impatiens in the chair pots were suggesting), I decided to rectify the situation. So, I took the watering can and my garden shears and, as I watered, I cut out all the wave petunias as I went. Now I have four hanging pots with just asparagus ferns in them; not as showy, but they look good and healthy and will probably hold up until late fall.

It was when filling the watering can in the backroom at the utility sink that I realized the source of my backache. It wasn't from overdoing it Saturday (although I did overdo); it's from washing dishing in that utility sink! I don't know how Sadie and Luanne managed to do that for months while they were working on the kitchen addition!

I loaded up the extra tile I didn't use, one bag of the "tombstone" spacers and one box of the special screws in the car to return today. I am obviously not good at estimating usage in a tile job, but, hey, I didn't run out of anything!

I went and shaved and showered, and then headed to both Lowe's, again. Hopefully, Bob can cut these damn tiles for me. I got to the one in Canton and picked up three more tiles, longer screws for the plugs and switches, caulk for the sink and the wood I need to re-trim the window. I also picked up an inline water filter. I have always wanted to install one and, since everything is open right now, it seemed like the perfect time.

I went to the other Lowe's and returned all the extra stuff and then went back to see Bob. Unfortunately, the lady was mistaken! Bob doesn't start until 2:00 PM! And, it's only just past 11:00 AM. But, the other guy said I could leave it and pick it up later (Whew!) So, he took my name and number. I'll probably just pick it up at lunchtime tomorrow instead of making that trip again, today.

I stopped on the way home at Leo's Coney Island and treated myself to breakfast. I got home and unloaded everything right around 12:30 PM. I changed clothes and went out to cut the front lawn and around the patio (way in the back is brown and not growing right now). I did cut everything in the front yard, but in the back, I kept turning the blade off while I rode across the brown grass and dirt, then turning it back on when I reached some green grass. I probably had it off twice as much as I had it one. I finished up at 2:15 PM.

When I came back inside, I took out all the tombstone spacers from the areas Jake did (I'm leaving mine until the mortar hardens more; 24-48 hours, according to the instructions). As near as I can tell, we used about 700 of the tombstones! Next, I started to cut out the molding, spacers and window sill.

I have two problem areas, under the microwave and the end of the counter next to the fridge. I need to leave enough space between the tile and the bottom of the microwave so that, God forbid, if I ever have to take it out to repair or replace it, I can tip it a little. And, next to the fridge, the upper cabinet ends about two inches short of the counter top. I solved both problems with 3/4 inch shoe molding, cut to length, then painted with the wall color. Once it dried, I attached it with the air gun, spackled it and when that was dry, touched it up with more of the wall color paint. Nice job, John!

Next it's on to the window molding. I couldn't find anything that even resembled the old window sill (circa 1950), so I finally settled for some baseboard molding I thought would work. So, I cut it out and test fit it (see Photos).

And, as far as the filler goes, (remember the bottom wall is now 1/2 inch out further than it was), they don't sell anything that's 1/2 inch deep and 2 1/4 inches wide. So, I had to settle for something 1/2 deep and 3/4 inches wide (I think it's used on screens or something). As a result, there will be an outer one (that doesn't need stain) and an inner one you will see the edge of and so requires stain. I cut them all out, and installed the non-stained ones. It's getting late and I don't feel like messing with stain and polyurethane today, you see.

While I am thinking about it, I must repeat, thank God for air guns! I can't imagine trying to use finish nails through the molding and into the wet plaster.

Oh, yeah, Bob called from Lowe's. He said his saw isn't big enough to cut all the way through the tile on a 45 degree angle (hey, neither was mine!) and suggested I go to a Tile Shop and pay them to cut it (like Jake and Carla tried to do on Saturday). So, I said I'd pick them up tomorrow at lunch time and, thanks anyway.

It's now 5:30 PM and time to stop working on this. I still need to water the front garden before I quit for the night, though (the wilting Impatiens told me so). So, I dragged the hose out front, put on the watering wand and get to work. I not only got all the gardens watered, but I also drenched the lilac and forsythia, too. I had the hose back in the back, the gate shut and the house locked down for the night at 6:50 PM.

I warmed up two hot dogs and the last two ears of roasted corn for a great Sunday supper. I say "Sunday" because I was watching my Sunday night shows that I had recorded (and I gotta go to work tomorrow). So, it felt like Sunday. I went to sleep at 10:00 PM, content with the day.