Gee Bill, I hate to be the one to burst your angry misogynistic bubble, but I will. You won't find a mower manual in the world that states the requirement of a penis or testosterone to have interest and operate lawnmowers or repair small engines. There are many women that handle this type of thing daily, and that doesn't make them man hating dykes, they just have an interest. Even in your most traditional families it's not always the husband that's repairing the equipment and mowing the lawns. In my household for example I'm the one that enjoys the order and neatness of a nicely groomed lawn, and as such I handle all of the yard work and maintenance of the equipment. To respond to someone's surprise over getting snapped at for stating she felt her husband was mistaken in his handling of something mower related (which the general consensus seems to be that he is) by saying what did she expect, or DUH! is just plain dinosaur behavior. While this forum may very well be mostly men, that this woman couldn't ask a question without some people jumping all over her is ridiculous.

Sorry I never got back to this thread. Wow, pbrisjar, my first reaction would have been to walk right back out again! Glad the surprise party turned out to be fun, and that you also got your romantic dinner. Well, let's see, where did I leave off? I called middle SIL on her cell that AM, she said they were in NH and would be at house around 5-5:30, we'd go out to dinner and then they'd try to find a motel. I checked out a local B&B (expensive), stripped all the beds and washed sheets just in case. Didn't go looking for motels b/c I realized it was a holiday w/e and the nicer things would be booked (would have to change rooms at B&B since didn't have any available for 2 nights in a row), didn't want to take time away from cleaning. Asked my dad about air bed but he couldn't find pump so decided ds could try out his new sleeping bag in the study, dd could sleep with me, and DH would get the sleeper sofa (at least Thurs night since he had to work Fri and would be getting up early). They called at 5:30, were still up around Boston, said not to wait dinner for them. I had put the small roast I had thawed out b4 I knew they were coming back in freezer, so DH and I went out with the kids (and my parents, aunt & uncle since I found out it was their 26th anny and we had missed the 25th last year), SILs pulled in our driveway 8pm just behind us. After telling everyone all day her aunties were coming, DD suddenly got shy. She didn't get to visit much b4 I put her to bed in our bed and told everyone the sleeping arrangements - it was really too late to look for motels and of course DH wanted to visit. I stayed up til 11, DH and youngest sis stayed up really late. Oh, and I took advice to throw everything in closet (master bath) and shut the door - put the big 3-bag laundry sorter we use as hamper in master bath, found a standing towel rack (nonheated) we used in old house and put that in so everyone would have room for towels, shoved some stuff I had in study going to yard sale in WIC. Then as I'm bringing them into MBR and saying "Here's unfinished bath and WIC, but please don't open..." middle SIL opens the door b/c she wants to see how big it is! DH had told them we were still finishing trim, but they had no idea how much work we were doing/still needed. Asked me about all the blue tape on floors (loose tile) and walls (marking studs to nail baseboards). Oh, and then the last night after I put DD to bed I came down and found oldest one taking pics of all the wood on the floor of my DR, my LR with no curtains and half (not even all!) the trim pulled off the windows, no baseboards. I asked her not to, she said her DH wanted to see pics. I have to email her some when we get things finished (she took pics of my kitchen island, liked the layout, but I could have gotten the finished trim out of my BR and stuck it in place for pics! My cousin nailed it up a week later). DS had a science test but DD decided to play hooky (I stopped by preschool with a floppy - cards kept jamming my printer so teacher had to print them but I formatted everything for her, told her then that DD hadn't seen them in 4 yrs so she'd be absent). Then they decided we should all go to Mystic Seaport so I have the largest SUV, got gas, drove 2 hr to spend 2 hrs there, was afraid we wouldn't be home in time for Ds so called DH - he could get off early so OK. My parents invited us all up for BBQ so I headed straight there after getting ice DH said they needed, he was bringing steaks and chicken I had taken out on Thurs to defrost. Got to my parents', my dad said steaks were freezerburnt and chicken was frozen, so down to grocery store (30 min drive) to get steaks, potato salad, etc. We ate pretty late, stayed visiting later, at 9:15 I noticed, wanted DD to stay there but she had meltdown, wanted to come home. So about 10pm b4 kiddos got to bed, adults stayed up til midnight or so? I remember everyone had to brush their teeth 1 at a time even though we have 2 sinks so I fell asleep waiting my turn (should have brushed when I did DD's teeth), finally brushed my teeth about 1:30am when I woke up to pee. Other than that, no problem scheduling bathroom. Sat AM took everyone out for brunch and they left since they all had to be at work day after Mem. Day. They were going to stop and see niece in TN on the way (hope they called her!). Turns out DH either is not good at reading b/t the lines, or set me up I don't know which. I asked about miscommunication, b/c I could have had vinyl tile down in MBA so we'd have another shower and prob toilet, heck, i could have gotten a stock laminate countertop from HD and put in sink(s) since I have them and faucets already. Not to mention a railing on the stairs (2 SILs have had DVT and had trouble with stairs but didn't want to take sleeper sofa). Anyway, youngest SIL said she had told DH that when they were planning this road trip (tour of NE) this was the onyl time they all could get off work. If he had told me that (and that they were trying to see other states in NE, not just driving to see us and whatever else they could on the way), I would have *known* they were coming, even if/when she didn't get back to him after "checking with the others." So I told them please in the future call the home phone to talk to us/email me as well as him, so we avoid the mis(lack of) communication via DH. Though DH tells me they will probably never travel together again (or at least not with oldest sister) b/c they were about ready to kill each other after a week of 24/7. I did hear (driving DH's car back from my parents with single SIL) about how owner of car was having fits over the way the other 2 drove. And youngest SIL was glad to have ds's room to herself since the other 2 snore. So it was a whirlwind visit that really didn't last much more than 1 day. I think they enjoyed having someone else do the driving but still being able to see (a little) of the area that day. Dad was going crazy cooking everyone's steak to order (since they were being polite about what they considered "cooked", talking to a family of vampires LOL, my dad kept throwing it back on the grill when they said "Wheeeeel, a little more than that..." and "Umm, yes, I can eat it like that." when they should have just told him well-done). But I think they appreciated having 1 dinner at someone's house. I know they enjoyed visiting with DH, and oldest was showing my mom pics of her grandbabies. DD enjoyed meeting them, she said she missed them after, promises (?) she'll be a good traveler if we go visit them sometime.

