Tom sees a junk cart going by with an old Victorian iron wood-burning range on it, and leaps at the chance of acquiring it since it will save on electricity.

However, it needs a lot of cleaning and unfortunately Tom leaves most of this to Barbara while he works out various methods of keeping the birds from eating their seeds. In the end Barbara rebels, and goes in to Margo and Jerry's house for a drink and general pick me up.

The man from whom they acquired the range provides the answer to the bird problem - he calls by with a small kitten.