Bstruss, Where are you in Florida? I am right behind you on the muscadines. I just put in 6 20 foot rows but used the Geneva double curtain trellis system. I still have 2 more 20 foot rows to go for 8 total or 160 feet. Last weekend my wife and I went up to just fruits and exotics in the panhandle and picked up Nesbitt, Florida Fry and Southern home as well as the Triumph I already had purchased locally. The plants up at just fruits were GORGEOUS...they had grapes on them lol. They have all the types growing on the fence around the nursery so got to try them. I absolutely loved the nesbitt, tasted IDENTICAL to a Concord grape. A fellow board member has started me Carlos, Darlene and Late Fry. I will have one more open spot but have yet to figure out what grape it will be.

Different ones maybe a little different. I would start by lifting the lid and removing the dasher. I would then try to pop the top panel back to see what else I need to take loose. You may have to lay the unit on the side to have access to the bottom. Of course all electrical and water should be unhooked before starting to work on the machine. I doubt this is going to be as much fun as you are hoping for, but it will be more fun if you have the proper tools, and maybe someone to help. I don't like to do anything like that by myself anymore. It is a big help to have my wife around to hold the light and to hand me tools. Trying to get up and down and working on something you cant see is a real bummer. Larry

You mention liquid. It makes me think bedding. Have you added bedding to the bin? There is no amount of bedding that is too much. Egg cartons, coffee trays, beer coasters, and corrugated cardboard can be torn up and be easily 90% of the bed. If this type of material is a tiny percentage of the bin consider adding much more. The liquid that drained out should have been absorbed into the bedding in the bin. The fact that it was not leads me to consider a lack of bedding could have been a main factor in the demise of the bin.

I'll call this morning Elizabeth & see if there will be an open house soon. They had one about a month or six weeks ago but we forgot about it! :( I was just going to call our broker but it sounds like more fun to tour it with you! The listing says that the stove stays...also, if you look on the far right side of that picture...isn't that an old wringer washer? They hauled dumpster(s) full of 'stuff' out of that house so I wonder what's left? Gravel's a great street also. We looked at the 18th century cape on the river immediately across from the Morgan's berth. An estate thing. Three siblings that couldn't make up their minds what to do with the property so I think it's leased for a year...that was back in January or February. The house has been pretty well stripped of its history but the site is worth $1.5M...at least. I'm sure the Historical Society would insist anybody purchasing that property must attempt to put it back together. ($$$$) Being on the Groton side though helps 'cause Stonington is darn near impossible to work with. We're in the historic district & my neighbor wanted to pour a 4x6' concrete pad with a lean-to roof coming off the garden shed for their trash cans. Stonington wouldn't allow it! Ridiculous. We wanted to add a 1/2 bath. Stonington said we'd have to raise it 8' in the air! Again, ridiculous. I'll let you know when the next open house is. I'm looking forward to seeing the basement!! Too bad it's been poured w/concrete but the timbers should still be there plus the fireplace supports. Speaking of fireplace supports...if you look at the above listing...off to the right of the webpage you'll see another listing by the same realtor....on Pequot Trail listed at $675K. We seriously considered that one about a year ago. Built 1790. The cooking hearth fireplace w/oven is fantastic. The site, while not near the water, is probably the prettiest I've ever seen...about a 5 acre meadow filled with daffs & bluebells...gorgeous! There's a pond w/waterfall & about 1.5 acres of perennial gardens. But, there's about a 1/2 mile private road to access the place. Plus, there's a Stonington approved 1.5 acre building site at the far end of the meadow you could sell off...worth about $150K+/-. The owners are a childless couple...she works for Pfizer & was transferred to England about 2 years ago & he's a vet staying in the house until it's sold. The house is FILTHY. Cats. Price is down exactly $200K from when we looked at it. Anyway, the fireplace...in the basement the fireplace sits on the most humongeous piece of ledge I've ever seen in a basement! Even more amazing, the timbers are not hewn...just trees still with their bark. It's worth touring just to see the basement & construction. That house isn't going anywhere anytime soon! I think the only reason it's not sold is because it's so dirty & filled to the ceilings (literally) w/junk. She's a research doctor & they have a seriously out of control book habit. It needs to be gutted so, again, $$$ to make it liveable. /tricia