Yang says thanks. But you really should put this to bed. You know it will come again if you don't. If you can't disagree and/or argue without blowing, you're bound to have a sad life....always waiting/wondering about the next trigger and whether or not you can do this or say that without setting the other person off. No way to live together, IMHO. I'm biased. Along with smoking and a few other things, uncontrolled anger is one of my personal deal-breakers. Known too many families where that was the MO and resolved long ago not to have it in my life. May not apply to others.

FWIW (for what it's worth), I think you did a great job with your arrangement -- and I adore those two giraffes munching up there :) even with a grand chandy, lol. I'd just keep the center pic off-center, back in the bushes a bit : ) not smack dab in the middle. As far as the light, it's like they're basking in the Sun :) And if you're enjoying it, too, well, that's why it's up there! I can imagine after trimming and getting an appropriate fixture, for many, it would still need something on the ledge. Esp if it's maybe a foot deep. I'd also imagine it was intended for display or it wouldn't be quite so deep. Anyway, do remember, you are actually in the space. Not only can you see the bigger picture, but you can also see and feel what it needs much better than anyone sitting out here lookin' at some tiny little photo : ) And it's obvious from reading on GW that the people who contribute here vary in their preferences and style widely. Just 'take what you need, and leave the rest' as they say : ) Apply as needed. I don't know why some people need to 'sting' with their comments to make their point, but they do come around here. Grain of salt. And you're so right -- pictures never do justice : ) (Unless, of course, they're selling something :) It does sound like you've figured out what you want to do now, though. If it's the sill you're confused about, you've figured that out too -- you like it up there! and don't without : ) Enjoy having made somewhat of a decision with dh about the treatment -- trim at this point : )