Heather, I have a Craftsman DSG 6500 garden tractor that I really like. This is a garden tractor as apposed to a lawn tractor so it is able to use "ground engaging" equipment. It has a 54" cutting deck. I put a Johnny Bucket attachment on the front of it which acts like a front end loader so that you can use it to plow, move dirt, compost, etc. I have the manual transmission but the auto is easier to use. I use it to haul either with the Johnny bucket on the front or I have a dumpable cart that I haul around. You mentioned that you'd like it for a bigger place some day so this tractor would do everything you want and more. The tractor is right around $2200.00 give or take and for another $1000.00 you can get a 2-stage snow blower for the front which should help with your weather. I purchased the 3 yr. at home service agreement that covers pretty well everything for about $300.00 but I've never had to use it. This tractor is made by Husquvarna. My only concern is that if you have a dealer right in your neighborhood, that may be the better way to go. Craftsman 26 hp 54 in. Deck, DGS 6500 Garden Tractor Sears item# 07128750000 Mfr. model# 28750 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Availability of home delivery for this product varies by location Eligible For Store Pick Up Other colors available: Protect this purchase with a Protection Agreement see options Price Match Policy No Interest, No Payments until September, 2008, with your Sears Card. Sears Card. Add a Tractor Bumper (07124598) for Free. Offer ends 05-Sep-2007 See Details Overview Specifications Options Reviews(14) This is a Garden Tractor capable of using ground engaging attachments. Powered by a Briggs & Stratton 26 hp ELS (Extened Life series) V-Twin engine (includes oil filter) with overhead valves for cooler running and longer life. Match the speed with the job that needs to be done with our Extra Heavy Duty EZ Drive hydrostatic/automatic transmission . A 54" Precision Cut Plus deck system with four gauge wheels and more air flow for better cutting and bagging. Capable Of Using Ground Engaging Attachments Powerful 26 hp B/S Els (Extened Life Series) V-Twin Engine Exclusive 54" Precision Cut Plus Deck System W/ 4 Adj. Gauge Wheels Spring Loaded Deck Lift System Extra Heavy Duty Ez Drive Hydrostatic / Automatic Transmission Foot Pedal Drive For Added Convenience Large 23" Rear Tires Handy Cup Holder Wider Step Thru Area Automotive Type Slide Seat System 2 Year Limited Warranty __USERID__ Overall Rating 4.7 5 13 of 14 (93%) customers would recommend this product to a friend. Read all reviews Write a review Number of reviews: Number of reviews with ratings & comments:12 Number of reviews with ratings-only:2 Write an online review Product Reviews Product Reviews Review This Product Choose a sort order Featured Reviews First Buyer's Reviews First Staff Reviews First Top Reviewers First Date - Newest First Date - Oldest First Rating - High to Low Rating - Low to High Helpfulness - High to Low Helpfulness - Low to High Length - Long to Short Length - Short to Long FEATURED REVIEW Overall Rating: 5 5 April 28, 2007 By ChasfromBenld from Benld,Illinois Performance: 5 5 Value: 5 5 Features: 5 5 Reliability: 5 5 "I give this Tractor a 10 on scale of 1-10. The 26 HP Briggs and Stratton has plenty of power and very smooth operation, I love the hydrostatic drive. It is very convenient and simple to use. I have been mowing my property with a old mower and decided it was time to upgrade, This is my first experience with a Craftsman Garden Tractor. I can honestly say this is the best garden tractor I have ever owned. The price was right and the sales and delivery experience from Sears was outstanding. Prior to using this Tractor, I read and studied the owners manual, I work in the Heavy Duty Truck Industry and can honestly say this Tractor is put together really well. And you can get any part you need very easily from Sears. The Tractor came with an illustrated parts manual and every part used on the tractor can be ordered which impressed me greatly. I will be ordering both summer and winter accessories as this tractor can be used year round. I would expect this Tractor to last 20 years. Now I need to convince my wife to let me buy her one so we can have a his and hers tractor. :)" Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report Inappropriate Review) Overall Rating: 5 5 Upgrade from LT1000, August 21, 2007 By AFChief from Crestview, FL Performance: 4 5 Value: 5 5 Features: 5 5 Reliability: 5 5 "Had a great Craftsman LT1000 for 4 years without a problem, but needed something bigger that would take attachments. Researched different options and the DGS6500 met all the needs for a 1.5 acre yard, there is no greater capability for the price. Bought the scoop attachment for scraping and hauling, works great on flat surface but the mower deck can cause some drag on uneven ground. Starts easy, runs great, but I wish the reverse had better response, it's rather slow for going back and forth with a scoop. To get the full engagement you need to pull up on the accelerator pedal rather than press down on the reverse pedal--no reasonable adjustment option available. Relatively quiet for a 26 HP tractor with impressive power. Multiple attachment options avaialble--gets the job done, it's a keeper!" Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report Inappropriate Review) Overall Rating: 5 5 Little Workhorse, June 6, 2007 By Atliberty from Petaluma, CA Performance: 4 5 Value: 5 5 Features: 5 5 Reliability: 5 5 "This garden tractor is being used for mowing grass, lawn and field. It does well at all jobs. The only difficulty is if the terrain gets uneven and then I may need to push it by hand, I'm learning to use the reverse feature to get me out of certain situations. It seems to be very safe, easy to start, reliable and a little workhorse. I didn't buy the mulcher and don't think that my needs indicate it." Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report Inappropriate Review) Overall Rating: 2 5 WAS GREAT....AT FIRST, June 6, 2007 By thunderbolt from Virginia Performance: 5 5 Value: 2 5 Features: 5 5 Reliability: 1 5 "For the first 4 hours i loved this machine.at 4 hours the main drive belt came off front pulley.I called the service center,June 11th was as soon as someone could look at it,This was may 28th.The guy on the phone talked me through getting the belt back on track.Everything was fine untill it had 7 hours on it,the belt broke.I had to tow it to my shed.I went to the store Monday June 4th they got a guy to come out today the 6th to "fix it".He didn't have the belt with him.I have to wait 2 days for the belt to arrive then call them again.He said it was "to new" for him to have it,called the store 5 miles away they have it in stock,but can't have service people have it. I believe the belt broke because it wasn't properly set up at the store or the factory.Be sure if yout tractor has any problems go to store and make sure the service guy has the part .My problem is probly not the norm for this machine,I'm writting this to warn others incase it happens to them."

