I have one of these: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/cast-iron-spice-grinder/s183016. Cast iron, no crank, heavy, indestructible. I brought one back from Sweden 20 years ago. My son found one in Cincinnati last year.
When I lived in NY I used electric heat. A wood stove in a garage was against the fire code in that area.
My ceramic disk furnace (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KKMCS8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20) was nice, I put it on the bench and blew heat toward me.
I had a 2 car garage and never warmed...
I'm going to be surprised, if all goes well. My stepson has offered to send me a knife or two from Tokyo; he has been living there for about 20 years. Keeping my fingers crossed!
Well, for what it's worth, I use an old cutco paring knife. :bigeek: I like its shape, keep it sharp, and hand wash it.
Clearly, the knives your wife likes have a high Wife Acceptance Factor (WAF). A high WAF is good, a low WAF is bad. Be happy that this WAF came so inexpensively!