@rocklady Thanks! I think "several coats" might be the trick, and I'll bet the craft paint gives a pretty tough surface finish.
Sweet, Sally! Nice little shelter from the weather, too... and probably heavy enough that it won't blow around like my feeder did when I put the dome on it (a squirrel baffle that might not puzzle the squirrels but I figured it would keep out the rain... which it did until it got windy).
