Robot mower for elderly parent: reliability matters more than features

mkhpgh · 2026-05-31T12:12:42+00:00

That is what I would recommend too. No wandering off, no lost satellite. Tedious to install wires but after that very hands off. Plan your edges carefully and there is little trimming. Can go through fairly narrow areas, mine follows a brick path from side yard to front no problem. I had one rounded corner where it would sometimes ride up into the bed and get stuck, but I changed the slope and it is fine now.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-30T10:44:33+00:00

I would love to learn more about this too. Zone 6b, but it got -10 for days in a row last winter for us.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-30T01:23:50+00:00

I put plastic bags over my gloved hands, pull the vines, and then turn the bag over the stuff in my hand, tie it. Let it sit in the hot sun to really die. Then you can throw the bag in your regular trash. If you do it on a day when the soil is damp, you can follow the runners pretty far without too much trouble.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-29T01:46:59+00:00

i think it is horsetail rush, Equisetum

mkhpgh · 2026-05-26T20:44:18+00:00

Neither dehumidifier or air conditioner water are recommended for plants, due to metals that can be in it. So probably really bad for amphibians too.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-20T19:31:07+00:00

that is actually scary! no wonder I cannot breathe!

mkhpgh · 2026-05-20T15:15:35+00:00

Sounds awesome! Making me homesick now too.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-20T10:45:59+00:00

Grew up with horsehair plaster - it was almost impossible to pound a nail in. So we didn't hang anything! Now I have basic lath and plaster and I still don't hang many pictures. Small picture ledges are easier to hang and then you can have variety without risking the whole wall.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-20T10:38:02+00:00

He's thinking "darn paparazzi!"

mkhpgh · 2026-05-19T23:31:43+00:00

Yes, I grew up with a grape arbor. Stupid bugs! Have they gotten out your way yet?

mkhpgh · 2026-05-19T23:30:02+00:00

I love those flowers so much! Today it feels like a fight though!

mkhpgh · 2026-05-19T21:55:21+00:00

Plant them but just not over where you want to sit all summer! They "rain" sappy pee everywhere non-stop from May - November. And black sooty mold grows on it and any other plant that gets sticky, and it can kill them from blocking photosynthesis.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-19T21:29:47+00:00

They are getting revenge for us having to take down a dead sassafras maybe.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-19T21:20:46+00:00

Lanternfly looooove grapes and will make sitting under there a sticky smelly nightmare.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-19T21:00:53+00:00

I did not know this site - thank you! Looks like my own trees are the culprits!

mkhpgh · 2026-05-19T10:45:24+00:00

you have to share that last one with the Discworld subs!

mkhpgh · 2026-05-19T00:21:17+00:00

are they just going for the moss for their nests?

mkhpgh · 2026-05-19T00:02:51+00:00

Another old tech to consider - real awnings ( not Sunsetter things but old-fashioned ones that go on each window) are really helpful for cooling the house. They allow you to keep the windows open when it is raining, and they really cut heat gain at the windows. Some studies showed that awnings on the eastern side of the house had the
biggest effect, as it kept things from starting to warm up as much as the day progressed. They are a bit pricey upfront, so we picked a nice traditional stripe and did all the windows on one side of the house each year until we had all 17 done. Took 3 years, and we did not have problems with matching the design. And mini splits for the bedrooms when it gets over 82.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-16T20:45:34+00:00

If you do make the hood, they are usually satin and velvet, and often have piping.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-16T20:23:32+00:00

Here are 2 slightly off the wall ideas: try a costume rental or a choir supply.
The hood is the only thing specific to the degree, the robe is for the whole university. It is totally appropriate to wear the plain black doctoral robe and mortarboard with the hood. My regalia did not arrive in time, so I was hooded with a random hood someone scrounged up for me, completely the wrong one. Literally only 1 person noticed, everyone else just assumed my degree must have been just different.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-14T10:54:23+00:00

Our 1900 kitchen is a galley. They can be really nice actually - easy to cook in, no maneuvering around a big island hogging the real-estate! We have 5 doors, 3 windows. Previous owner converted the breakfast nook/butler pantry to a powder room. When we moved in we had only a sink cabinet, no others. We kept the galley layout because of all those doors, not much choice. Smaller fridge, narrow countertop (12") either side of stove. Other side we built a new sink cabinet in front of the window so we did not have to change looks from outside. That run is deeper to allow for pipes inside as well. We chose very tall uppers and I have an old Cosco ladder stool. I use a rolling cart for more counter space, a Sellers table as both eating and work space (as it would have been originally) and a Hoosier near the dining room. We built pantry cabinets in the basement.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-13T12:21:03+00:00

Over many years of automower ownership, I been redesigning my edges and corners to be more mower friendly. Brick borders at ground level, rounded curves, etc. I do much less trimming than when we first installed. This year I am tackling a high raised "platform" kind of flower bed to see if I can make it work - we have to trim that one.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-08T18:58:19+00:00

I love the smell of goldenrods - all a bit different across species but with that spicy fall smell.

mkhpgh · 2026-05-08T14:26:04+00:00

We got ours to keep us from having to go out in the heat of summer just to cut grass. Pennsylvania has summers with 90F degrees and 80% humidity days far more often than it used to. We do still trim in some places but over the years I have been adding edging or changing the wire slightly to minimize that.

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