On June 19 & 20, we formed and poured the first of two concrete retaining walls in my front yard. There will be a short wall on on each side of the yard between me and each neighbor. The walls will span from the end of the privacy fences to the street. We've completed the one on the driveway side of the house.
After two full days in 95+ degree heat, I have to wonder if I've lost my marbles! Why are we doing this? Well, I want to make sure that the parish can't use that as a last-minute holdup on my final inspections. Without these walls, they could see potential for rain water to run off onto a neighbor's yard. In addition, the one we just completed will help hold the edge of the driveway in over the years.
On the 19th, they delivered my new refrigerator. It's plugged in and working! So we can now stock up on water and stuff at the house without bringing ice chests all the time.
On the tiling front, I haven't done any more since I started inside the kitchen island. This evening, we're going to remove the form from the first wall and continue tiling. I'll work on the tile until Friday and Saturday, when we'll do the wall on the other side of the yard. Those are the first days we expect any kind of break from this relentless heat. And by "break", I mean that it may be in the low 90s instead of the high 90s!
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Recent Photos
These are from several days ago. I'm behind on my photos, as usual! I've finished tiling the table area by the bay window since then. I've also tiled where the fridge and work desk are. The orange stuff is now laid all behind the island. One of my next steps is to tile back there.
With these bigger 20 inch tiles, I've discovered that I needed a bigger trowel (1/2 in x 1/2 in) so that the thinset fills consisently under the tiles. Otherwise, there are hollow cavities under many of them when the dry. Unfortunately, I learned this AFTER I tiled all that you see here. A couple of these tiles are really prone to crack or break if I drop something on them over the years. I suppose I'll have a few extra tiles left over in case this happens.
With these bigger 20 inch tiles, I've discovered that I needed a bigger trowel (1/2 in x 1/2 in) so that the thinset fills consisently under the tiles. Otherwise, there are hollow cavities under many of them when the dry. Unfortunately, I learned this AFTER I tiled all that you see here. A couple of these tiles are really prone to crack or break if I drop something on them over the years. I suppose I'll have a few extra tiles left over in case this happens.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Still Tiling
I've been writing software for my oil refinery client during the day and tiling after work and late into the night. This week, I've worked from around 6 to 11:30 every day except today. I've got the orange Ditra underlayment put down across most of the table area and the hallway to the master bedroom. I've also got much of the table area tiled.
I also took time out recently to install video security cameras around the outside of the house. It's a bummer to have to spend the money and time, but I grow more concerned about the house across the street and the people who come and go from there. Did I tell you about the evidence that someone tried climbing a ladder and looking over the cardboard I have up in the windows? Apparently, it happened when they tried to break into the back door a couple of months ago. They stole my extension ladder and apparently used it against the house in the driveway. The evidence is the part of the gutter that's bent outward where it looks as if someone pulled themselves up using the gutter as a handle.
So now I've got three cameras (soon to be 4 once the company sends me a replacement power supply. They're set to record when motion is detected. I feel better knowing I'll have evidence if I need it.
Today, we put wood strips under each kitchen drawer to add reinforcement. We cut them to fit and used contact cement to attach them. The plywood used in the bottoms was thinner than I would have liked.
This Sunday, I'm starting to host a book study group on the book Liberty and Tyranny by Mark Levin. Even though I'm not living there yet, I plan to host the group at my house! So before then, I hope to make more progress on the tile, begin to work on landscaping in the front yard, and put up toilet paper and towel hangers in one of the bathrooms.
My replacement fridge still is not here. They called again yesterday to let me know it still hasn't arrived. No word on how long it will be.
I also took time out recently to install video security cameras around the outside of the house. It's a bummer to have to spend the money and time, but I grow more concerned about the house across the street and the people who come and go from there. Did I tell you about the evidence that someone tried climbing a ladder and looking over the cardboard I have up in the windows? Apparently, it happened when they tried to break into the back door a couple of months ago. They stole my extension ladder and apparently used it against the house in the driveway. The evidence is the part of the gutter that's bent outward where it looks as if someone pulled themselves up using the gutter as a handle.
So now I've got three cameras (soon to be 4 once the company sends me a replacement power supply. They're set to record when motion is detected. I feel better knowing I'll have evidence if I need it.
Today, we put wood strips under each kitchen drawer to add reinforcement. We cut them to fit and used contact cement to attach them. The plywood used in the bottoms was thinner than I would have liked.
This Sunday, I'm starting to host a book study group on the book Liberty and Tyranny by Mark Levin. Even though I'm not living there yet, I plan to host the group at my house! So before then, I hope to make more progress on the tile, begin to work on landscaping in the front yard, and put up toilet paper and towel hangers in one of the bathrooms.
My replacement fridge still is not here. They called again yesterday to let me know it still hasn't arrived. No word on how long it will be.
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