Well gosh, mongo, I think I'll save that post for my inspiration file :) Thank you so much for your kind comments. I respect your opinion greatly, as you know, so it means a *lot* to hear that what I've posted passes your inspection. I actually thought of you as I was arranging the stones on the edges of each linear foot so that the transition from one to the next would be unnoticeable :) We have just fallen in love with rocks (it's hard not to, out here) and I think that even though it's a *bit* idiosyncratic to put rock slices up on your bathroom wall, it will appeal to the Oregonian in possible purchasers :) and may not have to be taken down, as the Sicis glass tile backsplash I did in the kitchen just may be. (That was the first mosaic I'd ever done--no cutting, really, except for top and bottom rows--just arranging every single 1/2" tile for a 16 sf space...I just shake my head in disbelief when I think about the fact I just bulldozed my way through that back in 2004--ignorance was totally bliss--I figured "it's just arranging tiles, what's the problem? :)). O.K., and to your other points (bringing the swelling in my head back down to a manageable level :)): We ended up not using the teak because I saw what my cats had done to some wood furniture and I would have had a huge crying fit if they'd done that to the teak after everything we would have put into it, since it wouldn't be as easy to change out as, say, a tabletop. So we're making a table out of the teak, instead! A really nice side table for our family room. That's project #372 in the queue. But I'm so thankful for the finishing advice you gave and I still have it. I used it to test finishes last summer before we decided. And re the *cougar* mosaic? ;) It needed to be sent to Australia on mesh to be installed with hundreds of others on that Steve Irwin tribute wall, so what I did was make a work surface of the picture glued onto cardboard (which really didn't help that much--I couldn't really see it through the mesh enough for it to make any difference so I had to work from another pic I had sitting up next to the mesh) topped w/saran wrap as you noticed, then taped the mesh on it and Weldbonded the pieces of glass onto the mesh. I would go under the mesh every so often to separate the glued mesh from the saran wrap. Then I packed it (I made it *exactly* the size to fit into a large fixed-price international priority box) within an inch of its life and luckily, not a piece came off during the trip. I did have to back-paint, with various colors of nail polish, many of the vitreous tiles so as to get enough color variation to be able to come *anywhere near* the gradation of Malina's gorgeous face. I still think it looks a bit cartoonish...what was I thinking?! Why didn't I do a tiger or a skunk or something?! But I've completely fallen in love with cougar markings and just marvel at the incredible shadings each one has. I think I may do the indirect clear mosaic-mount sticky contact-like paper thing you refer to for the big accent lines in DD's bathroom upstairs, though--I prefer it to surface-mounted onto paper because you can have some sense of how things are going before you take the mount off. I'll put tiles in a grid, then stick the mosaic mount on the front of them, then install them onto the wall. Have you used it? How do you like it compared to mesh? (And mommielady, you underestimate notre cher mongo :) You'll discover he's a complete treasure of this forum--accomplished in way too many areas for a normal human being and extremely generous with his knowledge (and patient with people like me who ask too many irritating detail questions!). I have a theory I'm working on that he must have been the subject of one of those secret mind-experiments the military did "back then"...like a mental Bionic Man, you know...do I date myself?) (DH just looked over my shoulder and said "The Mongo Identity" -- much more contemporary :))

Adding to DA's comment -- I too found the Arcsoft site which used/uses .phb files that may be album files. Here's a quote from Arcsoft: PHB files are proprietary album files used by some of our programs, namely PhotoBase. Albums do not store your images. They serve as links to files stored on your computer or removable drive. If you delete the original file, the thumbnail in the album basically becomes a dead link. For example, if you have files on a floppy disk and create an album, you'll always need to have that floppy in the drive whenever you want to view the full images. Likewise, if you have a digital camera that is read as a removable drive, you would need to have it connected if you create the album directly from the camera. The best thing to do is copy all of your images into a folder on your computer, *then* create the album referencing those files. Albums are useful because they let you preview and organize files on your system in a convenient fashion. It is also from albums that slide shows are made with some of our programs." They still offer ($) software that may be able to translate your pics to jpeg or they have some free help. Some of their software can be downloaded for trials which might enable copying to jpeg. Here is a link that might be useful: Arcsoft

When you have the box on your screen, click on the 'print screen' button (it should be to the right of your F12 key). This copies your screen shot. Open Microsoft Word or other word processing document and paste image there. Click View> toolbars > picture toolbar and select 'crop picture. From there you can reduce your screen shot to show the box only and not your screen background. Hope this is what you wanted to know.

