I have very good luck composting ~400 lbs of fish waste in a 4'x4' pallet bin together with wood chips. I set up a base layer of woodchips and layer fish waste and chips, taking care to not deposit fish within 6" of bin walls. Finish off with ~6" of wood chips, and wire another pallet across the top when done. There is no objectionable odor outher than a little ammonia outgassing. I have had no issues with animals picking the pile apart, but then, i have a dog. I suspect lake weeds might be greens, and would suggest that you stockpile wood chips, sawdust or another 'strong' brown for this composting project. Try a single pallet bin and see how it goes from there. I also believe it would work on a larger scale; again, wood chips are the key.

OH NO you started off with my FAVORITE subject! I always have my camera and we tend to go for day hikes! I could post pics for hours on this! And I could look for hours at water scenery that you are posting! LOVELY! As for funny stories, I'm much like you Sierra- except that my boyfriend WOULD NOT sit there doing that-- I'd have to enlist a younger child LOL! I have been known to sit at the edge of a lake or at the base of a waterfall for as long as the group would let me to get different lighting effects! I'll put one of those where no one let me stay any more and some where I left them at camp! I'll add some comments on the stupid things I did to get some of these! I find it funny now! I just limited myself to a few files here, and didn't play with the pics at all-- I'm so proud of myself! I'm trying not to overload this thread, but I am kinda nuts about water pics! Ok here are recent: Here's memorial Falls outside of Monarch MT that I sat at the bottom of until a kid came back to get me! Giant Springs, Great Falls, MT: documented in Lewis and Clark expedition with the world's shortest river (the Roe) leading to the Missouri Wood Lake and the Bob Marshall Wilderness (several hours and days of different lighting and dust levels) as for the bridge, I'm terrified of falling and sat on that shaky wooden bridge until I got several photos. I must have taken 40 pictures of this frog! I nearly froze to death near Monarch, MT again last winter, but it was pretty- more waiting for light! And now for the stupidst photo of the day-- I was driving from Las Vegas to Montana in late May in a van with a trailer and 5 kids following a motor home and trailer when we went over Monida Pass-- my boyfriend was worried that I would be white knuckling the van, having lived in desert for 6 years but NO I'm taking pictures!

Oh, I just love the antique sideboard vignette! The painting is wonderful & the hurricane trio looks like it came with the sideboard! The woman walking the dog is perfect, too! And those original rabbit wall sconces found a perfect home! Your beach themed decor looks so pretty with all your glassware...and I think those glass candles are perfect as they are! I like the idea of the ocean scene in one of your covered hurricane jar! Reminds me of the beautiful apothecary jars you decorated for other holidays. And I don't think your pics are too large, of course, I havent' been on d-up for yrs...but I would like to see your mantle even closer! You've got a great "collection" going here! TFS! Jeanne s.

My DH had a boat similar to what you show. We used it with a trolling motor on our small lake for several years before we sold it. The recipient will want a motor too which will add another hundred and fifty dollars (maybe more) to the cost. These are nice little boats which can be put into the back of a pickup and don't need a trailer. They are probably too heavy for one person to lift though. I wish we still had ours... my Dad took his boat back to his house and we now boat less (except for an old john boat which leaks badly). Not really what you were looking for I realize, just bringing up some points that maybe haven't been considered. It sounds like a very generous gift!