Well, I removed it tonight. I think it may have belonged to a chickadee that was stalking me while I was cleaning it out (or maybe it was my guilty conscience). Besides, we have bigger fish to fry. I was just outside on the front porch (again) and something is apparently living in the soffits above the porch. Whatever it was ran across the vinyl soffits and was heavy enough to actually make them move...so I'm thinking either a possum or raccoon. I don't think my rosie friends will be able to help me with this one :( Ugh....why do the animals mistake me for SnowWhite??? Tammy

Soap might work, or candle wax (this would be my first choice). WD40 is just a little toxic, especially if it's a child's coat. Also, I got a silicone spray at the hardware store to use on some sticking windows. It dries to a non-greasy white powdery residue; much cleaner and better smelling than WD40. You might try a similar product -- spray it on a cotton swab and rub it on the zipper.

davidr: where have you found any LPS. They are uncommon. In a more than a decade of commercial work, I can;t remember seeing a single one in use. If you notice from the poorly laid out (due to limitations in copy and paste) a HPS light is close in efficiency to a LPS and the HPS lights are typically cheaper than MH. MV actually seems to be the best as far as all around ratings but I personally do not like the light color they emit and most people do not understand they continue to dim throughout their life span. I see so many that are simply so dim they do not illuminate much of anything but as long as that thing is on, people just won;t replace the lamps. I prefer MH or an incandescent light. There are some newer compact florescents that have a very good color temp out now that I would consider. Lighting type Efficacy (lumens/watt) Lifetime (hours) Color rendition index (CRI) Color temperature (K) Indoors/Outdoors ------------------------- High-Intensity Discharge Mercury vapor 25Â60 16,000Â24,000 50 (poor to fair) 3200Â7000 (warm to cold) Outdoors Metal halide 70Â115 5000Â20,000 70 (fair) 3700 (cold) Indoors/outdoors High-pressure sodium 50Â140 16,000Â24,000 25 (poor) 2100 (warm) Outdoors Low-Pressure Sodium 60Â150 12,000Â18,000 -44 (very poor) Outdoors

ADHESIVES 1. Test First - Unless you have used the adhesive on the same surface before, you can always use this simple test to determine if you are using the right one. Glue your tesserae on and wait 24 - 48 hrs. Then try to pry it off. If it is for a wet application such as outside or in a shower, soak in water overnight , then try to pry off again. If the tesserae does not come off , the adhesive you chose is a winner! Always read the label first. Not only does it usually contain some very helpful information, it usually provides a toll-free number should you have any questions about its use or safety. Always check the chemicals you are working with, especially if you are pregnant or have any respiratory ailment. In those cases, a special mask may be called for. Talk to your doctor. Tile Mastic Use over wood, tile (yes, you can tile over tile), Formica, ceramic. Will not stick to metal or concrete. Not waterproof. Mortar based Thin-set - Thin-set is a mortar based adhesive you can mix with water OR an acrylic additive. Best choice for concrete (stepping stones, birdbaths), terra cotta, and backer boards. Will not stick to metal or other non-porous surfaces without special preparation. It is the only adhesive you can use to really 'float' tiles. This means you can build up the adhesive under a thinner piece of tile so that it is flush with the tile next to it. Totally waterproof. Dries white or gray (know which color you are buying before purchase). Do not empty into sink or drain. Seriously! You will regret it when you have to replace your pipes. Read the bag! Everything I know about thin-set came from the back of the bag. Mix with an acrylic additive instead of water to increase its strength and flexibility, and speed drying time. I prefer using the additive. WeldBond Similar to PVA glues (below) only stronger. Waterproof per the manufacturer's literature. Dries clear. Sticks to anything (score smooth surfaces). WeldBond can be purchased on this site on our Tools page. For more info about WeldBond, visit the manufacturer's website at Frank T. Ross & Sons and click on the WeldBond button at the top left of the screen. Cleans up with water when still white. "Weldbond will work vertically if you do a little trick I found. I know you have that lovely blue painter's tape. Put it over the tesserae you want to glue to something vertical and it will hold them in place until the Weldbond sets up. Then just rip it off. It works really well on bowling balls and vertical surfaces that can't be made horizontal. Plus, I've found that if the tesserae comes off with the tape, it means it would have come off during grouting - so I know where to add that little bit of extra glue!" From techsupport! PVA Glues (white glue like Elmer's and other craft glues) Sticks very well to wood that is unfinished Must prep painted or stained surfaces (see Surfaces). Can be used with ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles. At least one surface needs to be porous. Dries clear Not waterproof. Safe for children to use. Easy clean up with water. Liquid Nails for Small Projects My favorite for outdoors when I do not want to mix thin-set. Stick to almost anything, including metal, terra cotta pots, concrete, etc. Very short "bowl time" (elapsed time before product sets up and can no longer be used) Always use gloves - serious chemicals. Cleans up with solvent. Clear Liquid Nails or Clear Silicone My choice for 'see-thru' projects such as candle votives and hurricane lanterns. Most are waterproof. Read the label or call the manufacturer. Epoxy Glue I reserve Epoxy for very unique applications which include: gluing cup handles or other vulnerable elements, heavy pieces that just slide off with other glues (may also need to be held or taped in place until glue sets), or it will be exposed to a lot of water. Completely waterproof. Epoxy is a two-part glue that has to be mixed (resin + hardener). My favorite is 'Power Poxy' from Home Depot as it is very thick. Epoxy has a short 'bowl time'. Mix only enough to use in 7 - 10 minutes. It is almost impossible to clean off once it has dried. It will last forever. Not recommended for everyday use. Adhesive Tips Have you ever opened a tube of glue only to find it has dried up and even poking a nail or paperclip didn't loosen it up? Try this: When you are done using the glue squeeze a small amount of glue out of tube then cap tightly. Then roll tube up from the bottom. This will remove all the air from inside the tube and the tip, which is what causes the glue to harden. The next time you go to use it, it will be like a new tube! Does your Thin-Set dry quickly, get grainy and unusable? Try this: Mix a small amount of thinset as you normally would, then scoop it into a small Ziploc baggie and seal it (squeeze the excess air out of the bag first). Cut a small corner off the baggie (one of the corners without the zipper on it) and squeeze out your thinset! When not in use, place the baggie on its side in a shallow saucer with a few drops of water in it. This will keep the exposed thinset slightly damp. Squeeze the baggie to give your thinset a "stir". (Info from Wits End Mosaics) Other options - For Glass on Glass mosaics, you can use Weldbond or silicone. Weldbond will take some time to 'cure' and clear. Clear silicone stays clear. I have used both. From KimmyStar From MrShorty: I use"E-6000" for inside use, and "UV-6000" for outside use. Both dry clear, and don't get hard. They dry to a rubbery consistency. They work on everything I've tried them on so far, except Styrofoam. It melt Styrofoam. From Yvonne Have you used clear Tub &Tile adhesive caulk? I have a clay-pot saucer birdbath stained glass and glass tile out in the yard. [Coming up on 3 yrs] Used T&T, regular grout and tile sealant its wearing well, I did wax it last Spring but will use a waterproof sealant next time. [because I have it in the shed]