Jim, Both the barley and the broad bean produce the maltose initially. The difference is, naturally germinating the broad bean the maltose is converted from the fatty acids into sucrose which gets converted again and so on. The malting of barley, on the other hand, is an actual process in which the barley is forced to germinate ...causing the enzymes to activate and maltose to be formed....and then the barley is forced to stop germination in order for the maltose to be "harvested". The germinating barley is actually dried at a high temperature so the maltose is "trapped" in state within the barley seed. As far as your question on the production of sucrose.....let me make sure I am understanding you right. Are you wanting to know if the sprouting of beans would or could be used to produce the sucrose we call table sugar? As in the malting process? If so, interesting question! I have read somewhere, at some point in time, about a study I believe in Nigeria that was conducted on using the malting process on soybeans. If I recall right, the protein content was higher in malted soybeans and there was an increase on soluble sugars as well. I can't wrap my head around which database I saw that. If I can find the article again I will let you know. BUT....it comes down to yes, the malting process has been done on beans (at least a few have) and increases in sugars can happen. However, I do not recall anyone researching the "harvesting" of the sugars such as sucrose under this condition. I don't believe they are traditionally malted for commercial consumption at this time. But don't quote me on that! LOL I would think that since there is a distinct time for the malting process to occur we can successfully "malt" grains. I am not sure if the distinct time for the conversion to sucrose has ever been studied. Would be an interesting project I would think.

Here is the scoop from my mortgage broker on Tuesday, before the Feds met. $XXX,000 (80% of value) plus $XX,000 2nd home equity line of credit - interest only. 1st mortgage at 6.625% fixed 30 year, line of credit at 8.25% adjustable rate (runs with prime) and interest only payment. $417,000 first mortgage at 5.875% fixed 30 year. 2nd home equity line of credit at $XXX,000 at 7.625% - interest only adj rate (your rate is prime plus .125 - so could go down after tomorrow). Nonconforming $XXX,000 with no mortgage insurance. Rate 7%. Nonconforming loan of $XXX,000 with monthly mortgage insurance until paid down to 80% rate is 6.75% I didn't get a chance to talk to her today, but I will tomorrow. The last time the Feds dropped the prime, she went down, then adjusted up, but not totally up, the next day.

herbflavor, We bought the place because it was all that we could afford at the time without a mortgage, and the housing crisis of 2008 was still fresh on my mind and I absolutely did not want a mortgage, and still don't. We could have qualified for one but we didn't want one. Our next house will also be paid for in cash but it's going to be our "forever" home and we are projecting that its going to cost 200k. DH owns a business, and now I also own a business. Both our businesses do well. We are not rich. We are middle class. But we will not get a mortgage; we are very debt-averse. -------------------------- homechef59: "I'm going to continue with the wall extension for the refrigerator. You said the refrigerator would be too big and stick out. So, frame the wall with an L-shape into the dining room just far enough to make the refrigerator sit flush with the line of cabinets. Just trying to keep a lid on costs and get you some improvements." That is still moving a load-bearing wall, which costs $3k+, right? -------------------------- scone911: "Given your sketch, and based on instinct and experience, I wouldn't put any more money into this house. It's not worth the hassle, and I don't think you will get it back if there are mass market developers in the area who can undercut you every few years with a new subdivision that has all the bells and whistles. This house is already nickel and diming you, and that's really bad for your finances-- when you are young, you have a golden opportunity to start saving for retirement, so you have the power of compounding working for you. Throwing cash into a money pit house on speculation that it might be worth something someday, if everything breaks just right, is asking for trouble, IMO. Don't take that risk if you don't have to." We own it outright; there is no mortgage or lien or backtax; nothing. Free and clear. "I'd divide the land, if possible, and put a stick built or modular in the new section. Keep the old place as a rental if you can. At least the old house gives you somewhere to live while you build, and a modular can go up fast." We prefer to save up our cash towards our "forever" house instead. Also, we think at this time that what the property really has going for it is the land. If we divided it up it would lose a huge amount of its charm. The house itself has no charm at all; the land has charm. It has trees and wildlife and feels like you're in a forest; it's quite pleasant. "If you can get the land divided and ready to go in the next couple of months, you might (just possibly) be able to move into a new place by Christmas-- and get on with your life." No, because that would require getting a mortgage. We believe debt is something you do when things are more certain, and given the state of the economy and world affairs we are very far away from the kind of comfort level that would draw us to a mortgage. I suppose that wraps up this particular thread. I'll post a new one with a much more accurate to-scale sketch of the kitchen, dining and laundry floorplan so it can be hashed out better. Thanks again everyone! This was very insightful and educational.

I’ve seen it first hand with my mom. She is 92. My sister will be 69, my brother 67. They were both really athletic as young adults. They were active in all types of sports. They all suffer from all kinds of ailments now. It has been a lesson to me. I was not into team sports as a child. I was more of a tiny couch potato. Bookworm and tv addict. I took up yoga years ago. I walk miles a day and won’t take stairs or drive unless I have to. I remember seeing the old grandparents who were our neighbors when I was a kid. I didn’t know what they were doing, but it must have been tai chi. All I know is that I was fascinated. They were so old, but boy were they able to move, bend and balance. I know from my own experience that sometimes pain can be gently exercised and massaged out. I just feel that as we age, we should pay attention to pain. We don’t heal as quickly. We could damage something further if we aren’t kind to ourselves. I will check out the barre class. As far as I am concerned, I will continue to exercise as long as I live. My husband unfortunately doesn’t see it as I do.