Lisa and Michael

Project complete!

The grout went up last Wednesday, a scary job for an amateur doing it for the first time, but fear of ruining a perfect tile job forces one to be patient and exact. It took 3 hours with Lisa doing the harder, detailed work of sponging away the excess grout and making the grout lines look perfect, and it really turned out that way. By Sunday, a week after starting the project, the trim was back up, the switch covers screwed back on, and the sealer applied.

We couldn’t have asked for anything nicer and more professional looking, I think:

The whole project only cost $468, and that included $231 for the tile, $103 for the wet saw rental, and the rest in tools and supplies (beer and food, not included). There are more pictures of the whole process here.

It’s always refreshing to complete a DIY project like this. Just not again, ever.

Well that’s happening this September, but first we’ll let Oscar and Junior continue to enjoy vintage 1970s decor.

Oh, and Lisa and I continued with the backsplash, pulling all the spacers and mastic boogers yesterday, and completing the (dreaded) grouting tonight. I was a basket case, considering I’d never grouted a thing in my life. With me on the float and Lisa on sponge duty, we completed the grouting in about 3 hours. The result? It looks awesome! I really should quit worrying so much, Lisa was calm and composed, not a worry at all. All that remains is replacing the trim and outlet covers tomorrow, another sealer application in a few days, and pictures to prove that anyone can put in their own backsplash.

It took a few years, but we’ve finally begun tackling the kitchen backsplash, the last critical part to the kitchen remodel.

It was not easy, a bunch of tile amateurs (me, Lisa, Darrell, and Shari) putting it up, but so far the results are stunning. Lisa and I decided on a nice natural stone, 4″ x 4″ tumbled Troy, with marble accents throughout. Twelve exhausting hours it took us to cover around 41 sq. ft. Grouting is next, probably Tuesday. Stay tuned.

It’s just about midnight, Lisa and I have setup the air mattress outside in the beautiful New Mexico summer night, random bottle rockets and firecrackers are going off.

I’m not sure why I’m still up, I’m absolutely exhausted, it was a busy day — we’re putting a fresh coat of paint in the garage and arranging things, getting rid of stuff we no longer need, just one of the many items on our 2010 list we’ll be able to strike off soon. Next week will be tiling the backsplash, and in about 8 weeks, contracting out for two fully remodelled bathrooms. Add to that my pending GMAT exam, and Lisa’s current mediation course, we’re both super busy!

It’s nights like this we live for, though, so so relaxing. I can’t stand the heat and the lack of rain sucks, but it’s really been a great summer so far.

On our trip through Tucumcari a few weeks ago, we were really surprised by the number of closed and boarded up businesses and old motels and storefronts torn down.

Example. The old junk store Doofnac Xemi (think about that for a second) is no more. As seen in November, 2008:

Fast forward to 2010, it’s now a parking lot between the warehouse and white fence. The photo location is the vacant and falling down Westerner Drive-In.

Tucumcari has certainly seen some better days. (?)

We went on a West Texas trip this past weekend to graduations in Dalhart and Amarillo, and of course passed through Tucumcari.

No trip there would be complete without a stop at Allsup’s for their tasty Famous Beef & Bean Burritos.

Don’t be a fool and eat one without Allsup’s equally famous Taco Sauce. Simply tear off a corner and slather some yummy sauce on the top before each bite.

It’s to die for. (Except for Lisa, I’m not sure why she doesn’t share my passion!)

Albuquerque seems to be losing all of its Allsup’s, and I really miss that distinctive Allsup’s smell. If you’ve frequented the store, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Mmm, ahh! Don’t tease the panther.

We just finished planting the garden this afternoon. A week later than we did last year since the weather has been cooler. We are hoping to have great results like we did last year, and crossing out fingers that it wasn’t beginner’s luck. We used Bonnie Plants exclusively, they did so well for us last year.

This year we planted tomato, broccoli, leeks, peppers, jalapenos, and squash.

Lisa reminded me we also have an herb garden growing, started a few weeks ago: cilantro, flat Italian parsley, sweet basil, Thai basil, Greek oregano, and German thyme.

Summer weather seems to be here already! I sit back here in the backyard watching the tram go up the mountain and the dogs play. I think I’m ready to plant a garden!

Last weekend we completed the sun room by touching up the walls, re-installing the baseboards, and moving in the furniture. (More pictures here at the end of the project summary page.)

We think the results are amazing:

Pottery Barn’s Markham Console is a very similar workbench, although ours is authentic and not a reproduction. Talk about functional art. We thought it’d be fun to steal Pottery Barn’s idea, though: