Thread Update! Made the rounds today... Found a notice on Dixon's website that claimed 1.9% financing for 48 months for Dixon purchases through Sheffield Finance... Some of the Gravely/Ariens websites claim 1.9% for 36 months... My local shop has the Dixon 30" SpeedZTR for right @ $3000.00 + $90 for the mulch kit. $3360.00 after taxes. (I did hear from one of the shop owners that Dixon was bought out by Husquarvarna??? - anyone know if there is truth to this, and if so, should it be considered during my purchase?) A shop about 45 minutes away has both the Ariens and Gravely as follows... Ariens w/ B&S motor for $2499.00 + $80.00 for mulch kit - $2805.00 after taxes Gravely w/ Kohler motor for $2599.00 + $80.00 for mulch kit - $2913.00 after taxes The dealer w/ the Ariens/Gravely sells the Kohler for $100.00 because "in that size motor, the Kohler is more reliable w/ the pressure lube and screw on oil filter". Any thoughts? Probably going to try to make a final decision sometime this week and buy this weekend... Any info/tips/suggestions are greatly appreciated...

I love your birding equipment reviews! I also saw the spotting scope/cameras advertised in Wildird, but I've not yet taken the time to "scope out the scopes" to compare their photo quality with regular DSLRs. As expensive as lenses are, the scope/camera combo should save photographers thousands of dollars, if the quality is comparable.

You need a webcam showing your counterwork, Christine. This is turning out to be riveting, and clearly not just to me. If you want to consider skipping the staining step, you might want to look into pure tung oil (not Formsby-like concoctions, not Waterlox), which is food safe, environmentally benign in its application as well as use, and easily spot-renewed if you damage the maple. [But not suitable for use by people with nut allergies.] After a lot of experimenting with water-based stains and various finishes, I ended up using pure tung oil thinned with citrus solvent, from Real Milk Paint and using their online instructions for finishing floors, with no stain below. Once I figured out that I needed to thin the tung oil to control its application, things went swimmingly. And I am quite happy with how the surface is holding up. Each "application" of this penetrating oil entails applying coats until the wood [in my case, birch) won't absorb any more, than wiping it down and giving it time to penetrate and cure before the next application. I found this pretty easy, as the citrus solvent smells really good. Anyway, here's a link to check out how maple looks with both regular and dark pure tung oil. Awe-struck cheers. hbk Here is a link that might be useful: photos of pure tung oil on various wood species

amluplow: Unfortunately, the best spotting scopes can't be purchased for under $400.00. If you want the "best spotting scope" I would suggest that you explore the Spotting Scopes at Leica Camera USA at the link below. I don't have one of the Leica scopes nor do I have any other brands, but I've been a Leica photographer for more than several decades and nothing surpasses their optical or mechanical qaulity (or the prices). FYI - I have been to two Leica Photographic Seminars several decades ago - as well as those of other 35mm camera manufacturers, i.e. Nikon, Canon, and Pentax. At the Leica seminars, one could still easily seen fantastically sharp details with great clarity, extraordinary rendition of color; exceptional tonal ranges and color differentiation of their 35mm slides projected on 8 X 12 foot screens. Of course, the 35mm slides were projected on Leica projectors as well - thus insuring that one's slides were projected with the same quality as the taken Leica image. In addition to exploring the Leica spotting scopes, I would urge you to do your "homework" in greater depth by reading the literature, actually visiting a store with medium and high end optical scopes, making and comparing notes and then making your decision. One of the better places to see all of this in one stop, is the Canadian National Park at Point Pelee. At their annual bird watching event, I am told - by one who attended - that many of the optics manufacturers bring their equipment to the event and you can look through them and speak endlessly with their representative. The web site to this Canadian park is http://www.canadianparks.com/ontario/ppelenp/index.htm The 4th annual Pelee Island Bird Race/Baillie Birdathon is scheduled for Friday, May 13th and Saturday May 14th. Additonal information about this event and other related information can be found at: http://www.pelee.org/ When Sue and I visited Point Pelee last spring, we enjoyed this little store with its wide range of photographic and optical merchandise. One you arrive at the link, scroll to the bottom and you'll note that the annual optics expo is schedule around the same time as the annual birding event. Here's the link: http://www.peleewings.ca/bno.html Hope you find this useful and helpful. Bill Here is a link that might be useful: Leica camera