Well then, that must have been my problem because I did double the recipe!! I didn't realize you couldn't! I know you're not supposed to fool around with amounts in recipes so you keep the acid ratio correct, but where this was just strawberries and sugar and nothing else in the recipe I figured it was ok! I guess not! And I measured out 4 quarts of whole strawberries. The recipe was 2 quarts of strawberries and 6 cups of sugar. It didn't say to cut them or mash them before measuring - in fact (I'm remembering off the top of my head here as I don't have the book with me) it said to crush the strawberries one layer at a time and then to mix with the sugar, so it sounded to me like you measured the whole strawberries, then crushed them and that's what I did. I'm not going to fuss with what I already made - as I said, it won't go to waste as hubby will use it as pancake topping - we've even been known to plop a spoonful of jam in a bowl of oatmeal, so this stuff will work for that as well. But I'm glad I spoke up because for future adventures in jam, I wouldn't have known any of this and would probably have given up on it if I kept failing! And I thought it was weird that the jam recipe that used the pectin used an extra cup of sugar from the one without pectin. I've learned so much from just this thread - thanks so much guys! I want to take my next adventure into the realm of peaches! Peach jam sounds yummy and if I fail again, hubby does like peaches, so he'll have more pancake topping than he knows what to do with lol!! Lisa

And now, perhaps, we should start a discussion on drinking. At what age, how much, when, what drinks....I'm with Colette on this one. She wrote that as a young girl, she (like other French children), regularly drank wine. Of course, it was highly watered down, to the point of being completely innocuous. The point, however, was that drinking alcohol was an integral part of family meals. No mystique to it, and no special status as the thing you finally got to have when you became an adult. Or, as is so often the case here in the U.S., the thing you sneak and binge on as a teen. This has nothing to do with anyone's guilt or responsibility in the case. It's a completely separate topic, so I don't expect to see anyone twisting my words on it or attempting to infer meaning that isn't there. OK? :) I simply think Americans' attitudes toward drinking might make for an interesting discussion.

Assuming you did your tests as described, it does appear reasonable to suspect that this could be related to the installation of the smart meter. Without getting into all the debate about smart meters, and only looking at the possible way the meter could affect something connected to your wiring, there are really just two possibilities. One, could be noise on the wiring caused by something like a poor connection in the meter base from oxidation on the socket contacts, which may just require it to be reseated. Do you have any flickering in your home lighting? Two, would be if, as weedmeister suggested, the power company is using PLC - power line carrier/communication - for the link. The are a number of communication options available that are being deployed often depending on geography, the number of meters, and the utility wiring infrastructure. The most common are RF wireless access point, RF relay network, RF mesh network. They all typically transmit in the 900-925MHz range and would not be a source of your problem. There is however PLC which is used in some areas. The data is modulated on an analog carrier between 10-500kHz over the power lines and could, although highly unusual, possibly be the cause of your problem. You said the problem does not occur on your UPS power but if is not an "always-on" UPS, the most it could be doing is using it's EMI filter to remove any interference. Your next step would probably be to call the utility company, but first you may wish to find out the type of communication method used by the smart meter to the utility in case it could be PLC related.

50 Odd Things about you! If you opened this, FILL IT OUT! Learn 50 things about your friends, and let them learn 50 things about you! Do you like blue cheese? Yes 2. Have you ever smoked heroin? Never 3. Do you own a gun? No 4. Your favorite song? theme from "a Summer Place" and the Animals "House of the Rising Sun" 5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? No, over the past 10 years I have been to so many appointments I just take all in stride. I think "positive" and so far...all has been something I can/will survive. My motto: "this too shall pass" and my family/friends support has helped me over the hurdles 6. What do you think of hot dogs? Great food at the baseball park 7. Favorite Christmas Song? Traditional..."Silver Bells" Religious..."Silent Night" Fun.."I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa" 8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Coffee 9. Can you do 10 push ups? I doubt it 10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I have several pieces that are my favorite 11. Favorite hobby? Reading 12. Secret weapon to get the opposite sex? SPORTS...however; KNOW what you are talking about...Grand Slams and Touchdowns are NOT the same sport 13. Do you have A.D.D? Not that I am aware off 14. What one trait do you hate about yourself? My height 4'11" 15. Middle name? Kay 16. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? 1) Concern for my sister/family in Texas 2.) How I am going to pay the past due bills my DH neglected 3.) How my soldier, Jon is going to handle Iraq 17. Name 3 things you bought yesterday? 1) Groceries, Gas and toilet paper 18. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? 1) Water, 2) Coffee, 3.) Miller Lite 19. Current worry right now? Sister/family in Texas 20. Favorite place to be? My bedroom in total QUIET 21. How did you bring in the New Year? LOUDLY with family 22. Where would you like to go? Cancun, Mexico or Italy 23. Name three people who will complete this: ???? 24. Do you own slippers? Yes, a pair with a Breast Cancer Ribbon on them 25. What color shirt are you wearing? Blue 26. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No, prefer flannel SATIN SHEETS ARE FOR CRYING ON 27. Can you whistle? Yes, the regular way and using my fingers 28. Favorite color? Blue 29. Would you be a pirate? No 30. What songs do you sing in the shower? I don't sing in the shower. 31. Favorite girl's name? Adeline (grandbaby's name...but I have always loved Paige Nicole) 32. Favorite boy's name? Philip and Jonathan (my sons names) 33. What's in your pocket right now? Lint probably 34. Last thing that made you laugh? My life is in such turmoil I don't know 35. Best bed sheets as a child? Growing up in the 60's and 70's no such thing as "themed bedding" 36. Worst injury you've ever had? A broken left foot that I walked on for 3 weeks before I had an MRI (x-ray didn't show a break/fracture)revealing 2 broken bones under all the "top" bones in your foot. I was in hard cast for 8 weeks, air cast for 4 and a walking boot for 2 37. Do you love where you live? I LOVE the Nevada desert. I can't stand to be cold....give me heat, I can always undress 38. How many TVs do you have in your house? 3 too many 39. Who is your loudest friend? Everyone would probably agree it's ME 40. Do you have a dog? Yes, Cheebah....Bull Mastif/Pit Bull mix...gentle and most loving dog...nothing like her breeds 41. Does someone have a crush on you? heck if I know 42. Favorite cartoons? Anything Disney 43. Who is your favorite author? I have 3....Sidney Sheldon, Danielle Steele or Nicholas Sparks 44. What is your favorite candy? Snickers or Baby Ruth 45. Your favorite Sports Team? Football: Dallas Cowboys Basball: Atlanta Braves 46. What song do you want played at your funeral? My wishes are...NO FUNERAL...take that $$$$ and have a good time remembering ME and all our good times 47. What were you doing 12 AM last night? Sleeping 48. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? Coffee, I need/want coffee...thank goodness I have an automatic timer 49. If you could work any kind of a job what would you? What I am doing now.....Party Rentals...I help "spend" other peoples $$$$ so they can have a great time and look good in their guests eyes 50.) Trait about yourself if you could you would change? ummmmmmmmmmm Maybe NOT to be soooooo forgiving Next?