  Everything is back to normal. We’re back to work and all WAS going well until the big press died. Now, it is lying in pieces, looking like a destroyed robot from Star Wars. Mr. Fix-It is doing the surgery but a thermonuclear discombobulator is needed and the only one that could be found must be ordered from…where else?…China. Actually, it is called a heat resistor thingy. Evidently, it’s an important thingy, too. Ah, technology! We have had a number of emails just recently, dealing with the subject of shipping. Personally, shipping is the bane of my existence. I wish that we could ship everything to everyone for free. But alas, I don’t do the lottery and haven’t won any millions so we can’t afford to give away the farm. Shipping expense is a reality with which Creating Concepts, Enterprises must deal. And on top of everything, unfortunately for all of us, shipping costs have gone up. We do not use UPS or FedEx because their charges for the size shipments we send out are ridiculous. In fact, their charge can be as much as $15 over what the US Postal Service charges us. And so, we use the US Postal Service Priority method almost exclusively. For international orders, First Class is used. First Class packaging is not available for the states. Everything is done by weight and for online orders, PayPal does its best to estimate as close as possible to accurate shipping charges. Sometimes, it misses the boat and nearly always it goes against us rather than the customer. In fact, we were rather sick awhile back when an order to Australia was estimated at $11 by PayPal and the actual shipping cost us $22.50. Not good. The fact is, shipping is high. Phone orders are more of an exact science for us because as soon as an order is processed and ready to ship, the customer credit card is charged with the exact amount on the shipping label. If you plan to order, doing so with a credit card by phone at 405-275-5639 will be the most accurate route. I, personally, feel badly when someone is unhappy with a shipping cost that they perceive is too high. A larger Oklahoma Pastry Cloth™ or multiple pastry cloths can be heavy and so cost more to ship. The mixes add up in weight as well. It doesn’t matter what box or bubble mailer is used, the weight is still the same, the location is assessed and the price goes up accordingly. Our Oklahoma Pastry Cloth™ is made of a heavy weight cotton, unlike the cheaper, lighter brands, so that it will last for years and years. It is not meant to be a throw away item but is meant to be a family treasure. So hopefully, this will better explain our shipping policy. I understand the groan of financial agony when a customer sees that shipping charge. It seems too high. But in order to use the US Postal Service, we have to pay the price – their price. We appreciate your understanding.  It’s time for another giveaway! And this is no April Fools joke. Since canning season is just around the corner, we are giving away a nice set of canning tools ready to be used! Starting today, leave a comment on any of the blog posts and you will be entered. If you have never posted at the blog before, don’t worry if your comment does not show up immediately. New posts must be approved by the moderator and then your post can be seen. The drawing will be two weeks from now on April the 15th – TAX DAY! Yayyyy. Good luck to everybody!!  |
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Tags: giveaway, Oklahoma Pastry Cloth, shipping
Love my pastry cloth! I grew up canning fruits, veggies, and jellies with my grandmother and mother; love the fragrance of dill, garlic, and vinegar!
I have been trying to get some survival food stored up . I am having a hard time finding out how long things will keep . One Gal says never use plastic.Another place says Regular metal canned food ,will keep indefinately. I have a pressure canner ,and I know about how long food that has been canned with this method. will last . I recently bought a dehydrator ,and plan on using that ,too, then vacuum packing in jars.Am I one the right track? Can you give me some suggestions? I have loved the demos of how you can your leftover Turkey and Ham. And I do plan on rotating everything. I trust you more than I do some of these folks on youtube.
So glad that you are enjoying your pastry cloth, Harriett! Yep, the fragrances of canning are addictive! You are entered.
Barbara, first off, dehydrating keeps things pretty much indefinitely. You can dehydrate items and vacuum pack them and you are good to go for a long time. Foods that are packed in metal cans with liquid will usually only last about 2 years and most home canned products are the same, except for butter, cheese, etc which can last a little longer. Rotating is definitely the key. There are a number of places where you can purchase dehydrated and freeze dried foods, http://beprepared.com and Honeyvillegrain.com being two of them. You can’t dehydrate meats unless they are jerkied. They can be freeze dried but not dehydrated. These companies have lots of varieties of meats that have been dehydrated. Email me at oklahomapastrycloth@oklahomapastrycloth.com if you need any more suggestions. Oh, and you are entered!
