It's been a few years since I've had an outdoor bath - in fact, the whole surface was covered in mould and dirt so I had to give it a good scrub with elbow grease, bi carb soda and vinegar. The fire pit underneath was full of twigs and needed to be cleaned out. However, in the end, it was lovely and usable again.
I do love a bath - the warm water always eased my aches and pains and to be honest, it's a time that says: leave me alone, don't talk to me, I'm having ME time.
The fire underneath is fully enclosed with bricks and concrete. We didn't want fire to escape in a country that can be thunder dry. I usually water the garden around it just in case. Yesterday morning we cut a heap of branches from around the property which are basically scrap - wood that burns hot and dry is usually best for the bath. We also have a paver that fits perfectly as a door, with a gap underneath so it draws well. We even have a chimney to take the excess smoke.
Alot of people don't bother with this step - a hillbilly fire bath is just a fire under a cast iron bath, after all. But it's much, much nicer having a bath without smoke in your eyes and hair, plus it makes it far more efficient.
We also went to the trouble of paving in front of it so you can step onto a clean surface and towel dry instead of dirt. There's a big rock to sit on as well.
To stop our bums burning we used some hard wood. The bottom of a fire bath gets scalding hot so you don't want to skip this step that's for sure! We tend to jump in just before it gets fully warm - then you can feel it heat up around you and it's just so relaxing with birdsong and nature all around. I love having a bath just as the sun starts to get lower and if you stay til sunset, wow. In winter, I stay til it's dark. Starwatching in the bath is amazing.
I often flip around too so I can observe both sides of that part of the garden. A few flowers, essential oils and a cup of tea or glass of wine, and even a clay face mask, and it feels like a five star spa.
Honestly, it's one of the best things in our garden.
This is looking up to the 'roof' - we made a simple frame of bush poles and rested a bit of tea tree matting on top. It makes it feel slightly more enclosed and shades it a little, though the plants and trees around do that job better. It just looks cool though - less a bath plonked in the garden than one purposefully and artfully situated..
You BET visitors to our garden get a little envious. Would you?
With Love,
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wow, livin' the real life <3
Mhmmm, that looks like a slice of paradise!
What a wonderful project! And the wooden pallette at the bottom is the perfect detail.
I'm envious without having to go there!
Oh I love this idea! I might have to suggest it to my husband. That sounds amazing!
Wow that's a marvel...a luxury. A great idea that turns something so simple into an unparalleled experience.
Excelentes imágenes amiga, hoy publique un post sobre Bromelias, plantas que seguro te gustarán, míralo si deseas.
Saludos desde cuba 🇨🇺 disfrute tu publicación