I must say the KTers get themselves some pretty impressive bargains! Our Craigslist isn't usually all that tempting. This morning my DS came over to tell me he bought a nice charcoal grill on clearance at Home Depot last night for $35. He thought I might like one too. I took a look at it, and I was impressed: Char-Broil, nice size, large cooking surface, complete with chimney, door in front to manage the charcoal, enamel-coated cast-iron grates, etc. For $35??? So I drove off to HD and snagged the last one they had left. The man who got the box into a cart for me (it's heavy!) couldn't believe it was only $35, and had to find an employee with a scanner to verify the price. He was shaking his head. Then I took it to the cashier, who said, "You've gotta be kidding me!" when she saw the price. So I think I got my Bargain of the Year rather early. :-)

I make turkey and dressing at least once a month. I'm making soup today with turkey thighs and a couple of wings. There is a pasta vendor at the Farmer's Market. His family has been making pasta up in Hibbing, MN for a hundred years. Last fall I brought some turkey soup to my friend I help at the market. I shared some with the pasta guy. This past Saturday he gave me a new product to try. It's thick like those thick egg noodles but it's small bits. He calls them soup noodles and wanted my opinion. Can't wait to try them!

If the area can support it, this property is begging to be turned into a high end condominium that retains all its old world charm or completely modernized to ultra modern finishes inside but retaining the outside intact. I linked a property below. This is right next to a hospital in a very urban area. All the units sold around $1 Mil for larger units, I think. It is a stone building, evoking old Europe. Extremely rare in a West Coast city that I am in, Seattle. The building is exquisite from the outside. There is a beautiful large stained glassed window that they kept. The ouside has been meticulously preserved. Palimpsest is completely right in what he says about the breathing in old homes versus trapping of moisture of new homes. The unfortunate by product of the new energy requirements is the air-tight homes that rot. A while back, I read a newspaper article about a mansion in Philadelphia build by a man who made money selling meat to the Union Army during the Civil War. The mansion has exquisite gardens without an equal. Because Philadelphia did not go the way NYC went in terms of growth, the property did not have any demand and has become an institution over the past century. Now the institution is selling the furnishings, scuptures, and ornamentations to get money to maintain the place. I wonder if this place is it... Much of the old villas, palaces, and mansions etc in the cities of Europe from the last several hundred years have become condominiums or institutions. The phenomenon has been going on for several hundred years. Here is a link that might be useful: church turned into condominium.

Here is Steve’s page on grills and smokers.I didn’t see it there. https://barbecuebible.com/product-type/grills-smokers/ If you lived around me, I’d let you used my smoker. I got is for free off CL about a year ago. Used, in good condition. Even bags of wood chips. It’s not the same model, but sort of like this. We have it outdoors, covered I saw someone selling a smaller electric Masterbuilt smoker, new looking for $50. As for reviews — I usually peruse the most negatives first, then move up to midlevel. I look at photos from users. However, you often have to keep perspective. Sorry if I seem cynical, but some people don’t take care of things, or they are numb and dumb acting, or do not even glance at directions. Some people would try using a Kitchenaid mixer for an outboard motor in salt water. I love the color of this thing: I think I asked you before: would you like to primarily grill or smoke? Do you have a place to keep it out of the rain or bad weather? And it sound like the meat eating, game watching, testosteroners would not be likely to help you move it, tend it, clean it? I’m sorry if that is the case, but I bet you’re not alone. If that’s the case you can treat yourself to something convenient, even if pricy ;) You can drive over to Texan Tex’s BBQ and Smoke Take Out and fill up. But, I bet you want the freedom to develop your own recipes. My DH can be unwenthused about my extensive projects. (I admit, I’m a bit of a handful and we have different styles). I have set about having him feel an emotional and problem solving interest in a couple of areas. I have B**ching back pain and it cramps my stlye and limits my ”on” time. If not fo that, I’d be eager to fiddle with the smoker. But staying bent over ain’t my thang. So I did the marinade/rub and as I was doing that asked if he’d check out the smoker — function, temperature accuracy and go over the manual. If I am uncomfortable (pain), I have little patience. I usually need to get other things done as well’ So, by default and by some design, he became the pit master (whatever). Maybe you could confiscate the cable bill. Let is go unpaid for a few months. Maybe service will be cut off (right around the time your guys are searching for methods todo you in). So, you’ll be wanting to grill and smoke? For yourself plus at least two grown fellas stuck to recliners, watching sports as the lawn is overgrown? You need to have fun too ;)