Unfortuneatly it won't work as a bird feeder since it will hold water just long enough to comletely soak the seeds. I considered using it as a planter but then I thought of the mosaic and it just seemed like the perfect idea. Luna, I like the algae growing on the base too although some moss would be even better! Maybe I'll try to get some moss started growing on it. I might not clean up the base but the top will have to be cleaned before I can start on the mosaic. bright199, what do you mean by thinset? I'm fairly new to creating mosaics and so far I've only done them on flower pots. I've just been using the pre-mixed mortar that I buy at Lowes. It's the same stuff I used to install the tiles on me kitchen countertops and back splash. And I plan on using regular unsanded grout to fill in the gaps.

My favorite irises seem to be the ones I "find" or "liberate" from a spot where they are not appreciated! :)) Your iris with the light blue standards and deeper blue falls COULD be Mariposa Skies. Does anyone else agree? Also, Google "Garden of Mu" - there is a man there, I believe he is "Mike", lives in Washington State, he is amazing at ID-ing irises. He helped me find the names of some really older varieties in my garden. Good luck!

Terrific -- I was recently given some old windows --- have them stored in the barn --- loved the divider and need one similarly placed to yours -- hope you don't mind if I "snatch" the idea. Also really like what Coppertop shared -- had been trying to figure out how to use a window as a headboard -- can suspend and add a grapevine wreath and some dried pieces --- it will look terrific --- thanks for the ideas.

Sorry to bump this after so much time. Here's a picture of the trash compactor. This is the pull out trash/recycling system that I want. http://www.pullsdirect.com/rev-a-shelf-5349-2150dm-2-5349-series-double-50-quart-pull-out-waste-container-with-soft-close-slides/p1573591. It says that it fits in a 15 inch width cabinet. It took me this long to contact a few custom cabinet makers in my area. 2 of them have told me that to replace the trash compactor with the double pull out trash/recycling that I want, I would need to not only have a cabinet door/face, but also they'd need to create a cabinet box and a frame too. However, by doing this, the width of the side of the cabinet box would mean that they wouldn't be able to put in the pull-out that I want, which needs a width of 14.8 inches (the trash compactor is 15 inches), so I'd need to select a different one, which would have a much smaller bin size. The one I want has 2 50 quart bins, and I would have to go down to 2 27 quart bins, I think, to get it to fit, which is a big difference. I'm also talking to a third custom cabinet guy who said that there might be a way to be able to put in a "floor" to where the trash compactor was, so he could install the double pull out I want (which is bottom mounted, not side mounted) without any sides, and then put some type of frame at the top only, so something that the cabinet door could rest against while closed, but said he'd have to think about how to create it, and get back to me. I'm waiting to hear from him to see if he's thought of something that would work. In addition, the price estimates I've gotten so far were substantially higher than I was expecting. Alison, I'd love to know the details of how you and your dh did this. Did you add a whole cabinet box? If not, what did you mount your pullout to, and what does your door rest against? I would appreciate any ideas. Thanks! Here is a link that might be useful: rev-a-shelf double pull out