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"Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " #6574943
07/16/19 12:56 PM
07/16/19 12:56 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon Online content OP
"American Honey"
Sharon  Online Content OP
"American Honey"

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
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 ! smile

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 ! smile

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 !

[Linked Image]
When it first came out of the ground mold...


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]


[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6574944
07/16/19 12:58 PM
07/16/19 12:58 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,918
centrel PA
Kevin Colpetzer Offline
trapper
Kevin Colpetzer  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 2,918
centrel PA
cool Very classy, just like the artist. Always enjoy your talent

Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6574946
07/16/19 01:02 PM
07/16/19 01:02 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
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white17 Online content

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Online Content

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
Lots of work there Sharon !! Pretty ambitious.

I have to wonder about birds that drink bath water sick


Mean As Nails
Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6574948
07/16/19 01:03 PM
07/16/19 01:03 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,589
Ohio
N
newtoga Offline
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newtoga  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,589
Ohio
Fabulous


lifetime member NTA, OSTA, GTA
Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Kevin Colpetzer] #6574950
07/16/19 01:04 PM
07/16/19 01:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,981
Rock Springs, WI
Z
Zim Offline
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Zim  Offline
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Rock Springs, WI
Well Sharon, that looks great! Them dang birds got a gift right there, nice job as usual.

Zim

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
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,263
james bay frontierOnt.
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Boco Offline
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james bay frontierOnt.
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.
Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6574956
07/16/19 01:15 PM
07/16/19 01:15 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 19,689
pa
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hippie Offline
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hippie  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 19,689
pa
Nice! Mom and my grandparents always had a birdbath.

Me, I keep several around but people mostly call them potholes in the driveway. Lol. It's fun to watch them flap their wings, splashing water everywhere.

Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6574960
07/16/19 01:26 PM
07/16/19 01:26 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
W
white17 Online content

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
white17  Online Content

"General (Mr.Sunshine) Washington"
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 35,124
McGrath, AK
That would be fun with a BB gun !


Mean As Nails
Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6574965
07/16/19 01:31 PM
07/16/19 01:31 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 19,689
pa
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hippie Offline
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hippie  Offline
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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. cry

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
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon Online content OP
"American Honey"
Sharon  Online Content OP
"American Honey"

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
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 smile

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

grin

Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6574967
07/16/19 01:33 PM
07/16/19 01:33 PM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,871
NNY
0
080808 Offline
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080808  Offline
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NNY
Nice but I’m afraid those tracks will scare away birds. lol

Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: white17] #6574968
07/16/19 01:33 PM
07/16/19 01:33 PM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon Online content OP
"American Honey"
Sharon  Online Content OP
"American Honey"

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Originally Posted by white17
That would be fun with a BB gun !




shocked grin

Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6574991
07/16/19 02:28 PM
07/16/19 02:28 PM
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 437
Middle Georgia
zoozoo400 Offline
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zoozoo400  Offline
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Posts: 437
Middle Georgia
Clever idea - using the ground as a mold!

I never would've thought of that... Wonderful!!

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
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 11,832
MT (Big Sky Country)
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Allan Minear Offline
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MT (Big Sky Country)
Very impressive Sharon I'm always pleasantly surprised to see what type of art you made next then shared with us to enjoy.
Allan


Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6575013
07/16/19 03:20 PM
07/16/19 03:20 PM
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
MnMan Offline
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MnMan  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 8,879
Central MN, sort of old
Very, very cool!


I'm just happy to be here! Today I'm as young as I'll ever be and and older than I've ever been before!
Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6575014
07/16/19 03:20 PM
07/16/19 03:20 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 3,384
Pennsylvania
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Hern Offline
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Pennsylvania
Wow! Great job.
My wife loves it.

Re: "Lions and Tigers and Bears and Wolves , Oh My ! " [Re: Sharon] #6575015
07/16/19 03:22 PM
07/16/19 03:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 25,692
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adam m Offline
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Looks good Sharon. I dig it.

My dad made a couple and used the cheap $5 plastic bird baths as a mold. He cut the bottom of the post and the bath/top. Once the top was firm enough he reshaped and expanded the bath portion. Wish I had one

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
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,895
Oakland, MS
Drifter Offline
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Drifter  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,895
Oakland, MS
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 .
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
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,981
Rock Springs, WI
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Zim Offline
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Zim  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,981
Rock Springs, WI
Originally Posted by hippie
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. cry


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

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
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon Online content OP
"American Honey"
Sharon  Online Content OP
"American Honey"

Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 11,440
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Originally Posted by 080808
Nice but I’m afraid those tracks will scare away birds. lol


grinSo far, so good,they're still investigating ! 08080808080808 grin

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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