For the first, I bought an orchid plant. I bought it early, and had it in our kitchen for a week or so before the big day. Jazz the malevolent destroyer fell in love. He batted at its leaves and managed to tear two off. He then turned his attention to the blooms and discovered that if he really pounded into them they would come away and could be chased around the kitchen floor. He taught Jewel about these new toys too. So I had to go and buy another orchid. The first is now on our back veranda where both cats ignore it.
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| The first orchid |
When I bought the second orchid (also yellow, also beautiful) I was seduced by this.
I have other sedums, but had not heard of this one. And I loved its name.
Birthday the second (this Saturday) belongs to someone I have known for well over thirty years. I admire, and envy, her energy and her drive. But what to give her? This is where gratitude comes in. I think this is the friend who first introduced me to the works of Tove Jansson. A little while ago Ampersand Duck recommended 'Fair Play' a book of hers that neither my friend nor I had. So I tracked it down and bought two copies, one for each of us.
But what else to give her? And now I have to thank Two Tigers, a poet, photographer and artist. In a low point in my life I bought a print of one of her photos which brightened my day when it arrived and continues to lift my spirits each time I look at it.
So ... back on line to order two more from here. It is her birthday tomorrow and I really, really hope she likes them. And am pretty certain she will.
Finally, to birthday the third. Which is the birthday of my nephew's wife. (As an aside, I was never a good Aunt, and now I am a Great Aunt. Weird.) I have never met her as they live in California but we exchange many, many emails and she has become dear to me.
She, like me, is a reader. So thanks now go to librarygirl who strongly recommended these books. And of course I bought a copy of each of them for myself as well.
So a big thankyou, not only to these three bloggers, but to everyone else in the blogosphere who has enriched my life in many, many ways. You make me laugh, you make me cry, you fill my days with unexpected beauty and you educate me.
Now I have some new books to check out, too! I do hope that your birthdays gifts meet with the same excitement that your transferred to them here. You are definitely a GREAT aunt! :-)
ReplyDeleteyour intentions are a gift!
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki;
Comfort Spiral
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you sorted thosse with style!
ReplyDeleteand yes, blogging and bloggers are a gift of the most precious kind
Thanks for dropping by - and your support. I like the look of these books, too. Sooo Tempting!!!
ReplyDeleteThe blogosphere is so much more wonderful a place than I ever imagined before I first dipped my toes in six months ago! (Sure, I had a "Public Journal" 16 years ago, but (a) the me of 16 bears little relation to this me, now and (b) there was little of this amazing, supportive networking between people.)
ReplyDeleteI, too, hate shopping. If I could go shopping once every ten years and somehow have the foresight to predict everything that will be needed for myself and for others, oh, oh, how I would procure it and be done.
When I grow up I want to be The Purple Blob.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pressies, beautiful sentiment.
Its the thought and effort that counts, your choices will be appreciated i'm sure of that :-).
ReplyDeleteOH, what lovely presents - with so much thought behind them.
ReplyDeleteAnd we adore you too!
ReplyDeleteI hope Jazz doesn't decide he likes books. . .
yay for Ben Aaronovitch! spread the word, pass it on!
ReplyDeleteIf I put my purple t-shirt on, I'm a purple blob....
ReplyDeleteThose books look interesting.
Here's a gift.
ReplyDeleteShow it to Jazz. X X
Thank you one and all. Isn't the purple blob a wonderful name? Could be the title of a murder mystery too. Ann O'Dyne. I LOVED the gift. And am very tempted by it. I have often thought that if I could only knit I could make myself another cat, but that opens up a world of new possibilities.
ReplyDelete"So a big thank you...to everyone else in the blogosphere who has enriched my life..."
ReplyDeleteWhy thank you! I could have said the same.
I don't have time right now, but as soon as I do I will be back to tell you of the many similarities between us in this post alone! (What are we, twins joined at the head and separated at birth?!) :-) I was still in awe of the whole small-world-Queanbeyan magpie sign thing when I read this, full of yet more synchronicities!
ReplyDeleteI know the event wasn't funny, but your description of Jazz beating the, uh... pollen out of the birthday gift orchid (and then teaching Jewel how to play with "the fun new toy mom bought us") sure is! Figures they'd ignore it now! Kids today. {disapproving tsking noises and scandalized shake of head}. I tell ya.
What thoughtful personal gifts!
