We have septic at both our home and lake cabin and though we have a disposal at home we don't use it - other than for what Sue36 mentions - flicking it on to suck the dishwater down the drain more quickly. Sure - you can have one if you push it - but why? Have you ever seen someone's property torn up to install a replacement septic system or had to buy one? It's happening alot where I live. People will say they've never had a problem with their septic system but in reality a septic system can be failing without being apparent to the homeowner. I keep all the little plastic bags I get at stores and use one each time I'm prepping a meal - set it right by me and the cutting board. I'll put all the plant type stuff in one since we recycle that type of waste - composting of sorts - but we don't make compost for gardening, etc. - we leave the compost in the woods. If I have yucky meat or fish type stuff I put that in a separate bag and tie it tightly shut. I will either put it in the inside trash can or take it out to the garbage can. We too don't have a huge kitchen trash can so garbage doesn't stay inside very long. The other thing I've done - if I want to peel a bunch of things into the sink so the peels aren't flying all over - is line the sink with a newspaper - peel away into the newspaper - then pick paper and peels up when done - no muss, no fuss. Really, it's not a big that big a deal - if it's the worst problem you have to deal with you'll be a lucky person.

You can mask off anything beforehand with builders' paper, plastic bags, tape, layers of newspaper, etc. I'd try strong soap and water first on a test area. Use three kinds of brushes: stiff short bristles, medium stiff long bristles and a couple of old toothbrushes. However if that doesn't work, head to a fireplace shop and buy a hearth-cleaning product there. There are some fierce ones, based on lye. Use gloves and ventilation (if spraying it on, use a mask and goggles). Test in a hidden spot first to make sure it doesn't harm your mortar. Be patient, it's a pain to do. Don't saturate up too-large an area at once, even if it says to let it "work" for a bit. It will be time consuming and you don't want the stuff to dry out while you're working on another area. Have lots of paper towels on hand, and a bucket (not paper or plastic bag) to put the used ones in. They can easily mar other surfaces if they are wet after use. HTH L.

That's gorgeous! LOVE all the stained wood and the incredible ceiling. If the trim in our house was ever stained, it was painted long ago. I know people in the neighborhood who stripped all of their trim, but it's a huge job, and heaven knows how much of that paint is lead-based. I'm just going to live with my painted trim! I particularly envy that ceiling. I don't think we ever had beams and coffering, and some fool put popcorn on Every. Ceiling. In. The. House. The remodel got rid of it in the kitchen, dining room, and bath; I personally scrapped every inch of our bedroom. The living room and my son's room have got to be done, but I'll hire someone to do it in a few years. It's an awful, awful job.

Your husband is a very wise man, and has good taste. I also appreciate the taste and style of the former owners; and I appreciate how they honored the house. Nothing wrong with green. Your house is a unique house. There are TONS of cookie cutter houses out there, and more being created, 24/7 - with new builds and also with ”renovations”... Personally, I will never understand the, “Let’s just paint or whitewash/lime wash all the brick!” mentality. But I come from a place where features such as brick have value, and these type of alterations are just not generally done as a matter of course. For example: Where I am from, when considering the building facade, alone - the brick house in above pic would have so much more value than the white house pictured to the right of it. No contest. Also note the arch detail on the above house; i.e. the arches on ground level, and on second story windows. And, btw, there is zero wrong with the existing arches on your house. They are part and parcel of the uniqueness and style of your house. It would sort of be akin to acquiring the brick house shown above or this house pictured below - and then showing up here to say, ”I like the house - but the arch(es) are not ‘modern‘ enough.” Or, ”There would be more symmetry without the arch(es)” etc. I mean ??? Your house is another house. Your house also features more arches than these houses; but that is really the charm of your house!