JUDITH MAYER, Halifax

A. Make the mix thinner in consistency by adding a bit of water to it, but not too much because too thin a mix will weaken the concrete. And, after you pour the thinner concrete in the form (and it should pour a little, not requiring plopping in vast gobs of it), puddle the mixture; that is, stick a trowel in the mix several times, vigorously; this will shake down the concrete so it fills the form completely, filling any voids that caused previous holes. And, make sure the stones in the mix are as small as practical.

Q. Would Plexiglas be OK to use to cover a grave frame containing a photograph with a concrete base lying on the ground? The photograph would be in a frame encased in glass or plastic.

J.M., Halifax

A. I think glass would be best, because it will stand up to weather better than any plastic and is easily cleaned. You'd have to encase the photograph between two layers of glass, sealed against the weather at the edges.

Another approach would be to have a job print shop make an engraved plate of the photograph; this is commonly done with cold type (as opposed to hot type, the old-fashioned cast lead). The engravings are made by newspapers all the time, transferring type and photographs to an aluminum plate. I believe these plates are weatherproof. This is similar to new weatherproof plaques you see at national parks.