This has been a journey! Looking back, perhaps the scope of the project wasn’t perfectly defined. Also, I hadn’t realized that every task within the larger project required a brand-new set of mini-skills. I have way more respect for both DIYers and professionals now, understanding that in order to accomplish one home improvement project one’s knowledge must span a vast and varied array of know-how, foresight, planning, and practical skills.

It might be useful to first compare what I imagined the scope of this project to be from my initial Baseline post to how I see it on this side of things:

• I had pre-ranked tasks as hard to easy, without any real previous experience of any them, and this kind of set me up for feeling like a failure because it was “easy” tasks that took me the longest and gave me the most grief. See caulking project or cutting tiles. Funnily enough, I just redid all the caulking in the shower AGAIN two days ago…That is going on 3 times…Notice I did not post my “results.” Too ugly, too frustrating, too messy, and too discouraging. Essentially, it looks like this:
  

  Trying to fix a bad caulk job
  byu/cloyd19 infixit

• I viewed the largest component of this project being the tiling. Perhaps, it should have been, but I underestimated the time, learning, and practice required of the smaller tasks.

Besides the fan, the most daunting part of this renovation to me is the tiling.

•  I over-relied on the notion that because I have seen something done, I can do it myself. Prior learning only served me in that it was a STARTING point for research and did not transfer to application in any significant way…which leads me to my next takeaway from my Baseline post…
• PRACTICE. Trial and error. Learning is practice. I often take an overintellectualized/overcomplicated approach to everything and end up discounting that “field” experience that grows comprehension. I literally thought I’d watch some videos, read some blogs, and get to it…This might be the most important thing I learned about learning that relates to teaching: adjust expectations and try. Then try again. And build on that previous trying and try again. 
• Comparing how I thought this would go to what I managed to accomplish, I realize I really just like the planning stages. I like design, inspiration, curating, and planning every little detail. My photo album has screenshots of inspiration pics for this bathroom and kitchen from years before either project started. I bought and sourced items preparing for the project long before demo.  See this slideshow below of my screenshots that show me planning kitchen, bath, shower, tile, wallpaper, etc. three years before I started.

• Finally, I noticed that my primary learning was not from apps like I saw many of my classmates using and I am not surprised. Kind of the nature of DIY to be restricted to video and forum/blog. However, I had not really considered Pinterest until I was at the end of this project. In hindsight, I think this is really useful for those design and planning stages and if I were to do this again, I’d include this app as part of it. Moreover, Pinterest guides you via images, but most of those images are part of a blog or article detailing a process or product I am interested in. I overlooked how much Pinterest contributed to my learning, especially that which occurred before the Learning Project.

Learning Project Post 2

Here is where the apparent gap between passive online learning and actual application first occurred for me. I was confident I had enough prerequisite knowledge that I would not struggle with what I viewed as the primary portion of my project. Although I ran into technical difficulties with my tools, the resources I utilized during this week allowed me to troubleshoot, eventually getting tiles on in a tolerable way.

I found and relied on old archived forums like John Bridges that I tried to show are still valuable, especially in DIY. Much of TikTok for example is about “hacks” and shortcuts, but I learned it is necessary to learn foundational/timeless skills and know-how in order to effectively accomplish desired results. I know now why my spouse, after I show him a video of someone hastily painting countertops for a quick, cheap, and easy kitchen update, reacts negatively … He has enough practical understanding to recognize that some ideas/hacks, when executed like most hacks are, will end up being more work and less of an improvement than intended. Both of these “hacks” I tried to convince him to do and he resisted. I am thankful for that now.

Eventually, I got tiles up; learned how wet tile saws work and changed blades (that must be fancy diamond ones apparently); learned how certain saws are better for certain tiles; and realized how much I rely on the internet for troubleshooting. Every time I look up, “Bluetooth not syncing” or “wifi slow”, I am engaging in online learning and attempting to troubleshoot. I had not thought of my own learning that way. The more I rely on these online resources, and the more I find them useful, the more confidence I gain to approach larger projects similarly. Even watching dumb hacks is a way of learning by process of elimination! Don’t look too closely at these grout lines…

Learning Project Post 3

This week proved difficult too. I had rain pouring into my kitchen from the window I forgot to properly seal. After it dried up, I sealed it. Twice. By hanging out the small window. I didn’t get a picture, but from the street, after the foam fully expanded, it looked like the window was being eaten by a marshmallow.

In order to motivate myself to do neglected tasks like caulking and spray foam, I watched caulking experts on TikTok and then tips for beginners…as I mentioned, I still removed it 3 times counting the most recent caulk removal a couple of days ago.

