I've built a shelving system along the back wall which makes it extraordinarily strong--it doesn't bow-in at all anymore where it previously moved 1/2 to an inch in a typical South wind. I used 3/4" galvanized pipe for the vertical supports, and 3/4" EMT conduit for the horizontal supports, which for the front-edge of the shelves pass-thru the galvanized cross- and tee-fittings, whose threads had to be ground-down just a little so the conduit would slide-thru. I'm real happy with the way it came together--the trickiest part was getting the installation "staged" properly: 1. Grind-out threads in the fittings for the side-to-side conduits 2. Make the two vertical posts (floor flange, 36" pipe, cross, 18" pipe, cross, 18" pipe, tee) 3. Flatten one side of three 10' conduits, thread these thru fittings and posts 4. Flatten other side of 3 conduits, drill holes, put assy into place, secure sides and floor flanges 5. Weld "L" brackets into one end of short (22 1/2") conduits (twelve of these) 6. Screw short conduits into each fitting and rotate into place 7. Cut cattle panel (2"X4" mesh) and wrangle into place from the side (having taken a side panel out temporarily) Look for "Details" in my photo link below. I think I'm done now with structural issues of the HFGH. Still have to build a potting bench, and we've been shocked to learn how hot the thing gets (over 100 degrees inside in 75deg sun out). So we have to do an exhaust fan/louver intake plus prolly some shade cloth. But the GH seems strong enough now that we shouldn't have to worry about it blowing-down, though the roof vents seem to twist a lot when open and it's windy--may have to make some further mods there. Here is a link that might be useful: Our 10X12 HFGH with Details

Hi, I still have company. Will be here until Friday. I had my grandson for 3 days, then he was still here yesterday and our company came yesterday, too, a day early ! Just as we were going out the door to make the hours drive up to take our grandson home. So, my daughter had to come down and get him. I had to cook dinner for everyone. At least my dh cooked the chicken on the grill for me, bless his heart ! So, I am exhausted ! Having a good visit, though. Anyway, part of the deal with the relish is also the density of it. Relish is normally denser than a salsa would be. Especially the ones that are water bath canned, you notice how much vinegar is in them ? A lot of people comment on how liquid they are, but that is part of the safety of the products. The size of the pieces of food is also a consideration in safe processing of foods. That and how much liquid is in something. That is why diced tomatoes packed in water takes less processing time than those packed without any added water. There are a lot of factors that go into a safe recipe for canning. Yes, that is true, too, what Carol said about bottled lemon juice being twice as acidic as vinegar, yet tastes less tart. That new book is nice, but it is the same as what is online. I saw the new copy of the book. You need to simmer the food for the time called for because it also "preshrinks" the vegetables. That, and you want the food really hot as it goes into the jars when you are hotpacking foods. That can make a difference in processing times with some foods. If you check some recipes you will notice that raw pack and hot pack are not always the same processing times for the same ingredients. I agree, keep the vinegar amount to 4 cups in the recipe. I sure hope I am making sense, as tired as I am !!! If not, forgive me. Things may get better, but then again, it is the starting of canning season ! I won't make any promises... Another thing, if you made jelly with the liquid, it would need some added vinegar. Just like all pepper jellies do. It would not be high acid like fruits.

Thank you all for your kind comments~ now if we could only sell our old house! nanj- all our trim & doors are Knotty Alder, I have to check on the color. Its not quite as dark in person. In the den, which is stained lighter,(also all knotty alder) is ipswich pine.

sylviatexas, If there is one person I always look forward to reading, it is you. AT first i was a little scared of reading your post but the more I read it the more I understand now why in my heart it was just such a natural reaction to tell my DH how i felt about his grand-daughter not having a bicyle. I felt so so sad for her, but mainly i was so so upset at her mother and father! How ignorant can people be. Thanks for reading me. Looking forward to reading yours. The bicylce is still in our house and everytime i look at it, i keep reminding myself this grand child will be happy and if she doesn't know that all of this is because of me, well thats ok. What can i say. Thats life. The more i live, the more i realize it is best not to expect anything in life or from anyone. That way i am less disappointed in mankind. However, I am just so so so so so upset at this SD for treating her child like this and it truly, truly makes me sick to my stomach how she shows no affection towards this child. It hurts me so ....................... I can't start telling you how i feel! This being said, every single day, i keep telling myself, one day this SD is really, really going to be asking herself questions when her daughter wants nothing to do with her. This won't be too late happening either, believe me. The child is already 9 yrs,v ery intelligent, independent, etc. I really think however that I am overly sensitive in regards to how this SD is treating this child because of the way i was treated by my own mother. That is not very well affectionately and i know how the situation between my mother and I has affected me tremendously in life. The difference between this young grand daughter and me is that she at least has a grand father and a grand mother who truly, truly love her. I promised myself i will help her as much as i can from now on and i will stop being selfish. Thank you for your advice. P.S. could you just tell me a little bit more about Brandon. How is his relationship today with his bio mother and Don! I once asked the therapiste why was I still wanting to be so close to my mom and wanting to do everything i possibly could for her despite the way she treated me all my life. Why did i love her so much? The therapist said : dogs......have you ever seen a dog not obey his master even when the master was the most horrible person towards this dog! From this i understood everything and that is what i find difficult to understand sometimes in life. In my heart, and this is really mean to say, but i sometimes wish that this SD will suffer as much as i have suffered in life so that she may understand that in life WE DO NOT ALWAYS GET WHAT WE WANT AND BEING SELFISH AND IRRESPONSIBLE IS HORRIBLE!