Honestly i had no idea what was going on the first time i witnessed spawning behavior. When the three fantails in one of my small ponds started doing it I was a bit freaked out. I came out and found the three of them like Moe, Larry and Curly trying to squeeze through the same space between two cattail stems. They kept flipping out of the water and banking curves so hard they'd generate waves in the water. But as a grown up lady and I did figure it out soon enough. ;) They do seem relentless and a bit pushy at times. But seeing the way a rooster treats a chicken in the same situation I guess Cometina got off easy with some missing scales. Meanwhile there are many baby minnows at the moment, and I could swear I saw a tiny black moor in the third pond. We'll see. Ain't love grand?

Ks_toolgirl, I know exactly what you mean! We bought our old house because it was very affordable and we loved the architecture. However, my frugal husband quickly fell out of like when he realized that old houses aren't cheap to maintain or repair. And there's ALWAYS something to fix or maintain. We've learned he really needs to be living in a high-end hotel apartment, with maid service and a concierge who can get everything fixed ASAP with little cost or aggravation. I've learned how to be a little handier. It hasn't been all bad, but I'm not sure we'd do it again unless we had a lot more money to restore things as they should ideally be done, or more money to buy a home where most of the work had already been done! My advice is to make a short list of all the things you like (and hate, so he can vent) about the house. For the things he likes, concentrate on making those shine, so he can at least focus on those things instead of all the (costly) drawbacks. And, make the entry rooms spectacular! Peanutsmom is so right -- men love to preen over "their" old-house successes. If other people ooh and ahh over it when they come over, his feelings about things could quickly start to change. I've also had luck with a subscription to Old House Journal and with getting the Rejuvenation catalog. OHJ has helped him to know the history and reasons for some of the crazy stuff in our house and that it's not just us; seeing the catalog makes him appreciate the "old crap" we have for free that people pay big bucks for! For heating, have you thought about getting blown-in insulation in the exterior walls and attic? It's not cheap, but I swear, it pays for itself in just a few years. And, replacing the GLASS in the old windows; you can get triple pane and it'll be better than new (and probably be a little cheaper). Hang in there! Your house is lucky to have you!

Don't be too quick to think that's a scam. Most of these we never even turned into insurance, since they were smaller events over periods of time in different houses. My son used to raise fancy hamsters. A door got opened somehow during the night, the little rodents got loose into the room and they went behind his very, very expensive stereo component system and ate wires like it was pasta primavera. He knew how to rewire the system, but if we would have had to take it in for repairs......it would have been substantial. It was one of the few times I've seen a teen boy in tears. We also have tractors and tillers and you can take it to the bank the tiller wires would be consumed like clockwork each winter when it was stored. Obviously, we live in the country, and we've lost two refrigerators to mice coming inside in cold weather (they seem to migrate twice a year) and doing damage. Or the groundhog.....yes..groundhog who chewed through several fluid lines in my SIL's car. Or the chipmunks who built a nest in my Jeep engine and fouled a drainage hole causing water to back up and leak into the interior. Or the squirrels who take down the transformers each year as they electrocute themselves. LOL. I could go on. Some homes easily have 25K worth of electronics and under the right circumstances........you could have major issues with one event.

I want to add one additional comment. When you ask Larry if you can keep Buffy, let him know Buffy can visit anytime he wants to see her. It's hard to say how Larry feels about the dog without knowing him. He may be very attached but not have the time or money. My guess is though, based on the matted hair, that he is not a very responsible owner. If that is the case he will be more than willing to give up the dog. If he does give you the dog I would write up adoption papers and have him sign them. Just something that says he is relinqueshing his ownership to you. You can make something up to Larry about needing proof of ownership for pet insurance. Good luck and keep us informed. Donna P.S. You can also tell Larry when Buffy comes home that she will be needing follow up vet care. If Larry thinks the vet bills will start adding up he will be more willing to give Buffy to you.