I told my husband to not get me any more stuff for Christmas and birthday because I don't have room for it. He can get me consumable stuff like soap and candles. It's the same for me getting stuff for him.

Same here Kelli, we don`t need any more stuff, but DH insists that we should have Christmas gifts.

My basement is full of stuff I don't need and don't use. Too much stuff!!

About gifts............in 2013 we went to Africa. My birthday was a month before we went. The SU told me "you can get something in Africa for your birthday". One day when we stopped at one of those roadside joints that sell EVERYTHING (think something like Wisconsin Dells or any other tourist-trap deals, only really, really poor........) when we were going to that day's game park, I was looking at all the ebony carvings. Hmmm..........just like the last 5 places we have stopped.......nothing here............oopsie.............here is something I have not seen in any of the other places. It was a carved cheetah. And it was expensive, as all the stuff is but of course they are insulted if you don't haggle. I did not want to deal with it, so I went out to the vehicle and got the SU. I told him "You said I could get something in Africa for my birthday. Well, I WANT that carved cheetah...........go haggle the man for it". He got him down to about 1/4 of the original price, which was still probably too much, but at that point, it wasn't going to make THAT much difference. What he really kicks himself for is not haggling for the carved Ark and animals........the price on it was 3500.............he said 'I'd have paid $500.00 for it". Jeez, big talk from the man after we've driven away.

I tried to put the picture of the ark here, but it was too big............I need to resize it. And I don't have a pic of the cheetah, so I will take one of that too.

Here they are. I put a pen by the cheetah so you could see a size comparison.

Wonderful carvings, Anna! I love the way they carved the Cheetah. It's a great representation of one.

Very cool, Anna.

I went to the gym today and exercised for about 45 minutes. Since I haven't done much for almost 2 weeks, I have to re-start slowly to avoid the aches and pains.

Karen

Neat art from Africa, Anna

We went for a walk yesterday.

I worked in the yard for a about an hour and a half this morning, until I couldn't take the heat any longer. I also washed a load of towels and changed the bed linens, and washed those too. I think that's it today.

I really wish the weather would cool down soon so I could get my fall yard cleanup done.

Karen

Guys came and blew out the irrigation system this afternoon for the winter, that makes everything all wet, but I plan on doing some gardening tomorrow if the weather continues to cooperate. I made 2 jars of rhubarb jam, and 2 of cranberry sauce this morning. I have to get ready for Thanksgiving, it is early this year, October 9th, just a couple of weeks away.

October 9th is really early.

That's for sure, Rita, I don't how they decide on the date, other than the fact that harvest is pretty well done by then, unlike the states where you have a wide range of harvest times. At the same time it is good as there shouldn't be snow on the mountain passes so safer for the kids, kids I say, he is 58 and she is 50, but still my kids, eh.

We went for a walk yesterday.

We went to the gym this morning. First I did that Pilates class, then my normal exercise. That totaled 2 hours and I'm exhausted.

Karen

We went for a walk yesterday.

Well, been a busy week, like inundated with things I'm supposed to do. And the weather, until today was so hot! Warmer than anything we had all summer.

Didn't walk on Monday as it was too hot; so I went to the pool instead even though I don't like the aquafit instructor on Monday. Monday morning, a few minutes after I got home, the tree people, who were supposed to arrive in the afternoon, showed up to do major pruning on our trees. But their chipper broke down and I had a pile of tree prunings on my front lawn until late Tuesday. (the guys Monday said they didn't know whether it was the equipment or the (different) crew, but it was very hot on Monday.)

Tuesday, was the Ottawa Hort. Society meeting and autumn show. I took 7 items and brought home 6 ribbons. And a "Best in Show" Edibles for my scarlet runner beans.

Got back to the pool yesterday, but the instructor who was a sub, but good, didn't come. That was OK. I can give myself a good workout w/o an instructor.

This morning, I got in a walk for about an hour.

Here's a pic of my winning items from the Hort. Society. BTW, red and blue ribbons are the reverse in Canada from what they are in the USA - Red is 1st and blue is 2nd. The other 1st prizes were for my Fountain Grass Karley Rose and in a category for the hosta leaf with the most holes. The 2nds were for Tomatillos and a Sedum Autumn Joy. The 3rd was in a category "other garden flower" and was for a hosta flower.

Big congratulations, Ann, for all the wins in the show!

Congratulations Ann.

Congrats, Ann!

Karen