Neillia Sinensis. I had this shrub at my old house and have always regretted leaving it behind. When I bought it at a specialty nursery I asked the mature, quintessential British gardener looking saleslady what it was and she leaned her head down a little, peered/glared over her glasses at me, and said, "it's a very choice shrub." I almost felt guilty for buying it as I was a gardening newbie and wasn't sure I was worthy of such a 'choice' plant but I did and it was indeed very pretty. I'm very sad that I have never been able to find another one as I would plant one in my new garden if I could. Here is a link that might be useful: Neillia Sinensis

Hmm, I don't think Niagara Falls and Queen of the Seas are at all alike. The rippling is a little different and Niagara Falls has a rounder shaped leaf. My look-alikes are El Nino and First Frost. But they only look alike at this time of year. In the Spring one has a yellow edge and the other has a white edge. And I've noticed that shapes of hostas are a bit different from season to season so they may look alike one year but not the next, even when mature.

I have to fess up to some of mine, since I (ahem) seem to tend to blame my husband for too much clutter! -A hand painted oversize tshirt. It was made by an artistic young neighbor who befriended us when we first moved to our house 17 years ago. Tragically, she died very young a year or so after we met her. I have not worn this shirt in ages, nor will I ever wear it again just because it isn't my style anymore. And yet I feel this vague guilt about getting rid of it. -A nightie/robe negligee set. I bought it long, long ago with the idea that every couple should have some sexy lingerie. Well. I wore it once (and as my husband would say, for only 30 seconds ;) and haven't put it on again. But when I made my first pass through the closet the other day I hesitated. Why? Do I suddenly think that now that we've been married even longer I need it even more?! -A battered paperback copy of Ann Lindbergh's Gift from the Sea. I don't even know where I got it, and this Christmas I gifted myself with the new and very lovely 50th anniversary edition. And yet I feel like I shouldn't get rid of the old copy. Why???? -A quilted ring box my MIL gave me when my daughter was born, as a very nice gesture ('mom should get something, not just the baby'). I wear almost no jewelry, and the only rings I own are my engagement and wedding bands-which live on my finger and don't come off. And yet, I feel like it would be wrong somehow to get rid of this box I've faithfully lifted and dusted around for 14 years-but never used once for its purpose. Those are just a few of the zillions of this kind of item I have around. Why oh why do I let myself have this false sentiment about *things*?! I call it false sentiment because I quite literally never use, enjoy or even look routinely at all these objects. They just take up space in my home. They clutter my view. But there is some kind of weird emotional hesitation about discarding them because of past gestures, thoughts or events that keeps me from doing what I know I should-toss!! Ann

Eh, it's going. Our big hold-up has been the electric. Lots of stuff not up to code once we opend up the walls. But on the up side, it's done now and we are having our rough inspection on Friday, as well as our delivery of plywood, drywall and tile backerboard. I so miss baking! The first think I plan on baking will be a rustic country style multigrain bread, and cookies! My kids so miss home made cookies. Packaged ones do not compare. Here's what the kitchen looks like now. The old walls are down and the new ones are up, sort of.