You've chosen beautiful high quality fixtures and accessories. I really love the tub splash guard door you found in the photo group "Powder Room". I've read on this forum that those who used that option have been really happy with it. I'm definitely doing Toto toilets too. Do you need to pick out light fixtures too? That's taking me a while. I think I saw some very contemporary black and white sinks while I was web surfing. It's true the black will be hard to clean but you would get a really cool look from black and white and the toothpaste and soap would not show as much. Go for it with your selections. You have great design taste! I have Jerusalem Gold as my kitchen backsplash and I chose not to seal it thinking it would change the color and make it shiny. My husband just spattered a lot of red wine on it. When he cleaned it -- admittedly accidentally with pure bleach from a spray bottle -- he wore a hole in the tile. It just ate away where he rubbed. I think you can find here or in the Kitchen Forum how to seal it correctly so stains won't soak in like the red wine did.

I am surprised 'Ploughmen's' lunches are so popular in London, especially when you consider the lack of agriculture in the area . . . although my late Mother could remember sheep grazing in Hyde Park and it is possible to see horses being exercised in Rotten Row. Mary, a TV ad. claimes that more cider is being drunk in the UK these days, but it's from an Irish co. that produces the stuff. In this neck-of-the-woods they make a local 'rip-gut' variety; powerful strong. There should be a better choice of beer/ale about these days, other than the dreaded Watney's Red Barrel that used to dominate the market some years ago. Britrail passes are still available but you may need a second mortgage to travel by train. Travellers are in the ridiculous situation of using trains to get away from the over-crowded roads, only to find there are not nearly enough seats, especially for peak-time journeys. The rail co's increase the fares partly to put people off from this method of travelling, plus general greed and claims to spend the extra cash on 'upgrading' the service. Still the best way of seeing the country IMO. An elderly US Aunt always uses the train when over her . . .often going in totally the wrong direction . . . and has made endless 'friends' on these journeys. Here is a link that might be useful: Britrail passes

The OP never said they have water problems. They said they have high humidity. Quite likely they're referring to outdoor humidity. I live in south Florida so I'm familiar with high humidity. Most homes here are climate controlled all year long. Many houses visible from my desk have solid wood flooring that was installed in houses here that are largely uninsulated and were built before air conditioning became prevalent and they're largely in good shape. Some solid exotics are problematic in regards to humidity swings but engineered floors only have issues when subjected to extremely low humidity or flooding. Wood seems a feasible option in this case of this poster. Even the least expensive items I have seen are reasonably stable. The effect of low cost is generally manifested in lower grade veneer or shorter lengths. I have nothing against wood look ceramic but it will never will never give you the board lengths, color depth and variety of a product like Triangulo 1/2" x 5-1/4" engineered plank. Additionally, one needs to consider the leveling aspect of using wood look ceramics. From what I've heard and read, the subfloor has to be very level before installation of square edged wood look tiles. All that said, I've often advised people that they'd be better off with carpet, vinyl, tile or another hard surface floor, when it was obvious that their situation was problematic for wood, even though I only sell wood.