I'm in a swap group. There are about 12-15 of us, but not everyone attends the twice-yearly swaps. We have a google spreadsheet where you can list the varieties that you have/want/don't want. You need not list the varieties that you do not intend to swap. Based on the list, you make contact with other swappers to arrange a trade. So, I might send an email like: Sally, let's do a swap. From your Wants list, I have plantagenia, On Stage and Holy Mole From your Swap list, I'd like to have Tattoo, Alligator Shoes and Swoosh. Usually, we exchange 1-2 eye divisions, though sometimes, I've exchanged an entire plant, if it's a duplicate and I'm getting a similar sized plant in the exchange. We usually pot the divisions we bring. I would say, however, that many people do not pot in potting medium. I personally HATE this, cuz potting in garden soil makes for a hard MESS if not planted within a few days of potting. We don't do any round-robin kinda things. Some people bring will bring divisions of hostas they have a lot of, but they don't always get taken. Each exchange is pre-arranged. You can swap with 1 person, a few people, everyone or no one. Each exchange couple decide what's fair. For instance, I got a 3-eyed Tattoo, for a 1-eyed Tokudama Flavocircinalis. When you swap this way, you each determine what is fair. One thing that's hard is knowing that people are aware of hosta virus X and foliar nematodes. I'm surprised at the how many people in our group didn't know what nems where when I mentioned it at our late-summer swap.

First time I went, we flew into Vancouver and got to experience Canada Day. As well as Fourth of July during cruise. Here's pic of me meeting Karla, a KT'er, in Anchorage, for lunch. We just finished eating reindeer hot dogs. You can see short sleeves. Never experience cold temps, except at Glacier Bay, and I had a nice raincoat which was suffice. Denali, remember sitting out on patio at lodge, evening without a jacket. Friend did Mt McKinley and thoroughly enjoyed the plane trip. Only experienced mosquitoes once, in Denali, and I did have repellant. Never felt the need to layer. July was nice weather, at least when we went.

I got up this morning and raked the lawn and cleaned all of that up.It was still covered with twigs and pine cones from the winter. Then I spread some mulch. I also talked with every neighbor that went by. I was getting a little crazy from all the talking! Tonight I washed and broke up lettuce for a salad, baked the shortcake for dessert, washed a cut up the brussels sprouts to be roasted, cooked some bacon for the salad and chopped up the bread for pineapple casserole. I hope all of this makes things less hectic tomorrow. I also got out the good dishes and silver and the serving dishes. Oh yes, and put the tablecloth on the table. Thank heavens the house is clean because i had book club here on Thursday. Now I am going to put as much as possible in the dishwasher, turn it on and go to bed. I am beat.

lol justgottabe- I too have married in to a stalker situation. It has given us a lot of great stories and laughs but in reality there is a dark side, where my husband and I have agreed that things could turn quickly from stealing from us (even took our truck while we were away) and coming in while we are not home (bagged her) to "slapping on a diaper and driving to Texas," or "making a Jenn skin suit and crawling inside of it." As you can see we have used our dark senses of humor to deal with this but have never dealt with it directly. So learn from my mistakes: nip it in the bud, face to face (agree no email) now. Next time she comes over, let the girls play and ask her if you can speak privately. Tell her that you and your family value your privacy and that you wish you had said something years ago, but that pop-ins, early am calls, and unplanned play-dates are not to happen anymore, you just don't like it. Be very specific. If kids are playing in the neighborhood and her kid happens to fall in with them that is one thing, but they are old enough now for that to happen organically and for it not to impact you in the least.