Re: the rototiller, it was (well he didn't say, but I think it was $325 or so)...cheaper than renting, if you think about it, we have spent at least $75 a year renting the big beast from the rental place, and had to hork it into and out of our van, and use it ALL DAY LONG in order to 'get our money worth' and of course, he didn't do something quite right and I had to live with it (and it was too big for me to use)...this one is about 1/2 the size (but still much bigger than a mini-tiller). I told him, "this is something we will use for the rest of our lives, don't skimp!" He seemed pleased with himself, he's probably the only man in the world who doesn't like grass, doesn't like to mow, so he's perfectly happy to tear out as much of the lawn as I can fill up with WS stuff!

Hi Creek, I just stopped by to lurk and try to catch up on my friends. Haven't been here in sooo long. I'm glad I saw this. Your post brought back so many memories of trying to help Daddy take care of Mama who had alzheimers. He had a major stroke after my 6 siblings refused to help him and gave him no choice but insisted he put her in a nursing home. I was working full-time (had to- ex had left me DEEPLY in debt), had just married a man with 6 kids still at home, and spent the first 2 years of my new marriage running from work to 2 separate nursing homes trying to see that they each at least got fed ONE meal a day. Daddy had swallowing issues after his stroke. My heart broke DAILY. DH said, "Go- I will be here when you get back and I'm supporting you in any way I can." I've walked a mile in your shoes. I prayed for you before I started typing and will keep praying for you. Forget about the siblings. They will only add to your stress. Act like an only child and don't count on any help from them. Mamma and Daddy died within 18 months of each other and I still miss them terribly after 12 years. But, they are in a better place and I will see them again. The most important advice I can give you in hindsight is: Spend as much time with your parents as you can right now while you still have them. You won't regret it. And pray for strength and endurance. God Bless you, Betty PS- After reading everyone's encouragement, I was reminded why I love y'all so much even when I don't get to come by often. Karen, I'm painting that on my kitchen wall!

All you folks looking to paint white vinyl windows in dark colors: the issue actually is more than whether the paint sticks, but there is a solution. in the same boat, I researched this last summer. Turns out that light colored windows, if painted dark, could absorb enough additional heat from the sun to warp the windows and affect their fit and performance. so there are two possibilities here, or three if you count leaving them alone. You can paint them a light color. Use the Zinsser primer that's good for plastics, and use any good quality (say that again: GOOD QUALITY! Cheaply made paint doesn’t cover, stick, or last like the good stuff. It just doesn’t.) light colored paint. But if you really, really want a dark color, all is not lost. Both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams manufacture paint specifically for vinyl siding, trim, or windows in a limited range of colors that includes some nice darks and brights. It’s formulated to reflect light so less heat builds up. You’ll have to special order it and it costs more. Your paint store person may not even realize it exists, but you can show them on the manufacturer website. Worth it not to have to replace those windows.

Yes, the countertops are white Corian and they are in excellent shape. We have about 95 square feet of counters. Our realtor has strongly discouraged us from changing them based on comparisons to others in our neighborhood. He also said that in his experience whatever sellers have whether it is a solid surface material, stone or other, that 9 times out of 10 clients comment that it's not to their taste and they deduct the cost of changing it in their offers anyway. All of the houses in our neighborhood were built with laminate except for the 10% or so houses which were custom built and they all had Corian. Some of the homes have replaced their laminate with stone or other material. I forgot to answer another question earlier. The floors are site finished hardwood throughout all of the downstairs. We constantly get positive feedback on the floors. The only thing I can think of is that our kitchen is significantly larger than most in our neighborhood and it would be quite an undertaking to change it out any more than we already have. Maybe most buyers want to renovate to their taste and see ours as too big of a project. Unfortunately if I were to do the renovation for them, it still wouldn't be to their taste.