Thanks for the exposee on paint components, guys! I'll try the "Latex/Acrylic", Bailey 09. We finished the pour today, I'll get a picture when the form comes off. Laura, I'm leaning toward a huge flower or two, orange Montbretia? Streaks of red-orange and black freckles, once I've tested the "latex" wash. We can sit like drunken bees and gaze upon the glories! Maybe I should use white portland/sand for the top coat? I'd be coming up way above that rebar, Dena, if I can pull it off. My helpers were excited enough to cheerfully put up with a zillion mosquitoes in the inside-of-a-dog's-mouth air, but he's going for solar energy engineering. She is very young, but we're happily sharing Jim Hensen nuts and bolts and she lent me a book "The secret art of Dr Seuss" (great!!) which I'd never seen, so who knows.. (I now feel totally justified getting a weeping Norway spruce) Here's an April view of the location, not the view, but you get the picture. The couch is now over on the left, where you can just see a wood bench on a levelled spot. Those trenches still have to be "laid" with dry mix, heigh ho.. There's a glimpse of the pond on the far left. Here is a link that might be useful:

Trickle towers are a type of filter, but the one you linked to is a new version to me. It looks like it would do a good job of filtering the water. The towers can be made from virtually any material, rocks, lava rock, plastic pots etc, anything that the water can slowly trickle down over. Usually the tower sits in the pond, the water, pumped up through the center to the top of the tower, then trickles down over the outside of the filter, where the bacteria grows. NOTE.The one you linked to, will have the water trickling through the filter media in the center. As the water flows down over the outside surfaces, it also gathers oxygen and then re-enters the pond. "Horton" Here is a link that might be useful: Trickle Tower information galore!

It's one of those 'you have to be there in person' jobs to really know for sure. I have seen so much modern tole work done on furniture to duplicate an aged item, not necessarily done as an imposter, just modern made items with a theme so that they fit into primitive decorating. I also don't put stock into whether something has 'feet' or not, because heavy items like that often just had a small block as a foot, and those are easily removed. You have to admit with the modern open-look homes with the extremely high ceilings, there is a need for gigantuan and tall furniture to balance the look. Nobody has even asked if the pieces were sold as "old". They may not have been. Brazil has its quaint places, of course, but it's a modern and sophisticated country in other areas with a good export market. They're neat pieces old or newer. Might check the height of the rods in the armoire section and shelf heights. Are they at the proper level off the base? Would they uncomfortably high if it were on the base?

KarenMO, I got them at Oriental Trading. It's a big outlet used by elementary teachers for classroom treats and rewards. Link is below. I got 2 bags last year right after Valentine's Day and and two bags this year, at the end of January. I see they are on sale now. Go for it. Here is a link that might be useful: Foam bead conversation hearts