Time for a bump for this green thread in the relatively dead "Going Green" section. I bought a Gilmour 20" mower from Amazon a few years ago and actually like it in spite of having the worst kinds of grasses and weeds for such mowers. SW Florida here with a lawn full of several types of tuff grasses and lots of scrub weeds. The reel mower is a good device for when grass isn't growing much but I have found that the rainy/growth season overwhealms it. In the dry season I have areas that are dormant and a few low areas where the grass needs to be clipped every few weeks. The reel mower is easy to put to the task at a moments notice to knock down the trouble spots while not having to wrestle the gas mower out of the shed and deal with fuel and oil checks. This year I decided not to use the gas mower at all but instead purchased a Neuton battery electric mower. I still use my Gilmour push mower some but with that thing I often have to mow each path twice to get that perfect look. It misses some blades unless the grass is sparse or areas of tender stuff. The Neuton really kicks butt in that one pass does the job and it's about as quiet as the reel mower, just a different sound. Kind of like a fan. Both the electric and reel mower are better for my allergies. I have sneezing fits almost always when I use the gas mower. Never with the reel or electric. The battery powered mower makes sense for me. It cuts this tuff mess of southern "grass" nicely on the first pass and it doesn't make the ragheads richer or pollute the air. The electric rotary mowers (or any rotary mowers) will cut the seed staulks that none of the reel mowers can get without doing a special dance turning the mower pivoting on one wheel. I have a large solar power system that makes a bit more electricity then I use so it's kinda cool to have a solar powered lawn mower. My yard is fairly large so I bought two batteries so I can cut the place without losing cutting power and not drain either battery down more then about 50% of charge level so the batteries are not cycled hard and should last. Time will tell on that. Still, if I had softer more tender types of grass like I remember feeling so good on my feet as a child in the North, I would bet the reel mower would be perfectly fine for full time duty. For me in the South, it serves as my Winter mower. Oh, and when people walking past stop and ask me what makes the thing go, I tell them it's Beer powered. LOL

Thanks, Lee and Erin! The doorknob is from Rejuvenation. You can find vintage ones on Ebay, but I took the easy way out and bought new. Once we got in on, I also had to buy the matching adorable starburst doorbell. How could I resist?! We replaced the door and it was really funny when I was getting quotes. Salespeople kept showing me the fancy doors with leaded glass and sidelights, carvings, etc., and I kept having to explain that no, all I want is a plain, flat door. Nothing fancy, nothing interesting. And no upgraded glass on the sidelights - just plain, flat panes of glass. I got some weird looks! Here is a link that might be useful: Titan Door Set from Rejuvenation

I remember he has some kind of shop or workroom. I doubt he'd like using it if you, who don't have the same interest and expertise, designed the layout and chose the tools/instruments...and maybe shoved everything closer together so you could fit in a comfy chair for yourself by the window for the best light. Maybe if he likes the kitchen, as is, he is going to take over the kitchen duties when you move there as part of your new life? ;-) Maybe you've approached this wrong...Maybe collect pictures of European ranges and gemstone counters and igloochic's $10K faucet...Then when you 'scale back' to what you want, it'll seem like a bargain! :-D I completely understand how he may be a wonderful man outside of the impression we're getting, as I know I could make my dh sound bad, and he the same with me, probably even justifiably, depending on the circumstances. We are all occasionally guilty of being set in our ways and/or a bit selfish. Hang in there.

Check the NYSERDA program for rebates. Mini splits lines, drains and cables can be run in interior walls into the basement. 6 of mine are run in interior walls and one in an exterior wall. Just because HVAC is retrofitted into attics in the South and West does not mean that it is a good idea. Fur-downs or basement locations would be better. You want to keep ducts and the unit inside the house envelope if you can. Ducts leak. Outdoor supply ducts depressurize the house sucking in make-up air in random places. Outdoor return duct leaks pressurize the house blowing out air in random places. Duct leaks tend to cause random pressure differentials in different room, again, turning your HVAC blower into a power vent. I have experience living in CNY homes. I believe that many could easily be cooled with a nice combination of high wall units in bedrooms and minimally-ducted units for cooling the LR, kitchen and DR areas. If not possible for the latter, maybe ceiling cassettes or high wall units.