Adding pictures to posted messages may be easier than you thought. Some forums allow you to add a picture directly from your computer. Those direct upload forums are listed under GardenWeb Galleries, and display a camera icon by their name in the main forums list. All other forums require you to store the image elsewhere on the web, then link to that image using html codes in your posted message.   The Short VersionAdding a picture on any forum Upload your image (60K or less in size) to somewhere on the web for storage. Type codes into your forum message to add the image. To create a link to the image: <a href="insert image address here">insert image description here</a>. To display the image inside the posted message: <img src=” file location and name”>. Submit the message. Adding a picture on forums allowing direct upload from your computer Type your forum message and select Preview. Select Browse button to locate and add the image file on your computer. Submit the message and image file. &nbspTIP &nbsp To simplify entering codes and other repetitive phrases, consider using a macro program. I use ShortKeys Lite because it’s free, tiny, easy to use, and works in any program. I’ve set up macros for commonly used coding like image and page links. I copy a URL, then type in my shortcut “xim” and ShortKeys Lite inserts <img src=””>, or “xu” inserts <a href =””></a>. I then paste the URL in between the “”and add a descriptive phrase between the ><. Fast, easy, and no typos! Many macro programs offer similar abilities.   The Detailed VersionAdding Pictures to Messages on Forums Without Galleries (Like Hot Peppers Forum) Step 1: Prepare your image for uploading Make sure your image is in either JPG or GIF format (with .jpg, .jpeg, or .gif file extension), and is no larger than 60K. If your file is larger than 60K you will need to reduce the file in your photo editing software. The software’s help files will give specific instructions. You can also add any image copyright or text desired using image editing software. Save the file to a new name before reducing it so you retain the original version. Step 2: Upload the image from your computer to somewhere on the web Option 1: Use the free space provided by your ISP. Most ISPs provide free space for their subscribers. Check their support website for instructions on setting up and using your personal web site space. This is a great option because you normally have plenty of storage space and the images will always be available for viewing. Option 2: Use image hosting websites such as FotoTime, WebShots, PictureTrail, or Yahoo Photos. There are many image hosting sites on the web. Follow the uploading instructions provided for the particular image hosting website. Some services do not allow displaying images stored on their site on other pages (like GardenWeb posts), some charge an annual fee, and most limit the amount of images stored, so be sure you choose a service that fits your needs. Image hosting sites mentioned are examples of possible options, and not endorsed or recommended by GardenWeb. WebShots does not allow displaying images in other sites (even with a paid membership) so you are not able to show images from WebShots in GardenWeb posts. You can add a link to your WebShots page that contains the image. FotoTime allows displaying images stored on their service only for paid subscribers. Option 3: Use Hortiplex. Hortiplex is a database of plants which is part of the GardenWeb family of websites. It allows GardenWeb users to post pictures by scientific name. For specific instructions, see Hortiplex help pages. Option 4: Use the GardenWeb galleries available on other forums. You can post images to other GardenWeb forum galleries, but these images are not stored for long, so this is not always the best option. For example, your posted message on Hot Peppers forum may stick around for a couple of months, but the image on the Garden Photo Gallery may disappear after two weeks so you’re left with a “broken” image link in your forum message. Always make backup copies of any images stored online! Step 3: Add your image into your gardenweb message Copy the image address (URL). Go to the web page displaying the image you uploaded in Step 2. In Internet Explorer, Right-Click on the image and select Properties to show the image address. Select the entire URL (including the second line if necessary), then select “Ctrl C” to copy it to the Windows clipboard for the moment. Cancel the properties window. Switch back to the Post New Message form. Paste the image address into the message as a link or a displayed image. Option 1: Make a link to the image using the URL space in the New Message form. Select “Ctrl V” to paste the URL address into the Optional Link URL space provided at the bottom of Message Preview. Add a Name of the Link to show a descriptive phrase for the image instead of the link address. Option 2: Display the image in the message itself using formatting codes (an html image “tag”). Type <img src=” file location and name”> in the body of the message. For example: If your graphic is at wherever/~smith/garden/habanero.jpg, you would insert <img src=” //wherever/~smith/garden/habanero.jpg”>. Add an extra return above or below the image to group it with the appropriate text. Step 4: Submit the message Adding Pictures to Messages on Forums with Galleries Some forums allow uploading pictures directly from your computer to the forum's Image Gallery. Forums with Image Galleries display a small camera icon next to their name on the main list of GardenWeb forums. Step 1: Prepare your photo for uploading See instructions in Step 1 above. Step 2: Type your message into the New Post form and select Preview This is the usual message posting procedure. Be sure to add a subject that clearly describes the image. Step 3: Add the image from your computer Select the Browse button and locate the file you wish to upload. Once the file name has been added, select Submit to post the message and image. Step 4: Submit the message