Let's Do This

We're doing this...

It is slow, it is sometimes ugly, but it's getting done.

Terry is working on a plumbing issue here.

 

All the backer board is set, and now I can start the tile border.

I'm doing two stripes, using tiles I have on hand.

Sandy bought me a bunch of unique tiles for my birthday,

 and I will be incorporating them into this mosaic border.

Blues, Greens, mirror tiles, and a mix of Black & Whites,

and some opaque tiles. Look who's helping me out...

What the hell is going on here?

This is a tedious process...

 

Terry has all of the backer board up on the outside of the shower now. 

 

We have a surprise wall covering for this basement bathroom, 

 

More on that when we're ready to install...

 

One stripe done, one more to go...

 

The light is finished. We had to have a light in here... too dark without one.

 

The guts.

 

There is still much work to be done.

 Terry is working so hard on all of the elements that bore me...

Plumbing, electrical, cement, and walls...

 

He has to figure out the washing machine plumbing stuff,

laundry tub, lighting, and walls and doors,

and all of that stuff that I take for granted.

He amazes me. 

 

Hard to figure this picture out,

but this will be the toilet (see the hole in the floor?)

 

As soon as I finish the stripes on the walls,

 we have to go up north to borrow a tile saw from brother Bob.

 

Then we can lay the floor and finish the shower walls.

 

Let's do this.

Bathroom Shower Progress

 

There's the new/used car...

 

and here's Nick, taking my baby away.

 I'm so glad he adopted her,

 because I know he is a car lover too,

 and he will fix her up and take good care of her.

 

Back to the basement.

Terry has been working on the plumbing for this shower,

 for a week now. Every night after work,

he goes down there and bangs, and swears, and I try to hide. 

 

So far, only a few bucks have been spent on this budget shower.

He is reusing pipe from the old shower,

and scrimping on other needed supplies.

The wood was cheap, and the mortar was cheap.

 

 

Tonight, we have water !!!

 

Yea! The plumbing is set, and now we

 have to get the rest of the backer board.

 

I think we will be tiling a shower this weekend.

 

My little prayer... Please let me find some cheap tile...

 

The Garden

 

It was such a beautiful September morning,

 I just wandered through the garden and took some pictures...

 

Green onions and chives still coming in.

 

Tarragon, Sage, and Rosemary.

 

Tarragon actually has the prettiest flowers.

 I don't even know what to do with it yet, but it is pretty.

 

Heirloom cherry tomatoes, coming like crazy.

 

Lavender.

 

Lemon Balm.

 

Mexican Oregano.

 

Green beans, waxed beans, and purple beans... a late planted crop.

 

The zinnias love September...

 

and this butterfly was very happy.

 

This is Rose of Sharon, or Althea.

Looks like Hibiscus...

 

The new Crepe Myrtle tree we planted has done very well.

 

This yard has changed so dramatically over the last year.

We have erradicated so many nasty plants and trees,

 and have planted so many new things.

 

It's so nice to walk around the yard and appreciate all of our hard work.

September Morn...

 

Look at him... He scared the crap out of me this morning.

 

Here's the new car. Brought it home yesterday. It's cute, and in good condition,

 and it will cart alot of stuff from the Home Depot... 

 

Terry's son is going to adopt my baby,

so I spent some time this morning cleaning her up.

 

I also cleaned up my lease car. It was so dirty

 (I don't think I've washed it since I got it 10 months ago).

 

What the heck??? Sandy went to visit her friend

 (who works at a movie theater),

and bought home this giant popcorn pillow.

Needless to say, I've been eating alot of popcorn today.

 

Terry worked on the curb to the basement shower today.

The curb is the threshold that holds excess water in.

The cement has to be molded and squared

over chicken wire that is attached to a wood frame.

He did it, and the floor is ready for tile...

 

We picked out this tile because it was kind of cool, and very cheap,

but I am thinking about returning it. I don't know what I want,

but I think I'll keep thinking on it.

 

Terry has to work out the plumbing before we can tile anyway,

so I have some time to figure out what I really want.

 

Time for Terry to take off his cement mason cap,

and put his plumber's cap back on...

Rainbows and Used Cars?

 

The rainbow was pretty,

 but I can't get over the number of wires running over the street...

 

Ridiculous.

 

Went to buy a new/used car today. What a crappy experience.

I think car salesmaen need classes in how to be human.

 

There he is... He actually wanted to be in my picture. He posed!!!

 

Cute car, we actually want it, but if he doesn't meet my demands, we're walkin'

 

We have to go back tomorow to seal the deal, or crush his dreams.

 

We're still laughing over the fact that for a $6,000 dollar loan,

 they require 3 personal references. Hahahahahaha.

 

Nick wants the Caddy, so he stopped by to dicuss the details,

and brought Perry (the Husky). Too cute.

 

Carry on...

More Cement

 

Terry's mixing up some more cement for the final layer in the shower floor.

 

I did help out, and mix a little cement here...

 

There is the final layer of the floor.

 Sloped perfectly, and we know because a marble rolls from the edge to the drain...

Now we have to cement the "curb".

The curb is the threshhold.

 

Can't forget our chores...

We mowed the lawn and cleaned up the backyard tonight.

 

Tomorrow, we do mom's shopping, hook up her new dryer,

and then go searching for a new "used" vehicle,

 since the Caddy's condition has taken a turn for the worse.

More Basement Shower Install

 

There's the membrane. This whole process seems ridiculous to me,

 but this is according to experts...

 

A layer of mortar bed, a layer of mixed sand and cement,

then the membrane, and more cement. Crazy.

Getting this "membrane" in was more difficult than

 setting up a swimming pool. But there it is...

 

 

Terry's fighting with Greenboard.

 

Okay, we are ready for the cement floor now,

 which has to be poured and leveled on a slope to the drain, and

 carried up over the threshhold (which is encased with chicken wire),

one inch on top, and 1/2 inch on sides of threshhold.

 

This is just ridiculous.