I have canning directions from a number of universities, Ball, Kerr, Presto, etc., dating back for over 20 years to the present. There have been many changes to the recommendations given by the various sources over the years. Example: pressure canning tomato juice in "Presto Cooker Canner, Directions and Recipes, 1978" lists no requirement for adding lemon juice or other acidification, and a recommended processing time for both pints and quarts is given as 15 lbs - 0 minutes. We've used that recipe over the years with no problems, but have since changed to other processing methods (processing time, acidification, pounds of pressure). It was only until a few years ago that we could find an "approved" method for preparing and canning vegetable tomato juice (V8?), but we've been canning quarts and 1/2 gallon jars of our own "V8", using our own directions which I've published here a number of years ago, for over 30 years! Jeez, did I get the nasty comments after posting that. And, the person that posted that the large canneries monitor the temperatures of each container in a batch, and conduct lab tests on products from each batch has certainly observed canneries other than the 10 or so I've visited. Getting back to recipes for half gallon jar recipes, I know it would be no big deal for a University that routinely conducts food safety testing and publishes "safe" recipes to conduct tests and provide recommendations for canning at least a limited number of recipes they standardize as to type and amount of each ingredient, etc. Heck, I can't believe that a great number of grad students haven't wanted to do just that!

I've never spoken to anyone there ,,, but while we're talking about them, I'll join in. On their website, it indicates that if you sign up, they'll send you email notices of EA shipments to your region. I've signed up for this service several times (using different email addresses) over the last couple of years and, to date, have never received a shipment notification. It'd be a great service, if it worked (it'd be nice to snag one of their hoyas before they're picked over or before the store starts to kill them off). Anyway, I've always wondered if anyone was successfully receiving shipping notifications from them? As an aside, today I was at Lowes and, of course, walked thru the plant section. They had an "royal flush" and a "mini waxleaf" loaded with blooms and buds. I couldn't believe it. I was so excited to finally see all those sweet little blooms in person ,,, it made my day!! :) Jennifer

Here are the trim options i have used - and what I like and don't like about them: Standard trim - round ring with spring loaded hanger: I found these trims to be the easiest to install. The down side is that if you use a smaller flood lamp - you can see right up into the back of the housing. You also have to adjust the sliding bracket inside the housing to get the bottom of the bulb in the right place - not a big deal but it does take some time to get them just right. When I use these - I make sure that the bulb is large enough and set so that it blocks the view into the back of the housing. Eyeball trim: installs like the standard trim above but has a clam shell like piece that allows you to swivel to direct the light. Works great when you don't want the light to shine directly down - maybe illuminate part of a wall. Baffle trim: these trim kits look like a cone. They are harder to install because you have to take off the sliding bracket inside the recessed housing (that has the bulb socket at the top) and snap the bulb socket into the top of the trim, then attach the trim with the spring loaded hangers. These reflect more light and cover up the back of the recessed housing. These tend to be more expensive than the standard ring trims - and I think they look the nicest of al lthe available trims. They are made for a certain flood lamp size and you don't have to mess with the slding bracket to get the bulb in the right place since the cone of the baffle determines the max length. You can also use smaller bulbs if you desire since the baffle blocks the view into the back of the housing. I have all of these trim types in my house using them for different applications. You can always start with the cheapest and upgrade later. Make sure you read the label inside the housing on maximum wattage. It will tell you the maximum bulb allowed when combined with the different trim types.

Cute Margaret... We has a Cockatoo doing the same thing one morning. I was out taking pics of my roses so had the camera hanging around my neck. We had no idea where it came from or who owned it..I first seen it around the side of the house. Then I walked around to the back of the house to go up the stairs and it followed me walking across the roof. It hung around all day but was gone the next morning, yours looks like its staying for awhile Lucky you.. Cheers..Misty