Grout!

I love the word grout. Sometimes you sit and think about the sounds that make up a word and think, Those sounds are weird and do not suit the item or action they represent. Not grout. I could repeat that to myself for a hundred years solid and still think, That's pretty much what the name of that stuff should sound like.

Grout goes a long way. I mixed up a batch, and we started using a (borrowed) rubber grout float (thanks again, Tom!) to start smushing it in between the tiles. You're supposed to use 45 degree angles and 90 degree angles and pat dry and wipe softly, so softly that it's like kissing a baby, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. We kinda did that. By the end of it, we were pretty much just shoving into the cracks by hand, smoothing it with the tip of my finger (which hurt -- i don't recommend it), and scrubbing it off afterward.

How did it turn out? Pretty well, for a first grouting job. It has a few minor imperfections, and here's a list of suggestions to help you avoid our problems:

1) Do exactly what the instructions tell you to do, at the specified time, with the specified equipment, in the specified manner.

End of list.

Really, we just had some minor discoloration, and some of the grout didn't turn out very smooth at all. We let it dry a day or two, and we sprayed on some sealant to keep a spilled glass of water from destroying our kitchen.

Our kitchen continues to evolve...we'll keep you posted!