Thanks guys. These are actually the tallest ones I have done and I do like the height. The birds are cast iron. I didn't anchor them, I kinda use them where ever. The ball is not a bowling ball at all. It is a snail. Back in the day when I did ceramics and sold them I made several. That mold was huge! After trying to get the pictures in here for 20 minutes I decided to just give the link to my photo album. My computer suks at the moment. Here is a link that might be useful: Mosaic Pics

Hi Ladies, I've been so busy, sorry. My son came over with the kids one night and strong armed into getting the tree done. Today alone I've been to the Dr here, to another town to the eye doc to pick up new glasses, then go to the mall to get another movie gift cert for my dad for the one I lost, clean house, wash clothes I'm up baking cookies to take to the kids in Modesto tomorrow and oh, I was up to 2am wrapping gifts last night. Stressed?? Not me, I'm still not done in the house and my folks are coming on Sun, we'll be back Sat and I don't have the grocery shopping done yet nor any other baking, but hey it's Christmas and I think I have all the Christmas gifts bought, again and all but 3 are wrapped. So far I've also made about 13 stepping stones and one 15" cement plant stake made since the first of Nov as gifts. The last 4 just came out of the molds last night and I got to clean up my dining room today and put away all the mess. I haven't seen my dining room table in months or my kitchen counter, LOL* The stones have just enough time to dry before Christmas to give as gifts. Course the recipients can't put them outside for another month because of frost. I didn't take a breath with that because that's how I feel!:) I'm with you Westelle on the catalogs, I think I got at least 5 a day. I stacked them all on the coffee table until they towered and my DH threatened me with a fate and I passed them off on future DIL and threw the rest away. What a waste of paper. Very nice Christmas present on the wine fridge though, great boss:) I used to spray Endust on my Mom's duster and do her floors with it, you had to watch out when you came through with socks on if you were hurrying:) Wow Brenda, DH wrapped his own gifts?? I've had my DH wrap the kids gifts before, they don't look good, gotta tell you. Now that the grandkids are older, that's why I stayed up late to do them, LOL* I made lots of glittery ribbons too:) I agree on the popping material, DH loves to pop those too. Hello Pat if you're out there, hope you're just caught up in things too and feeling ok:) I'll be in and out and around H99, if I miss you all, I wish you a Merry Christmas, no matter the Ho Hum:) Leslie

Firstly........ Non-stick cookware is NOT made for cooking at high temperatures. If you cook at high temperatures, your non-stick will decay and age a lot faster than it normally would. Secondly....... There is a HUGE difference between Teflon COATING and BONDED Teflon. Teflon coating is SPRAYED ON to the metal and will chip, bubble, and peel off eventually, even with correct usage and care. BONDED Teflon is actually bonded to the metal, like what Calphalon and Analon does. Which is why it lasts "forever". I've had some Calphalon pans for almost 20 years now, and I've just recently had to replace one of the pans because the Teflon became too worn down, as this was my favorite pan to use. All of my other pans are still perfectly fine to use. Even the ones I've used at high temperatures. You NEVER want to get anything with SPRAYED on Teflon, you want to get BONDED Teflon, as it will last a long time. The sprayed on stuff can flake off in your food too, which is not something you want. As for Cooks Essentials, I got their double bread maker some years ago, and it's still being used today. I am shocked that I've never had any problems with it, it's been a very good piece of equipment. But recently, I used only one side to make a loaf of bread and I forgot to put the emtpy bread tin in the side not being used, and the heat melted and frosted the clear window on the top of the lid. I looked online and the only replacement parts I could find were the paddles, belts, and bread tins. There weren't any parts for the lids, or even replacement lids themselves. I've contacted QVC to see if they have a parts location for the appliances the don't sell anymore, but I have yet to hear back from them. Apparently QVC uses different third party manufacturers to make their different products. I would like to know who made their bread makers so I can contact them and find out if I can get a replacement window for my machine lid. Does anybody know who made their bread makers?

Darling baby, kgwlisa. This is my Christmas spirit right here!! We had a little accident with my holiday decorations this year and I spent a better part of Saturday trying to find replacements. I had a snow globe leak in a rubbermaid tote full of decorations. It sat and sat all year and when I opened it up, everything was covered in this horrid black mold. :( Some of those decorations I have had quite awhile and I felt really bad. But I still put up the tree and garland, my holiday houses and my nativity set. My kids got so excited for the nativity set. The older two both wanted to be the ones to put baby Jesus in his place. THAT is what Christmas means to me. I was worrying a little about what gifts to get for people, how was I going to get all the decorations out, when would I get the Christmas cards done??? Who cares. If someone misses my card or doesn't like my gift then boo freakin who. It's not about all that. Life is so complicated that I just really have to do what really counts this year. My baby has been in the pediatric ICU several times this past year and I am just thankful to be together at home. All those kids and babies in the hospital for Christmas makes my heart break. I so hope we can get through the holidays without her going in again. I think when we get stressed, it's because we're focusing on what other people make Christmas out to be instead of what it really is and should be.