Keeping Cats off: I have been told cats can leap to the top of a refrigerator from a stand-still. A Plexiglas cover would be very expensive, but plastic sheeting is not and it comes in many thicknesses or plys (plies??). It will keep the dust off the shingles also and I wonder if the slippery plastic would prevent them from clinging to get as good grip.

Only you cat owners can say for sure if their claws would poke right through the plastic.. You can remove the plastic when you plan to show your house(s) off cuz the plastic sure does not pass any interior design criteria.

Jeanette in Wisconsin

Keeping Cats off: Jeanette suggested using a plastic sheet over a dollhouse to keep the kitties off. Might work if the cats have been declawed, otherwise, the plastic sheet will also become a toy. They might do more damage to the dh by dragging the sheet around then simply sleeping on the roof.

Molly

Decals in foreign languages. If you can use your printer you can make them yourself! Go to a language translation website such as http://www.babelfish.comto translate (if you don't know how to say 'flour' etc. in German) then type in whatever font and size you want and print out on decal paper available in WalMart, Staples etc.

Alice Zinn

German Groceries: The German word for "cookie" is a little tricky. I lived in Austria for almost a year, and it seems you don't see the word "cookie" often, but usually the recipe name, like "Lebkuchen" or "Pfeffernusse". The two words I have seen used are "Platzchen" (with the umlaut--or two dots--over the "a") and "keks". I found "Platzchen" in my German cookbook and think that it is probably the "high German" word, so don't know how many regions use it. Could be kind of like trying to use the English word "biscuit" to refer to American cookies. I would use "keks". I remember when I was learning German that "keks" sounds like "cakes" but means "cookies", while "kuchen" sounds like "cookies" but means "cakes"! Sauerkraut IS the German word for sauerkraut! Means sour cabbage. Pickles are Gurken. Check http://www.germandeli.com for more.

Lynette in WNC

Simulated Concrete Flooring: I use mini mortar. I apply it with a foam brush. It's the same way I do the foundations of my houses.

Carol

Simulated Concrete Flooring: This is what I did for a cellar work room roombox I made. I took a new sheet of fine sandpaper and painted it. Then just glue down like wallpaper, weight down with a heavy book to prevent warping. Looks very realistic but I have to warn you, it is NOT easy to dust!

Linda in GA

Simulated Concrete Flooring: I would use paper clay with a little gray paint kneaded in to the right color - roll it out fairly thin - maybe use an oldtoothbrush to help create the texture you want

Chris W. in Minnesota

Simulated Concrete Flooring: You could first paint the surface with a few coats of gesso (allowing each coat to dry and a light sanding in between), then paint the floors with a steel/concrete grey acrylic paint, then if you like you could put a matte finish on it to give it some depth.

Kim from Canada,

Simulated Concrete Flooring: My product of choice is Durham's Rock Putty, available in any hardware store. I add a bit of black acrylic to it for a new cement look.

Becky Holliday

Simulated Concrete Flooring: To do concrete for a floor or a house foundation, use a product that is used for patching real concrete. It is sold in one quart cans and larger.

Spread the patching compound on the surface, then place a piece of plastic wrap on it and smooth it down with a credit card or something that wont tear the plastic wrap. Before it dries, slowly pull of the plastic wrap. You will notice it looks like real cement. You might want to practice on scrap board first, to see if you like the look.

MAP in Puyallup