I'm guessing Dads mower is dead or dieing. The guys make good points. Might want to take Dad with you. The Toro Recyclers are a good machine. You can go from one HD sells for 299.00 all the way up to a electric start, personal pace with blade brake so you can empty the bag without killing the engine. My uncle just had his 99th birthday this month. He was splitting firewood at 84! And why are neighbors going to be borrowing it? I keep a yardman self propelled mower for my son in law to "barrow". What he has against buying his own I don't know. He damaged my rider when we had 1.5 acres when he borrowed it. We moved back to town, 60 mile a day commute was killing us. That and 4.00 gas. Probably retire out there, but...Oh, back to the subject. Nobody barrows my Toro. They can barrow the yardman, till they break it.

I am really tired today running between all the big box stores. At the end, I didn't option the lawn boy because I really can't justify the extra cost vs sears promo today. Plus, a technician at Rona's service center gave me a friendly warning about the Tecumseh engine, the supply of the parts might be good for next 2-3 years but can't promise anything at long run. I still have a thought that a good mower should last me 10 years ironed in my head... However, I really like the design of the lawn boy 10684, everything seems very well design and build quality is better than others. If it's around $350CND range and none self-propelled model, I would pull the trigger, no question ask. I went back to Sears and ordered the Craftsman 36933 model (3-in-1 with bag, side discharge, mulching), which has B&S 850 platinum engine (8.5 ft/lb torque), no choke and no primer needed. The price is just what I am aiming for, 289.99+taxes. The engine seems pretty well build but the rest of the parts are very standard, a regular every week lawn mower...

Sorry Catherine - I also get attached to my frogs. You will have to train the husband to de-frog the area before he mows, or better yet, mow the pond area yourself. All five of my long term frogs made it through the winter and disappeared later. I fattened them up with earthworms. Also, this has been the longest and coldest spring I can remember and the summer insects have not kicked in. Only a few moths flying around the light at night. I think food is scarce still. Also, for the past two winters the frogs have been up and down in my area as it has not been cold. We had many days the past two winters in the 60's and 70's for days on end. Despite the up and down of the frogs all winter they all emerged in spring (or were already up). There is little to eat it seems, and 3 left. I can hear a bullfrog chorus about 200 feet from my house where there is a freshwater marsh and pond. I had 4 male and 1 female frog so maybe they took off to find some lovin'. But my lady frog and one huge male were still here until just recently and both were getting supplemental worms, espcially the lady frog, since she would come right up to eat. At one time I had one frog that I know was 8 inches long while sitting. He was a sight to see.

g'day alison, you mentioned embankment? just be careful 4 strokes aren't made for steep area mowing. if you have a steep bank maybe get a flymo for that specific area? 4 stroke for sure is the way to go honda (no experience with them) are gaining a very good rep' in this area, masport with a briggs & stratton might be next then rover (not sure what else is out there?) just be sure the b&s is manufactured in the US of A. go for models with steel ball bearing wheels masport did have an adjustable set up very ideal (500mm model), for me i reckon a bag catcher outweighs the plastic models in function usability and very light so no added weight to the mower, just remmeber to rinse or hose them out after each use, almost indestructable. not sure about honda as i said above but the masport plastic catcher is very strong indeed if you go that way. for most domsetic uses don't buy less than 3.5hp capacity 4 hp is even better. me i like heaps of grunt they last longer doing domestic work so i go for the 5hp IC models never wear them out if you learn to do the servicing right and run them in from new (read my page i think i have some hints there?). so right up front don't buy from the discounters, go to a specialist shop the trick to find one where they are fully experienced but even then you are streets ahead when dealing with specialists as they only generally sell top of the range models, which the discounter models aren't. pity snapper aren't available over here anymore they have 21" 5hp I/C self propelled model that was top of the range a very nice machine indeed great for the ladies to use. the so called home grown product just isn't worth a look these days. len Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page