Progress is sometimes a reach

Making progress is not always easy and can be frustrating. Like pressure testing the gas line should be (and is, in reality) easy. But this project is not one of the cookbook recipe items on the Regional Inspection website. "Hire a professional," was the common response. ARG!
After more than a week of diligence, I was able to finally talk to someone who kindly spent time on the phone with me suggesting a small change. Turn the gas off at the fireplace - the fireplace won't hold the testing PSI. (Insert choir music!) Job done, thank you Jeremy Kreps. You'd think that would be written down somewhere, because I looked! Gas line pressure is just a little worrisome, as the consequences would be, uh, not good. That was a long week.
​Once passing that inspection, I could finally begin closing up the area. With a tiled wall planned, the first step was to put up Wonderboard, a thin concrete wall board. Once up, there was underlayment for tile, which is begun in this photo. My skill with laying tile is admittedly low, but I called Dave Colyer who came over with encouragement and essential tips for laying tile.
We are planning to hang a TV above the fireplace, so there is a hole for the concealed outlet and cable run.

After tiling, VERY, VERY CAREFULLY, it was clear that our tile store, traders in the business, gave us some wrong colored tiles. What you see here is the view after I removed some of the discolored tiles.

​So they gave us MORE of the same tiles in the wrong color again! (In their defense, the tile is very close. Not in their defense, is this is what they do and I shouldn't have to bear the additional expense associated with replacing 9 tiles. If I order a black tile I should get a black tile.)

The finished tile, with grout and caulked edges looks fabulous! We are really happy with how it turned out.
The next step is to pour in place a concrete hearth. See you then.