newhomebuilder--Just saw your thread, hope you check back here. Just wanted to share my experience with you. We were finishing our basement (on a 15 yr old home). The tile layers troweled on a solvent based, outdoor only adhesive on the floor of the basemtn on areas that were to be tiled. Fumes built up and 45 seconds after they left my house--an explosion in the basement which almost totalled the house since the fumes went through every crack and crevice (including all vents and cold air returns). My 8 month old twins and I escaped the home by the skin of our teeth. You need to be aggressive here and find out exactly what was used in your basement, and soon. I think someone screwed up here--I would not sleep in this house until you find out. The product that was used in my basemnt had all kinds of health hazards and should never have been used indoors. Plus remember that after you smell fumes like this for awhile, you reach a point physically where you think the fumes have dissipated when actually they have not. Please let us know what you find out.

Thanks, everyone! Gail, that's an incredibly interesting website. We never knew that house sparrows will enter another bird's house to destroy eggs and kill babies -- and we have tons of house sparrows around here. We've guarded against snakes, raccoons, and other birds such as crows, but the house sparrow threat is new to me. Thank you so much for recommending that website! Back to the drawing board! Attracting bluebirds was easy...we just put up a house and they found it. We've since put up several more around the property. How strange that your nest holds only one baby, Gail. One of the interesting things about bluebirds is that the first batch of babies each year hang around and help the parents feed the second batch of babies. I hope you have good luck! Sorry to hear about your babies, Natal. It's been a dramatic spring for our birds all around. Barn swallows had built a mud nest under the porch roof for years and this spring a phoebe took over that spot and built her nest there. (The mud nest collapsed last summer when the babies fledged by pushing off from the edge.) This morning I looked out and a barn swallow was asleep on a perch near the grass/moss phoebe nest, her head tucked into her wing. The turf wars continue, I guess.

