1Kgrace345, I kept going back and forth pondering over getting a Presto canner or the All American...I really could have gotten the Presto many years earlier, but I wanted to save my money and just wait. I have two mirro canners that I have had since I was married in 1970 that my grandmother gave to me that she used and they were literally falling apart. The handles were gone, and they no longer had handles to replace them, so I was having to lift the pot by the hot metal...last year I burned my hand really bad...but I kept on canning. I just bought those new gloves made out of well, what ever that is...my brain just backfired...I hate when that happens...darn it. My husband (behind my back) took them both to the dump...that made me really MAD because they were my grandmothers, and I would have like to have kept them for old times sake, anyways. But, he bought me this new one today..and I just about had a flying flip when he said we were going to town to get one...I got ready faster than lighting! I understand how you would still feel like you were a proud parent of your All American, lkgrace!! LOL If my husband wasn't looking at me on the way home I would have petted mine...LOL!!!

Finedreams....You have made an excellent point. I get emotionally involved in most issues...for some things that is good....for others it is not...I had thought about the issue of seeking advice from strangers verses people that know you....I think both sources have their respected places....Few places offer you the varied experiences that you can find on a forum such as this.........Some times I just need to know when to shut up also. The tongue is the most difficult muscle to control. :0)

I have designed a few things in laundry rooms for clients that really maximize the space. A built in company can give you something sturdy that is customized for your space. If you need to do something on the lower price side these pictures may give you some inspiration. One is storage created above and on the sides of full size units. The other is a mud room that had a broom closet added and over head storage. My best advice would be design for the long run, don't do anything that won't convert well if you end up going to the stackable units.

Thanks, everyone! I did do the mountains myself and it wasn't that hard. I follow The Decorologist blog and she had a great step-by-step, along with the paint colors to use, so I didn't overthink it. :) I never even thought about a rug under the bed, Sina, that's a great idea. We are in Colorado so there are mountains everywhere, but I went to school in the Blue Ridge Mountains - love that.