Megan, Only pressure canners are safe for use as pressure canners. Pressure cookers are not safe for pressure canning. Instapots (regardless of what the manufacturer may claim in their marketing material) are not safe for use as pressure canners. People have to be extremely careful with pressure canning because any mistake can result in botulism---and there are no telltale signs to alert you that your food is contaminated---it won't look spoiled, it won't smell bad, but if you eat that contaminated food, it can kill you---and in a very painful, slow manner with much suffering involved. When and if the NCHFP tests Instapots and finds them safe for pressure canning, they will say so in writing on their website. I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it to happen. The NCHFP is painstakingly cautious and careful, and for good reason---proper food preservation is serious business. The kind of testing they do is very thorough and can take years and years, and with big budget cuts over the last decade or more, they have to be careful about where they choose to invest their time and their research dollars. I've been canning my entire life because my dad loved canning, and I am ultra cautious and never take unnecessary risks because that is what I was taught (and correctly taught). Jennifer, I hate having to go to a party when I'd rather stay home, and I almost never commit to go anywhere if it involves leaving our neighborhood. The older I get, the more of a hermit I become....and I don't care. I spent a lot of my life doing what I was taught a good daughter, wife, mother, employee, neighbor, friend, etc. "should" do, and I'm at the point now where I'm going to do what I want to do. Time is precious, and I try to use mine wisely, which for me means choosing to do the things I like to do and want to do, and not just things I feel obligated to do. I hope you didn't find attending your friend's BD party to be too tortuous. Congrats on the sprouting plants---they always make late winter feel more like early spring. Nancy, Our first evening with a full house was pretty calm. The adult kids were moving stuff in, unpacking, etc. while I made dinner with the 9 year old in and out of the kitchen checking on its progress (I believe she was hungry!), and somehow Tim arrived home about a half-hour early so he was able to eat with the rest of us. I think he slipped out of work a little early after a very trying day---he may have worked through lunch. We ate dinner together and then everyone headed off in different directions to do things. It was just a whirlwind of activity for a few hours. While I've gotten used to quieter evenings, I didn't mind the whirlwind at all. Rebecca, Audrey is at such a perfect age. Pumpkin still is pretty playful and youthful, but I think he is 4 now and is starting to be slightly less kittenish. He likes to start things with the other cats, so he isn't a calm old man yet, though. I'm long past the seed acquisition stage. If I don't have it ordered and on hand by now, I'll live without it. At some point we have to stop buying more seeds (grin) and just plant the ones we have. I'm dreading the wind on Saturday, and we won't even get the worst of it, which is expected to remain a few counties west of us (where a High Wind Warning is in effect). I think our max wind gusts expected here are only in the upper 40s, but that's bad enough. I have no garden-specific plans today, other than just watering the seedlings. This is the longest. slowest start to the gardening season in ages, and the weather isn't looking much better for the foreseeable future either. Dawn

Here they are...only 4. The 5th one I was thinking about didn't work out. They're in order of preference, #1 most preferred. Note that #1 only has a slight edge over #2, in my opinion. If it were my Kitchen, I would prefer #2, but I know you like the island, so that's why I made it #1 for you. All four: Have a nice separation of the three primary work zones -- Prep, Cooking, Cleanup Have two Prep Zones so at least two people can be working in the Kitchen at the same time prepping, cooking, or cleaning up Have the Cleanup Zone along a wall so the area where dirty dishes inevitable accumulate is either out of sight from the Front Entry and Grand Room (when on the far right wall) or has very little prominence (when on the top wall; low profile from Front Entry & Grand Room and out sight from the Dining Room) Cave counter seating for three Have counters & cabinets 3" deeper than standard along the right wall -- 28.5"D counters, 27"D base cabinets, 15"D upper cabinets. You'd be surprised how much more storage and workspace 3" adds! If you cannot get 27"D base cabinets, then you can pull them out from the wall by 3" before installing them. 15"D uppers are available in most lines these days. I know they're available in Omega Dynasty as I have them. In Layouts #1 & #4, that row of counters/cabinets are also 3" deeper than standard. . Other Layout #3 is the only one where I have reservations about aisle width. While 36" is the minimum recommended width for a walkway, there is a seat right next to it and it is a bit of a concern if people end up using that area for traversing the Kitchen. Layout #1: Layout #1 Zone Map: . Layout #2: Layout #2 Zone Map: . Layout #3: Layout #3 Zone Map: . Layout #4: Layout #4 Zone Map: .

I dont think it is the paint that is your problem. The problem is the lack of light despite a good sized window. Once those cabinets are taken down (had the same problem here), you will notice a huge difference. I also had lights put in all 4 corners of my dining room, and a new chandelier put in the center of the room, right over the table. What was once a dark dreary place, is now full of light, and its bright and cheerful, and used every day. I didnt go dark with my paint. I used Sherwin Williams Blue Iris (its really aqua), in the dining room, and kitchen and the hallway. It is one of my very favorite colors. Wait til the cabinets are down and gone, and see if yours doesnt brighten up a whole lot. I also agree, you need a nice colorful rug on the floor under the table. The table also should be centered with the light fixture above, and maybe change out the light fixture to one that hangs down. More of a chandelier type. Here are the proper heights for hanging a chandelier over a dining room table, depending upon your ceiling height. Hang a chandelier approximately 30 to 34 inches over a table with an 8 foot ceiling height. If your ceiling is higher than 8 feet, mount the chandelier an additional 3 inches higher for each foot of ceiling.

That’s amazing Seil! Those are all so beautiful too. If it hadn‘t been for our strange late October ice storm I would still have blooms. All of November has been very mild so far. I love that Tiffany bud!