@multipurposepropainters

Do you even caulk??🙇🏽‍♂️👀 As a professional painter, you’re caulking game should be pristine 💎 A great caulking job makes the difference between a elegant finish vs a sloppy one 😳 #fyp #tips #diy #painting

♬ PINK FLOYD. Another Brick in the Wall. Cover. – Tristan Thomas

I learned that my hand isn’t steady, it is hard to keep pressure on the gun, don’t go backwards with the nozzle, and most helpful of all, use painter’s tape to keep it straight and clean. Despite trying to follow the online resources I found, I had an epiphany about my own learning style. It wasn’t that I just couldn’t learn properly or hadn’t found the perfect online tutorial, it was that I may be more hands-on than I had thought. Maybe I do not understand because I am spending hours consuming content about doing instead of doing. I write:

I did not really think of myself as a hands-on learner. I thought I learned best through listening/reading. However, it is clear to me, there is an element of practice that is kind of absent in this type of learning project. Instead of practicing prior to “performing” like I would if I were learning an instrument or language or even baking, I absorb as much from as many sources as I can until I do it. When I finally do it, it is supposed to be the final draft. I am learning about myself that I need practical, hands-on learning/practice either to get a handle on execution or to maybe build my confidence. I am starting to feel not very confident about my abilities here.

I found that this lack of confidence about not being perfect while learning something new is a common experience for people. On Quora, members discuss at length their experiences while trying to learn and it mirrors mine. It is interesting and took me down a little rabbit hole. Failure and anxiety while learning is evidence of learning. It is uncomfortable. In Strategies for Learning from Failure, Amy Edmonson writes about corporate and professional failure, but I found it helpful for myself as a future teacher:

Only leaders can create and reinforce a culture that counteracts the blame game and makes people feel both comfortable with and responsible for surfacing and learning from failures.

If I can recognize the factors that contribute to failure in myself, I might be a better teacher to students who are feeling similarly. Edmonson includes an image that shows where a learner (or professional in her case) can be accountable for failures, where the system plays a role, and where failure is inherent in certain learning. I can see myself at each stage. I found this super interesting and will be taking this learning into the classroom when I go.

Image: Harvard Business Review (2011). Strategies for Learning from Failure. https://hbr.org/2011/04/strategies-for-learning-from-failure

Learning Project Post 4

Kittens! Man, is my summer not turning out like I had planned…

The greatest part of this learning though was how rewarding it was. Stressful, but rewarding. I love the internet and I know that had I not had access, these kittens may not have survived. I love the people who are experts and share that expertise for free (even if they make some money off of content, I still think that is more than fair). If I had taken them to the vet for advice on how to care for them, she would have charged me for her expertise.

Additionally, the urgency of the situation made this online learning experience exciting. Even now, as they are gaining weight, trusting, eating, pooping, cuddling, purring, and being nuts, I am excited for them and excited that I played a role in this. Those first days though I felt like Indiana Jones, quickly trying to decipher hieroglyphics before the volcano explodes and kills all the villagers below. Constantly thinking to myself: LEARN FASTER! What now?! Is this NORMAL? Am I qualified?

If you’re ever in this position, refer to the Kitten Lady. She is amazing, thorough, and dedicated to teaching others how to care for and foster these little furry demons.

Here is an update: they are using the litter box on their own, without me even teaching them, eating solid foods while still nursing from my dog occasionally (did I mention that? My dog started producing milk and nursing them for real…), running around, and causing total chaos. It is exhausting but fun.

Learning Project Post 5 and Learning Project Post 6

The final posts, even with minor setbacks unavoidable in an old house, proved to be the best reflection of straightforward, online learning for me. I found concise and clear resources that even anticipated some user error or potential problems, allowing the reader/viewer to think ahead. Kind of like reading the whole recipe before starting baking instead of finding out midway, with everything mixed, you don’t have a certain ingredient. I am trying to consume educational content this way now too.

The faucet was straightforward and much less challenging than I thought, but I was missing the drain, which I have now found. Sometimes Ptraps are annoying. However. considering the rollercoaster that was this learning experience, I am feeling more confident and ready to take it on…later…

I recommend for any kind of project like this–again referring to the recipe method–watch videos in full to gain an understanding of the expected process, then have and refer to the detailed and often numbered instructions on relevant blogs/articles while attempting task, and “practice.”

