Putting Icons On The Taskbar

I'm trying to put a Show Desktop icon, plus a few other shortcuts on the left taskbar
just to the right of the Start Menu. I unlocked the taskbar and tried to drag and drop
one of the icons to the taskbar and release. The icon doesn't show up. When I go to
Toolbars and check QuickLaunch, then the icons are visible on the taskbar, where
they should be. However, the taskbar is twice as high, and I can't reduce it down
to the normal height with the mouse. What am I mising here?

Thanks!
Bozena