Tiling with Matt, Ben, and Jais

Our dear friend Matt - of Matt and Rachel - arrived to install our tile. He didn't arrive alone. Matt's brother in law, Ben, and Matt's brother Jais, came up all the way from Portland to help Matt tile! It was hard to believe, actually. They stayed in the barn, got up early, and worked late. Not only did they work incredibly hard, it was an absolute education for Debbie and I to see first hand (and help where we could) how much work there is to tiling a shower and bath! Oh my! We thought it would be simple.... even though we are tiling three bathrooms (more or less since they are not full baths etc...). Just mortor the shower floor and start tiling the walls and floor right....?wrong. No way. Have to mix mortar, install with the proper angle, install the waterproof membrane, more mortar, fiberglass tape the seems on the cement board, apply thin-set, then waterproof the board, etc. etc..... So, needless to say, we are not quite as far as we thought.... but again, it is three baths! Matt is coming up next week to have at it again.

Next, gutters on Monday, Deb and I need to get paint and more tile, might try to install washer and dryer? etc. etc...... Wow, it will be one heck of a holiday weekend.

Lisa and Dick stopped up too! Spent a night and then helped on the house before they header home.... Can you believe it? Dick helped with cement board and Lisa painted.... note, we added a bit more straw color. Like it?

Our biggest disappointment is the quality of this set of pics.... so busy we didn't get any great ones of the guys working.... very sorry about that.

And, get this............ we are starting to harvest our Cherries! Fantastic. Taste great!

Goodnight. Whew.... God Bless Matt, Ben, Jais, Lisa and Dick!