Well Congratulations! We all need to take time to order a few new things for ourselves:) I know I plan to. Im placing an order for Hoyas the end of December. Let us see pictures!

Thank you all once again for kind thoughts and encouragement. saintpfla ~ Dabbling in photography is fun that is for sure. I've taken a few night shots too with old camera and look forward to trying it with this one. The macro with this camera is 150 cm (W) (0.4 in.Â1.6 ft. (W)). I was right down on the flowers. There is a lot to read in these manuals, I just plod along and practice. It's a learning experience and a fun one at that. treefrog ~ I've also tried to capture the color of the blue sage with old camera and never could. There are a couple of roses I had the same trouble with, so I hope they come out truer with this new camera as the blue sage did. Evelyn ~ You are so right about picture taking being addicting, almost as addicting as some flowers are. : -) Ambersky ~ I looked up what you thought the purple unknown might be and I'm not sure. Someone else told me something else and that didn't quite look right either. I'll try to get out tomorrow to take a picture of leaves and flowers so you all can see the whole thing. You could be right though. Nancy ~ It is a long time isn't it? I think of you everytime I'm around the two roses you gave me, Smith's Parrish, and I think the name of the other one is Old Blush, which is in the main garden and doing terrific. Thank you again for giving them to me. It was nice meeting you also and having a little visit at 2Jay's. I've worked at my job yesterday and again today, so haven't been out to take more pictures. I'm off tomorrow so maybe I can get out to shoot some more then. Thanks again for encouraging me to get out and take more pictures. I always enjoy seeing everyone's beautiful gardens and flowers. I get inspired to get out and work in my tropical/cottage gardens. FlowerLady

Thanks, everyone, for the supportive comments about the sofa! As beautiful as it is, I must admit to a bit of a guilt attack after I purchased it. I usually pace my furniture purchases out a bit (LOL for years and years I purchased nothing!). Squirrel, I live in New England. Western Massachusetts to be exact. For the most part nothing good ever gets listed on my local Craig's List--so this was a big exception. I have no problem driving an hour or two to see something, however, and have had better luck closer to Boston or NYC (Fairfield County CT has great stuff!). After years of scanning estate sale ads and the like I think I've developed a fairly keen sense of what's worth driving to look at and what isn't. Regarding the sexy XXL PJs and odor eating socks--well that did happen, but not exactly as I originally posted. I love big, roomy flannel PJs up here in New England and told that to DH years ago. I actually told him to buy me men's small or at the largest, medium flannel pajamas. I guess he thought that wasn't "romantic" enough, so thought an XXL was the female equivalent. Now, my DH is a reserved and somewhat shy guy, so would never buy anything sexy for me because he'd be too embarrassed at the store--I guess the "leopard" was as "hot" as he could handle. I have to wonder what the saleswoman must have thought . . . Regarding the odor eating socks--I don't think he even knew what he bought! He didn't say a word after I pulled them out of my stocking. Obviously I got a little paranoid about stinky feet after that, and actually asked him once if it was true! He had no idea what I was talking about! I didn't want to embarrass him so I never pursued it, LOL. Actually, he has given me some pricey jewelry over the years--but I'm just not into jewelry that much and it seemed that his naivite was always exploited by the overpriced mall jewelry salespeople so I hinted that I had enough jewelry and didn't need any more. He may not be classically romantic, but he's the best friend and father I could ask for (he spent the day scrubbing floors, shopping, and wrapping gifts to help me out for Christmas). Over the years I've learned that he really wants to give me everything I want, he just doesn't know how! And the older I get (I'm 48), there's not much I want that I can't get for myself or already have. Except, of course, for the gorgeous sofa I just found on Craig's List. Which is why he will be thrilled to learn that he bought me exactly what I wanted for Christmas! Happy Holidays to You All!

It looks like you have corian or swanstone or one of those plastic surfaces. The heaving looks like water damage to the substrate (generally plywood, but could be particle board). This type of counter is pretty thin - like 3/8" - and the substrate holds it straight. I would bet on the sealant around the sink edges leaking. If the sink is an American Standard Americast, it's possible for the porcelain layer to separate from the plastic base material and leak that way. You might or might not also have some damage to the top of the sink base. If your money stretches, you might consider changing to an undermount sink while you're at it. Since you like some uniformity, you might like quartz. Caeserstone, Silestone, Cambria and Zodiac are some nationwide brands but there are regional makers too. Zodiac Caraway (white, cream and gray) Corain Earth