Or at the very least, be aware that, by default, you may just end up practising. Learning is just that and without the application, can we really say we know how to do anything? I am becoming more comfortable with failure and recognizing its role in learning. Part of comfortability has come from the internet itself. Online, users are more willing than ever to share their authentic journey through a learning experience that may include setbacks, blow-ups, and restarts. I am coming to love that about the DIY space. I am following new creators across platforms who are showing what worked, what went wrong, how they fixed it, and when they had to call in the professionals. This type of open content creator encourages me and likely others to commit to learning and trying something outside their wheelhouse while recognizing failure is part and parcel. This is a common theme I have found in my classmate’s blogs too: as they are learning, the internet is providing the opportunity for others to come alongside and glean from their learning journey. And for some of them, that shared experience is going to happen regardless of the internet. They bring their families, friends, and communities along for the ride (See Avery’s Learning Project). If this doesn’t reiterate that old adage about the best teachers being great students, I don’t know what does…

Image: 16 Scott Hayden. Country Living. https://www.countryliving.com/life/inspirational-stories/g33930560/teacher-quotes/

Anyway, failure shouldn’t deter us, but let us know that hey, we are in the throws of learning something shiny and new! As I reflect upon this experience, and the new “network” I am a part of, I feel like I am better equipped to both teach online learning in the classroom AND help to encourage independent learning even if it does not look perfect.

This bathroom task required a little more prior research for me instead of the as-I-go type of learning I have been doing: installing a light fixture. I feel like I understand the basics of electrical, but I am too freaked out by it after getting electrocuted in my 20s that I stall out before trying again. Do not recommend electrocution.

Interestingly enough, this Safety Culture website warns against DIY… #9 on the Rules List

Image: Safety Culture. (2024, May 15). 10 Electrical Safety Rules. https://safetyculture.com/topics/electrical-hazards/10-electrical-safety-rules/

Unfortunately, I am too poor to defer to real-life experts and too stubborn to believe I can’t just figure it out.

When my brain tries to make me do something
byu/Bean_baggered inmemes

According to The Manual, this is a “simple household task” and need not be done by a professional so that was encouraging. The Manual’s guide is called, How to change a light fixture without getting shocked and that seemed like a perfect fit for me.

Here’s what I needed according to The Manual:

• Phillips screwdriver
• Flathead screwdriver
• Needle-nose pliers
• Wirecutter
• Wire stripper (used utility knife)

Here is the light fixture I chose. It can be wired or plugged in, which I thought at the time might be useful, but it wasn’t.

Here is what I did, following the guide (ish):

Find the breaker, flip it or hit the main if you cannot identify it. I have them half-assed labeled, but because I was working at night, I needed the hall light to see what I was doing which happened to be connected to the bathroom. I shut the light off at the switch. Double-checked with the internet on Quora  if I would die and searched until I got an answer I liked, and they said, “all good just don’t stand in water while you change the light.” That is what I went with.

Easy. Couple screws. I removed one of the old bulbs to use in new light. Doesn’t look the best, but it will do for now.

I forgot to take pictures of old wiring we have, but it looks like this:

Image: Home Improvement (2019) Old house – hanging a new light fixture. https://i.sstatic.net/0W8QL.jpg

Note how the instructions from The Manual might cause some issues for the average old homeowner whose wires don’t match even remotely.This Home Improvement forum was useful for identifying which colours went whereas the new ones didn’t match the old wires and I failed to do the above step, marking the wires.

White (new fixture) => white (ceiling)

Black (new fixture) => red (ceiling)

Bare ground (new fixture) => green/bare ground or metal box (ceiling)

Finally, connect the wiring, and then attach plate. This is the result:

You can see the old paint around the previous light here. The before show that the portions for the old light and mirror are totally and I hope, paired with this mirror again, it will look more polished and thought out and not like I salvaged the light from a demo project….which is what I did….

And this is the ultimate finished Pinterest (view my “Home” board if you want) inspiration for mirror/light/sink proportions:

Image: Pinterest. https://pin.it/6FGFMyzdN

Image: Pinterest. Vintage Bath – 1850s East Village building, NYT. https://pin.it/ZVMurFIaM

Image: Pinterest. https://pin.it/3aLDAeaJr

This was an interesting project and rather simple, but definitely required some prior research as well as supplementary research to complete safely. The learning-by-doing component of this assignment is what I love. It really would be impossible to complete without having access to ongoing and updated information. The “DIY” community online is so informative and willing to share errors and progress; it makes me feel like one of the team!

I am back at my bathroom! The kittens have been a major distraction/obligation, but I am picking off a couple of projects as I go. This week was changing the faucet!

This is the faucet I chose a while ago, and it is still available. I thought it had the vintage feel I was looking for and was reasonably priced (Holy! Are home improvement items ever crazy expensive now!). I would add, it is useful to know what kind of faucet you need to buy: centerset, wide spread, single handle, or wall mounted. Below are the same model of faucets but for two different types of sinks. I have a small pedestal sink and those usually only have room for centerset.  I have bought the wrong faucet for the holes in my sink before.

