Sep 2-3 - tiles

Well, you won't have to read about tiles again for a while. I just finished, other than cleanup. Other than the bathroom shower which will probably be a Spring project, or perhaps when we're here at Christmas.

Yesterday I worked my way around the perimeter, mixing mortar and cutting tiles as I went. By 5pm or so all the tiles were laid, including those in the closet under the basement stairs' landing. Today I puttered around, cleaning out the grout lines, vacuuming, clearing the room of plywood that I walk on as I lay the tiles, watered ours and the Davies' newly grass seeded areas ... you could probably say that I was stalling. I was not in a hurry to start grouting. I had an early lunch ... cannot delay any longer.

So ... I got two ice cream containers, split the 25 pounds of grout into the two containers, which fills both to the brim. I then carefully measured 2 U.S. quarts of water, poured it into the pail, added one of the containers of grout and started stirring. I remember thinking -- boy, this looks watery -- then realized that I had put in the water for the entire 25 pounds. Groan. So ... I added the rest of the grout, mixed it according to directions including waiting while the mortar "slakes" and then started grouting.

I take that back -- I was then in a race against time to get the grout down and do the first round of cleanup. I had figured that the 25 pounds would just about do the entire area, and it did, with a little left over. I had expected to put half down, sponge that area and then do the other half. Instead I was racing to get the grout down before it started setting in the pail and then racing to sponge the entire floor before it hardened too much to work it. The end result was that the entire process took much less time than it would have otherwise, but it was not fun ! Of course grouting is never fun, and better over and done with I guess.

It does look good though. With the doors in and the tiles all down I now have lots of baseboard to cut, prime, paint and install. I also have one little patch of drywall -- inside the closet under the stairs -- to sand and prime.

Sandy worked at the garden most of yesterday -- we are eating the fruits (make that vegies) of her labour every day. Last night, along with garden green beans and bought sweet potatoes, we had wild Pacific Halibut that was excellent. I don't pay much attention to the spices that she uses -- I just do the barbecuing. Halibut is a fish that prepares well on the barbie but come to think of it we barbecue all fish except sometimes she pan fries pickerel (walleye for the Americans).

It's a relatively quiet weekend -- Jason et al headed home early in the week; Donnie was in until Sunday so sometimes we heard Stick (his dog) barking. There is a little boat traffic, but not much, because the water has cooled down and the kids are gone so no one is out there tubing or water skiing.

The leaves have not really started to change yet except for a couple of trees that are showing a little red. When Steve Pozgaj was here he said that there was more colour further south. I'll see tomorrow since I'm going down to Barrie for Home Depot and Costco. On Friday when Sandy and I drive to Thunder Bay I expect that we'll see much more colour.

That's about it for now. I'm not sure what we're having for supper because I have not looked or asked. I was informed, however, that we're having beans again -- great ! -- soon they'll be done. The garden was strange this year -- we got zucchini but no grapes; a few cucumbers; lots of lettuce; beans, finally; peas, a couple of varieties; tomatoes, finally; no raspberries to speak of; the usual herbs ... I'm probably missing a few things.