I went to China some 30 years ago, just when they opened up the country to visitors and I visited some the "factories". They were huge buildings with hundreds of workers on an open factory floor. Each worker seemed to have a specific station and a specific task. They were glad to show what they were doing and although they did not say so, I bet they were glad to have a job.

thanks, Nat4b. I knew it was a lot, but didn't remember how many, so I looked up the list of them that I kept. I had 103 daylilies that re-bloomed last year, some of them had as many as 4 sets of scapes. I have only 35 so far this year, but I knew last year would probably be a record. That was about a third of them that re-bloomed last year. They often pout when they are moved, Nancy, don't they? Darobi and Maryl, that is the deepest purple I have here. so often purples are actually maroons or reds. Indian Giver is the closest I have to MAAS. Thanks, Ellie. He is toothy. It is a pretty one, Ikayd. Thanks, Lida, and Avedon. Well, when bloom is over, I do get to sleep longer, Avedon. Since I post so many, it can be hard to pick one. The thing is, it's hard when so many are showing off. kay

I purposely do a scrappy every few quilts to use them up. I got serious last winter about throwing really small ones, or too narrow strips. It got ridiculous. They go into a big bag and when I feel like being in the sewing room but not working on a project, lately I've been cutting them into a standard size block to save them. It's how a couple quilts got most of its material. Here is one reason I save them..............several times I have messed up on a block or ran myself short a block or two by miscounting. My scrap bin saved the day, where I'd tucked a few salvageable pieces of that material and I'd find a match.

susied, here's a closer pic of my alcove: Doesn't look like much right now, but finishing the walnut top will make all the difference, I think. Before it was part of the dining room, and now it's my command central. The old layout is in the thread below. The perimeter cabinet color is a Starmark tinted varnish called "ivory cream", but I think that's a bad description. It's more of a pale putty, with a slight green undertone, than ivory or cream. colorfast, thanks for the very kind words! But I can take no credit for the way the bones of the kitchen came together. GW helped me with appliance/sink placement and zones, and the architect did the rest. I got to pick the paint color. :) Speaking of which, I'm just about to run to the paint store. DH took the day off to paint, so I'm getting the supplies. Can't wait to see the space with a little more color! Here is a link that might be useful: My first kitchen post