Is the salt an added preservative??? I would check with Ball/Mason to see what they recommend..I'm sure they have online sites to check also...I know they have "no salt added" to alot of canned items today but is there another preservative added to compensate for that???

I'm getting ready to visit Dsis for a couple of days...making sure I get a haircut this tme...I'm leaving in one hour...have to beat the Labor Day traffic....Later guys....

Jan, Where are you??? QuiltE too!

Blue book for canning does not mention salt. I would rather not add salt in canning, if I can add it later in cooking it up with noodles or dumplings.

Celebrating, Jeanie. Its been quite a while since you have been able to get into your kitchen. Celebrate!! Good news indeed!

Good to hear Jeanie you can finally cook again :D :D Please share pics when your kitchen is all done. Would love to see it!

QNS--salt only if you want to. I add just a 1/2 t of table salt to my beef. The pressure canning process takes care of any need to use salt as a preservative.

This is what Penn State says about using salt
http://extension.psu.edu/food/preser...tes-in-canning

Okay Jeanie what are you bringing to the RV to celebrate next week now that you will really be able to cook.

DIL and I froze over 30 qts of corn today. DH and DS did help with the shucking and the bagging. Good job to get done.

Thanks, OK, I thought you would know. Although I never left home until I married, I just don't remember everything that Grandma did with her canning.

I never have managed to 'copy' her mincemeat recipe, she was German-Dutch and the recipe died with her. Not other family member alive today tasted her mincemeat that could help me. She used suet, gooseberries, and in the adult version, brandy. DD discovered my cooking brandy the last time she was here with her dh, much to their enjoyment...I have been known for a long married life of a 'dry' and free of any liquor in the house. But to every rule there's an exception and mincemeat attempts were the exception. An incident of three young cousins losing their parents and youngest member of their family to a 'drunken driver' when I was a teenager made an impression on me that I have never forgotten. It was later proven that the driver had suffered a heart attack and it was the combination of being at the wrong place at the wrong time killed them all. That is why it was called an 'accident'. The three children got excellent settlement from it but it never made up for the lost of the their parents and youngest sibling of four years old. So I learned at an early age how life could change in a moment of time.

Celebrate life. Enjoy your loved ones.

Jumping in here to say ***hellloooooooooooooo***


Now I'm off to read the many pages since I was last here!
(and hopefully to see some beautiful eye candy too!) :D:D:D:D

wheeeeeeeeee!!!! what beautiful eye candy MBs, and quilts!

JeanieG ... have I missed something? that you have a new machine? what? Your quilting is lovely, great flowers! Watch out, DD suggesting the blue binding, is a sure sign that she wants her name on that quilt! :D I really like its soft and gentle look. I'm sure you feel like you've got the Best.News.Ever with the renos/rebuilds ends in sight!

OKSGlad ... get your thinking cap on again ... I've been thinking of the burlap idea, and in colours too. I see burlap as bulky and wrinkled when unpacked each time. So ... What would take minimal space when packed between use and come out and look virtually wrinkle free? Covering those milk crates are the worse part of set up ... thin plastic, and needing to gift wrap them to perfection ... something pre-made would be oh so wonderful. Grrrrrrreat Classification News! Congratulations!! :D Should I be calling John and Nancy with updates? :D Looks like Corn Day was a real family "bonding" experience ... and soon there'll be the other Corn Days to bond over! :D

DublB ... who should I congratulate for your latest MB?

QNSue ... Glad that your eye problem was just an eyelash. Please please pleeeeeeeease slow down and let your body build up strength for your surgery and likewise after. I know you feel you have to do it ALL, though you want to "see" the results. Letting somethings slide for now, will pay great rewards. Your Dr. knows best! Tahiti Mist is looking grand.

DDamsel ... **tucking you in with a real cosy quilt** for some of that much needed sleep. I'm sure the Dr.'s orders include some extensive quilting time all for YOU! :D Pupppieeeeeeeeees!!! So much fun to come for you and the kids!! (my Dalmatian was from a litter of 13!)

GGal ... what a good looking family! You deserve to be proud, and how things turned out is a testament to you, for the love you have given over the years. I'm so happy that the six of you were able to turn a difficult sad situation (and I'm sure as the Ex, somewhat awkward for you!) into one with such positive and uplifting memories. Your DS/DDIL quilt is beautiful and knowing all the work you have put into it, will make it even more special to them.

