Floating is usually not a safety issue. It simply means that air was still trapped in the vegetable pieces. Over time, assuming it was processed correctly, they will sink. But slimy can be a serious problem as it is often indicative of too low acid brine (too little vinegar) and the food should not be consumed. The problem okra is often slimy naturally, especially if overly mature when harvested. So there is no way to know if the slimy results was from the okra or the too-low-acidity. To be safe I would recommend tossing them. " Are these ingredients good enough to can 1 quart of okra I'm using canning salt, garlic, ( ball) kosher dill pickle mix , and some (ball) mixed pickling spice, and the okra. These are the ingredients I have as of now. I know nothing at all." There are many tested and approved recipes for making pickled okra and when one is new to canning only those tested and approved recipes should be used. In all cases the amounts that can be added are limited to the specific amounts in the recipe - no additions. In other words the Ball Kosher Dill Pickle Mix is safe to use IF you follow the instructions on the label. I don't have a packet of it to check butyou would use only the packet mix, and the vinegar and water it calls for and the okra. No additional pickling spices or salt can be added unless the instructions call for them. I doubt they do as the salt and all the spices should already be in the mix in the packet. As for quarts - only if the instructions call for quarts. Normally such instructions are for pints only and you can never go to a larger jar than what is in the instructions as it creates safety issues in the pH and the processing time required. If you want to use an approved recipe for Pickled Okra instead use this one. http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_06/pickled_dill_okra.html Dave

Another consideration would be to purchase a high density foam roller, they come in many sizes but if you get a 36" x 6" you can use it all over. Physical therapists use them for aligning the spine, neck stretches and a verity of other uses. I just ordered one and plan on using it for myofacia /fibromyalgia/arthritis pain. It most likely will not be 100% as affective as deep tissue massage but will hopefully come close. There are a few good books out there on this subject along with instructions and trigger points but I havenÂt weeded through them all yet. After years of studying Pilates, ball, yoga, and traditional weight training, this is new to me. However, after having three deep tissue massages lately and discovering how amazing the results were for me I can not wait to learn a way I can help myself. IÂm not kidding after three deep tissue massages I felt like someone had pulled me out of a little box and I could perform exercises at a much higher level, my concentration and energy was also greatly improved. Reading about deep tissue massage can be very interesting it also supposedly releases stored toxins.

I think Down Pipe will be gorgeous. Do a google search for AB Chao and "down pipe". (She is a decorator). If you search around her blog posts you will find one of her bedroom painted in that color, it is so pretty. I wanted to use the same color in my dining room, but wasn't feeling up to mailordering paint. I chose a similar color in Sherwin Williams (outer space I think it was called) to paint my dining room. It is probably a touch more blue than Down Pipe, but still dark and moody. Anyhow I love it - you need to google her bedroom, I'm sure you'll love and I think you should go for it! And please post pictures afterwards :-)

True that even the sample pot can be quite misleading. Especially if it's an already painted wall that you are sampling upon. F&B colors are very sensitive and when you are sampling it upon an existing paint color, the tested color would be greatly distorted by it's surrounding color. F&B is benefited by color harmony & color relationship. For example, if you want a blue more blue, try using it next to gray or greenish colors. Another important factor is the light source. Perhaps this explains why certain color is red in one house and purple in another. :-> For me, the way to sample F&B is to paint the sample on white poster board (3-4 coats) and try to view it apart from other colors. View it at different times of the day as well for what you see during the day may become a totally different color at night. Also, when using F&B the always looks so bad at the first couple walls . But when you finish the whole room, something magical happened and it's beautiful. :-> I am so used of seeing F&B chips and extrapolate it to room, but most of my friends think their color chips are just plain ugly. :-> This does not help does it? ;->