I did promise to share the mosaic a table top instructions. Here is the short version:

1. Make sure the surface you are going to stick the mosaic to is hard. If the surface has any give, the mosaic could crack.

2. Clean the surface from any debris and dirt. If is it bare wood, I would prime it.

3. Buy mastic. This is the “glue” that holds the tile pieces in place. Read the information on the bag or can. I used dry mastic that had to be mixed with water. Follow the directions precisely.

4. Buy grout. This is the stuff that goes between the tiles. It comes in a variety of colors, with sand and without. I used sanded grout because I knew I would leave large gaps between tiles.

5. You will also need a notched trowel to apply the mastic and a grout float to apply the grout.

6. Buy or find tiles, plates, and/or other ceramic objects.

7. Break any ceramic objects that aren’t flat. I put my plates between 2 pieces of cardboard and whammered them with a 4 lb hammer. Wear protective googles!!! Pieces that don’t sit flat are going to be hard to use. Discard what you can’t use.

These broken bits have sharp edges! You can file the edges of each piece. Being in a hurry, I did not. In most cases the grout covers the sharp edges. Unfortunately, my table still has some sharp points that stick up. I’m going to use a hand-held power sander with the appropriate emory sandpaper when I put the tabletop back in place.

8. If you’re smart, you will plan exactly where you want each tile piece to go. If not, you’ll need to work fast and hope for the best. Do some web searching and I’ll bet you’ll find a variety of instructions on how to prepare mosaic tile. In fact, check out the Mosaic Tile Guide!

9. Read the directions and mix and apply the mastic. Don’t put down too much at any one time because it takes longer to place those tiles than you think it will.

10. Read the directions and mix and apply the grout after the mastic has set. Enjoy!

We took the mosaic top off of the table because the mastic and grout need to not freeze for a few weeks. Jack was outside and decided that the table base was just too exciting to ignore.

He’s right at 15 months old and is walking more these days. He weighed 27 lbs two weeks ago. The boy is built like a brick outhouse – solid as a rock. Christopher, his dad, was like that too. Now Chris is 6′ and on the thin side so maybe that is how Jack will be too. Or not – we’ll just have to wait and see.

Elanor and Jack were over yesterday afternoon. It took me a bit to notice – but look at those socks! She explained that she couldn’t find the sock that matched either one so she just wore them together.

When I wear mis-matched socks, I do it on purpose and have to stop and think which ones work together. Maybe what I need to do is just dump all my socks in the drawer and wear what comes out together…

We’ll be sending an eNewsletter out soon, but I wanted to give you a heads up. C&T has released another of our out-of-print titles as an eBook. Read more about Contemporary Classics in Plaids & Stripes on our website. We’re very glad to have this book available again – and we hope you are too!

In addition to the eBook, we have the pattern for the cover quilt, Pretty in Plaid, available as an individual pattern. It is in the ebook too – this stand-alone pattern is for those who only want it, and not the whole book.

I am only mildly excited by shoes. That may be because I have to wear flats if I want to walk without pain. At any rate, I was really surprised to find out that my youngest son really likes shoes! He takes care of them way better than I do. His shoes always look new.

Jeff particularly likes athletic shoes in splashy colors. I got him a pair of screaming yellow Puma’s for Christmas last year that practically glow in the dark. It looks like he likes these snow-white shoes just as much!

I spent several days last week with my sister, in the hospital. (I posted as if I was home but no, I was not.) I haven’t ever specifically said why Christy has been in the hospital. Here is the abridged story:

She has polycystic kidney disease. PKD destroyed her kidneys and they were removed last September. Living without kidneys is not easy. She is, of course, on dialysis 3 times a week. Dialysis is time consuming and there are serious diet and fluid restrictions.

Many people still have at least some kidney function to go along with dialysis and that helps to control a variety of things. Like blood pressure. Without kidneys, her blood pressure can spike up very quickly to dangerous levels.

If her only problems were diet restrictions, time spent in dialysis, and blood pressure issues things would be pretty good. Unfortunately she’s had bouts of constant migraine pain (now less frequent), occasional seizures (none lately), and severe abdominal pain that the doctors could not nail down.

She was in the hospital for the abdominal pain and a blood infection. It was decided that she really had to have a colonoscopy. On top of everything else, my sister had to drink “the stuff”. I had a colonoscopy at 50 so this is something I know about. “The stuff” for those of you who have yet to have one is Golytely. If ever a product was mis-named, this is it.

As it turns out, though, it’s a good thing that she drank the stuff. The colonoscopy showed that she had been pretty well blocked and that many of her recent problems were related to that. The good news is that she’s feeling better! She is really tired and ready to not be in the hospital, but things are looking up.

I thought I’d share this with you for a variety of reasons. PKD is a disease that a lot of people have and not many people know about. There is not a cure. The PKD Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness and funds for research. I’m happy if this, in some small way, helps them.

We have a saying in our house – “Watch out for the beer truck.” We are referring to that thing (whatever it turns out to be) that you can’t see and that will eventually come at you. For Steve and me, it’s a reminder to take pleasure in every day. After all she’s been through, Christy does savor each day. If she can, so can I – and so can you!

Be happy and enjoy your life!