Fossilnut- Check out the old threads about big spheres and mesh and Quickwall. You can sculpt whatever you want out of styrofoam then cut up pieces of EIFS mesh into rectangles or triangles about 5 by 6 inches or bigger and use them to overlap each other as they cover the styrofoam sculpture. As you cover, you use Quickwall like you would wall paper paste to make a paper mache covering over something. As you go, you can use roofing nails (they have large flat heads) to go thru the mesh into the styrofoam to help hold things down. After this coat dries, you whack in more roofing nails if places seem to want to pull away from the styrofoam. (this step isn't needed on the spheres but a shape with undercuts will probably need the nails) Next do a second coat of overlapping mesh and Quickwall. When this dries you will have an amazingly strong layer of concrete over your sculpture. Since each layer is 1/4 inch thick, you will just have a half inch of concrete to add weight to the styrofoam so your finished product is very light weight. Quickwall is waterproof so you have a surface that will hold up to the weather. Quickwall is made of portland cement so you also have a surface on which you can build up more layers of concrete texture or detail. This is really not much different than all the covered spheres we have discussed. There is no reason concrete sticks to the plastic ball or balloon - in fact it creates a slick surface that the ball pulls away from easily when you deflate it. The concrete doesn't really have to stick to the styrofoam any longer than it takes to create the shape of your sculpture and have it dry; it is just easier to leave the styrofoam inside the finished product since it doesn't deflate. Try a smallish piece now for practice - it will not be too heavy to take with you when you move. Have fun! Laura

To be on the safe side, I bring the solar-powered fountain inside--or rather, my son does (too heavy for me). I think freezing temps would damage the solar panel. The other items are smaller--I have no idea what they are made out of, but they were intended for garden use. I don't get around to moving them into the unheated garage until really, really cold weather approaches--which usually begins towards the end of January. I don't know that they need to be protected in the garage, but I start worrying--so I move them. However, before I get around to that, they have gone through a couple months of temps in the freezing category at night and sometimes during the day--so they might be tougher than I give them credit for. Kate

Recently the state co-ordinator decided to have all the programs adopt a standard system for ranking. Our group already had a pretty good system but the change allows us to accumulate hours rather than starting over each year. I don't have the details at hand but in general the levels are: Intern with certification after completing the classes and turning in their volunteer hours. Master Gardener which is the basic level with 6 hours of continuing ed and (I think) 20 hours of volunteer. Advanced Master Gardener, then several levels of Advanced Master Gardener with badges denoting the level and the number of hours. If I am remembering correctly the colors from lowest to highest are green, copper, silver, gold and platinum. I probably have it wrong somewhere. I'm sure there will be changes as the system is emplemented but it is more fair than some other systems. For example I started research on a project last winter and put in about 300 hours and produced 350 pages of information, then started the actual project this summer. With the old system I would have started over at 0 this year. You have to have a basic mumber of volunteer hours and Continuing Ed. hours to keep your certification each year. I don't think we have a Lifetime status. What other systems are used? Sandy

I have one of an angel holding a bowl that you can put water in for the birds... We've had such a windy spring. She has blown over more than once.. Now her wings are broke off. I plan to use Gorilla glue. It expands as it is drying if you use it right out of the bottle. My nephew told me to mix a little water with it before I put it on. He said it makes it bond faster and it doesn't expand like it would full strength. So that is what I'm going to try. Also mine has faded to such an ugly color that I'm going to try to paint it when the glue is dry. It used to be kind of a green color and now is purplish blue. I think it is supposed to look like it was copper that has aged. That's what I'm going to try for. patti