Honchey ... you must be St.Grandma with all the special things you do for your Grands! Looks like you figured our DH's "need" to check the NC house more often! BTW .... you had me chuckling and wondering just what you two 'lovebugs" are up to all day!!!!!!!! :D

Anael ... your pic of the 3 SewGrands is SewGrand! :D




Guess I should have broken this post into several posts, to up the numbers, and bring us in closer to the 6 grand marker! :D

Have been missing all of you and our chatter. It's been a busy few weeks .... and the humidity has been absolutely horrible. No end in site, at least til after the EX is over with!

Should be around here tmro/Friday ... wonder if I can get some time with my machine? :D

Hi everyone I am home but oh so tired, will catch up with you all tomorrow.

Beautiful MB Honchey, now for a group pic please..

Great machine Jeanie, it looks like it has a large (or big - I never know) harp?

Mirabelle, welcome back. I hope you sleep well tonight!

Still up, can't seem to settle tonight so am watching my team play football:D and we're winning

You're like my mom who couldn't sleep after an eventful day :)

:D:D I'm still here, and there is only 6 days before retreat, tomorrow I had better get my butt into gear. I thought I was organised but 2 days with DD and other ideas are spinning around in my head.. Must stick to plan, must not deviate from plan, plan is good, plan will get quilt finished, do not start anything new..at least that is what I am telling myself tonight:D Good night

Hahahaha I told myself not to do anything else before finishing Ode to my Mom. Untill now I'm sticking to that plan. You can do it.......you can do it........:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeanieG (Post 6263325)

If I still have apples on my tree, I'm dying for a Caramel Apple Cake!

QuiltE - here is a photo of my new sewing machine. It is a straight stitch only Brother 1500s that I picked up on Craigs List for $400.00. It is only a few years old. It is a mechanical machine, I love it and leave it set up for quilting. I am using my Baby Lock, that I had been using for quilting as my main piecing machine, and am putting the lightweight Brother in the motorhome for when we travel. I also have a Singer 503, that I bought in 1962. It is the only sewing machine I owned until I bought the little Brother four years ago when I started quilting again. Gads, since then I have bought the Baby Lock and this new Brother!

---

mmmmmmmmmmm .... can't wait for the cake!! :D

Great machine ... I don't know the Brother, but that one looks a lot like the Janome 1600P that is only straight stitch and it's known as a real work horse. The two of you are becoming a perfect quilting pair. Good for your for leaving your machines set up. I think that's the trick (when it's do-able), to be able to hop from one to the other without having to take the time to set up. I'm now leaving my old smaller machine set up all the time too ... great for that odd row of stitching (aka clothing repair jobs) in the midst of another project. Or when I want to join some batting scraps and not change the settings when I have them "just right"!! :D



MiraB ... I wouldn't settle watching football, either! :D:D:D And then, after such an exciting day and night before ... I'm sure you are "thinking" lots too! And then to be running a mile-a-minute as you think and re-arrange your retreat plans! Yea, right ... convince us that you are sticking with the original one!!! :D



Anael ... and how soon will you break from THE plan? Though I do see that you are almost ready to join Ode into one large piece! :D Once you start that, you will not want to stop, as you will get totally excited to see how it is coming together.

It is always so much fun to catch up with all you're doing!

I too am trying not to start something new until after the 1st of the year. SYE doesn't count since I started that already. :) I almost have the 2nd block done, then back to quilting a little at a time. PT says no more than 30mins before taking a break, then I have to get up and do a couple stretches/exercises before another 30mins. Since I tried sewing longer (like a couple afternoons in a row) and my shoulder flared up again, she doesn't want me sewing more than an hour a day. :( I keep coming up with excuses to stop the timer (you know like "cutting isn't sewing") LOL But still trying to be good. It has been really hot this week so that has helped to keep me out of the clubhouse some...the a/c has a hard time keeping up when it is over 90 plus the heat index.

MiraB ... just 20 to go! :D

Mirabelle is asleep......at leat she should :D :D
So you have to post those 19!!
I'm still sticking to the plan. I made half a block today but had company this afternoon. I will finish that one tonight or tomorrow, after that only 2 to go. But both with applique :(

Carrie, please take good care of yourself. No excuses!!

Jeanie, caramel apple cake........can't wait!

