Make Your Own Fountain!

Every time I walk past the fountains in the garden and lawn section of the hardware store, I think how lovely it would be to have one.  The sound of running water is so therapeutic.  Unfortunately, I cannot justify the amount of money they are asking for something so unnecessary.  Yet, every time I walk by the fountains I find myself wishing I had one.  A question I often ask myself is, “how can I use what I already have to make what I want?”  It has almost become a hobby for me to see how I can take what I already own and use it to make something I would enjoy.  I apply this to many daily situations.  For example, how can I take what is already in my freezer or in my pantry and make supper?  How can I put what clothes I have together to make a new outfit?  What leftover paint can I use to spruce up a room or piece of furniture, etc., etc.  You get the idea.

So I began brainstorming on what I could use from home to make my fountain.  I had an old washtub.  In my garage attic was a hand pump that we bought but never reached its intended use.  I had an old washboard in my basement.  I found an old pail that had a hole drilled in the bottom because it once had plants in it.  Now all I needed was a small pump to circulate the water and the tubing to connect to the pump and run up through my hand pump!  I went back to Lowe’s and found that they sell small pumps for fountains!  Yaaayyy!  The one I chose was $23.99.  The tubing was $7.00.

I knew I would have to choose a location for my fountain where electricity was readily accessible.  I also wanted to position it where I would hear it and see it and enjoy it the most.  The deck seemed to be the most likely place.  I put two bricks in the washtub to elevate the pail which I turned upside down and set on the bricks.  This also provided a perfect place to hide the little pump which would circulate the water.  I connected the tubing to the pump and ran it up through the hole in the bottom of the pail, up through the hand pump.  (We had to remove the inner mechanics of the hand pump for the hose to go through.)  I filled the tub with water, plugged in the pump, and alas, I had my fountain!    We have enjoyed it so much!  It is fun to have it going when we entertain or when I take a moment to sip a glass of ice tea on the deck!  

RomaLee