Thanks TXSkeeter! I believe you could be correct on both issues. The Door Repairman that told me the doors would have to be replaced before selling was not trying to sell me doors. He was encouraging me to keep the doors. He said in the San Diego, CA area many are of this type (since hard winters are not expected). IâÂÂll try to contact him to see if he can help me find heavier springs. The openers have worked since the mid 80s (with repairs), they or I could use a little help. I feel one set has stretched more from âÂÂCyclesâÂÂ/Use because it feels heavier. As far as I know these type doorâÂÂs weight is not balanced to stand open at any point. The springs should carry the bulk of the weight. I have seen single and double sheet metal doors that were almost impossible to open due to broken springs. ThatâÂÂs the #1 reason I w/n want a double wide door. They are handy with todayâÂÂs Trucks. Plus, if the house w/n designed âÂÂGood Newâ with the span for the double door, I feel you will get some sag. There is 2.5 âÂÂof 2X4 just above the case openings below the 3/4â Ply 2 Cabinet Units mounted vs built in. The 2X4 can go if needed to fit panel doors due to screws cabinet to framing and threaded rod bottom of cabinet to above supports on top of truss ceiling joists. The Over Kill in the 70s was my nature âÂÂBut Not TodayâÂÂ. Brass bushings and tempered bolts are fitted in the arms to allow more years. We or I had planned to move bake to a Simpler Life after retirement but things and Grands have changed. We moved here in 1973 on the last street, now there are miles of streets/homes south of us to the next towns. Enough Said!

Caesalpinia gilliesii or Yellow Bird of Paradise, is native to Oklahoma, and root hardy to zone 7. Sandy, who frequents the forum, grows the C. pulcherrima from seed every year, but I don't know if she gets any volunteer seedlings from it or not. I grew it from seed this year, but it is still very small. Yellow Bird of Paradise is very pretty, too. It is a legume, in the Fabaceae family, and is apparently very drought hardy as well, once established. Supposedly, hummingbirds and butterflies love this native shrub. Heck, I love it, too. Susan Here is a link that might be useful: Yellow Bird of Paradise

Oh, I'm so jealous of your grosbeaks and redpolls, Pudge! I think my neighbor is feeding too well, because the grosbeaks are always hanging around there and I'm lucky if they pop by for a brief visit. I did get some Evening Grosbeaks in for a good feed this spring and again this fall. That was a thrill to spot them, as I hadn't seen them before. I haven't seen a redpoll for about 3 years now. I find them so cute. The last time I saw a flock of them was early in the spring/late winter. Do they stay around all winter? Someone told me once that they cycle...and I don't remember why...was it their migration pattern maybe? I'd be interested to know if someone had any thoughts on that. I also had my first White Breasted Nuthatch yesterday! Another cutie and fun to watch...very vocal. He was still here this evening. RE: salt and birds...I'm thinking they probably require certain amounts naturally and find it somewhere, but with bird feeder fast-food that contains salt, they might eat alot of it because its easy to get and therefore get too much salt. Sound familiar? ie. potato chips! Gil, I wonder if the nuthatches would like your suet bars? Toots

I think a local sewing center is a good place to start. At least you'll be able to see the foot and ask someone there how it works, how to attach it, etc. But now that you know you need a 'low shank' foot, you should be able to find one on eBay or a variety of internet sellers. On Google, do a search for "low shank walking foot" and you'll find pages and pages of vendors. I just tried it for you [I don't want to offer advice until I try it!] and found listings on eBay and several others. One company (AllBrands) is offering a package on a walking foot, a 1/4" quilting guide foot and a free motion foot that seemed pretty reasonable. If you need the others you might want to consider doing that. If you only need the walking foot I think you can get one for under $20. Hope that helps, Kate