Trip to Home Depot

Steve, Joe, and I went to Home Depot this morning and bought the tub, toilet, window, backerboard for the wall tile, and misc. items such as grouting.  They were doubtful about it fitting in my living room, but I moved a chair, coffee table, etc., and there is room for two more of everything.  (Click to enlarge)

It was fun spending time with them, and they did some other jobs for me such as getting the swamp cooler operational, trimming the deadly oleander bush, and such.

It looks like they will start the demolition of the old tub and wallboard, and window, and install the new while I'm gone.  I guess it's better for me to not be here.  The one thing we didn't get today was the sink/vanity top.   We will wait until I get back, and if the top can be removed without tearing up the vanity base, then all we need is the new sink top.  Otherwise, I might have to buy a whole new set, in which case I might as well go wider.  My current vanity is 30" wide whereas the space is 48"  I would prefer to go with the width in between the two.

I've begun to pack but still am not sure about what to take.   

It's been a fun day and even Mike got in on the action.  Steve was on top of the roof and needed some piece of equipment, but Joe and I were sitting on  the driveway talking and didn't hear him.  So he called Mike in NY, and Mike called Joe on my driveway, and the rest was brotherly, good-natured ribbing for the most part. 

I went to the gym last night, came home and ate an organic ice cream bar, drank a bottle of Sam Adams lager, and slept like a log all night.

Steve and I took a good look at the back yard while we were waiting for Joe to arrive, and he has some great ideas on how to redo the entire yard and rock that is currently there.  The space is absolutely of no use the way it is.  He proposed removing the rock and laying a foundation of crushed granite, then building boxes for gardening around one side and along the back fence.  I would like to plant a couple of lemon trees as well, and growing vegetables in containers sounds better to me than to have a big plot of ground devoted to gardening.  He also suggested putting up lattice along one side and planting something like jasmine, or even grapes or other vines.  In the end it will depend on how much money I have left over from trips to NY and Alaska, and the bathroom remodel.