Explaining Voices Carry...

Last night, while rooms apart, I hear Grizzled yelling up to me..

G: Didn't you make a mudball?

J: Huh??

G: Weren't you going to make one of those Japanese mudballs?? I think they're doing that on Mythbusters. Turn it on!

J: Oh yeah... dorodangos... Yes, I attempted one this fall, but it was recommended to use ash mixed in with the finally coating. I used some from the bbq. I think it made my shell too fragile. When I got to the polishing stage, the finer stuff cracked off. It never really turned out that well.

G: You probably didn't wait long enough. You know, they use fly ash in pozzolanic cement. While it might make it less durable to start, it strengthens over time. The Romans used it...

J:ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Update:

Here's a photo of the dud dorodango... This would have had a much smoother surface had the many-layered shell stayed on (think of making a jawbreaker by hand).  The majority of  the ball is made of sifted dirt that is then turned to mud.  They said little rocks were ok, but as you can see, if your shell doesn't stay on, you see rocks.

Also, take off rings when forming...

Also,  a chamois goes a long way at the end. This would have had a much cooler luster had it actually been smooth. :(

I will be trying again if the earth ever thinks of thawing. EVER!

Comments

[fish]

Needs more salt.

[fish]

I'm sure Grizzled can explain why.

[Jennifer]

Don't make me roll my eyes...

[ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©]

Fly ash concrete was first used in the U.S. in 1929 for the Hoover Dam, where engineers found that it allowed for less total cement. It is now used across the country. Consisting mostly of silica, alumina and iron, fly ash is a pozzolan--a substance containing aluminous and silicious material that forms cement in the presence of water. When mixed with lime and water it forms a compound similar to portland cement. The spherical shape of the particles reduces internal friction thereby increasing the concrete's consistency and mobility, permitting longer pumping distances. Improved workability means less water is needed, resulting in less segregation of the mixture. Although fly ash cement itself is less dense than portland cement, the produced concrete is denser and results in a smoother surface with sharper detail.

The Romans used volcanic ash for a similar purpose, he explained.
~

[Jennifer]

thunder... were you eavesdropping in our car this morning?

Also, don't forget... if they're making concrete in Saudi Arabia, they must have the sand shipped in. Their sand is too old... too fine. Go figure. Next thing you know, we'll be selling coals to Newcastle.

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

I believe the actual episode was to explore the saying "You can't polish a turd". The mud ball polishing part was just to test the Japanese art, to see if it actually worked.

So; you've got, if my guess is correct, a backyard full of dog poop. I think your mistake was in not going full poop polish.

It's ART!!!

[blue girl]

Jennifer, I think it's awesome that you tried to make one!

And LOL at the whole conversation!

[fish]

It's ART!!!

been done

[ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©]

Let's see what fish has to say next time he needs his water changed...
~

[Jennifer]

ZRM- you are correct... it was the "polishing a turd" episode.

BG- Thanks, and I will be trying again... just because.

Yeah, thunder!

fish- I'd like to see you take one of your impossibly long poop strings and make some macrame!

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

impossibly long poop strings

this seems to be a Veiled Zardoz Reference

[Jennifer]

impossibly long poop strings

this seems to be a Veiled Zardoz Reference

fish would just void those. Oh, wait, that's redundant isn't it...

[Brando]

Let's see what fish has to say next time he needs his water changed...

HALP!

[herr doktor bimler]

Using Grannie's cremains from that urn on the mantelpiece seemed a good idea at the time.

[Von]

Now I know what we'll be doing for fun next visit.

[Jennifer]

hbd- pony up with the lost email.

Von- We'll use chicken livers. :)

[Grizzled]

Actually, they shipped in sand for the plaster, not concrete. The sand was too fine for sanded base coat plaster. There is a difference. Think sable v. bristle. similar but different.

:)

[Another Kiwi]

Gosh, Grizzled explained that well, didn't he? I shall definitely know what to do when I next want to get plastered.
Cool project, Jennifer. I saw that programme but never in a squillon years would have thought to have a go at it.

[Jennifer]

I shall definitely know what to do when I next want to get plastered.

:)

I don't remember where I first heard about them, but I had been wanting to try one for a while. One day this past fall seemed to be the day. I have to do it again though... it must be right!

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

but do it with dog poop next time.

That was what I was getting at. I guess I was too subtle.

[ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®©]

ZRM has this problem, too subtle.

Perhaps I need to visit Milwaukee again.
~

[Another Kiwi]

Yeah, The Subtle Zombie, was that Pixar or Disney?

[Jennifer]

but do it with dog poop next time.

That was what I was getting at. I guess I was too subtle.

And I was ignoring that suggestion. Perhaps I was being too subtle. :)

[zombie rotten mcdonald]

DOG POOP WILL NOT BE IGNORED!!