Veronica, you only use a tiny amount of salts, I just put a sprinkle in the melt. It's all locked up in the glass (much like synrock) and should be completely safe (those old fasioned blue bottles are made with cobalt, a normally quite toxic chemical). So I don't think they would affect the concrete in the slightest. fairy_toadmother, what do you want to know? I did it years ago when I was living at home and had access to a blowtorch. But it is fairly strightforward. I don't know where you get good crucibles, I was given mine from visiting an aluminium smelter. Perhaps you could make one from cement, or use a pottery container (stoneware pottery is usually fired at around 1400C, vitreous hotter still). Apparently glass melts at 1000 degrees C, and a normal butane/LPG blowtorch is about 1300 degrees C. I visited a glass factory when I was at school and they just used natural gas to melt plate glass. I had a quick look around and couldn't find any instructions on the web. The basic approach is the same as used for colouring glazes in pottery. Now I think about it, you can probably get suitable oxides from a pottery store for practically any colour. Some colours, Some more colours You can melt glass in a charcoal, coal, or briquette fire with bellows. Granite won't fade because it is coloured much the same way as glass (although with different base substances, often crystals rather than glass). The colours you get from these 'inorganic pigments' are very long lasting, unlike azo dyes commonly used in food colouring, pens, clothes etc. Granite does decompose slowly in the presence of water, but I wouldn't worry about it (it is slow enough that people make kitchen benches out of it!) or even bother with sealant. The granite will out live the sealant.

Thank you Connie, your tutorial was very informative, it explains the process of rooting cuttings very well. I've had really great luck with the rootone, and I do most of my cuttings outside in the ground over the winter. I had no luck doing them in the summer..., I guess it was just too hot and the cuttings turned black. However, the problem with doing them outside over the winter is that it takes so long. It takes a full year for the roots to get established before I can move them. I start them in late Sept. and Oct and don't move them until the following fall so all summer they are establishing a strong root system. I don't have room inside to grow them under lights for I use my small light system for rose seedlings. Again thanks Connie, very nice web site you have, and I love your home, its very beautiful.

First of all I want to Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your advice & compassion. I have been very stressed over all of this and I could feel the genuine concern you have for our situation. Just to fill in a few blanks, we are both now 56 yo. DH has his BA & MBA & a certified Project Manager. He worked AND went to school at same time. I'm afraid I am lacking in the educational department. I have 2 AA degrees in nothing marketable, & got my RE License about a month(2006) before the market started crashing-but left because of my DM deteriorating health at the time. But, actually I was the main caregiver for both of my parents from 2001 until 2007 in our home until they both passed. Dad had cancer & Mom had Alzheimer/dementia. About 2 months after my DM died (Dec '07) I started babysitting(Feb'08) for my 2 granddaughters until just this past November '09, when I started working part-time again. Can't believe I did the formula, diapers, potty-training all over again, but my girls were a good distraction from my grief. My DS & DDIL paid when the could, what they could,--most of the time, not at all, but I just wanted to help them out & make sure the girls were safe with me. It was never about the income, it was all about what was best for my GDD's. Last summer I looked into a local university here & wanted to start school to get a Gerontoloy Certificate ( would take 18 months) & eventually work in Hospice & for seniors. (Heck, I am a senior now too according to Bob Evans--lol) I guess I am just destined to be a caregiver all my life. I started the application process & was told I would probably be eligible for Finacial Aid, but I think working Full Time has to be my priority now. I've been brainstorming to think of any additional means of bringing in some income--like maybe renting out the in-law quarters of our home. Selling off some jewelry--only about $200.00 worth, but every bit has to help. We're down to 1 car which we "juggle". Right now, everything just seems up in the air. We might know more by this week-end, when either my DH's project goes well or comes crashing down & him with it. I am preparing for the crash down, because in the past few weeks, anything that could go wrong, has gone wrong. Like servers going down for hours, connection problems etc. One manager just walked off the job, because he said he couldn't take the pressure anymore. So, Thank you, thank you, thank you, all for taking the time just to let me talk/write about this & for listening. I know there are those here with far worse problems (health etc) & my problems are miniscule compared to theirs, but I thank you again for your suggestions & support. God Bless ~~ katclaws

Years ago I sprayed faded hunter green resin chairs and a loveseat with Fusion paint. The cost was hard to swallow as it required many, many cans. Did they come out okay, yes. But certainly weren't as new looking as I had hoped. What I have had great results with however is exterior house paint. I have many white resin chairs that are now 22 years old. I clean them well and paint with a brush or foam roller. The exterior house paint repels weather and stains and in the case of the white chairs the gloss white paint I use stays shiny for years. Recently a neighbor stacked up several very badly stained and weather beat resin chairs and a round resin table on the curb destined for the landfill. I hauled them home, rolled and brushed on some Zinser 1,2,3 primer and painted the collection with a smoky olive exterior semi-gloss paint left over from another project. The chairs and table look fabulous and will weather for years before another coat of paint will be necessary. This weekend I am painting several more resin pieces for a friend in Sunflower Yellow, again exterior paint. Try it! I think you'll be pleased. At least 2 coats maybe three may be necessary but it is a great way to extend the life of the chairs, use up leftover paint and save space at the landfill.