Image: Pfister. Model: Henlow 4″. https://www.pfisterfaucets.com/bathroom/product/henlow-lf-048-he-2-handle-4-centerset-bathroom-faucet?modelNumber=LF-048-HECC

Image: Pfister. Model: Henlow 8″. https://www.pfisterfaucets.com/bathroom/product/henlow-lf-049-he-2-handle-8-widespread-bathroom-faucet?modelNumber=LF-049-HECC

Alsooooo, if anyone is looking for a kind of vintage-looking toilet, this is what I bought and I think it looks great! Toilets are just one of those things that don’t look nice and are always too modern-looking. They look like Dodge Neons stuck in the bathroom. Finding alternatives to such items is my mission, even removing the microwave from my kitchen years ago because a nice one has yet to be created.

Image: Rona. Kohler Highline. https://www.rona.ca/en/product/kohler-highline-2-piece-curve-12-in-elongated-toilet-48-lpf-k-78276-0-31535177

Anyway, back on track: I removed the faucet from the packaging and threw it out including any instructions that may have been in it. Prior to looking up a resource to help me, I remembered that I had to shut off water. I did that! I had changed the toilet and thought the shutoff valve at the wall worked so didn’t bother to shut off water. I was wrong. Old houses, eh? I gathered the tools that I needed from this Moen list. I grabbed thread tape, an adjustable wrench thing, a smaller wrench, a multi-head screwdriver, and later added a flashlight. This is the kind of wrench thing I always use when dealing with ABS pipe but don’t know the technical name.

Image: Electra. Adjustable Wrench. https://electra.trekbikes.com/ca/en_CA/equipment/cycling-accessories/bike-tools-maintenance/bike-shop-supplies/bontrager-pro-adjustable-wrench/p/25014/

From my previous trouble with Ptrap, I check to make sure it is actually removable and not glued to hell and going to break and leak gross stuff. In the case that it was stuck, I would have called for backup and by backup I mean my spouse. However, this faucet either did not come with a drain or I threw it out accidentally. This really annoyed me. Typically, I expect a drain to be included so the end result is shiny and new. Expecting the customer to find their own after the fact is not my favourite approach to shopping. Here is the kind of kit I normally would look for.

Following my preliminary checks, I reviewed ChrisFix’s video,  DIY: How to Replace and Install a Bathroom Sink Faucet.

His breakdown of the video is useful and I love when creators do that. I followed it as an outline.

These are my ugly, old taps. They are outdated and an eyesore. I would have replaced the entire sink, but there is not room for a sink/vanity besides some super small and modern ones that I hate more. They look like they belong in RVs.

Image: Amazon. Small space vanity. https://a.co/d/bLQjHsa

So this is what we are working with. I have tape and tools on edge of sink, ready to go. Working beneath this sink is cozy and very frustrating. The toilet is right beside it–something the video doesn’t mention. Take a chill pill first.

I removed the old faucet the way he demonstrates in the video for the most part. Even though I shut off water main and drained what was left in pipes, I still shut off valves. Just in case. I removed mesh supply lines from vavle no problem, but from the taps, the plastic bit washer beneath sink broke off. If you are just trying to fix a leaking faucet or replace lines, be very careful. I think they must become even more brittle over time. A screenshot of the plastic washer I am talking about is below. This is essentially the only thing that attaches the faucet to the sink so if yours is wiggly, it probably just needs a finger tightening.

Screenshot: ChrisFix. 2:44 plastic washer. https://youtu.be/gZ0Cz3gRglo?si=kmBuZTzidJXv-J1q

I am feeling really confident here. The video directly reflects my own sink situation/progress. This is kind of cool, considering I always feel like I have to adjust/assume certain things to make learning from online sources apply to my particular situation. The video has both lines disconnected from valves and faucet, faucet removed, and he begins cleaning the sludge beneath faucet. This is exactly where I am at: supply lines in sink and sludge clearly visible.

It is worth noting, at the beginning of the video, he mentions a catch basin (1:52) for excess water, but I had assumed after draining lines that there would be little to no water. The towel did suffice, I guess.

Following the clean-up, and it did clean up rather easily, I was basically just repeating what I had just done but in reverse. I taped up the ends of the faucet that connect to supply line and put down the plastic thing that goes between sink and faucet. I connected supply lines to faucet and valves. Feeling good.

What I hadn’t noticed was the supply lines were crossed when I removed them. As I am referring to the video (5:32), I am aware that the supply line on the right is cold and connects to right-hand tap; left line is hot and connects to left hand tap. I didn’t question this. Why would I? This is standard everywhere and everywhere else in my house.

