The adventures in concrete continue. I figured out that there is indeed an overflow pipe. It'll need some attention, though, because it's metal and pretty rusted. I've thought about putting a PVC pipe over it as a sleeve -- both to back it up for its eventual failure and to adjust the depth of the pond deeper. But that's taking a back seat to the concrete. Oh, the concrete. So, yes, it's amazing that it wasn't leaking more when we first got into the house. I started picking at some spots in the interior that looked like they were about flake off anyway. Which revealed a patchwork of patches. Chipping away some more revealed layers of paints (thoroseal?), roofing tar (?!), more thin layers of concrete, fiberglass, more tar with gravel...got it all down to a layer that wouldn't come off with a cold chisel and hammer. Ow...my back. I'm soon to the point of finding a way to make it hold water again. I'm coming around to the thought that further layers of concrete covered with "goop" might not be a great idea. I'd like to find a way to put a liner in it, but there are some really large edge rocks that are mortared in that hang over, that would be over the water line. I'll post a picture when I get closer to addressing that issue. I've spent some time pulling out the intake lines and shoring up the "pump house." Turns out, the half-assed mortared walls fell apart as soon as I took the large rock roof off. Holy cow...I had my head under that thing when I took the old pump out! Here's the new set up, with a new bulkhead pipe, extension of the pipe to the waterfall, new electrical outlet and concrete floor: I had to extend the water line that runs up to the waterfall and used a rubber coupling on the existing ABS line to extend it with PVC. Thought about concreting it in (to shore up the pond wall and surrounding embankment), but I think I'll wait until I get a pump attached to make sure it works. I'll soon start trying to make it hold water. I think I've learned the lesson that more layers of concrete might not be a great idea. Putting a liner might be the right call. There will be challenges with some big overhanging edge rocks that cemented in. The liner could go 'over' them, but I wonder if there's a way to tuck the liner in under the edge and have it stay put?

LOL Ya'll are funny. I got so many comments on my bad photo taking I took it off to retake them. So I'll post pics here: I suppose I should have typed between pics....what you're seeing is the master bath :P I took a close up of the glass to show how cool it is :) We had it made for us so no one has glass like it. It's super thick and while in the big pics you see inside the cabs due to use of flash, you really can't see into it (as you see in the glass only pic). It's really just another texture. The room inspiration was my collection of medievil manuscript pages. The "art" is dated between 1350 and 1700. The majority is mid 1400. I love the soft coffe stained tones you get with antique papers. The cabs might appear black, but they're actually a rich chocolate cherry, just like the croc tile. The cabinets are Omega custom. Since they do whatever you ask for, the design was whatever I wanted LOL I went with 27" deep lowers and then it has the little jut out. The cabs have pull out drawers inside for my daily routine. I also have the little pullouts for toothpaste, soap etc., as well as toe kick drawers, tip outs, blah blah...every inch of space is used LOL People always ask about the tub...you can easily get into it by stepping up on the step, sitting down backwards (bumm on deck) and swinging your legs over to drop down into the seat that is inside. We did plan on a bigger step (one that flipped out) and we planned on using grab bars, but really they're not necessary. Frankly the tub (while it calls out for nekkid adults and good wine) is most often occupied by our 3 year old. He loves having water to his neck (he's not left alone in there obviously) and the bubbles that the air jets make. Not to mention that the water is recirculated into a warmer so it never gets cold...again not that I'd know...but given his two hour splash session...I'm guessing it works for him :) Oh and it's NOT dark in the room. The shower has it's own light inside. The room is quite well lit and gets so much sunshine that I took the pictures late at night to get them without too much shine (which made people think the room is dark). We sit on the edge of a lake and have huge windows everywhere so the room is constantly light and bright. Our wall finish was done by an artist to mimic the travertine feel, but not be specific.

I have ICF blocks. (Insulated Concrete Forms). Any amount for sale. Shipped to any country worldwide. Size: 50â long (127cm), 10â high (25.5cm) and 6â (15cm) wide (with a nominal concrete core of 4â (10cm) ). It is the exact equivalent of 4 CMUs (concrete masonry unit) in area and only weighs 1.25 pounds. The forms are stacked without mortar and are interlocked like a Lego Set into which reinforced concrete is placed, creating a wall and foundation with a fraction of the labor of conventional CMU. Please email with details of quantity needed. Country to be delivered and target price to: garyjmcneish@gmail.com

Peppep, I bet your new bedskirt looks great. And the nice thing about a bedskirt is that no one will ever look at it too closely. Today I made a slipcover for a small ottoman in my den. I just started sewing two months ago. I had made two other slipcovers for this ottoman last month, but decided I didn't like the first two fabrics. Anyway, my sewing skills have definitely improved since my first attempt. I'm afraid I have no advice about draperies, but I have made many cornices. Last week I checked out Sandra Betzina Sews for the Home from the public library. There's an interesting section on making upholstered cornices from a strong, but lightweight and easy to cut fiberboard material called Homasote (Homasote.com) available at some building supply stores. I'm planning to make a cornice in my living room and an upholstered headboard out of Homasote. A 4' by 8' board costs about $30. I also checked out a book called the Encylopedia of Window Fashions, which contains 1,000 artist sketches of draperies, cornice boards etc. This is a great resource that I'm sure all the decorators use to stimulate their thinking. I found the perfect profile for my cornice and can't wait to start my project.