"Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! "
#6574943
07/16/19 12:56 PM
07/16/19 12:56 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,502 Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon
OP
"American Honey"
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OP
"American Honey"
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,502
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
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The words came to mind as I finished up my very first project-a concrete birdbath ....the "wolf" , my own addition . I have never been happy with the basic conventional bird bath, they are way too smooth, with a sharp rim that drops too steep for most birds to enjoy traction and wade down a gradual slope to splash. With perfect weather for this, I dug a rough form in the ground, lined it with a plastic garbage bag, and picked up two bags of quick set concrete mix, and two bottles of buff colour . I knew this project would be far from a professional looking job, in fact, would be quite rustic , but fun trying it , nonetheless. So all you concrete guys and builders who would do this to artful perfection, bear with me ! All I wanted was a bath that tilted very gradually from the rim , with a gentle slope into the center...a pool with the shallow ends, and the deeper end , so to speak. Not smooth, (I knew I wouldn't have the pro talent to do that anyway ), but textured just enough for feet to grasp and not slip. Typically, I should have used normal slower setting mix . Once I poured , I could see and feel that quick set becoming just that, right before my eyes. I had to work much faster than I would have liked , in shaping...and then adding on the art around the edges that inspired this whole project ....wolf tracks ! By the time I pressed in the last few wolf imprints, it was almost too solid to work easily. Sheesh....lesson learned . Thanks to...Jack !!!!! Your wood wolf track "stamp" is perfect ! When first pressed , they looked very like the ones in your walkway ..light and airy....but for this, I wanted more traction for small toes and claws , so , after pressing them all around, I roughed up the insides with several sharp stones . The last two tracks were difficult as that concrete was threatening to be rock solid. I managed to get it done ! I'm so glad I went the extra mile to colour it. Anything but grey....it turned out more yellow ochre than what I considered to be "buff", but that's fine. I like this tone . It turned out to be 40 " wide, and just over 2" deep at center. The photos don't show the slope well, so I included the tape across the top to see the slope better. It weighed a ton, lifting it out of the ground . The divets in places along the edges are where it broke off as I handled it , too thin, I suppose . I chose a wood round and a cement round paver as a stand. The wood round isn't level in cut...for now I have it shimmed on one side until someday I can fix that round, or get something else. I did get the bath itself level on the bottom, by fitting a large dinner plate right side up in the ground , building up dirt around the edges, and covering it all with the plastic bag. It worked great ...formed a perfect flat wide surface with the sides curving up from the edges.... using that plate was perfect ! Not twenty minutes after I filled it this morning, two pine Siskens flew to it and drank , and lounged around ...mission accomplished ! Thank you, Jack ! This wouldn't have been near the fun without your "wuff track " ! For my very first concrete work, rustic as it is, I'm happy , and want to share the happiness with the Tman Tribe ! When it first came out of the ground mold...
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Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! "
[Re: Sharon]
#6574954
07/16/19 01:11 PM
07/16/19 01:11 PM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,514 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,514
james bay frontierOnt.
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That looks great Sharon.Like a big old Toadstool for the wee birdies to enjoy.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! "
[Re: Sharon]
#6574966
07/16/19 01:31 PM
07/16/19 01:31 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,502 Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon
OP
"American Honey"
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OP
"American Honey"
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,502
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
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Thanks, Kevin, very rustic ! I refresh the water often , and the sign posted telling them to shower before using the pool helps too , Sir Ken Thanks newtoga ! Zim, I wonder if the chooks would like to cool their toes in something similar, thank you ! Boco, thats a great similarity ! I like that ! Its large enough so that everyone else won't frown when the big boys, the robins dive in and splash water everywhere ! Hippie, thank you . Its very rustic, but fun for me. I bet you peeling out your driveway helps build those bath holes
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Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! "
[Re: Sharon]
#6575001
07/16/19 02:52 PM
07/16/19 02:52 PM
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,898 MT (Big Sky Country)
Allan Minear
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,898
MT (Big Sky Country)
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Very impressive Sharon I'm always pleasantly surprised to see what type of art you made next then shared with us to enjoy. Allan
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Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! "
[Re: Sharon]
#6575036
07/16/19 04:08 PM
07/16/19 04:08 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,928 Oakland, MS
Drifter
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,928
Oakland, MS
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Nice for sure. Don't forget to turn it over come winter. A one of a kind as well.
Some individuals use statistics as a drunk man uses lamp-posts — for support rather than for illumination.
Andrew Lang (1844-1912) Scottish poet, novelist and literary critic
Life member NTA , and GA Trappers assoc .
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Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! "
[Re: hippie]
#6575038
07/16/19 04:10 PM
07/16/19 04:10 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,002 Rock Springs, WI
Zim
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,002
Rock Springs, WI
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Been there White, lol. I use to get in all kinds of trouble with my BB gun. Worst was plucking one off the birdhouse. That was a no-no I found out. Hippie, statute of limitations has just run out on what I done with a bb gun. Started in 1958 when I was just 4 years old. Zim
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Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! "
[Re: 080808]
#6575052
07/16/19 04:42 PM
07/16/19 04:42 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,502 Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon
OP
"American Honey"
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OP
"American Honey"
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,502
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
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Nice but I’m afraid those tracks will scare away birds. lol So far, so good,they're still investigating ! 08080808080808 Thanks, zoo400 ! Only thing about the ground is that if it's heavy, it isn't fun lifting it carefully from below ground level. Thank you, Allen, MnMan, Hern ( you may have a new project !) Adam, that is a great idea your father had in making his own ! Pete, great thought ! Yes I don't want the winter ice or snow to pile up on it. I will take it down and put it someplace safe. Thank you ! Zim, those wee chooks know they're safe with you protecting them !
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