I claim it is an enormous success that I came home from Kenya with no wooden elephants, carved giraffes, and not even something with a warthog on it. I’m trying not to be a hoarder, remember?
What we did buy in Kenya (besides a scarf…that I’m wearing frequently so I think that’s just fine and of course a Tusker t-shirt for dear husband that has already rendered numerous compliments in DC), is a painting!
When we went to Tamarind/Tamambo (part of the Karen Blixen estate) to eat, there was a young gentleman painting. He had amazing paintings, and was working on a giraffe in their courtyard.
Uh….oh….
While my dear husband was marching toward the table as if there was an angry cape buffalo staring him down, discouraging him from even glancing at the paintings as if that would be akin to betrayal, I obviously stopped.
And stared. And stared. And wandered around the paintings.
Until dear husband returned, like an angry cape buffalo, and herded me to the table. With plenty of sideways glances and snorts.
He was not impressed with the thought of bringing home a painting. We live in a 2 bedroom condo, and let’s be honest, most of the wall space is well–already claimed. And I am a neat freak who doesn’t want to look like I live in a condo from hoarders. DH (very incorrectly so) even suggested I would consider removing our wedding photos for a new painting from Kenya!!
I would not. I swear. I’m offended he would think that. Though I do appreciate that he understands how deep my love for African wildlife goes…
My mother, always a bit of an enabler when it comes to acquiring things on vacation, kindly replied “oh, I bet they are reasonably priced Heather” when I was musing over how much they may cost.
It’s one of the few times I’ve seen dear husband grumble at my mother. In good humor, I think. I hope. Because needless to say, said painting was reasonably priced, and now we have a beautiful, large painting of giraffes waiting to be framed.
It’s one of my favorite vacation acquisitions, and I can’t wait to hang it up.
And I hope every time we both look at it, it reminds us of Kenya.
I too managed to return from Africa without any wooden animals but actually think I came back with nothing and in a way, I kind of wish I had! It’s interesting what you say about paintings though, we bought some very reasonably priced paintings from Vietnam with the intention of putting them on our walls. We had the same glances and debates about whether they were needed and where they would go but now they’re up there, they look great and eveytime someone new sees them and asks where they’re from, it fills us with lovely memories of our trip!
Totally agree! Not only great memories, but a great conversation starter.