Backsplash Grouted!

This is my backsplash grouted. I still have the rest of the backspash to grout but thought I'd show you how it looks now.

Take me out to the ballgame...

Zac won his first game last weekend! He looked handsome in his new uniform! He is back in a prep league but one of the oldest on the team. His coach is still in Highschool...He must really love the game to coach these boys! It should be a good team, some are new to the bigger field which makes it challenging! I love to watch my son play baseball. But this weekend they lost. We got sunburnt on our sholders and that HURT! Anyway...I am wishing my son a great Baseball Season and Go #3...I will be rooting for you!

Fun Birthday

What a fun Birthday! Bev made me dinner and a cheesecake! She is the most awsomest cook. It was nice weather so we hung out and had a great evening.



















Stace came in town Saturday and we went to Bazbeaux in Carmel for some pizza. Caitlin and Rhonda came along with Shelbi and Christian to make it a great night. Then we went back to my house and reminiced.

Backsplash

This is my backsplash that I have finally started on. We have one side done now, but it is not grouted yet. The majority of the backsplash is 4 X 4 Jinshan Carmel Polished Travertine with Reggio Border from the Tileshoppe in Caslteton. This is about a 8 in difficulty on a scale from 1-10.

My grandpa used to make tile tables, maybe it rubbed off on me. I really like tiling...it is a bit tedious, but if you can get through that part, it's fun! I will share more photos once I have the other side of the kitchen completed & grouted! It turned out better than I expected ad looks great with the granite counter tile. Thanks for checking it out! Leave me a comment and tell me what you think!

Countertop Granite Tile Project

We finally finished with our counterop project and awaiting our backsplash Travertine Tile to make it Complete! The COMPLETED Counter is here at the top. Here is our story of the project... and we would not classify this as a beginner project. On a scale from one to ten, I'd say it's a 10.

We had worked with tile before doing our basement bathroom floor, but this is 24X24 and very HEAVY! First, we had to remove the old formica, then plywood, mortar and place hardibacker board on top and screw it every 6 inches. THIS will not be removeable...! Then dry-fit the tiles, cut and make sure they all fit. Then mortar the tile down and try to get it level. This is tricky because it is hard to get the mortar all consistant throughout when you are putting it on the backer board like icing a cake!

We made up our own system of small shims for our spacers and used UNSANDED grout! You don't want sand to scratch the granite! We got all the tile at the Tileshoppe in Castleton and the corner and outside pieces are expensive, but well worth it to get this look! Here is a closeup of the tile... the color is called Jalor Cafe. They gave us Epoxy construction adhesive for the corners and side trim and said to use strong tape to keep them up!!! HAAAAAAAAA...yea right! As soon as you put them up then drop. You want them to meet up with the tile so we came up with this contraption! The books keep the wood pieces level and then you have to clamp the wood where the tiles meet...otherwise it'd be pretty JICK-JACK! The epoxy sets up overnight so the clamps can be You can see me smiling-but that was much closer to the end of the project!!! Oh, I think it was aftre 5pm too...so it was time for a drinky!!! ;)

Along the way we were delayed and had to buy a new dishwasher because ours stopped working and it would be $400 to repair! Hooking up the sink several times and forget to put a washer in the hose to reconnect it...which left a small drip and now I must repair my drywall ceiling in the basement! But my husband ROCKS! He is the best craftsman that I know and I love to help him. We work well together and it took lots of patience, believe me! But I have to thank him for a great kitchen :) and for taking a week off to do this project.

It took us all week + a couple weekends to complete this. We figured about 60 hours, if you figure going to the store and getting clamps several times!!! Granite is great to set HOT things onto. You have to seal it occassionally, I'd say mainly for the grout...but this really makes the kitchen look great. The next challenge will be our backsplash and then when we save enough $ we will put new floor tile and wood flooring in the living and dining room. I can't wait for that!

Nostalgic Rainbo Roller Rink Memories

Facebook Rainbo Roller Rink Memories: Noblesville, Indiana This is a group on Facebook that I joined to remember Rainbo Memories! I found this article which was published in 2004. This is very "nostalic" for me...I used to frequent Rainbo every saturday night as a teenager and wish the place was still around for me to take my kids! I have many fun memories of this place and it's sad that it is gone...
I wish I would have taken photos back then or that digital photos were available then...I could imagine having so many photos with friends! If anyone has better photos of the place, even inside...that would really be cool! please email them to me :)