esh_ga: In the second pic halfway down the stem on the right side is an example of the thorns that are prominent on the plant. Thanks for taking a look. dsieber: I already had every intention of keeping (at least while I can cut it down with pruners if needed) and your sarcastic "Get over it" was unnecessary and rude. You can keep your comments to yourself in any future topic(s) I create. This is as educational topic for everyone. If it leaves esh_ga scratching his head then this should be interesting if anyone can nail it down. Everyone: I also measured one of the large post oaks I mentioned earlier and it measured 44.5" at 4 feet above the ground. So maybe it is not quite the 20 feet in circumference I thought but it is still pretty darn big :) I think I found the mother tree just before dark and it is in pretty bad shape. Unfortunately it is on my neighbors property and I don't want to trespass. They are never home to ask for permission. Maybe I can catch them this weekend and get pics of mature bark if it is indeed a match to my small example.

Sorry, I didn't imbed the first time... Lisa. Thanks for your help. Anyone else have a suggestion? I tried contacting the designer, but no response.

Melkel, I think it would really help if you keep your material selection questions to one thread - that way people can follow all of your choices and how they fit together.

Alouwomack - I would say if you have a long way to do (I do too) collect ideas for backsplashes but don't agonize over them yet. I, too, love the 3x6 subways but also like something a little more interesting or with pop. I think a stripe of 6x12 would probably be great but I wouldn't do it on the bottom right next to the counter top. It would get lost - in part b/c there are always things on the CCtop. I would do it 1/3 or 2/3's up the BS - not the middle though (too static). And of course, see where your current love lies in 6, 9, 12 months or whenever a LONG ways off it. I will add Celting comment on my BS question (Am I crazy to want this as BS": A little OT, I think you got it right here. Pick the BS 1st and then the counter. There are many posts here with people, including myself, that have picked the counter 1st and then agonized over the BS decision. Sometimes years later. And on another post I read a while back (recently?), someone, a designer, whose name and post I can't find for the life of me, said something to the effect of she "thinks people give too little thought to the backsplash until the very end and it becomes an after thought and perhaps that is why people have so much trouble figuring out one that works. But rather one should be thinking about it and incorporating it into the overall design and feel of the kitchen from the very beginning to avoid being "stuck" later." I am certainly trying to go that route. We will see how it works. Maybe I will just get "stuck" on a different element, whatever decision is the last to be made perhaps. Hope that helps.