Q: Use honey or sugar to create a light to medium syrup to preserve the apricots inside the can. The syrup you need to prepare for a raw pack is the same as the syrup you need to prepare for a hot pack.  For every 1 qt (1 L) of water, add 2 cups (500 ml) sugar for a light syrup or 3 cups (750 ml) for a medium syrup. If using honey, for every 1 qt (1 L) of water, add 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) honey for a light syrup or 2 cups (500 ml) for a medium syrup. Boil the sweetener and water together in a saucepan until the sugar or honey dissolves. After it thickens into syrup, remove it from the heat. Alternatively, you could also use apple juice or white grape juice instead of a syrup. Use a kitchen knife to cut each apricot in half. Remove the pits, and if desired, cut the apricots into serving-size slices.  You may want to consider quickly dipping each half or slice in diluted lemon juice to prevent the fruit from discoloring or darkening. You will need 16 lb (7.2 kg) of fruit to create 7 qt (7 L) of canned fruit. For 9 pints (4.25 L), you will need about 10 lb (4.5 kg). Note that, for the raw pack method, you will not need to remove the skins. Just make sure that each piece of fruit has been washed well under running water first. Fill the jars with the apricot halves or slices, leaving about 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) of empty headspace at the top of each jar.  Place the fruit inside the jars cut-side-down. Doing so makes it easier to fit more fruit into each jar. Make sure the jars are clean and sanitized before use. The lids should also be clean and sterilized. Pour the warm syrup over the apricot slices in the jars. Gently shake the jar from side to side to ensure that syrup makes it all the way down to the bottom, and maintain the 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) of headspace at the top of the jar while filling them with syrup.  As the apricots undergo the canning process, the contents of the jar will expand. If you do not leave enough headspace at the top of the jar, the lid may not seal properly or the glass may even break. Screw on the lids once the syrup is in place. Make sure they are on as tight as possible so the cans seal correctly during the canning process. Use canning tongs to carefully lower each jar into your canner. Make sure the jars do not clink together as you arrange them since doing so can cause the glass to break. You can use a boiling-water canner, dial-gauge pressure canner, or weighted-gauge pressure canner, but the amount of processing time will vary depending on which method you use.  Note the processing times for raw-packed canned apricots will vary from those for hot-packed apricots when using boiling-water canners, but they will not vary if using pressure canners. For boiling-water canners:  Pints should be processed for 25 minutes at altitudes between 0 and 1000 feet (0 to 305 m), 30 minutes between 1001 and 3000 feet (305 to 915 m), 35 minutes at altitudes between 3001 and 6000 feet (915 to 1830 m), and 40 minutes above 6000 feet (1830 m). Quarts should be processed for 30 minutes at altitudes between 0 and 1000 feet (0 to 305 m), 35 minutes between 1001 and 3000 feet (305 to 915 m), 40 minutes at altitudes between 3001 and 6000 feet (915 to 1830 m), and 45 minutes above 6000 feet (1830 m).   When using a dial-gauged pressure canner, process both pints and quarts for 10 minutes. Use a pressure of 6 PSI for altitudes between 0 and 2000 feet (0 and 610 m), 7 PSI between 2001 and 4000 feet (610 and 1220 m), 8 PSI between 4001 and 6000 feet (1220 and 1830 m), and 9 PSI between 6001 and 8000 feet (1830 and 2440 m). When using a weighted-gauge pressure canner, process both pints and quarts for 10 minutes. Use a pressure of 5 PSI between 0 and 1000 feet (0 and 305 m) and 10 PSI for anything above 1001 feet (305 m).
A: Create a syrup for the apricots. Cut the apricots in half. Pack the jars with the apricots. Ladle the syrup into the jars. Process the cans.

Q: A solid sleep schedule is good for anyone's sleep hygiene, and may help improve rest when you're pregnant. You will fall asleep and wake up easier if you get yourself on a sleep schedule. This means going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time each day, even weekends. When your body is on a regular sleep/wake cycle, you'll get tired at night and then energetic in the morning. Indigestion and nausea are common problems during pregnancy. You can exasperate these issues if you eat a heavy meal before bed. Try to stick to light snacks in the hours leading up to bedtime and don’t eat within two to three hours of going to bed.  It may help to schedule your big meals around lunch and dinner. Eating a big breakfast and a heavy lunch can stave off feelings of hunger at night. If you're feeling hungry or nauseous before bed, try having a few plain crackers. This can fill up your stomach and may prevent nighttime nausea. It is important to avoid eating within two to three hours of going to sleep because this can increase your chances of developing heartburn. When you're pregnant, you will urinate more due to the baby pressing down on your bladder. It's a good idea to cut back on liquids in the hours leading up to bedtime. Fluid intake throughout the day is important, so do not neglect water during daytime hours. Simply cut back on fluids close to bedtime. Caffeinated beverages, like teas and coffees, are a particularly big culprit in keeping you awake at night. As you should limit your caffeine intake when pregnant, it may be a good idea to cut out caffeinated beverages altogether during your pregnancy. If you're having trouble sleeping, try relaxation exercises. They can get your mind off of the stress of your pregnancy, as well as any bothersome physical symptoms.  You can try a breathing exercise. Breathe in and out in slow, steady breaths. Focus on the air going in and out of your lungs. If there is any tension in your body, release that tension as you breathe. If your mind starts to wander, bring it back to the breath. Try guided imagery. Imagine a relaxing scenario, like a childhood home or an ideal vacation. Take a mental vacation to that place and try to let go of other thoughts. Imagine all aspects of your imagined getaway, including sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. Where you're sleeping can have an impact on the quality of your sleep. If you're struggling to sleep while pregnant, evaluate your room and make any necessary changes.  Try dimming the lights in your room before bed. This will alert your body that it's time to sleep. Make sure your room environment is relaxing. A room should be calm and peaceful. If your room is cluttered, this can make sleep difficult. Reduce any bothersome noise. If you live in a noisy neighborhood, use a fan or a noise machine to block out unwanted sounds. Keep your windows closed at night to reduce outside sound. Remove any blue light sources from your bedroom as well, such as TVs, computer screens, tablets, digital alarm clocks, and cell phones.
A:
Get on a sleep schedule. Avoid heavy meals before bed. Limit liquid intake close to bedtime. Practice relaxation techniques. Make sure you have a solid sleep environment.