Anael ... A few more hours and MiraB should be wide awake ... and perhaps make the momentous post? So by the time I come back next week, I sense you will have an Ode Flimsy!!! :):):)

CarrieM and MiraB ...There's a thread today about the Oliso iron and I was thinking of the two of you ... if you don't have it already, I am thinking it could be beneficial for your shoulders. I went thru quite a round with my shoulder for awhile and thanks to the chiro, got it back in good order. However, her suggestion had been to iron with my other hand. She agreed that would not work, as she knew how clutsy she would be herself!!! :D Thankfully her DSis is a quilter ... so she totally understood my "need" for quilting (and ironing). I know when my current iron dies, I'll be thinking pretty serious about buying one.

Heck, maybe the two of you could get it on "Dr's Orders" ... and have it covered by insurance! :D



:D:D:D:DBetter still ........ let's wake up the ol' sleepyhead, MiraB!!!!!:D:D:D:D

Hush, QuiltE let Mirabelle get her ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZs. She sews circles around most of us and I love to see her work; its all so fabulous!

I am waiting, QuiltE, to see a picture of your sewing machine, and sewing room!!.

QuiltE, you listen to QNS and let MiraB sleep !!! Oh maybe it's daytime over there again already or almost. I'm not sure. It's 10.30 pm here now.

Tomorrow I will finish the block I started today and maybe do another one. Have to run errands and having dinner at #2 son's. We exchange food :D I bring him red peppers and I get a meal LOL LOL.

She'll soon be up .... I think it's about 7 or 8 am there now ... Would that be right MiraB?

**putting the coffee on for MiraB**

Maybe the aroma will waken her! :D:D:D

:D:DAlright alright I am up:D:D it is 7am and haven't had my coffee yet, just thought I would see who was chatting. Now I can't see for the tears of laughter, :p:D

Just going to have some breakfast, lots of coffee and start my day, have to go to the grocery store and then home to finish unpacking the car, do some laundry and I will chat to you all later.

Be good QuiltE and don't wake anybody else up, we need our beauty sleep, me more than anyone:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

**passes MiraB her morning Java Fix**

I win I win ... I got MiraBs time right!! :D:D:D
I bet it was the coffee brewing that got you up and going! :D

Oh I don;t have to be good .... the rest are here in North America, so no one should be ready for bed YET! :)

Though I'll soon be gone til ........... let's see ....... probably Tuesday, though it may not be til Thurs or Friday, when I see what all is on the Agenda after we pull out of The EX!

Toodles for now ... this time I am really gone!
only 11 left for you MiraB! :D:D:D

Hello Dublb--good to "see" you. :)

I finished my 2nd SYE block today and also finished quilting the last row on the airplane quilt (finally)...now just need to add borders...only the propeller border will need quilting. I even was good and didn't sew more than the allowed hour.

Good for you Carriem, but I bet you are learning to sew really really fast:D

Have a safe trip QuiltE chat to you when you get back, where are the marshmallows??? did you take them with you...

Mirabelle, I had some more coffee. I don't know if it helped :D :D
I added some pictures to the Ode to my Mom thread. I thought I only had 1 block to go but I have to make 2. One applique and one pieced and applique. I should have done the applique blocks first.

Marshmallows? Where? Who has them?

Carrie how did you finish a Spike block and quilting a row within 1 hour? We should call you Speedy Carrie :D

I didnt miss it??? wow, I thought it would be here and gone and I would sleep through the fireworks!

Anael--I just had a few pieces left to add to the SYE block #2 and then joining the 6 sections. For quilting it was outlining 3 planes and then just 4 "x's" in the little blocks....sounds like a lot more than it really was. :)

Today I hope to get the 1st border on...

We just got home from lunch (Red Lobster) and I got the mail...my pretty MB from D_D came today!! :)

D_D--you may have had trouble pp'ing, but it turned out great. Thanks!! This block will hopefully help to prepare you a little for the SYE blocks.

What a great assortment Carrie! DD did a great job especially with those stripes.
DH and I spending quality time doing chores tonight so guess I will miss the odometer mileage pass six zero zero zero. Remember watching those momentous mileages change!

Howdy there, all. Dublb, have fun tonight grilling with your friend.

I sound this old walling piece we made in Texas...cowpoke, boots and behind the secret window...what you see on a trail ride horse back...the rear of another horse!![ATTACH=CONFIG]433422[/ATTACH]Foxy guy is on the right, before he gained all his weight!