We have a 12 foot tall tree stump in our garden that was left that tall because the tree company charged less to not have to remove those large bottom sections from a relatively inaccessible back yard. I asked them to make a couple extra cuts to the top of it, forming a point like a roof peak. An inverted v . Then I had my husband put large pieces of bark overlapping like shingles (you could purchase cedar shakes to do the same) to cover the "roof". Then we drilled a hole to look like the entrance. Squirrels sit or lie on top, and now that the wood is beginning to decay, woodpeckers and other birds have been checking out the hole and pecking at it to enlarge it.... I have encouraged ivy to grow up it (it's shady) and when it turns red in the fall it looks pretty. Also, we found a true-to-scale wooden bird and attached it to the trunk. I love it. I had been thinking of carving a bunch of steps in a circular arrangement up the outside of the trunk, but since it was an oak, it has retained it's bark and really looks great just as is. I'm looking forward to all the fungi , etc. it will probably provide as it decays, and who knows, the birds may become successful someday at hollowing it out. This is my first comment on the forum, so I don't know how to post a picture yet, but you get the idea.....

Wow, thank you all for your more than helpful feedback! Now, lets clear up a few of you questions... Catkim: I love your idea for growing epiphytes. I could definitely invision this. Shaxhome: This is actually a rental house, and it did fall on the house before I moved in. The house has been through hell, but the plumbing has been fixed, at least I've never encountered any problems with it... Grinding it would be just like littlebug5 says- very expensive, and a ton of time and work. Plus I would like to keep the features of the natural "steps" and rounded trunks. Ruth_mi: I live in good ole' Cajun country-Lafayette, LA, and I believe the tree to have been an almost 400 year old oak. I heard it was beautiful. To sum it all up, I think what I would like to do is leave the front "steps and side where my bedroom walkway is, but chainsaw chunks out of the center, fill with dirt, and lay stepping stones to be able to walk through. (There is a side yard on the right that I would like to get to.) Thank you guys so much!!!

OA, thanks, made me laugh, going to heaven faster than I want. The placemats are navy blue and a lighter blue shade that match the napkins. The first couple of pictures show the true colors. Jane, the angels were DM and small so I've always kept them in her china cabinet. I used them last year on a candle holder for Christmas. Glad you liked my choice on the tablecloth. Thanks for all your comments. I still need alot of help with my tables so like hearing if somethings works or not. Thanks for all your sweet comments, Candy. I think you are right but we are GOOD influences on each other, not Bad! We will all just have to be careful so we don't fly before our time.LOL Luvs, the little sparklies are ones I bought to add a little glitz on my nail clients. I found them in the craft section years ago and they came in tubes like glitter in all shapes and colors. You know I bought several.LOL These are what I use in my salt cellars for my tables. Karen, love your Picture. You come up with such cute ones that are so appropiate. I don't want to knock it off, I just learned a new trick from a friend and I've never played on top of the bar before.LOL NanaK, glad you liked the center angel. It is irredescent, lights up and plays music. Don't know what song, I'll have to go listen. I think this might of been DM's also as I've had it for years. Thanks again for all the comments. You are such a fun bunch. We will be going to watch DGD's game today so best get off here and play house for awhile. Punk

lynn...I've already commented but after reading more additions on this post, I wanted to share a "healing memory," of crafting tog, too. Four yrs ago I was sick very suddenly & hospitalized 2 mos plus in rehab 1 mo...had to learn to walk & use my hands again. After I got home (which is by far the BEST medicine in the world...HOME)...anyway, my very best friend & I got tog once a wk & crafted...we scrapbk'd making cards & using old pics & decoupaging & all kinds of cool things...DH would drop me off for part of the day & we had so much fun! We did that most of the winter & it was such a healing process that helped me physically but probably even more mentally...she is a great friend! So, bless you & your family...so cool that you are even still "healing" by sharing memories & utilizing some of your Mom's crafting materials & such...resurrecting & putting your own touch on your Mom's craft projects will be so much fun! TFS! Jeanne S.