Not sure of the growth factor this year but have been happily counting the new eyes,pips or what ever they are suppose to be called.McTavish just got back with her new stash anong with her sister and they are happily weeding and waking up her plants. The Golden Tiara she gave me last spring has 69 shoots just popping out of the ground but not sure what it was when she gave it to me. It was the start of my addiction and to date I have hit the over 100 plant mark but really I am not hooked.... oh and eat your hearts out ..Myrle brought me five new ones including Empress Wu and her sister gave me two ( one had been on my want list)The other hosta that has a high count and purchased last fall is Pilgrim and has 20 eyes. I can hardly wait!!!! I have never seen then in full growth. I am on hosta bed #5 and #6 waiting for the last frost surprises to plant my newest babies and have done a running count of all of them that are up

ABCGIRL It's okay. I was just worried that I hadnt heard from you. I have an update but its not much of one! According to usps.com the package has not been received. Here is what the website says: You entered 0103 8555 7494 0595 0839 The U.S. Postal Service was electronically notified by the shipper or shipping partner on May 12, 2005 to expect your package for mailing. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later. Not sure why it is taking this long to get the package to abitodd. If she doesnt get it soon I guess I will mail the original robin out to her. Not sure what else to do. Sheena

Cooper, thanks! Those bowls are hand turned wood from Vermont. We used to drive by their outlet store on the way to and from DD's piano camp every summer. Bella, best years and debbbi, the FLOR is pretty amazing actually. I think the best part is that you can pull pieces, clean them, move them around....very kid/pet friendly. Before I even attached them with the sticky dots, I had the squares laid out and they did not move. I was amazed. The rubber backing and the weight of them (they are heavy) combines to create a stable situation. Parma, I think you're right about the red and too many flat surfaces. That's an interesting point...will have to remember that. It would have worked but this just feels more balanced. The funny thing is, there is no red in the carpet at all and yet it works... Ingrid, I think you're right about the painting. I think red on the floor would have drowned out the faux-Matisse. Debbi, the bookcase decision received a lot of input from this board, too! I was looking at different wood colors and just threw out red on a lark. A few people here nibbled but it was DH who made the decision, actually. The adjacent kitchen cabinets (like 2 feet away adjacent!) are espresso, so red was the "only" choice. :-) Jenny, I have to say that pink is not usually my first choice color, but I was looking for something that would work with chocolate or vanilla! It's from Pot Luck Studios. (Another outlet purchase.) Susan, those bookcases are used. A lot! Cookbooks, paint fandecks, camera gear, binoculars for birdwatching, and general stashing of things. This little brown loveseat has sort of become my home office! Fly, you're so right about the pillow! Too bad my dogger likes to snuggle on that one. It is not long for this world. There is also a painting on the other side of the room, something I bought in Florida, which has all the colors of the FLOR in it. It is amazing. Here's a little cropped version from a photo of the old house. Lousy pic, but you get the idea... As for the edges, they feel pretty good. The rug is next to the sunporch door and that's the door we use to put the dog out umpteen times a day. So, we will know very soon if the edges are as strong as they feel. I will say the rug feels complete. I don;t have a sense that it should be bound. Sable, thanks so much for what I consider high praise! I am always striving for a more contemporary look ad keep getting dragged back by all my traditional stuff. I had thought I might "start over" in this new place, but the economy said No. Mona, you are sweet to say that! :-) I do feel really at home in this space, so I guess it is all working. CT, the funny thing about those chairs is that they're a leftover from the Florida decor. I am in New England now and wasn't sure they would stay pale blue. (The piping is parrot green...eeek!) But the rug somehow makes them work and now I can keep them as they are. I suppose that means I should consider replacing the 15 y.o. tab top curtains on tensions rods, huh?! ;-)

Finally wrapping up this minor project that has taken forever! Wallpaper is here and installer is coming on Thursday. I can’t wait! Also, after much thought, I ordered a dusty rose colored quilt set because I just wasn’t loving the beige. The wallpaper: The quilt: BTW, I love the black cabinet from Ballard. Great quality and it’s serving exactly the purpose I needed.