All good choices. Shade Fanfare is an old one, and for years I wasn't too enamoured of the yellow-green center, cream-white margins look... but I've grown to appreciate a few in this color combo and Shade Fanfare is one of the old dependables. Nice inexpensive hosta. Praying Hands - I've always grown mine in the ground, but it is in a location that sets if off. I know it has gotten into a "grow it in a pot" recommendation pattern... but it grows fine in the ground as well. The container idea is just to show off what is already a somewhat odd form. I like it a lot - not just as a novelty but as a neat kind of hosta that I hope will generate some more - maybe larger, maybe all yellow, etc. Blue Mouse Ears deserves a spot in every hosta collection... it is something of a phenomenon... I'd never call it a mini as it will reasonably quickly grow into a nice small-hosta clump... I quit collecting two years ago, so I missed the Wheee surge - but I think it might be a real keeper and I may have to add it. (Gardens are full and over-full, so Rule is that I have to delete two hostas from my garden for every one I add... )

Maggie, It is hard knowing that our wee ones need surgery. I remember early this year posting about Peyton needing surgery for a cyst on her neck and your posting about Grace. Peyton had surgery and all came out well in January. Now the boys ( Hayden 2 and Hudson 1) are both having tubes in and Hayden is getting his tonsils and adnoids out too. I worry about the surgery and put off scheduling it. Will probably worry every hour until it is over, but I know it is better to get it done now rather than wait and have it affect their health and learning more. It is hard to do but better to have it done now rather than later when the cyst is more involved or it becomes a risky surgery. Stacie

Slush - I asked at Ferguson's this morning; evidently all the Ferguson's are independently owned, part of this unbrella company that is actually "a Wolseley Company". Evidently they're the Whole Foods of the plumbing world, having vertically integrated the market across the country, gobbling up small dealers and reps for many years now; I guess they're the biggest out there, supposedly. Funny, as I was not particularly even aware of them, due to the inhospitable interaction of many years prior. I think it's well worth a phone call to inquire into the "satellite"-ness of the Ontario office. It's likely that's just a parts counter and not a show room. Hopefully this guess is wrong but I would definitely take a second to scout it out in advance. (sorry!) FWIW I'm beginning to value increasingly more the sense that this is a selection that could critically depend on actual sight (as opposed to sight-unseen internet ordering). Even though it means hauling kids, it's possible this journey just might be valuable. If you can possibly stand it, I might opt for the upscale-est showroom you can find, attitudes, notwithstanding. They seem to have more to physically show, I think. G'luck!

Very interesting! I think that the things you really love now, you probably will love 10 years from now. However, you probably won't "really love" everything that you have in your home. Some things you like just fine--but don't love. So, 10 years from now, or whenever, as you prune things out, the few things you love will stay, and other things that were just fine or part of a trend that you liked will be replaced. For example, when I was around 22, I bought an end table at a yard sale that looks like it was hand made out of a tree (not sure if it really was handmade or maybe it was a mass produced piece and trendy at some time). The base is the trunk trunk and the tops are a horizontal slice of the tree. I LOVED it then and still love it now 15 years later. It can go anywhere as its not really any style. I just think it's really "cool" for lack of a better word. I also got a carved statue in Haitii while I was on a cruise 20 years ago--same thing--I still love it. I got some art books from Kenny's Gallery in Ireland and I framed some of the sketches in my bathroom. These pics have been up for 10 years and I still love them. My taste in colors changes--but more that I just want a change--I still love yellow--but after 10 years of yellow in 80 percent of my house, I am ready for a change. but, part of me wants to repaint with yellow. I am going to repaint with browns, which I know I will not love the way I loved the yellow, but I think it will be a nice change and make my husband happy. And, it's paint so I can change it. Go with what you like and love. And know, that part of the fun is finding new things and making changes as you go. For trendy stuff, don't spend a lot. good luck!