Pam, We are nothing here if not enablers. We all enable each other, whether it comes to gardening, preserving or cooking. I have heard of Linda Amendt's book, but don't have it. I think you could do a search on the Harvest Forum and find reviews of it there. The three non-Ball canning books on my bookshelf that I use the most are these: "The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving" by Ellie Top and Margaret Howard. My copy is from the second edition, published in 2007. They may have a newer edition or a more current revision out, or even a newer book. I haven't checked lately. This book has marvelous small batches many of which make only 2 to 6 half-pint jars, which is a great way to try new recipes without making huge batches you might never eat. It also is ideal for items you grow in smaller quantities or can purchase at the Farmer's Market. This book has a lot of great recipes for everything from the usual jams, jellies, salsas and pickles to flavored vinegars, mustards, marinades, dessert sauces, syrups and even liqueurs. I use this book pretty often. "The Joy of Pickling: 250 Flavor-Packed Recipes for Vegetables and More from Garden and Market" by Linda Ziedrich. I have the second edition, published in 2009. This book has a huge variety of recipes and they are different from a lot of the standard pickling recipes. For example, she has a whole chapter on recipes for sauerkraut, kimchi and other cabbage pickles, and a different chapter on rice-bran, miso and soy-sauce pickles. There's a full chapter on fermented pickles, and also full chapters on sweet pickles, quick pickles and freezer pickles....as well as chapters on pickled meat, fish and eggs, and a chapter devoted to chutneys, salsa and other relishes. I love this book. "The Joy of Jams, Jellies and Other Sweet Preserves: 200 Classic and Contemporary Recipes Showcasing the Fabulous Flavors of Fresh Fruits" by Linda Ziedrich. My copy shows a copyright date of 2009. I am not positive if all the recipes in this book are free of commercial pectin, but nothing I've made from this book has included commercial pectin. It is full of amazing recipes for anything and everything you possibly could make from fresh fruit, including these: apple cider syrup, apricot-pineapple jam, cantaloupe jam with mint, maraschino cherries, fig jam, rose petal jelly, rose petal syrup, red grapefruit marmalade, lemon curd, lime syrup, orange jelly, peach-fig jam, hot green pepper-lime jelly, plum-apple conserve, pomegranate syrup, pumpkin butter, quince jelly, raspberry jam, raspberry vinegar, strawberry-orange jam, tomatillo jam, tomato marmalade, yellow tomato-pineapple preserves, watermelon rind preserves and watermelon molasses. If you are looking for recipes that are a little different from the usual fruit recipes in canning books, this book is full of them. I was watching the same football game and thinking at times that it looked like they were playing the game inside a snow globe. I know you'll be busy today ahead of the brutal cold front. It is almost noon and we're still below freezing. It is hard to imagine that a week ago we were in the 70s and hit the 80s a couple of times. Today it is a whole different world, and a very cold one at that. Dawn

I KNOOOOWWW, Parma--I've thrown myself!! Sigh!! Daylight and night have really done me in!! Right now----I have many chips in hand and have decided (in daylight) that 'Believable Buff' may be an option if it doesn't go too olive green at night for me. BM's Monroe Bisque or Pittsfield Buff also look good with the leaning toward the more 'tan' of the MB being a better match for our sofa (which I've come to hate the fabric of)!It's a plaid (groan) that incorporates a deeper teal green stripe (1/2") with crosses of stripes that look more tan/peach (groan)and other crossings that create almost a grey/green! I know---but, I thought it was wonderful 15 years ago!!! I'd get rid of it and go for something new, except it is a very good quality built 'Bern'(amish families--kin to the Smith's, both in Indiana who also make a great line of furniture) line, substantial, an all-wood construction with all the details that make for an excellent piece--except for the fabric--NOW. I know there is no yellow in the fabric. I know it probably doesn't make any sense to go that direction, but I love the warmth of yellow and hope it can be considered 'neutral' going with almost anything! I have EK's 'Buttercream' in our master bedroom with her 'Ashen Green' trim and it's an awesome look but not for this room. The green would wash out to grey (tried it) and the Buttercream would bleach out, too! I've considered the 'Honeysuckle' but I really can't deal with too much in the way of 'peach' tones which I fear it could gravitate toward in that room! However, I bet it would work if I could tolerate the moments of pinkish yellow! It sounds more right for the funiture! I also need to get this done, because the flooring goes down on the 28th and I fear I could not get a sample pot from EK fast enough to get it all done, if it's not what I like in the end! I've recently reupholstered a platform rocker for our youngest daughter and am seriously considering undertaking recovering this sofa--into a single color (more neutral)and with texture! Another project!! Sigh! I'm off to the stores!!!!! Groan!!!!

Hi everyone! We are planning to use hand hewn barn beams in our new home. I live about 30 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, PA in the New Stanton area. I've found several folks in PA that have what we are looking for, but most are at least a 4 hour drive. We plan to pick them up, and would like to try to find some that may be located a bit closer. I've been searching and can't seem to find anyone so I thought this was worth a shot. They could even be in Ohio or WV, just so long as it's close to the PA border. They need to be large. We need several 20 footers at a minimum of 6x6 and will also need several that are closer to 24' that must be close to 10x10. If you are in our area and have these available or know someone that may, we'd greatly appreciate your help. Turns out that we are going to need these much sooner than anticipated. Thank you so much! ~Dawn

Just to follow up, Kilim Beige on the walls with Alabaster trim/ceiling looks great in the new house! I love the colors with the dark walnut doors/cabinets and bronze fixtures. They just hooked up electrical so it looks nice with artificial light as well. Sometimes I regret not looking into SW Pavilion Beige, but I don't know why I do that to myself...what's done is done and I should be so relieved that Kilim Beige looks great! When they first painted I thought I saw peach undertones and I panicked. But I did not see that again. It is definitely warm, but I can't detect any real undertones. Flooring isn't in yet, so I'm curious to see how the color will change. patty_cakes, you wrote in a previous post above: "As for the color/colors, just a very pleasant, warm tan that has a beautiful candlelight hue in the evening. Good luck. ;o)" I thought of your comment when we saw the house for the first time last night with artificial light...kilim beige does have that beautiful candlelight hue in the evening! I will post pics soon. Thanks again to everyone, I appreciate your input and advice!