I also agree with what cecily said. When we submit photos of the perfect blossom we should also try and include another of the whole bush and advise what zone we are in. The Elina that I saw in the PNW was a wonderful bloom, but for a bush 8-9' tall there was only three blooms on the whole bloody thing. For a cut flower it would be great, but in a garden in would not be the shock & awe catagory that many of us are after unless you like green. One of the fun things in planning for next years additions is doing research to see how well a certain variety will fit into our plans. Nothing takes the place of visiting gardens. Photos can be very misleading.

From Martha Stewart concerning a musty smelling book: suggestions contributed by the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, Massachusetts, and Glenn Horowitz Booksellers in East Hampton and New York City. Both our experts agree that there is no guaranteed way to remove the musty smell of old books, but you can try by first wiping your book with a clean, soft, barely damp cloth. Wipe off the cover, the top of the pages, and the pages themselves. If the mildew contains any moisture, open up the book and leave it in a sunny, airy place to dry. A fan will help speed up this process. Then fill the bottom of a large garbage can with odor-absorbing material such as kitty litter, charcoal, or baking soda. Kitty litter is the most inexpensive of the three. Place the book in a smaller can, and place this can inside the larger one. Cover the large can and let it sit, checking the progress of the book every several days. If all goes well, your book will be ready for reading within a month.

Luv - Loved your comment about your horse. I spray lemon pledge on my miniature show horse. It gives him a shine, repels dirt, and the flys don't like the lemon smell. Also, I spray PAM on their feet after I clean them. It repels manure and things they pick up right before entering the arena. I also spray PAM on the underside of my mower deck to keep grass from collecting and clogging it up. Oh, I also heard dryer sheets were great for cleaning your iron.

I'm looking for a very small chart that says Lo, I am with you always and has a small dogwood blossom in the upper left had corner. The book would be with all scriptures and be between 20 and 25 years old. I had a shop and kept it on the counter, someone came in one day and needed it more than I did so I gave it to her knowing that I could make another then couldn't find the book. I know that I could make one up but this one really touched my heart. Any help would be very much appreciated. Gig Ghee