Those are neat lamps. Like SusieRose, I immediately thought Garden Lady with that first one. LOL. I'd never have thought to put solar lgts in stuff, gosh I love the ideas that come from this Forum. hugs, Karen

There is actually no problem in running artificial lights together with a good amount of sunlight especially if you are getting good results from it. Although I have not tried doing that with my lettuce plants, I just stick to the MH grow lights since they can closely resemble the rays of the sun and give them 18 hours on and 6 hours off cycle.

I have this cute cast iron guy below from my late FIL. He guards the first floor powder room, from his perch by the door. Holly-Kay, it was very easy to make that lamp, as someone had drilled holes in 2 of the dogs feet already to accept the machine screws. But, as Alison points out, you can just have a dog sit on a base unattached. My base is drilled for the threaded rod inside the brass fluted piece, and that hole is intersected by a hole coming from the back that the wire goes through up to the socket. I use a 'paddle bit' after drilling the 3/8" hole for the wire on the underside, so it can sit up inside the base, and I used a metal washer and nut to tighten it up . That piece of oak was 5/4", as I wanted it thicker than the usual '1 x' lumber since that isn't really an inch thick. Anyone who is the least bit a handy could make the base for you, and wiring a lamp is very simple and I'm sure there are instructions online. You can buy wooden lamp bases online or at a craft store, but I couldn't find one large enough for my dog. I'm still not an oak fan, but I'll admit that the tiger oak adds a nice touch - more so than one I'd buy ready made, especially with the dark stain and wax. . I used to dabble in some primitive furniture making for fun, so all this is old hat to me. I'd watch the Old Yankee Workshop with Norm Abram in rapt attention, and then make my copies of the simpler pieces! I LOVE the creative process, as you've seen here, and am always doing something.

You know I love OLD things with patina. I was looking at his old ceramic lined tobacco jar that is engraved on the plaque "PRESENTED TO MR. & MRS. SIMPSON, BY HIS FELLOW WORKERS ON HIS RETIREMENT, DEC. 1921". I won that for $7.50 and some of them sell for over $100.00. Many of his items started at low prices, when I saw that lamp, I knew it could be very sweet IF I could get it apart. I JUST saw this similar one out there for $72.99. I love a bargain - Obviously! :-)