Whoops, missed this, thanks for answering Poochella! Jim, Two more new shoots have peeked out of the soil, boy if you don't look at it for a couple of days the plant really changes doesn't it? My next door neighbor on the other side of my house likes how it looks, so we're going to put some in the area between our houses. Since the bamboo you gave me will take a few years to fill in the other side we'll look for some other type to mix things up a bit. Kind of addicting isn't it. Kendal

A2gemini, thank you for the kind words! I love your kitchen and had spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to make the Rixi work as it looks so gorgeous in your kitchen (and Ellendi's!). If you click in the picture, that should take you to a few more pictures at different angles, etc. I also showed some close ups of the edge we switched to which was more of a rounded edge with a flat bottom. We originally had a mitered edge to hide the seam somewhat better than a regular laminated edge as we have a plywood base. What I found out was that some granites chipped more than others, especially when they become paper thin at the 45 (??) angle necessary to fit the two pieces together. JP was one of those granites, so there were more epoxy areas than I had envisioned. It also bothered my elbows when sitting at the island. We also had them match the rounded aspect at the sink edge and the backsplash edge, which IMO, makes it a bit different than the 'norm.' As far as the island, for as many con's were against it, we had just as many pro's for it. I always said I wanted an island in my next house. Well, we've been here 15 years and it doesn't appear that we are moving anytime soon so we made it work. I am so glad we did, it really gets used a lot. We had to forgo the kitchen table, however we still have the dining room table if we need more or formal seating. Resale may be affected down the road, however as there isn't any sink or cook top on it, it could be very easily removed and put back to being able to fit a table. Another issue was with the existing bench seat (non removable as the wall behind the bench does not go all the way down to the slab...association rules against changing any exterior) but it's fine. I am still toying with painting the dark trim piece that is there so it fades a bit more into the background. I got a pretty basket that I set on the bench in the center to hold the daily mail and newspaper....so it doesn't function as a bench but more of an overflow space. Thanks again for your reply! I am happy to say I have not shed a single tear over this kitchen since!!

Added another picture to the gallery just now im going to let you guess whose picture it is i bet you cant guess i bet i bet the good news is that we can finally let this post drift away you know its very difficult to type this way but i thought i would give it a try to see how it works because maybe it is faster but just like reading it takes more work typing this way takes a lot more thinking power too oh well it gave me a giggle but i don't think i will adopt the style lol

hosta-- "gold drop"--rosco-signet sedum--purple emperor--small pot--tulip OUT coreopsis 'moonbeam'---small pot--flowergirl OUT corydalis lutea---couple of small pots-- one for tulip hydrangea 'annabelle'--small division--signet anemone--white-spring flowering, ferny leaves--one pot with a few seedlings--serendipity iris--short clear yellow --approx 8-12 inches--tulip--signet heuchera 'lime rickey'--one to ashley--one to blueiris--one to serendipity OUT spiderwort--navajo princess-division--signet--serendipity veronica--probably "Evaline"-one plant--signet OUT anemone-small division-fall flowering-signet OUT ornamental grass seedling (second year ?)--blue fescue--one--serendipity OUT 16/05 additions --very small piece of veronica "royal candles"--flowergirl OUT --pot of seedlings--cosmos 'rubenza' (old red)--flowergirl--tulip--RossOUT --sweet cicely seedlings--signet OUT 17/05/15 additions --anyone interested in a very small (2-1/2-3 inch) seedling of a Japanese ivory silk lilac tree?--one for tulip & flowergirl --sedum--will be approx 12-15 inches tall with light green leaves and pink flowers (NOT autumn joy) --sedum--Vera Jameson--four single stems (each with some roots) in a pot--can be planted separately for four smaller plants or together in a bunch for one plant--tulip OUT 18/05/15 --eddoe plant --serendipity OUT --veronica twilight (upright not prostrate)--one pot--blueiris OUT --mini hosta "tiny tears"--navygirl OUT --hosta "stiletto" --signet & tulip 19/05/15 additions --impatiens balfourii (aka poor man's orchid) a few seedlings available-- TULIP (more available) --one "dwarf" lady's mantle--OUT 20/05/15 additions --yarrow--moonshine--one plant available--blueiris --penstemon digitalis beardtongue--TULIP OUT --mirabilis longifolia vining four o'clock- one pot with a few seedlings (more available as they germinate)--SIGNET --yarrow paprika--two single stems with roots in a pot--blueiris --perennial alyssum--SIGNET--blueiris--Ross --carex-- 'the beatles'--SIGNET --lungwort 'Diana Clare'--one only--blueiris--OUT --heuchera 'hercules'--one only--blueiris--OUT --NOID hosta--serendipity 25/05/15 additions-- --hosta-blue cadet-more divisions available--tulip-- serendipity--ashley 28/05 addition --one small pot with two stems(with roots) of "silver princess" daisy--tulip 01/06/15 additiion-- --doronicum "little Leo"--signet 02/06/15 addition comfrey division--tulip &ashley