Screenshot: ChrisFix. Supply lines 5:32. https://youtu.be/gZ0Cz3gRglo?si=5ovpUTSgwRdVWoWJ&t=111

It is not until much after the faucet is connected, the water back on, leaks checked for, and my workspace cleaned up, I figure out the mistake. I went to warm a bottle for the kittens hiding out in my bedroom by filling a bowl of hot water from the bathroom. I wait. And wait. Still no hot water. Sure, it is a two-story house and hot water takes a minute to come from the tank in the basement, but I could swear water from the left-hand tap was actually getting colder. I try the right hand. It is a wait too. I start to think something is off. Then all of a sudden hot water comes pouring out the wrong tape. I immediately knew I hooked the supply lines up wrong, but when I checked, they were running parallel to each other–just like they’re supposed to and just like the video has them doing.

That can only mean one thing: the lines were crossed prior to removing them to make the hot water go to the left-hand side and cold to the right. OLD HOUSES, EH?:@ I am naively demonstrating how my new faucet works here… Anyway, I am not fixing it right now haha. So if you come over to visit just remember the taps are opposite. Easy!

I am learning that even the best resource in the world, like ChrisFix’s video, cannot replace trial and error. There remains a discrepancy between learning theoretically and learning through application. I was certain I could complete this task without problems and that the video covered all potential issues one might run into. Of course, who can anticipate the lines being run from the basement decades ago in the wrong spot? Not I! With that said, at least I was able, with very little effort, to troubleshoot the problem and know I can fix it. I have a bad feeling about those stupid plastic washers though…

Suppose I had more sinks and faucets lined up to practice on. In that case, I think the results would be similar to those from my previous post where I was able to get the kittens to latch and nurse through repetition of my learning, bringing it from the theoretical into application. Tis the nature of home improvement, I suppose.

I have tried to focus on this project, but something unexpected happened! I was going to try to catch up with my project posts, but then I realized…

…I have been engaging in online, self-directed learning and I really should blog about it!

As the title suggests, there are kittens! Two-week-old (ish) kittens were abandoned in my yard. We searched for mama everywhere. We called the Humane Society daily to see if a nursing cat showed up. Nothing. As you may have read on my About Me page, I am a cat person who also has dogs…if you know what I mean. I love cats and have three of my own, but once you have dogs… they just become your life/personality. Although, I was not mentally or physically prepared to raise babies by myself. They were too little, too young, too blind, too fragile, and I am too busy with work and school.

The first days were so scary and I was totally inept. Today, however, I am seeing their eyes open, they are latching to the bottle and actually feeding, my dogs are helping significantly, and I feel wayyyyyy better about it. All thanks to the internet.

This what I learned and how I learned it:

When I found them, I looked up what to do. Don’t do anything the internet said. I didn’t touch them or move them. But seven hours went by, then twelve, and I learned that is a bad sign. Kittens that haven’t opened their eyes yet are 1-2 weeks old. Mothers nurse them every 1-2 hours. A mother cat that hasn’t returned for 10-12 hours is an indication something terrible happened, and if you do not intervene quickly, they will not survive.

I scooped them up in a box with a towel and put them in our closet. I called the Moose Jaw Humane Society for help and they provided me with formula, but I was short bottles still. I stopped by Pet Valu and purchased these on the advice of the Humane Society and the representative at the store:

Screenshot from https://store.petvalu.ca/location/3103/

I had no idea of their age, when and how to feed them, how bathroom breaks worked, and whether my dogs would adapt to them. This is what I learned and the sources from where I gathered the information.

I used this chart to determine age:

Developmental and Behavioral Milestones. https://www.kittenlady.org/age

The Kitten Lady, who also has a YouTube channel that saved me, gives a breakdown of what to do at each milestone. At their estimated two-week age (folded ears and unopened eyes), we are to feed them every 2 hours, including through the night, and “stimulate them” to go to the washroom. This was unexpected and unusual for me. Here is a Tiktok making light of the bathroom process I found while searching for advice on how to do that properly. Now, I am a pro, but that night was long, weird, uncomfortable, and scary.

Finding information on how to make the kitties “latch” was easy thanks to the Kitten Lady. After watching How to Safely Bottle Feed a Kitten, and following the steps closely, it was clear that the kittens were not interested despite starving for who knows how long.

After returning from another trip to Pet Valu to buy an extra bottle set, my spouse and I found 10 Tips for Tricky Bottle Baby Kittens video and played it continuously until we got some milk in those kittens. That was the main goal, whether they liked it or not. Ultimately, following the advice of the video, we took a clean medicine syringe we had from a previous vet trip and attached a nipple. It was not pretty, but it looked like this set you can buy from Amazon, sorta. The formula was everywhere.

After you account for all user errors (too cool, too hot, nipple too big or too small, hole cut in nipple too big or too small, etc.), we learned that you just keep going. They don’t like it; they miss their mom; they’re cold. Also, do not feed a cold kitten. The video reiterates that! I filmed my own video for the blog of our kitten station, showing how we clean, mix formula, and warm bottles in hot water, but realized that was pretty self-explanatory and not that intriguing. One tip though: the formula does not mix well even following directions. Whisk with warm water forever, but it will not dissolve completely so make peace with that and when it is transferred to bottles and warmed, shake it to death. Worked much better than trying to whisk to perfection.  We ran to Walmart and bought this heating pad (both the instructions and online advice say not to use electrical heat, but there were no hot water bottles–it was late, and this was our fourth, maybe fifth, trip out to try and save the babies.

