Porch Progress and To Be Tiled

So the travertine has been delivered. 2 pallets of it sit in my front yard, less 2 tiles I'm now carrying with me to help me shop for countertops.

The porch forms came off yesterday and Dave was working on a skim coat of fine cement to cover the high fiber aggregate that comprises the bulk of the porch. The thin outer layer should turn white over the next few days and then gray after that. I like the shape of the recessed panels, they look nice. I'm trying to withhold judgement on how I feel about the rest of it until it's finished. I'm already pretty sure I'll mostly just be happy to have it done. See a few recent--from today--pictures on flickr of the front porch progress, the saws for the tile work, and the kitchen and bathroom cleared out for the tile work.

Tomorrow Sim will lay thinset in the kitchen, then a layer of electric heating mats, and then a second layer of thinset on top of that. There will be a similar treatment in the bathroom, I'm not sure, that may have to wait for the tub surround to be built in. Which means I need to select and buy a tub pronto. I have my 3 top candidates, but there's one clear favorite. I'm not sure it's feasible though since it would require moving plumbing again. Actually, I'm sure it's feasible, I'm just not sure it's worth the time and trouble, plus it's the most expensive of the three models I'm looking at. I'll have to have a real heart to heart with Dave in the morning and see where we end up. I mean I like the tub, but not if it means I'd have to take a second job...

Cross your fingers for me. Stove and oven shopping continue. Now countertops too. After that, I'll be past the immediate "big" decisions. The living room/dining room wall, the floors and the fireplace may just have to wait.