Thanks Glenn. To follow up on the above, I decided to try the cable tie method linked above and I just got done tagging about 200 trees. I used 8" UV-stabilized cable ties and tried two kinds of tagging material. One is I got some 5mil copper foil in a 3" wide roll and cut off 1" pieces. Other is I used those Coles aluminum tags in boxes of 50. The copper is better but it averages out to about 35 cents a tag and the Coles tags you can get for about a dime apiece. Aluminum scrap would work even better. The cable ties are about a penny apiece so all the cost is in the tag. I punched a hole with a hole punch in the foil on a side on the long way, so the tags hang side to side so you don't need to grab them to read them. I put them on trees using a staple gun loaded with 1/2" staples. I found it was better to use two staples about 1/4"-1/2" apart to keep the cable ties from rotating. The only problem I had was the staple would occasionally crack the cable tie. Maybe I should have gotten slightly longer ties, like 1', just to get thicker ones. I first was using 1/4" staples but those guys were cracking the ties all the time since they were hitting so hard; the 1/2" staples are not striking with such force since most of the stapler energy is used to get the staple in. Overall I would say the biggest doubt I have is on the strength of the cable ties giving how they are cracking, but we will see. If they start failing I will replace with wire. One nice thing about using the aluminum tags is first you can use the tag with the little wire to mark the graft, and when it gets too big for that take it off, punch a hole, and re-attach the same label with a cable tie; no need to create a new tag. Some of my new grafts I could use a cable tie on already since they topworked a fat trunk. Scott

I see this all the time while I am filling and capping jars prior to putting a batch in the canner. The most obvious is the way the lid sinks down slightly and the small 'embossed' button in the middle will be sunken (indented) in even slightly more. Thats what makes the ping sound. Its quite easy to see what jar is going under vacuum when you see the whole lid sink in slightly. As to a bottom rack, be sure the jars are up from the bottom by about an inch, and the water covers the the tops of the jars by about 2 inches. If your planning on doing a lot more home canning, it may be wise to look for a bigger pot and lift out rack that can hold the whole batch of jars at once. Even though they are quite heavy once loaded with filled jars, these racks have handles that will allow you to lift out the whole batch at once. There is also the invaluable tongs that grab a single jar just under the glass bead near the tops. Here, my rack is also a bit wide between the wires, so I added a cut down round piece of aluminum. It was bought at Home Depot and comes in a 2'x4' sheet with small triangles punched in it. The small triangular punched holes allow for more heat to move though. The aluminum sheet is thin enough where you can use a good pair of scissors to cut it into a round. Since adding that disk on top of my wire rack, the jars are quite sturdy and will not easily tip. Let the apple rings age a while, and they are great when served as is, or over ice cream, or even as part of a fresh fruit mixed salad. I still have a small jar of brandied cheeries my dad made many years ago. It was canned in a small instant coffee jar with plastic cover. Because of all the brandy and its constant refrigeration, it will never spoil. Might make some ice cream with the cherries and some chocolate chips.

Hi Beth and everyone, Beth...thank you for your wishes. I too thought having my first-born go off to college 4+ hrs away was difficult but you are right...small potatoes compared to the long distance he has chosen to follow his career path. It is most important that he is happy wherever he may be. I have never seen the book but I am sure to be looking for it now. It sounds wonderful! Mickey is a most unusual blend. His mother was Chinese Sharpei and father Golden Retriever. Hard to believe, huh? He does have the wrinkly trait underneath all that fur and was the only black puppy in the litter so my daughter chose him! Julie...my daughter arrived home for Thanksgiving break tonight and she wants me to pass along her thank-you for thinking of her as well! She loves the angel and will be taking it with her when she goes back. :) To everyone...have a most wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!!! Blessings, Dee

I saw these at a rubber stamping store near me but they were about $29. Canadian.