It is a treat to come in when time is available, to see what is happening with other gardeners around the world, not just here in our country. It is the dang hot humid month of August down here, and is really miserable. We still have Sept to go through yet too, so summer is here for us yet awhile longer. Yesterday I worked on my website, and that took all day up until almost 6 pm. I still have more I want to do, but after looking at html code all day, reworking things and uploading everything, it was most definitely time for a break. Thanks everyone for posting. It's what makes this a great forum. Solana ~ You are welcome, although I was mainly just a cheerleader as I am still learning the ways of my camera also. Do post your blog addy when it's up and running for that trip you took this summer. It will be a mini vacation for all of us without having to leave our homes. FlowerLady

socks, I suppose it COULD spoil in that amount of time, but I doubt that it did. Years ago the Health Department told me that there was a "4 hour rule" about leaving food at temperatures outside their safe zone. Now the rule has changed to 2 hours, courtesy of the USDA, I think. I think the pork is fine, at least a portion of that 3 hours was at a safe temperature in the oven in a dutch oven. You probably are even well within that "2 hour" rule they have now. I'd eat it without reservations. Annie

OK we finally figured it out. Have me hang off the damn thing until it fell open. LOL. IN other words pull REALLY HARD. :)

Your needle might not be in correctly. Machine needles have a groove along the length of it on the side that does NOT face the bobbin assembly and a scooped out area called the "scarf" on the back side. The bobbin hook (either rotary or oscillating) picks up the top thread, loops around the bobbin and brings the bobbin thread up by hooking it at the point of the scarf. If your needle is not in correctly, it might not be able to hook the bobbin thread. If you thread from the front, the scarf will be in the back. If you thread from the side, the scarf will be on the opposite side from the side you insert the thread into the eye. (usually the groove is left and the scarf is right) When the needle is fully down, the scarf will always be next to the bobbin case, the groove always away from it. Finally you might have the wrong type of needle, too long, or too short, for the machine, which would again cause the scarf to be aligned incorrectly. Hope this helps. Donna