Amy, that looks like Sweet Autumn Clematis, a vigorous perennial that blooms in the fall only. It can be cut back thoroughly and will come back just fine, if it's Taking Over All The Yard.

Ooh, thank you, flea! I just wanted to cut some for a vase, actually.

Any idea on this one? There are a couple of bushes, but they're giving only one or two blooms a day, and the shape and branch reminds me of a rose bush. There's a pink one on my Flickr page, too, that I cut, and inside it has a bright yellow stamen.

I Cleaned All the Things (well, most) and Watched All the White Collar. Next up: Drink All the Beer.

I am starting a giant bag to go to Half-Price Books on Tuesday. I am trying to be really aggressive and get rid of a lot. The goal is no double stacked shelves and some empty space. Brutal.

That is a Rose of Sharon. Again, a very hardy shrub. Cutting the flowers is fine.

flea knows everything about All the Flowers! Thank you, ma'am. Also, go you on not killing all the children. I know very well how hard that can be some days.

Excellent news about the new connections, msbelle. My neighbor just brought us ribs and I feel blessed!

I'm trying to figure out what to make for Rosh Hashanah dinner. I'm going to be alone, but I want to make something somewhat festive. I think I've decided that sufficiently festive will be some soup, a main course with sides, and a dessert. Now I just need to figure out what all those things should be. It doesn't really help that I'll have to make pretty much everything a few days in advance, and I want stuff that won't leave a ton of leftovers.

I got my tattoo last night!!! [link]

Beauty! Nice one, tiggy.

Today I have trained all the dogs. Okay, just two, but it went really well.

I knocked on the neighbor's door three times in an attempt to clear up last night's brouhaha, but no answer. I suspect out of town guests are in the mix.

Now, I really should be cleaning all the things, but I'm whipped.

Perhaps a couple more episodes of Grow your own drugs courtesy of the BBC. Loving it!

eta: Oh, and I bought some turkey ribs and am told they cook just like beef or pork ribs, but I have no reliable recipe. Anyone have a simple oven-based suggestion?

Cous Cous with black beans? (Or black eyed peas if (unlike me) you don't hate the taste of black eyed peas) onions, garlic, sweet peppers,salt pepper for spice. Maybe curry powder. Baked apples sweetened with honey for desert. Leek soup? Green beans with almonds as a side dish?

The Jewish Vegetarian Year Cookbook recommends: Mushroom and Barley Soup, Lentils and Rice with Carmelized Onions or Zucchini Baked with Rice and Tomatoes; Glazed Carrots, Green beans Provencale, marinated tomatoes, and/or Sweet Potato Apple Bake (that last one sounds good to me); and baklava or cookies for dessert. Also, starting the meal with melon. That book usually has very specific reasons for its menu choices, so maybe some of that will resonate with you.

I'll just be having apples and honey because I don't feel like going to any trouble at all. Need to remember to buy some apples, though.