Thanks... when we went back to the site the framers had removed the strips so I guess they figured out that the windows are supposed to be mulled. I guess we'll find out when the windows show up. sue36, yes, they had 2x4s in the window spaces but as thomas mentioned, I think this would have increased the spacing between the windows more than on those that are factory mulled. Since I don't know what's involved in "mulling" a window I can't say for sure. Time will tell.

Thanks for the additional info. FOAS, when I read your post it reminded me of an incident that occured at a mexican restaurant when my kids were very small. We don't usually get dessert out, but we had a gift card or coupon or something, and we ordered 2 servings of fried ice cream to share, which came out with the plates flaming. My husband & I were eating ours & we thought it was very good, but our kids weren't eating theirs & we didn't know why. Well, finally we tasted theirs, and we had the wrong plate! Theirs had the alcohol on the dessert, while ours had it in a larger surrounding plate so it would still flame. The kids are teens now, but still not of drinking age. Your suggestion sounds very good. We're in for a blizzard - maybe we can make some snow ice cream! (I have the saurbraten marinating, but there is still some mulled wine left over.)

Cooking2day, I actually purchased the metal grinding parts, Dad built the wooden frame for me and put it together. It works really well but after this year when the apples were so plentiful Elery is threatening to motorize it. (grin) Diane, my apples make perfectly good pies and juice, I make Nancy's Apple Maple Jam and apple butter and sauce and any that is left over are happily consumed by the cows and horses. There is never any left for the deer! islay, apple juice here is usually cooked, which happens when I can it, and the fresh raw stuff is cider. The flavor is just so much different. Here, if it's alcoholic we call it "hard" cider. It's all good, that's for sure. Cathy, the cows didn't have any problems at all eating those apples, did they? And the goats wouldn't eat them? Any goats I've ever met would eat anything, including cigarettes, gloves and pieces of paper. Madonna, I'm intact but we did have a confirmed tornado in my county that did quite a bit of damage, and nearly half a million people in Michigan were without power. The power companies are saying that it might be Friday before everyone is back on and there is a lot of damage, flooding, trees down on houses, roofs are ruined. Most of the schools were closed today for structural problems and there is no power anyway. Wind was measured at 70MPH just south of me. It was a pretty wild night, but I'm fine and my power is on. I've got a couple days worth of yard cleaning to do and we've got some barn repair at the farm but that's minor compared to other damage. Now, definitely get your cider press out of the barn. If it's cast iron it can be sandblasted if it's really bad, or scrubbed clean if it's not. The metal parts for mine cost more than I want to admit, and if you try to buy one new, well, Happy Valley has one like mine but with two slatted baskets for the everyday low price of $930.00. Just the metal parts are $575.00. I see them periodically on Craigslist but they want hundreds of dollars for them. So, definitely dig that out, if for no reason other than they are a very saleable and expensive item, you've got treasure in that old barn! Annie

APPLE CIDER DONUTS 3 Tbsp. sugar for preparing pans 2 cups all-purpose white flour 1 1/2 t. baking powder 1 1/2 t. baking soda 1/2 t. salt 2 t. ground cinnamon 1 large egg lightly beaten 2/3 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 cup apple butter 1/3 cup pure maple syrup 1/3 cup apple cider 1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt 3 T. vegetable oil,preferably canola oil GLAZE 1/4 cups sifted powdered sugar 1 t. pure vanilla 1/4-1/3 cup pure maple syrup DONUTS Preheat oven to 400 degrees Coat molds of a mini-Bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray or oil. Sprinkle with sugar, shaking out excess. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon and set aside. In another bowl, whisk together egg, brown sugar, apple butter, maple syrup, cider, yogurt and oil. Add dry ingredients and stir just until moistened. Divide half the batter among the prepared molds, spooning about 2 generous tablespoonfuls of batter into each mold. BAKEfor 10 to 12 minutes, or until the tops spring back when touched lightly. Loosen edges and turn the cakes out onto a rack to cool. Clean the mini-Bundt pan, then re-coat it with oil and sugar. Repeat with the remaining batter. GLAZE In a bowl, combine confectioner's sugar and vanilla. Gradually whisk in enough maple syrup to make a coating consistency. Dip the shaped side (underside) of the "doughnuts" in the glaze to coat. Then set them, glazed-side up on a rack over wax paper for a few minutes until the glaze has set. Good luck!