Gorgeous photos, Chaz! I can't choose a favorite! I am leaning toward the night bloomer, though! Or maybe the red Hibiscus... The form of your night bloomer is unreal! I did not expect it to look quite like that! I had imagined a more cacti-looking form, closely hugging the pot... if you know what I mean! Wow! That's amazing! It's the one plant I really haven't taken the time to closely research... I can see I need to get on that, and learn more! The red Hibiscus is really beautiful! Our local Lowe's has some red flowered ones in large pots, but they're too high priced right now... I thought I'd try to grab one when the price went down a bit... call me cheap! In my gardens, Hibiscus are more the focal plant type, and I really don't have room for another... but I'd make an exception for the red! Your gardens look terrific, Chaz! I'm happy it all worked out good in the end! You guys have done a fabulous job on your yard! I can see all the hard work that went into it, all the stone work, all the pathways, all the planting and choosing of plants... it's a beautiful scene! Plants continue to surprise me with their ability to adapt and survive adverse conditions... most cope pretty well, I find. Notice how the weeds cope even better? LOL! Anyway... I'm happy that you're happy with the end results, and I'm glad I could be a small part of it... don't hesitate to ask for anything else you'd like that I might have... I'm glad to share! Nice job, Chaz! Great photos!

Ah, there are the pics. Figured it out. You can see the dramatic difference in size a little better now. True to first year it sleeps, second year it creeps, third year it leaps. Thanks for the compliments. I agree they look healthy and happy, but in years past they were watered every morning. I think I've watered them maybe 5 times this summer because workmen trampled on and broke my watering system. They're made of stern stuff! I don't think I put the usual 10-10-10 on them in the spring either. I pruned them before I took the pictures. They're shooting up new buds that are now above my head. I never expected them to grow to such a height. I may prune much more aggressively in the future. I think my soil is naturally acidic so I didn't do anything to get the blue color. And naturally, I wish I had some pink hydrangeas. ha. # #

Its standard here for marble flooring, we go to the warehouse to pickup a slab usually around 8'x5' or more then discuss the final tile cut size to minimise wastage before the installer drylay the marble in the factory to arrange the veining (also to place less desirable tile under furnitures etc). I'm in the process of laying 27"x51" size marble tile for my flooring, still deciding whether to have the veins move vertically into my room or horizontally across it.

Don't put anything off! DH and I used to let the kids trash their bedrooms and then we'd b*tch and moan but not really make them do much of anything. A week before school started, I deep cleaned their bedrooms. Threw out everything that was broken or really old. I organized everything---bought them some extra plastic stacking storage bins for the closets, etc. NOW---religiously---every night they are expected to clean up and put everything away. DH and I have been really good about not letting them say "oh, can't I do it tomorrow?" We don't care if they make a big mess when playing but we just remind them that whatever is taken out HAS to be put away that night before bed. I do the same for myself! I do not let dirty dishes sit in the sink overnight. Sometimes after dinner, I just don't feel like doing them, so I will stack them in the sink. But come 9-10 pm I make sure to thouroughly clean up the ktichen---load the dishwasher, run it, wipe down the stove, counters, etc. I just FEEL better when it's clean when I go to bed---and wake up, of course! The other thing I struggle with is laundry---namely, folding it and putting it away. I am TERRIBLE about leaving the clothes in the dryer and just getting them out of there as I need them. What I've done in the last few months is to sort/fold them on the couch while watching tv with DH. Then I have a distraction while I sort and fold, which helps immensely. I make different piles--ie, my closet, DH's t-shirt drawer, DD's room, SS's room, etc. We have all hardwood floors and I notice I really need to sweep every other day. Frankly, every day would probably be better. Stuff gets tracked in, the kids have sand in their shoes from the playground, etc. I try to sweep at least every other day. It is hard! I feel your pain. I am always amazed at how the house can from looking GREAT to a disaster zone in a matter of hours! It's frustrating!