Thanks everyone for your insights. Over the last 29 years, between DH & I, we've had 10 Fords. Every one has lasted 10+ years and the lowest mileage one we had when traded was 135,000. I think this 2002 Taurus is just a "dud" but I've had 3 other Taurus' since 1986 & had excellent records. I had a 1989 Ford Explorer that ran over 200K miles & 13 years. I sold it for $2,000 when I bought the current Taurus and some college kid is probably still delivering pizzas in it! And the love of my life was my 1983 red Thunderbird - DH and I traded it back and forth for 13 years, until our 2nd son was born and the back seat was way too small for 2 car seats. My mechanic gave me a good insight on the "gas guzzler" Crown Vic when I discussed with him what he would buy if he were looking for a used car and had less than $10K to spend. He said he'd go for a full size sedan becuase they still get around 20 mpg, and cost around &8 to $10K. If I kept the car for 6 years, and gas even went back to $4 a gallon, I'd still spend way less total than buying a small car for $14K or more. Plus with 3 unusually tall boys, a small car just won't fit us. He said his top pic for a used sedan would be a Nissan Maxima but it's just not big enough for us. I am very hard on cars - I only live 3 miles from work and most days drive 10 miles or less of 'stop at every corner' type driving. That's really hard on a car, so if my Fords have lasted 135,000 or miles or more, it's like double that in highway miles. I will most likely buy another Ford, mostly because of my good experience up to now, and also because Ford is in better financial condition and will be around to honor any warranty. I know intellectually that I should get rid of this car before it blows, but emotionally I'm just not sure I am ready to spend the $$ on a "new" car. Every time I say I'm going to look at cars, I come up with an excuse not to. I just took 2 weeks off work and had several days with no plans, but never managed to make it to look at cars. I live right in the city & near a major business corridor with 5 or 6 dealerships in a 5 mile stretch, but still can't seem to make it over there!

patser - on one of the windows, I can see the track where the cords used to lie, on the other, it looks like the trim was changed, because I can't see any of that hardware. Both windows also have a pane of glass that spans the whole opening on the outside - an older storm window. I have another question - in one of the rooms (dining room), there is only one window and it is of this style I have described. However, in another room (Family Room)_ there are three windows - on two adjacent walls, there is one of these "unique" windows, and one that is a standard 32" wide double hung that is split in the middle. Then, across the room (fairly large room, 15X19) there is a large casement style window looking out to the backyard. So, if I were to hang a window treatment only on the bottom larger portion of the "unique" window, how would I then treat the other windows? Is there a recommended way to show of the character of my older window while staying consistent with the other two? Also... could I do a shade AND a lace curtain? So I could have privacy and lace? How do you think blinds would look? Alone, or along with the lace curtains? Hope this all makes sense! Thank you for your thoughts!

I gotta agree with Dave.. in general, I follow his plan of pick while the blushing is good, and after that first morning I look out the window with coffee in hand and see the white coating (for me its the long patch up the easement drive where the best dew and frost collects), that is the good frost around here.. Then at that point I strip down the warm plants.. and that depends on the plant. I have containers I will bring inside. Some plants that are heavily laden with fruit, then those get pulled out, cleaned up of dying foliage, and hung upside down in my solarium for a couple extra weeks of growing/storing/harvest.. not sure what one calls the process of hanging plants for other ripening. Anywho. Other plants that just have some greens and such on them- at first good frost they get stripped of fruit, plant cut up and placed into cartons for slow ripening.. then the plants tossed into the compost bin. I tend to do this process in stages.. like right now nights are starting to get down into the 50's, so the container plants have been brought in to acclimate to their fall inside season. When the forecast calls to dip down below 55, but above 42, I will pull plants for hanging up. When that first good frost hits, I will pull the whole shebang on whatever warm season is still out there.

How about individual roller shades in each window? There are many styles available Choose the same color as the trim and when rolled up they won't show. https://www.hunterdouglas.com/window-treatments/roller-shades-solar-shades https://www.theshadestore.com/shades I agree drapes would overwhelm the room