A mini-split system sounds like a good idea, but I still always prefer central air. Here's why: constant, whole-home air circulation (if desire), and you have allergies so if you have an air filter (media, electronic or HEPA), this could help; and more even temperature throughout the home (with a variable speed blower). Sometimes this is cost prohibitive and not feasible. If the contractors you visited with (I don't know if you just talked to them via phone or they visited actually) recommended this, I'm assuming they have a "plan" in mind. Sometimes it's difficult to retrofit, sometimes it's not that big of a problem. A mini-split sounds like a feasible option, but do you really want to see them hanging on the wall? Some people don't mind them, others don't like them. :) I wouldn't worry about air handlers leaking in the attic--that's what an emergency drain pain is for. If water begins to fill into it due to a clog in the main line, it is piped outside where you can see the water. There are also emergency cutoff switches should there be water in the emergency drain pain. Call a couple more contractors for their opinion and get an idea of prices. Hope this helps.

Vickey, one row is one row. The first set of instructions is a row by row of just one wave. The second set is a row by row of the entire piece. The only real difference between the two is that the second set takes into account what to do in the middle to make the angle. It could probably have been worded differently, maybe for row 1 it might have said: *(k2tog) 3 times, (k1,yo) 6 times, (k2tog) 3 times*, repeat between * * 15 times, knit one (center stitch), **(ssk) 3 times, (yo, k1) 6 times, (ssk) 3 times**, repeat between ** ** 15 times. I know that's pretty wordy, but read over it and tell me if that makes a bit of sense.

Row 1 (Right Side): Ch 1, 5 sc in ring; turn. Row 2: Ch 2, hdc in first sc, [ch 1, hdc in next sc] 4 times; turn. Row 3: Ch 3, dc in first hdc, [dc in next ch-1 space, dc in next hdc] 3 times, dc in next space, 2 dc in last hdc; turn � 11 sts. Row 4: Ch 3, dc in first dc, ch 1, [dc in next dc, ch 1] 4 times, (dc, ch 2, dc) all in next dc to form center point, [ch 1, dc in next dc] 4 times, ch 1, 2 dc in top of ch-3; turn. Row 5: Ch 3, dc in first dc, [ch 1, dc in next dc] 6 times, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in ch-2 space, [dc in next dc, ch 1] 6 times, 2 dc in top of ch-3; turn. Row 6: Ch 1, working in front loops only, 2 sc in first dc, sc in each dc and space to center ch-2 sp; 3 sc in ch-2 space, sc in front loop of each dc and space to last st; 2 sc in top of ch-3; turn. Row 7: Ch 2, 2 hdc in first sc, hdc in each sc to center sc of 3-sc group at point; (hdc, ch 2, hdc) all in center (2nd) sc at point, hdc in each sc to last sc; 2 hdc in last sc; turn. Row 8: Ch 3, dc in first hdc, ch 1, skip next hdc, * dc in next hdc, ch 1, skip next hdc; repeat from * to center space; (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in ch-2 space, ch 1, skip next hdc, ** dc in next hdc, ch 1, skip next hdc; repeat from ** to last hdc; 2 dc in last hdc; turn. Row 9: Ch 3, dc in first dc, * ch 1, dc in next dc; repeat from * to center ch-2 space; (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) all in ch-2 space, ** dc in next dc, ch 1; repeat from * to last st; 2 dc in top of ch-3; turn. Rows 10-41: Repeat Rows 6-9. Row 42: Repeat Row 6; do not turn but work sc evenly across row ends of long edge, taking care to keep work flat; join with a slip st to first sc; turn. EDGING-Rnd 1: Ch 1, sc in first sc, ch 1, * sc in front loop of sc just made, ch 1, skip next sc, sc in next sc, ch 1; repeat from * around entire shawl; join with a slip st to first sc. Fasten off. Weave in ends

I don't see how any toilet - save one on a boat or R/V - could possibly function without a vent stack. "but the vent goes to the garage" would not be approved by any building inspector anywhere in this country. Perhaps it was a "SPOT" - stupid previous owner trick. There is one possibility - other than installing a toilet and vent properly - which apparently was not done. The vent or soil pipe could have been pierced by a drill, nail or screw, especially if PVC was used. As an appraiser. I've seen that happen before. And yes, I *almost* made that rookie mistake myself, installing a new cabinet over the toilet. Since this is a 1938 house with plaster on lath walls, I was using a stud finder and drilling pilot holes. One was in an unexpected location, but it was *perfectly* placed. But it wouldn't drill...and that's when I realized it was the cast iron vent stack. No harm done....