Image: Walmart.Sunbeam XpressHeat Heating Pad.

By the next day, 3/4 were latching  80% of the time. The littlest one struggled, but by the second night, she (I think she) was latching most of the time. We weighed them that night and kept it up making sure they were gaining weight those first days. I used this chart as a guideline, keeping in mind they are supposed to be gaining 10 grams per day–they were not for the first 4 days, but are little beefcakes now!:

Kitten Lady. (2024) Weighing Kittens. https://www.kittenlady.org/weighing?rq=weight%20

I must note that as romantic and rewarding as this rescue attempt might seem (I certainly saw it as that) it is not really tenable for most people. Since we rescued them, I have not slept longer than 3 hours. I celebrated 3 hours without kittens waking yesterday! All my schoolwork has suffered and I am significantly behind in work as well. There is no way this is possible to do without support from others who can take over at times, finances (we have already bought 3 things of formula at $42.00 a container and they all will be weaned onto kitten food shortly which isn’t cheap either, not including their first vet trip/shots), time (I do not have enough of it), and serious commitment. It is way more difficult and trying than I ever imagined. I cried the first night I couldn’t get them to eat, and now I cry at 4 am each morning when they scream at me for food. I am not joking. I am exhausted. I love them, but I was not mentally prepared to be a “parent” to newborns. If this is not something you, dear reader, think you could do, I would call the Humane Society and have them help find a foster parent for the kittens rather than try and fail. Failing would be devastating. Kittens can turn for the worst in a day if not properly cared for. Big pressure!

I had zero previous understanding of how to nurse kittens. I did get the whole birth thing, where I had just watched a mama cat do her thing before. I could not have anticipated the amount of work, instinct, care, and dedication actually raising kittens took. I can honestly say, that if it were not for the information found online, which is primarily made up of other people’s experiences and expertise, these kittens would have suffered. I am thankful that, from this whole online learning project, I felt confident enough to quickly gather resources, review visual aids, and source the proper materials/tools needed to help these kittens. It was not until there were a couple of days between that first night that I realized I had taught myself a lifelong skillset that I can share that is much higher risk/reward than renovations all because of prior learning and confidence built from that learning. I am grateful for the experience and the way it enabled me to face a challenge I would’ve baulked at before. Next, I will be teaching myself to code or something…

Finally, the best thing that came out of this is the relationship that formed between the kittens and my two dogs. They are obsessed with the babies and the babies with them. The kittens “nurse” from Georgia all day long and get cleaned by Eddie. The whole ordeal brought out the most caring, protective, and unexpected reactions from my dogs that I could not be prouder of. What follows is the obligatory photo dump. You should be able to see the kitten’s growth: from little slits in their eyes to open and moving around!

I got to stay home from work due to rain. I thought this might be an opportunity to catch up on my project. This did not happen as planned.

Instead, after replacing the window, but not sealing it up on the outside because I forgot once it was in and because it is on the second story, the rain came in. I thought a pipe burst. Rain was pouring down the previously revealed plumping in the kitchen, below the upstairs bathroom.

Rain was coming in at such an angle, it got in between the window and the outside siding and casing that was removed, behind the shower system and tile.

This obviously made the window a priority. Without scaffolding, I didn’t really know how to fix this, or at least prevent rain from coming into my kitchen. This is my “access” to plumbing. It was living under drywall and ancient plaster. I haven’t motivated myself to tear the rest of the ceiling plaster down, but the walls are done! Little victories.

I don’t know if you can see the wet everywhere, but the darker wood by the plumbing is wet (note: wet by the live wire). I could hear it coming down while in the living room. Scary.

Naturally, I called my dad. He said, “spray foam.” I did;t really know what I was looking for so searched Rona online for spray foam for sealing up windows. I did not expect to “learn” from the comment section, but upon looking at reviews, I saw someone complain about spray foam bowing door jams. I didn’t know anything about this and looked it up. This is a whole discussion on how spray foam is apparently so powerful it has wrecked many a person’s new project. One little, off-handed review from Rona saved me this very fate! It is a century-old cedar on the outside of the house and surely would have over-expanded if I hadn’t looked it up first. Thankful!

The idea is to get door and window spray foam for doors and windows because it is less expandy, I guess? This is what I used.

