I take the rings off for storage, so I re-use my rings all through out the canning process. I have several decent sized boxes of rings that were never used. When one starts looking rusted, I toss it out and grab a new one, and usualy have about 3-4 dozen in rotation during the canning season, and that is for putting up 50 dozen jars. I store my empty jars upside down in cardboard boxes - in the cellar pantry where I also store the canned goods. I do this mostly to keep the dust out, but have not had any problems with rims so far (has not been that many years though). Though we keep a humidifier running down there, I'd be way too worried about rust showing up on rings, as I have issues with rust showing up on rings sitting on my counter. I've not had a problem with rust on never used rings, but once they have been through the canner they seem to rust more easily. My rings are kept in a much dryer closet, but there is not room there for all my empty jars, though I keep the never used ones (with rings and lids still on them) in that closet for the same reason.

My first Hydrangea is now in the ground for more than 25 years. At this point, I keep it for sentimental reasons only. It's gotten so THICK with canes that if I wrap it in my usual cage, I have to get everything so tight in there that I think I may actually be suffocating the plant. I've not had good luck overwintering it in recent years. This past winter I didn't even bother with it. If I were you, I'd consider taking a cutting or digging out a portion of your sentimental one and essentially start over. It would indeed be the same plant, so you could keep your sentiment. But I can understand sentiment. I should get rid of my first Hydrangea, but I'm not. For a long time I would cut back the old canes completely to the ground in the Fall. I'd only leave canes that had shot up from low points on the canes or from the crown. They would have grown all summer and would end up giving me great flowering the next year. I'd have very long stemmed flowers, too, that I had cut. The big problem with this technique is that you end up with weaker stems than you would otherwise and next summer they'd be weighted down to the ground with their flowers. I've found that, for my zone, I can usually prune as hard as I want up until about Fourth of July, just to be easy to remember, and not hurt the flowering potential for next year. After that, the buds start setting for next year and you start running into that problem. (But then I've cut some "nikkos" back to the crown in the Fall and on some I'd get great flowering and on some I'd get none. Do I really understand this? NO.) So, here is another method for you to consider to keep it smaller, at least in height. Another thing I've experimented with is to prune all the wimpy growth completely out and just end up with a few stout canes over time. This was interesting, but you end up with an artifical looking Hydrangea and the few stout canes start looking rather strange. But with this technique, more or less, you could develop a plant that wasn't so crowded. I don't know though. I wish I could help you more. I'd like an answer to the question you have, too! Hay

Stringweaver, thanks so much for the info on the streamlined refrigerators! When I save up enough to remodel the kitchen in a few years, I definitely want to consider smaller appliances, both to gain counter space and to save energy. I'm afraid my picture was a bit misleading, though. Joy and I had actually pulled the refrigerator out a few feet when the circuit blew and we had to access the plug so we could plug it into an extension cord in a working outlet. Then we left it out so we could paint. It's now back in its designated space. Kathy, I hear you about being strategic with small cabinet space. I have ONE lower cabinet that has to hold my steamer, electric skillet, mixing and serving bowls, baking dishes, cutting boards, and colanders/strainer. Right now everything's in there and juuuuust barely fits, but I know I've got a set of Pyrex mixing/storage bowls I haven't yet unpacked. And I've missed them because I can't microwave or bake or freeze anything in the Chefmate melamine bowls...so even though I love them, I'm probably going to toss them. I like your idea of keeping seldom used appliances out of the kitchen. I think Shades does that too. Speaking of Shades, thanks Chris, for the pic of the built-in around a low window. I love that! It really frames the window beautifully! Also, THANK YOU for measuring your suitcases!! That is so kind of you! I'm guessing your hunch is right, and those were standard sizes. Missouribound, no, the minisplit will go on the main (only) living room wall. Smaller units in the bedrooms. What is above the ceiling in the pop out? The sky, lol. :-) A pop out in an old manufactured home is like ones you may have seen in RVs or travel trailers. The RV is driven to its camping spot and then, like an accordion, the owner pulls out (pops out) another little section from its side. If I ever moved this MH, they would literally fold it back into the house in order to be able to drive it without wind sheer. I'll try to remember to take some pics of the outside and post them. It's an inexpensive way of giving people a little more square footage, in my case 35 more sq ft makes a big difference. By the way, I really love your basket idea! I'm going to try that! Time for bed. Goodnight everyone! :-)

I think it must be the 12 cu ft because its supposed to haul 1600 lbs. Well I would never haul that much weight lol but it works well for what I need. It has big pneumatic tires. Some kinds have a handle that converts so you can pull it w a small tractor or ATV. DH always put this green stuff called Slime in all the tires that are the pump up kind because we always get flats on everything in our yard. Normal people prob wouldnt but this is an old farm and no telling what one might run over lol. The chickens are always digging up the craziest stuff but also broken glass etc. DH uses it to haul bags of concrete and other stuff from the car to the back of the property or wherever. I would go to a store that has some on display (many farm stores do in the spring) so you can try it and get a good idea of the size you want. There are lots of knock off brands of gorilla carts that are cheaper. We have also a smaller green one..not sure of the brand. It dumps and the goats jump around in it and they haven't broke it yet so its pretty tough. The big goats push the little ones around in it too. Pretty hysterical. This is the knock off gorilla cart.... Pure monkey Business..I'm shocked they havent trashed it yet.