Lisazone6, we make lots of jam, and we eat it, too! The very small 4oz jars and the 8oz jars (half-pints) are too small for us. Well, at least the 4oz jars are. I usually make the 16oz (pints) and decide that "that's the flavor we'll eat right now" so that it doesn't sit around too long. We also refrigerate the jam once it's opened because my husband's worried about spoiling. If you're purchasing new jars you'll see that there's very little difference in price from the smallest to the largest jars. That might be another factor. If you're gifting some of your home canned products (which many of us do) you'll notice that most people don't return the jars ... although it would be wonderful if they did. So, if you'd like to make some gifts of jam you might want to use the smallest jars for some of the batch, and fill up the larger jars for your own use. Jam making is so much fun. It doesn't take a huge amount of fruit or time or equipment. And it always tastes wonderful! Oh, and when you "skim the foam off the top of the jam" before you bottle it, don't throw that foam away. It's delicious. Keep a little bowl handy to fill with the extra jam that won't fill a jar ... and that will be your reward. Freshly made jam on a spoon, a piece of toast, or a bowl of ice cream! And yes, I understand exactly how excited and proud you are. I don't think you'll outgrow that feeling either. It's that feeling that will keep you canning in triple-digit heat, standing over a boiling water bath, and cleaning up the jars and mess (and being too tired to make dinner) that will keep you doing it year after year!

Alisande I sooo understand your situation being in a similar one myself. The dominos analogy is absolutely perfect! I never thought Id long for simple tasks like vaccuming, ironing and dusting either. LOL!! In my case its a new to us house we moved into in April. As we needed more cupboard space and new appliances there, the kitchen was (and still is) first on the agenda. Seemed no biggy just call a cabinet maker & get these cabs organized, add an island & move on to the next issue. The trades are soooo busy here that 8 months later our new appliances sit in the garage with their warranties diminishing, the kitchen is painted, and thats it! If wed wanted to rip the kitchen entirely, it probably would have been done by now but finding someone to do custom work is a huge chore and when you do find someone, its hurry up and wait once again. As wed begun with the primary focus of kitchen, it took quite some time to switch gears. However eventually we moved on to the living/dining and the majority of those rooms are done. However now both the TV & the DH snoozing on the new sofa are in the Living Room, which does not make my heart beat madly, because (Domino) the Family Room is full of boxes, yet unpacked, destined for other rooms, one of which is the kitchen. And on it goes . . . the carpet which will go from Master Bdrm to Guest Bdrm but first we have to . . . and like that. I know you know. Being totally overwhelmed, particularly with the Xmas season upon me - Where is the turkey roaster? Where is the Turkey Platter? Which box is the . . . I coped as best I could over Xmas but it sure wasnt the Xmas Id planned using this ancient stove the door doesnt close properly on rather than my new oven and like that! Now also looming is Spring and with that event, a garden badly in need of tending. Once gardening starts it will be even more difficult to balance "house" with "garden" time. So, being very desperate to get some balance back, what Ive done is use the Flylady Zone thing but in a different way. This week the Zone has been the front entrance/front hall/dining room. Our Xmas tree was in the Dining area so I took that down, and moved furniture back into place, dusted, polished, did some small "to do" items such as putting little protector pads on the table lamps so they dont scratch the table tops, and cleaning up the entrance/front hall. I have blinds coming for the Living/Dining at the end of Jan so Im filling and staining the Dining window frame (the Living frames will be done when its Living Zone time). Past that I cant do much as the dog kennel presently residing in the front hall but destined for either the garage or the family room cannot go either place for now as both are too full of stuff that belongs in other areas. Basically Ive looked at a Zone, listed what needs to be done in it over and above cleaning and will work on those items for the duration of the Zone time. Next Zone is Kitchen / Laundry and there are (non-cleaning) things I CAN do there so Ill make a little more progress though it certainly wont be complete. I dont know that it would work for you, or at this point, even for me. LOL! It does however, get me started somewhere, which for me was a problem. I was so overwhelmed with how much there was to do and how much is not getting anywhere near where I had expected it to be by now, I was in "throw up my hands" mode. So far, its also helped with the ADD Syndrome that seems to set in when you are surrounded by *masses of stuff*. I also want to convey comfort on your loss and, having a 90 year old father with Alzheimers, understand your feelings of it being, to some extent, a blessing. Regardless, no matter how expected, its a big life change so treat yourself gently. Warm regards + Hugs PS - I'd definitely get those beams done for you. That is a huge job that just the idea of doing it would have me putting it off forever!

I've been thinking...what I really want, is the courage to follow my gut. I made the mistake of telling someone about the plan to paint the entryway pink, and I got that "Oh..." Then I found fabric I like for some chairs. For the pink entry. Looked at the swatch for a few days, decided it was the perfect thing, drove the 25 miles back to the fabric store, carefully measured it out with the chair pattern, bought it, brought it home, and my parting thought when I went to bed was that it would never work, the cats would shred it, it was the wrong weave, the wrong color, and would look like a hot mess. Today, not so much.

Very pretty, indeed. I love the fabric...It's great to know how to sew, you can save a ton of money and change things all the time! I have tons of fabrics as well...stored in big tubs that are stacked on top of one another in a large guest closet. It's a sickness. Next time I go to my wonderful fabric guys, I'm going to bring my camera. You won't believe how much fabric they have...they ship all over the world (not retail - wholesale)It's a fabric-holic dream... The place is huge...I went 2 weeks ago to look for my dining room chairs and went home with samples, but nothing was right. I'll have to go back another day, when I have more time to look. When I went, I said I wanted something for my dining room table to use for protection, so I don't have to use the pads all the time...He gave me a huge bolt of the stuff for free, He said here take it...They are so nice these two guys. They sell me stuff for 1/2 of what I pay in the fabric stores and give me extra too... :)