Image: Great Stuff. Rona. https://www.rona.ca/en/product/great-stuff-12-oz-window-and-door-yellow-spray-foam-insulation-ready-for-trim-in-1-h-99108863-56495028

I will say, yellow on white trim and window is not the cutest look. Can cut it down and paint it, but who has time for that?

Anyway, I got my saw up and running. It is still chipping tile. I am slowly getting over it. However, the issue with the rain reminded me I needed to caulk everything. I went ahead and did the shower base and new shower doors. It was horrible. I scraped it all off and returned to the internet. I literally did not think I needed to learn how to caulk…

I viewed WINNI’s video on how to caulk a shower. According to the TikTok, I am not supposed to grout corners (I did) and am supposed to use caulk instead for flexibility. After the fact, not that helpful, but he does mention using soapy water and popsicle stick to create nice caulk lines. I tried it. Still horrible. Removed it again.

Twin Traps suggests a caulking tool, but I wasn’t leaving in the middle of this mess to get one. It looks something like this from Amazon. DadAdviceFromBo does it just like I do, even mentioning that if you hate how it turns out just let it dry and peel it off again. This made me feel better, but also discouraged, all at the same time. I watched professionals nail their caulk job for about an hour on TikTok then came across this picture on a tutorial website: Image: The Spruce/Kevin Norris. https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-caulk-a-shower-5208078

What a novel idea! if you suck at it, just tape your edges! The Spruce provides a couple more helpful hints about caulking, but this one is the best! I showed my spouse when he got home and he said, “yeah, that is pretty normal,” Useful advice I could’ve used YESTERDAY.

Anyway, I am learning that I am not good at learning. I clearly like to test all my preconceived notions prior to actually understanding. I think that means I am learning through hands-on doing. I am just realizing this. So far, it has seemed to me that there is a massive discrepancy between what I think I know how to do and what happens when I do it. Perhaps, this is why I feel like all these videos and tutorials I am referring to prior to doing aren’t helping.

This is super interesting to me because I did not really think of myself as a hands-on learner. I thought I learned best through listening/reading. However, it is clear to me, there is an element of practice that is kind of absent in this type of learning project. Instead of practicing prior to “performing” like I would if I were learning an instrument or language or even baking, I absorb as much from as many sources as I can until I do it. When I finally do it, it is supposed to be the final draft. I am learning about myself that I need practical, hands-on learning/practice either to get a handle on execution or to maybe build my confidence. I am starting to feel not very confident about my abilities here.

If I could start over with this project, I would do a very small test project first. Maybe tile the inside of my fireplace, or help a friend first. There are so many moving parts to just trying to finish what I thought was a simple project. Albeit, a lot of the complications are due to an old house.

All news to me, though!

My second learning project post reflects my shortsightedness…

I mixed up a small batch of mortar, added water to the tile saw, made a line on the wall with laser level to keep things straight, and started with placing tiles…

…Until I got to my first cut….

I went through at least ten tiles, chipping and breaking each one. If you are following along, you will know this is basically unacceptable considering the tiles are white and grout is black. They look like this once installed (note the tiny chips are super accentuated once grout gets in there).

Pickard, Jared. (Nov 6, 2021). Any idea what’s going on here with this subway tile?. Home Improvement.

I am thankful I learned enough while watching the main-floor bathroom installation to know to take them down, not grout, and try again. So it is clear I missed a learning step. Back at the old drawing board, and this is what I watched: 5 Ways to Cut Tiles

In short, the creator suggests a manual tile saw sucks, I have that and tried it too; a wet saw works best for things like subways tiles…apparently; a hand tile cutter (I have this too, but it sucks–tried it); and finally, a grinder (have many, but haven’t resorted to it yet).

Either my cheap wet tile saw is beat–it does look rough and the tile guider thinger looks wobbly–or there is some other kind of troubleshooting I need to do. I opened Google and did what any amateur does and searched “why does my wet tile saw chip my tiles?”

I am a forum person, and that is my primary learn-how-to-fix-shit way: cars, computers, life, etc. Luckily for me, the first result on Google was an archived forum!: https://www.johnbridge.com/vbulletin/archive

I have no idea who John Bridge is or what this forum was started for, but note the 2007 questions and responses and just how dang timeless certain problem-solving techniques are. In case you can’t read screenshot, click on link above.

The just of it:

Forcing the cuts too quickly.
Worn blade or blade needs dressing.
Blade not running true (square) to the cut.
Wobbly blade arbor.
Not enough water directed to the blade and tile during cut.
Tile not solid (flat) and tight to saw bed during cut.
Turn tile over and cut from other side.
Don’t cut through from end to end…. reverse tile when close to end of cut.
Tile’s nature to chip no matter what is done. 

Can’t help but wonder if it is just the nature of things… I am hoping a blade change will do it! I went and got a 3 pack so we will see. I figure I can adjust my cutting technique and water amount easily enough too. Beyond that, I might be manually cutting tiles.

