Kirk, we can't find any "American rust" that isn't priced at the antique level! DH found some old barn wood at a great price and we're hitting all the flea marts and yard sales for the iron work, to no avail! Luckily he's a partially out of work wood carver and can carve some brackets and decorative things to add to the bench! I'm thinking of taking up carving myself! Thanks for your great photos to get us started! Nancy

My bro. cemented in 10 ft poles & cut off to make 8 ft above ground.They could be removed in winter as he used larger pole in ground that they fit into. They were electrical pipe 1 in. in center diameter & wind whipping the shade-cloth on top of them has slightly bend a couple . Had them up since last summer as barely home & heat kills yard so this is really helping. Would make great poles for most garden uses. Light weight too. Can rough them slightly with sandpaper or just use cloth with rubbing alcohol to get the oils from your hands or factory off so paint sticks better. Our HD parking lot is full of trash left over like torn boxes, broken pieces of wood,bent nails etc. Nothing of interest. Jan

Mary...the pots & plates you used in the blue birdfeeder totem are gorgeous! The arrangement is lovely & this pc will be very beautiful for inside or out. And the B&W with the hints of yellow is also very pretty. You are on a roll! Good work! TFS! Jeanne S.

My husband is half Italian,and he loves porketta! Last night I tried to make something nice. Made a batch of Zatarain's Gumbo, added 20 medium cooked shrimp. Awful, DH and I hated it, but our dog Molly was very happy last night!