With the winter holidays fast approaching, regardless of what you may call them, I thought a thread with gift suggestions might be useful.
To start off, here’s a link to the Harney & Sons gift page. Harney’s tea – although, yes, of course, I’m sure it pales in comparison to what y’all have on that tiny island over there – is probably some of the best in the Americas. I happen to think it is THE best, in fact. It’s not mass-produced. Their service is great, too. (Sign up for their emails–they come with coupons and special offers like free shipping.)
I did some online shopping here last year and was very happy with how things turned out. The ornaments arrived in perfect shape and the colors are amazing. They’re not just for Christmas-- a group of them hanging in a window looks like stained glass.
May I suggest a “Flatsy” doll? Only $9.95 from the Vermont Country Store!
Who wouldn’t want to revisit this 70’s favorite which probably still won’t stand up, is
as cuddly as, well, a flat thing, and can serve as a frequent reminder of Dan Provine, that
derelict scamp in your 7th grade science class who, inspired by the popular tv ads, took to
calling you Flatsy?
The thing to keep in mind though, is if you throw it in your fireplace like you did with all
your paper dolls when–at roughly 12–you’d tired of them, this thing will probably emit
toxic plastic-based fumes and you may have to evacuate, so check the temp. outside before
you act impulsively.
Geez, Lamby, I think I’ve died and gone to heaven! My two primary tea suppliers have both gone out of business in the last 10-15 years. Ye gods, first picking, single-plantation Darjeelings!
Here are some of the more unique things I’ve found
2009 Stihl pin-up calendar: only found at Stihl dealers and on ebay. pinup models operating stump grinders, chainsaws, weedwhackers and other powertools.
USB Flash Drives. they are downright cheap and you can find 8GB ones for under $20 in some places. plenty of room for tons of photos and music files. get one big enough and you can install pen drive applications suite. install bootable Ubuntu!!
Even better, if you can get it:
Before we got married, my husband the hardware man, put a life size Makita girl cut-out (I think she was holding a driver-drill) in my apartment as a surprise.
Are you folks suggesting what we could buy for you
or are you suggesting what we can get for other people we know?
My usual custom is if a person does not suggest something with-in economic reason that they’d like to receive, I give them sensible underwear.
I have been known to expand that custom of practicality to include interesting bed sheets or fanciful colored bath towels,
the wild & whimsical creature that I am.
Should I pay you a visit later I won’t be checking to see if you’re actually using the sensible underwear but if its the bed sheets or bath towels I gifted you with I’ll be checking the beds or towel racks to see if you’ve worn the gifts out and need new ones.
That’s one name I’ve never had the pleasure of enduring.
I think that you can never go wrong if you give the gift of chocolate. Chocolate is just one of those things…even if you personally don’t want it, there is certainly someone you know who would gain great amounts of joy from receiving it, even if it is a re-gift.
I’m not quite sure what it all means either…but someone once told me that there are people who…and hold your hat for this one…don’t like chocolate Shocking, no? I know I almost fainted dead away when they told me.
My usual custom is if a person does not suggest something with-in economic reason that they’d like to receive, I give them sensible underwear.
Barely There, black, the sensible coverage model.
I have been known to expand that custom of practicality to include interesting bed sheets or fanciful colored bath towels,
the wild & whimsical creature that I am.
JC Penney’s 700 thread count in white. Oh, and would you include an extra set of king pillowcases? Thanks!
Looks good, I know, but would you believe nobody ever gets me what I ask for? At Christmas, I’ll get a box of chocolate and a note saying “You’re so funny! Plain old white sheets! If you’d only told me what color you wanted!”
I have not tried that particular variety, due to my longstanding horror of that manufacturer’s products. Sadly, I was traumatized by it at a young and impressionable age, and now find that I cannot shake the (possibly unfair) belief that they sell only the finest tea after it has been (1) aged a least several decades in an unairconditioned warehouse and (2) cut with liberal quantities of old wood shavings in order to protect the public from the accidental ingestion of a decent cup of tea.
Unless it’s “Constant Comment,” which is instead cut with old orange peels, cloves, and possibly industrial solvents. An astonishing brew known for its ability to provoke the strident cry of “MY GOD! WHAT IS THIS?!?” – the “constant comment,” you see – its purchase is never an entire loss, as the opened packets serve nicely for insect repellent in the cupboard.
I realize there are those who find Bigelow products to be satisfactory, and this is why I have kept my opinions reasonably positive.
OK, this is pretty good! Definitely some excellent gifts here . . . The “Warm Milk and Honey” products warrant an emergency run to the mall–a light, warming, sleep-inducing concoction.
That’s one name I’ve never had the pleasure of enduring. 
Shocking, no? I know I almost fainted dead away when they told me.
The “Warm Milk and Honey” products warrant an emergency run to the mall–a light, warming, sleep-inducing concoction.