This weekend, I will unpack my doom piles of supplies again and try this troubleshooting out.

I am learning that I tend to use YouTube and TikTok for a general project overview or for inspiration/motivation. Despite feeling rather confident after outlining the project in my first learning post, I still watched a myriad of videos and clips almost to reassure me I get what I am doing. However, when I ran into a problem, like these chipping tiles that look bloody awful, I return to the forum and often search for what sounds like my exact problem posted by someone else and then try that out. I am wanting to expand the tools I use to learn, and perhaps I can find someone else for the next post. Still, there is something really nice about being able to read steps/instructions in one sitting and return to it as I am attempting the feat. It is like a security blanket haha.

I am surprised by how simple (as in straightforward) a job this seems according to videos online, but once I got started and needed really specific advice, I saw how useful forums, where other lost people are gripping about those very specific issues, are. My next learning step might entail actually posting my own question or concern instead of spending hours looking for one that resembles the issue I am having! That might be a little more proactive. I also looked for apps and that hasn’t been as useful yet, but who knows what problem I run into this weekend! I will take all the help I can get.

Oh, I forgot to add, that even trying to start a straight line is harder than it looks! If anyone is curious, this is where I started with marking my lines: BTC.BlaineTileCreations on TikTok is micro-adjusting for literal perfection with his laser level, but I am just trying to make one straight line to start! This was super helpful in outlining where and how to map out wall: RockSteadyTileCo. I combined the two strategies by marking out center line to keep weird cuts to a minimum and keeping laser on as I moved up my row to ensure I was not veering down or up too much. I could not pre-cut all my tiles like RockSteadyTileCo. suggests because of the 120-year-old walls. All was going so well until we got to the cuts! Once that is sorted, I am back at it!

PS. This is such a good “how to” for black grout and subway tile and I wanted my learning project to look like this, but unfortunately, we are not off to that strong of a start.

I am stoked about this project! I love a crossover learning opportunity. Nailing down an idea, however, has been more challenging. I bought a drumkit a couple of years ago and learned that easy White Stripes song and then didn’t touch it again. I was sold on the idea…

Until I entered my upstairs bathroom. My spouse, Brian, started tiling the bathroom after successfully refreshing the main floor half bath: before (after demo), during, and after.

We are trying to restore/maintain the character of our 120-year-old house. This has been tedious and time-consuming. As such, our upstairs bathroom reno has slowed to a halt. I realized that this was the perfect and most productive learning project for me!

The baseline for learning is as follows:

• I watched Brian do all the work so I have a little know-how by way of osmosis
• the shower portion/system and plumbing (the actual hard part) is done
• I already have all materials to complete task so the endless trips to Rona eliminated (I estimated tile myself so I very likely may run out and have to source it–get there when we get there haha..)
• I have endless access to advice/guidance if I need it (I will)

The project consists of:

• caulk shower (a simple and short job I have been putting off. It will be my warm up)
• finishing tiling the remainder 3 walls
• remove old and install new privacy thinger for window
• install sink fixture
• install vanity lighting and overhead lighting
• seal grout (at least floor and shower)
• install overhead exhaust fan (no idea how to do this)
• put up wallpaper to cover crazy messed-up ceiling instead of drywalling over it
• hang door and hardware
• hang mirror

Besides the fan, the most daunting part of this renovation to me is the tiling. I get the steps, as outlined by every YouTube video I started watching, but doing it and making it look nice seems more challenging. I am going to start by referring to the above-linked video and this tutorial.

It seems straightforward, but I am told there is a certain finesse required. This is what we started with and this.

This is where we are at. Notice the walls on each side are unfinished and the wall with the door is totally empty (update with pic link later; working remotely).

Following what not to do according to r/DiWHY is my first step; watch this video. it is my worst nightmare and is still hilarious. The pros on r/Tile are not quite my speed, but I did find out how to install the waterproofing system on there. I will probably refer back in case I get stuck.

Greatest takeaway from my preliminary reading (and input from Brian) is to plan out walls to avoid splices of tile; use level/lazer to keep tiles straight; back butter tiles (spread mortar on them) in addition to spreading mortar on walls to help even out uneven walls; use lots of spacers; and don’t EVER mess with black grout, especially if tile is light because it highlights imperfections, is difficult to wipe down, and easily gets soap scummy. REPEAT: DO NOT USE BLACK OR CONTRASTING GROUT. Here is a whole contractor forum on the horrors of black grout, in case you’re curious or have been flirting with the idea yourself. Of course, I chose this demonic grout and never considered the far-reaching implications until it was on the wall, floor, and everywhere. I do have a head start in that I watched Brian struggle with it so at least I know what I am in for? I guess?

Wish me luck!