How was your trip? Can’t wait to see if Flat Stacy makes your blog.
I used to can all the time but haven’t in several years since moving to NE AR. It has been difficult to find fruits and vegetables at a reasonable price, but now that I have to go gluten free I find that I am going to have to get back to canning since can foods are out of the question. That is the only way I can know for sure that my foods are gluten free.
Hi Marybeth, So happy that you are up and running. I love your blog and your Pastry Cloths. Many of my family members have them and love them :)!
Hope you are feeling well and that you will enjoy Spring – Yay, it’s finally here!
Hugs, Ruth
Please add my name to the giveaway. I love the blog and always look forward to seeing what you are up to.
Hi Marybeth, you have a great blog! I wanted to let you now that I was able to pin this post to Pinterest. Thanks for having a great giveaway.
Barb
Yes, Carol, Flat Stacy will be making the blog! 🙂 Writing a couple of posts today and will get them up one at a time. There are so many pictures that it is taking me a bit of time. You are entered.
Thank you Ruth!! You are an encouragement. And you are entered!
Nancy, your name has gone into the pot!! 🙂
Thank you for reading the blog.
Ooo! Thanks, Barb! You are so smart. It sure took me awhile to figure the Pinterest thing out!! Thank for entering the giveaway and for taking the time to “Pin” it.
Shipping…bleh….I am shipping care packages to darling daughter. You are right, usps priority mail is the best/easiest. “If it fits, it ships”. Not cheap, but then none is.
Now for the giveaway….Oh how wonderful! I was going to start canning! Mom did it every year! Pickled okra, brandied peaches…and several years back I even put up salsa! So wonderful, but it really has been ages and I do need a refresher! Please add my name to the giveaway drawing!
thanks!
frankie
You are added to the entries, Frankie!! You do need to start canning. You’ll love yourself. 🙂
Oh MaryBeth,
Yet another wonderful giveaway! I started canning several years ago and it is quite addicting! I just love seeing those colorful jars add up on the shelves!
Please enter me into your giveaway, and if I can figure out the pinning thing I will most certainly do that too!
Hugs,
Laurie
Laurie, you are entered and if you want to pin the give away, if you have a Pinterest account, just click on the Pin It button and then pick what board you want to put it on. Good luck!
Yay!!!! I love canning season! Please enter me in your wonderful give away!
Sure thing, Kim!!
Another great giveaway – now if you will just loose everyone else’s entry and just leave mine, I just might win – or maybe not (lol) Thanks for all the good recipes. I have actually used some of them…
Right, Judy! THAT would be fair – not. 🙂 You are entered and good luck.
Honeyville grain was mentioned in a posting above, and I’d like to point out that they are having a 20% off sale that will start in a few days…for those who are always searching for ways to avoid paying full price.
Thank you, STCJ! Pay attention everybody. That’s a great deal!!
Today we enjoyed biscuits for lunch made from your Shawnee Mills mix. Recently I learned on NPR’s The Splendid Table show that biscuit dough should be fairly wet. In the past I used a lot of flour to roll out the dough, but today, just a bare minimum. Thanks to my Oklahoma Pastry cloth the dough did not stick and the biscuits were great!
Yummy!! Glad you like the mix. 🙂
I have been working on my masters for the past two years along with working full time. Due to this, I have not had my usual garden or been able to can. I am so excited that I will be able to resume both activities this summer! There is such a feeling of accomplishment, looking at the food saved for the winter!
Good for you, Jessica!! And you are entered, so you might win the tools to help you do that!! 🙂
I amnew to your site, but it lookslike it has a lot of great info. I have never done any canning, but this year I want to can my tomatoes and make strawberry jam. I look forward to lots of reading. Thanks.
Thanks for stopping by, Monica! I hope we the blog will be a big help. And thanks for entering the give away!
I get so much email, and it takes up so much of my time that I have decided that Oklahoma Pastry Cloth is all I really need. Plan to get a dehydrator and also do some canning this summer, using, of course, all the wonderful tips from your blog. I hope this old dog can learn some new tricks.
Well, thank you, Janice!! Maybe you will win a new set of canning tools for that endeavor. 🙂 So appreciate you reading the blog!!
I’m glad you wrote this! My mom was wanting to take me out for my birthday next week; I think we should go here 🙂
I agree!! Perfect place for a birthday. 🙂 And you are entered.