As I mentioned above, I only know of one approved sweet preserve that calls for gelatin and is canned. It's comparing apples and oranges to think of gelatin in a refrigerated preserve (which was the original recommendation in your recipe - a Ball recipe, by the way) as opposed to canning something like venison, which as Linda Lou points out, requires a pressure canner. That's a world away from 10-minute boiling water bath. Carol Here is a link that might be useful: Canned Fig-Strawberry Preserves with Gelatin

perhaps off topic but someone might profit from our experience: When we were in early planning stage, I happened to be on a committee with a local contractor. I mentioned that we were trying to think about DIY changes to our small tract house but didn't have budget for architect. He went off on an angry tangent, then apologized. His point was that companies like his have good people on staff who can help people like me for much less money. Our project included an addition, garage tie-in, basement, new windows and siding for the old house, and modified driveway. Landscaping and geothermal heating/cooling were also a part of the story but weren't necessary for design plan. We ended up hiring his in-house designer who created full plans and secured the building permit for us. Although we had a number of wrangles at certain points--primarily dealing with aesthetics and about reuse (ie, we didn't want to buy new stuff)--using this designer was a good avenue for us. I don't think we spent much more than you will be spending yet we got plans that we could modify as we needed to and I'm not afraid the roof will cave in after the removal of a bearing wall. The man knew practical carpentry and gave DH suggestions as to how to do the work, esp how to sequence the work. He suggested sub-contractors who have proved to be good ones. I went to a lighting store and talked to their lighting designer subsequently and redid the original lighting configuration, esp the substitution of pendants and flushmounts for recessed lights. DH did the wiring and we made a lot of changes to the switching. The kitchen itself was the subject of a two-month wrangle. The designer showed us a number of ideas which didn't work for me very well, then finally one came that was a hit. He understood general kitchen design pretty well but hadn't worked with a kitchen gardener before. We took his plans to cabinet shops, modified them some more, and ended up with a great kitchen design. The cabinetmaker (we chose the one recommended by the contractor) and I fine-tuned it. The aesthetics and materials are all restricted by our taste and budget. We had the right of ki-bosh at every step. (We're into our third summer on this project now but we're on the home stretch at last.) If we had wanted to, we could have hired the contractor and I think it would have worked out, although as with the subcontractors we used, it would have taken some wrangling to get our ideas taken seriously. One thing that can be a problem if you're DIY or semi-DIY: if you seem to be knowledgeable, the person you're working with might not make suggestions. You really need to solicit them overtly--"Here's what we are thinking about but we might not know all our options. Is there something we're missing here? Do you see a problem? Do you know of a better product?"

Pal - I liked your comment on the earlier post that there are some people that you use as a negative feedback mechanism. I hadn't thought about it that way but you are right - had she loved my wallpaper then I would know that it needed to be removed immediately. Actually I don't particularly care for it any longer myself but several realtors have said that it's not worth removing - it's a fairly subtle tone on tone in the foyer and hall. We have removed wallpaper in the dining room and our bedroom and bath and the rest of the house is just paint. We have an estimate on removing the foyer and hall paper and are willing to include that in a negotiation. Obviously if it proves to be an onerous selling point we will have it removed. So far it doesn't seem to scaring anyone off. So far 2 couples have been through 3 times each. One put in a very lowball bid and we countered but they ended up buying a less expensive home in the next suburb. The other couple loved everything except for the 120 year old structural fir beam in our bedroom and wanted to know if we would have it removed. We told them they we could give them the name of a good contractor, structural engineer or architect but that we weren't going to remove it. One other couple said our house had everything they wanted except they didn't want to move back into this neighborhood. They lived a few streets away and just sold their house because they had serious issues with their next door neighbor. I'm not really sure why they bothered coming but they may end up changing their minds if they don't find something else they like. Pal - I think if a realtor knows you and your interest in homes and interiors he would value your knowledgeable opinion on a particular property. And now that your SO is a realtor I'm sure you have ample opportunity to see all the unique or historic places in town. Selling real estate is not as easy as it might appear - it's a tough job and I hope your SO loves it. Two of my kids have purchased homes in Philly within the last 2 years - and the third one just left for a leafy, fenced in yard in the suburbs. I wish I could have given him our home but he couldn't afford the taxes and maintenance. Thanks, Maire

China, I respect your instructions because of your background and I am a person who follows the rules. My instructions from the hospital Tuesday night where they washed the wound thoroughly with a saline solution twice. This was also done at Urgent care earlier. Report said.."It was very clean and dry. You may reinforce the steri strips as needed. This will take several weeks to heal completely. You may resume hiking and walking as long as the area is protected and dry. Tetanus was given. Begin Keflex for prevention of infection. ( so far I have taken 7. ) Motrin Tylenol for pain as needed." ( I have taken none) I have kept the wound completely dry and have not touched it. I take a bath backward in the tub with my leg encased in a plastic bag hanging over the side of the tub. My arm finally doesn't hurt and the leg aches. I can't tell if it's swollen because it's tightly wrapped by the nurse practitioner. I see my regular doc on Tuesday. There is no sign of any more oozing. Thanks so much for your input. I appreciate it.