Tubs/Showers

Sadly, things are going  v e r y   s l o w l y  now.  Alvin has only been working a half crew hanging and floating sheet rock because we are waiting for the right weather to do what we are really waiting on - stain the exterior, install the metal roof, and lay the stone.  I can not wait for all of that.

I walk over every afternoon with my camera in tow but everything looks about the same.  Finally today we had a little excitement.  The plumber had come and installed the kids bath tubs and fixtures.

 

Picture above:  Ava's bath.  And it works!

A confession:  These tubs were delivered on Monday.  I watched the truck pull in and saw them being unloaded and carried inside.  That evening I could not wait for the guys to leave so we could run over and see them, partly because Jack and Ava were so excited (we take our baths VERY seriously around here) and partly because I had never laid eyes on the tubs.  Alvin had ordered them himself.  I had not chose them - something I agreed to then worried about for two months.  I hadn't given him any direction at all beyond the color (white) because he had said that they are all basically the same but really they are not - something that occurred to me as we waited for them week after week after week.  If I had known it would take that long (Alvin says it was very unusual) I would have definitely went myself.

But I didn't and now here I was standing in Ava's bathroom ...crying.  Tears.  Embarrassing, I know but the tub was so small!  I seemed shallow and narrow and small.  And, yes, they are kids bathrooms but kids grow up!  Kids can be 6'3" - just ask JD.  That night I sent JD a pathetic email about the tragedy and went to bed.

But that was Monday and today I am back to normal.  Everything is okay.  Exchanging them is technically an option (though I never mentioned any of the saga to Alvin) but only in the most dire circumstances and this situation is not dire.  The tubs are a reasonable, normal size, made by an excellent manufacturer that will most certainly get the job done and save on electrical cost to boot.

Besides, downstairs there is the most fantastic tub in the universe should anyone need a serious bath and it just happened to come on Monday, too.  (More about that later.)

 

Picture above:  Jack's bath

The good news is that I love the Delta fixtures (so nice) AND we have one more shower to redeem them all.

 

Can you see it?

On the wall there?

 

It's the outdoor shower!

Not meant exactly for showering outdoors in the nuuuuuude, but for the prewash the kids, hubby, dogs, and okay, occasionally myself needs before entering the house.  No more hosing the kids (and, ahem, hubby) down with freezing cold water!  And for bathing dogs (which we do a lot) - what could be better?!  There is hot and cold water so you can use it year round.  No more Frank in the kids tub!  He's a cold weather weenie.  He has no coat. :(

This particular fixture isn't exactly what I had envisioned either.  I did pick it out myself but the options are extremely limited when you are buying in stock from a showroom, even one like Home Depot where this came from.  I wanted, maybe, a rubbed bronze finish with the old timey hot/cold knobs, but no.  The main problem was that it was plumbed for a two handle fixture and even after going to three places my only option was this or the plastic/crystal knobs.  No one stocks much in the way of two handle knobs because of the increasing popularity of the one handed control, which I think would look odd outside.  But I think it looks fine and it will blend in even better once the cedar is stained white.

We will have Alvin insert a little o-ring into the mortar in the rocks that will cover the cinder blocks below the cedar so we can connect a leash.  We also plan to plop a big Arkansas stone along the house below the shower.  Local stone yards sell them about four or five inches thick and in 2x3'ish or 3x4'ish slabs that are perfectly flat on top.  Too exciting!

 

And it works!

Comments

[Marvin the Robot]

1. How will the shower head and hose do when the weather freezes?

2. I can't tell from the pics, but will there be a cement pad under the shower? It wouldn't do any good to hose people off but to leave them still standing in mud.

[Becca]

I love the idea of the stone slab under the shower. That will be perfect.

I really wanted to see your bathtub though, so hurry up with that update.

In my layman opinion, the bathtub looks pretty good to me. I haven't seen the other options though. I am sure it will grow on you. It might even prove a better option, when you are bathing that baby you're growing!!

[Marvin the Robot]

Oops. I must've missed the stone slab part.

[JD]

When it is cold we will have to drain the shower head to keep it from freezing.

[JD]

I see where bother will shower and it suits him.

[Shannon]

Outdoor shower! What a great idea!! Definitely what every mother of busy children and a busy husband needs. I am having the same thoughts about tubs for the kids' bathrooms. Sean had a funny thing to say about it. He pointed out if we ever want them to move out, we better not make their bathrooms too luxurious. I think he may have a good point there!! :) I think everything looks just great. Can't wait to see the cedar stained and stone go up!! Here's to great weather!