Image by: GJ Forum Members The junk we find Posted by Mush (Ontario) -- One of our neighbors was putting an old push lawnmower out to the curb, hoping that someone would take it. I did them that favour. I planted pansies in a bright blue cookie tin and now both have a new home! Posted by Seamommy (Texas) -- Last week my mom and I went put on trash day and in less than an hour, we found (in peoples trash) a bike (had two flat tires and the chain was off), a wooden ladder (perfect), an iron bed (not old, but perfect), and a pine porch glider (he said the seat is warped, we got a new one!) and he even helped us load it in the truck!!! Posted by Tannatonk (Montana) -- The junkin we get to do here usually consists of farmers junk piles, but I did find some old iron thingies (I think they might be some kind of old tool bar shovels) and made a nice windchime with them. For the top I used the lid off an old rusted out cream can and turned it upside down (it reminds me of an old hat - I may put some sunflowers on it). Then I drilled holes in that to hang copper tubing pieces that are between 12" & 18" long. For the middle clanger I used an old piece of fancy iron that my friend gave me. I think it was off an old stove. It's really ornate. The whole thing is so heavy but looks really cool. And, I think I'll use the bottom of the cream can as a pedastal for a penny bowling ball that my friend is making for me. It's about 2 feet tall. Posted by lorraine (New Jersey) -- Went to one rummage sale and broke the cardinal rule of rummaging - never put down something you're unsure of until you're ready to leave cause someone else will surely pick it up - and they did. It was only a book with some bird prints in it that I thought I could decoupage on a tray - what was I thinking! Then we headed out to a town-wide garage sale, but like I said it was cold and drizzly and I didn't feel much like getting in and out of the car in that, but we turned around in a church parking lot and they had a sale inside. Found a huge metal colander - 16" across - told the ladies I was going to make a lampshade out of it - it kept me dry walking back to the car at least! In a nutshell: Do Not Wait Any Longer - Grab the stuff when you see it. Chances are great that it won't be there if you procrastinate and wait to go back to get it. What's the worst that could happen--you end up throwing it out yourself if you decide you don't want it after all. Posted by klynnnn (South Carolina) -- I always grab first and sort later and when I'm at a rummage sale or something similar, I always watch for someone else who is "sorting" their items before checking out to see what they're leaving behind, and I alwaystake that 2nd and 3rd trip around just to make sure I didn't miss that "perfect something"... Posted by Monarae (Iowa) -- I went to town tonight. Its 2 days until clean up day for our town. I live by a small town (500 people if we are lucky) and I went around town to see what is around and about. I found a double galvanized wash tub on legs! But its full of the folk's stuff that they want to get rid of too! Now I have to convince hubby that we should take a large cardboard box in and put the stuff into it and get the wash tub. Any suggestions on how to sweet talk him into this one? hehe! Posted by hopeful_in_Brevard (Florida) -- Went to an estate sale this morning. Found an old icecream chair. (White). Got it for a dollar. Wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. Took the seat out, found a pot just the right size to fit in it. Planted a miniture pink rose and a cascading Bacopa "Giant Snowflake". I know this isn't an original idea, but it all fit so perfect and it really makes me feel good. Posted by littleredhen (Zone 6) -- My husand and I were recently at his parent's home. They are getting their driveway paved and had a ton of stuff in and around the driveway that needed to be moved. My father-in-law is a junk man beyond belief. He has stuff everywhere, from alongside the driveway, to the backyard, to the garage, to the front porch! Like even stupid junk like a washer or a screw is laying alongside the driveway. Then there is rusted stuff, an old teapot, a ton of garage doors, metal porch railings and more. My husband is straddling stuff in the garage, as we hand him things. He notices a giant box of mixer blades....... maybe fifty or more blades. I brought home a few of the blades, thinking that they should be made into a windchime or something. Was I nuts for bringing these home?? (The answer to this question, of course, was "No, you're not - that's perfectly good junk!) Posted by Bonnyleigh (North Carolina) -- Today was the rirst time I've ever truly junked. I'm a compulsive yard saler, but today I was really too broke even to yard sale. I was going to all these yard sales in these good neighborhoods and started to notice the trash at the curbs. Monday is bulk pickup time. I was a little embarrassed at first.. people looking at me like i'm crazy.. but ended up with about 20 or so pots, two plastic chairs.. wanted to paint them with Kyrlon... And a wooden chair that i've planted... and a few other things. Nothing profound.. but all those pots will come in handy when I have to pot up my flat of shastas in a couple of months..... But, now I'm addicted.. all day I've been like why don't I go back out and see what else I find.. It's such a rush.. Still no bowling ball though.. I want one so bad... Posted by JeanInWa (Washington) -- I went yard sailing with a friend who has a BIG pick up truck....boy did we make out! She bought a nice dresser for her sister for $3, and an old beat up one for her to plant for $1. I got a headboard for $1 for the back of a bench. I did my first REAL junking. We passed the place where the bentwood rocker was on the burn pile last week end, and it was still there. So, I had her drive up to the house, and I asked if I could have it. LoL The guy looked at me kinda funny, and said it didn't have a seat, and it was falling apart, and I said, great! That's just what I want! Posted by Chatty_Bloomer (North Carolina) -- I had to work at an estate sale Saturday. I love it.......they never miss my bids and I get paid to shop....LOL!! I bought an oak washstand ($5.00) and a walnut turned leg waredrobe ($10.00) that I will be stripping and refinishing for my house. I got an old iron pedal car (with only 1 wheel) that someone had tried to restore but they did a very poor job. I painted it fire engine red and it will go in my son's secret garden with a plant in the seat. I got 3 boxes of clear glass insulators, which we are going to use as hose guides in the flower beds. I got a headboard and footboard to make my mom a bench for her birthday. DH got it put together yesterday and I began painting it. I will post pic when complete. I also got a large footed colbalt blue bowl......I got paid, bought some stuff and still came home with more money than I left with.....LOL!! I would say that's a great junkin' day. Posted by papadon (Tennessee) -- I sit here this morning at the computer and am also looking out the window at my backyard. The sun is gently shining, the wetness from yesterday's rains is sparkling, the birds are singing, the feeders are full, flowers are blooming, the yard is alive. From my window I can see a candle lantern in the maple tree, along with a pvc pipe spinner and several small hanging pots. Then I look and see the swing, with the planted wheelbarrow next to it. A shepherd's hook with another bird feeder. My bed with the courting bench and all of it's developing color is also in view. These things were junk to someone else. Trash even. But in them I find beauty. I find a joy in making them come to life as a piece of art and not just someone else's trash or discards. All this just serves to remind me that there is beauty and value in everything and everyone. We just have to look for it and then find ways to help it show............. May you always have pretty blooms, bountiful junk, just enough rain and sunshine, along with time to care and a joy to share. Blessings and peace to you! (Pictures, from top to bottom, belong to members: janetgia, FlowerGirlDeb2 and FishFan)

I was going to suggest the same thing that groveraxle seems to have suggested - eliminate the stone on the side walls. The stone appears to be thin veneer that is likely glued in place. Instead of painting I might suggest using a German smear technique similar to the photo posted below.