I also have never pressure canned jam, but I do use a boiling water bath. I don't even have to spend time sterilizing my jars if I process them for 10 minutes, and that actually saves me time. The NCHFP does say that it's better to sterilize the jars and process for 5 minutes, because the longer time sometime compromises the jell/set of the product. My Grandmother used to use paraffin, which was messy and time consuming and not consistent, and even she started to do her jelly in a boiling water bath, and that was at least 50 years ago. I know some of my elders (and I'm 64) used to just turn jars upside down and call it a seal, but they had some bad seals and some that didn't seal, others that were fine. If you want to eat that jar of jelly right away because it didn't seal, that works, but I want mine to actually seal and I think 10 minutes in boiling water is a small amount of time and effort to make sure that happens. This is what the NCHFP has to say: "Some other methods of sealing jars call for inverting a closed, filled jar of hot product for anywhere from thirty seconds to one hour. (Inverting is turning the filled jar upside down on its lid.) While this inversion process can be successful in producing a sealed jar, it works best with very hot product. Individual variation in practicing this procedure or unexpected interruptions can result in delays between filling jars, getting lids screwed on, and inverting the jars. If the product cools down too much, the temperature of the product can become low enough to no longer be effective in sealing jars or preventing spoilage. When the inversion process does work, the vacuum seals of filled jars still tend to be weaker than those produced by a short boiling water canning process. A larger amount of retained oxygen in the headspace may allow some mold growth if airborne molds contaminated the surface of the product as the jar was filled and closed. More complete removal of oxygen from the headspace also offers some longer protection from undesirable color and flavor changes with some types of fruit products. A weak seal may be more likely to fail during storage. The canning process is therefore a more foolproof method of making jams and jellies that will not spoil." Everyone has to make their own decisions, know the risks and make an informed decision as to whether those risks (whether health wise or loss of product or extra time) are significant enough to impact their procedure. I'll just keep on spending that 10 minutes with a boiling water bath, but you certainly may do whatever you wish. I make long cooked jam and jelly without any additional pectin, so I just don't find it to be that much work or so time consuming that it's egregious, and I've made thousands of batches of jams and jellies in the 55 years or so that I've been canning. Annie

Outside, I enjoy those books too--- my late FIL went to school with Ferrol Sams and we love his novels. I hadn't realized he wrote essays as well. "When attending art shows, I swear off coffee table books but I am weak." We share that weakness, lol. Seems I am "always" never going to buy another huge book... Beagles, that room is fantastic, and I do see your pile of books peeking out from under that chair to the left :-) I'm with you on the kindle, but every now and then I like to hold a real book. Even though I find myself pushing the edge of the page instead of turning it (hanging head). No screen can reproduce the heft and color of those prints in large books, there is something about a good quality art print that is somehow more convincing than an image on a screen. Sloe gin, over the past decade or so I've seen many people putting lovely shelving in their dining rooms to combine functions or simply bring books into a room that doesn't often see them. I love that look, of a literary dining room! And your basket sounds eminently practical, we use our shagreen boxes and ceramic bowls for the same purpose--- the "stuff" has got to be corralled somehow. I have seen that Circus book, Robo, and the Atomic Ranch book also, they are both marvelous! It's clear that our collective enjoyment of these tomes is at least partly for the esthetic quality of the books themselves in addition to the content. I suppose that's what makes them "useful" decor :-) In some cases they might function purely as decor, as the leather books you've used, tinam. Have you seen the book purses that are so popular in some circles? Kate Spade has or had a few, and there's quite a cottage industry on Etsy making real old books into small handbags. They aren't a tenth big enough for me, but I love looking at them!

Mid Century Modern. It's a bit of a catchal phrase thet refers to the more streamlined and modern style ranches that were prevalent from 1950=1970. It's a highly sought after look if done well. Think AMC's Mad Men series and catch up on it if you haven't already. You don't want to destroy the unique positive features of this home! Work within the guidelines that the home's style gives you. The fireplace is a great inspiration, and if there is any way to save those floors and just expand them into the rest of the home, I'd try my darndest to do that. Wood in any of the bedrooms that could be harvested for instance? Just a plain coat of paint in something like a retro natural intense green (Martha Stewart Chardonnay Bottle) with those wood floors and add in some wood blinds and the look would be 1000% improved. A big long Chesterfield tufted low back sofa in a saddle leather and some Panton chairs around a Saarinen table with a Sputnik ceiling fixture. Slab front kitchen cabinet doors in a natural cherry and concrete counters in a cream that matches the fireplace would be terrific!

Lovely space. I'd fill those cabs sparsely, just because I don't like my good china on display in the dining room. So for me, a few books stacked flat, small sculpture, a beautiful bowl, a painting that no one needs to look at much (or closely), some vases might lurk behind the glass. One fabulous tureen that never gets used....umm,guess you can tell I'm typing and looking at my corner cabs at the same time! Some one else might feature a prized collection of most anything. Legos to monsters. I recall a picture where someone featured her handbags. Basically,all the ideas you might put on open shelves will work here,too. As would papering or painting the backs of the cabs. Guess the point is to keep it authentically YOU. And as others have mentioned,no need to rush. Also: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/photo-flip-85-window-seats-for-whiling-away-the-day-stsetivw-vs~61150399