The Grout is In!!

Okay - this has to dry and then the sealer goes on and then the edging so two more steps, but I got the grout done tonight so that the stove guys can do their work on Monday. Looks like everything is coming together.

Hearth Pad

Well, it has taken days and days and about 20 trips to the hardware store! I seem to always be missing something (today it was a mason's trowel) but of course I didn't get to the thin-set this afternoon. I guess that will be tomorrow morning. I had all my tiles in order, but then the dog walked through and knocked everything about and I had to start over (like a big jigsaw puzzle.) The trim came in little 6 inch strips but it was designed to have right angle joins and I need a 45 degree angle join for the front so I had to do a little nipping and fudging. Unfortunately neither the tile scorer nor the masonry blade on my saw worked very well, so some of the tiles are irregular (I guess I should have sunk the $100 into the wet saw! Anyway, what do you think? Tomorrow the "glue" (mortar) FINALLY and then the grout and the grout sealer and I'm done!

The Hearth Pad

My Wood Stove installer wants to charge me more than 350$ for a hearth pad, so I think I am going to do my own. Here is what I was thinking.

Half the price and nicer, I think since I did not price any of the pads that had decorative edgings.

Of course what I really wanted to post was pictures of my baby! This is the way I imagine her - attentive, obedient, diligent.

This is really more like the real McCoy!

Oh I think I hurt her feelings!

The face only a mother (or father) could love!

How about this face!!

Don't they both look gorgeous here!!