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["Lisa K.V. Perry" <lisakvperry AT gmail.com>]

Thanks guys.  Good food for thought.  Fwiw Bev, I was kidding when I said
I'm his old lady, I haven't called myself that in I don't know how
long--guess I was just saying that I'm the older spouse.  And you're the
Homestead Warrior Woman, not me. ;)  I dabble in homesteading when the mood
strikes.  Meanwhile, I live a mostly rural, country lifestyle and help
support local farmers.

The wood stove problem is extensive, it's not just one thing broken, it's
several internal parts including the catalytic converter and the vent that
add up to big bucks.  I forget what all is wrong with it; we could repair it
and save some money over new, but if we have to spend that much we'd rather
have new.

My husband works out at the local gym 4-5x per week doing a cardio and
weight lifting routine.  He's had to change his weight routine to
accommodate the darn arm.

For three years, he's owned and operated a music store in town that is open
5 days per week, thus most of the homesteading-type chores are crammed into
Sunday/Monday.  He gives 25 guitar lessons per week which is a significant
portion of his income.  Before the store was open, our lives were more
centered around the home(stead).  Husband likes to get things done, he can't
stand to space them out over days.  I've offered to do some mowing and
probably should just begin, but both of us don't care to aggravate my right
wrist which hasn't been the same since I broke my arm three years ago this
winter.  We were both going to the Accupuncturist at the same time this past
spring and it did wonders, but our body parts are not like they used to be
(isn't that aging in a nutshell?).  We also looked into lawn tractors,
riding mowers and the like this past season.  When we talked on list about
the DR walk-behind bush hog, I would have been the main user.  If we find
something that will be part of the solution.

Any use of his left arm--whether pushing the mower, holding the chainsaw
with both hands, chopping wood manually with an axe, weedwhacking, or
playing the guitar--all cause him grief.  He'd rather give up using the
chainsaw than the guitar, it is a matter of preference.  He's played guitar
since he was 18 and it's his passion.  In fact, he's working towards making
regular European tours (summer 07 or 08) and we are strongly considering
living in Europe for a year or two before the boys are gone.  He's gone
about as far as he can go in the states with his acoustic blues career for a
40's white guy, to jump to the next level of being invited to play
well-known blues festivals (or at least getting into those gigs) and
becoming more in demand and better known here, he needs to spend time going
back and forth to Europe.

Now that I'm way off track...

Sounds like we need a wood splitter and perhaps purchase a wood stove that
can use gas logs.  That way, if we don't care for propane we can switch back
to wood.  And if gives the next homeowners an option--if we make the
decision to sell down the road.

Lisa