ReplyDeleteEC I am so happy to be included in this post, and in the spirit of gratitude and generosity that pervades it! I am so happy to know you - you make blogging such a delight! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
ReplyDeletei'm so glad you posted this! i have been in desperate need of new reading material.... and now i have it! thank you!!
ReplyDeletethe orchid is stunning!!
Shopping for personalized interests in your gifts can be stressful. Don't you hate getting gifts that are just a gift, generic, and could have been meant for anyone?
ReplyDeleteOne of my sisters is a great gift giver. My mother loves feeding birds and squirrells, so for christmas, she'd load my mother up on supplies from the Wild Bird Shoppe. For my recent birthday this week, knowing my parents would buy a cake I can't eat, she went to a specialty store and got me gluten-free chocolate cupcakes, then stuck candles in them so I could blow them out...little things like that let you know someone is paying attention.
Those orchids and the purple bomb are awesome-o!
Actually, this is Spectra- the silky Sienna is my food blogs on blogger- I have trouble posting coments on your blog while in my wordpress account- it keeps turning me into silky sienna...just so ya know, Spectra of Spectrum Woman has been reading you!
ReplyDeleteSilky Spectra: Thanks. I often have trouble posting on your word press account - obviously blogger and word press have some unresolved issues. Welcome and thanks. And you are very right; some people are great gift givers and others (like me) struggle.
ReplyDeleteHi again! I just wanted to share with you that one of my very closest friends, whom I've known for 29 years, has her birthday on Aug 4. (Your description of your friend and the things you admire from her also apply to my friend Jo exactly!) And while I usually am a pretty creative gift-giver and have had great gift ideas (often themed) in the past that were a lot of fun to put together for her, the last couple of Christmases and birthdays have been a struggle. In part because we only see each other (and each other's houses) every few years, and in part because at our age (and at her income level), we have everything we need, and pretty much everything we want. I had a couple of ideas for her this year, but hit nothing but obstacles and ran out of time. So for the first time, I had to ask her for suggestions, and she came up with a great one. The one thing she lacks is time, she loves listening to audio books during commutes and household chores, and she hates trying to find and select movies to watch. I read a lot and have long been a film buff. So she requested I come up with a list for her each month for the following year of recommended audio books and DVDs available at her library (thankfully she has an awesome library). I've been having a great time putting together a master list from which to choose each month, to which I'm constantly adding, and this will be a fun birthday gift that will last all year! But I wouldn't have thought of it on my own, and if I had I would have thought it was too cheapskate. :-) But this is what she really wants, and she's thrilled with the idea!
ReplyDeleteMany of my fellow bloggers have been a great resource for gift ideas (including gifts to myself, lol) and book recommendations, as well as information, resources, inspiration and entertainment. I completely share your gratitude for them, and add my thanks to you for your wonderful blog!
(Btw, here are a few other things you and I have in common besides "old," close friends with birthdays a few days apart whose energy and drive we admire and who were tough to shop for: Capricorns, avid and eclectic readers, vegetarian/vegan, MS, photography (especially of critters), blogging addiction (untreated). :-)
Lovely, no-one should underestimate the joy that can be had from giving. Choosing and giving presents is one of my favourite activities.
ReplyDeleteLaloofah: Sisters under the skin obviously. Does your vegan diet precede or follow the dread diagnosis? I love the birthday gift for your friend. Very, very clever.
ReplyDeleteAll Consuming: Gift giving is probably better than receiving in many ways -but it fills me with anxt. I am convinced that no-one will like my choices. Speaking of which, Birthday the Second is over and she loved her book (thanks Ampersand Duck) and her prints (thanks to Two Tigers). One print will live in her office and she made room in her bedroom for the other. A win.
I thought Joanne's gift idea was really clever too, can't wait for her to watch the first movies and listen to the first audio books on the list so we can talk about them! I love how her gift has all these fun phases to it. :-)
ReplyDeleteOur transition to a vegan diet followed my dx, with as many of our lifestyle changes inspired by ethical concerns as by our desire for optimum health as we learned more and more about all the ramifications of our dietary choices. I sure wish I'd known decades ago what I know now! (But isn't that always the way?)
So are you a December or a January babe? (I should know, you bein' my sister and all... lol)
That last sentence is wonderful, EC. I'm sure everyone will love their presents (I would!)
ReplyDeleteLaloofah: A January babe (18). How about you? I am leaning more towards becoming a vegan, but would really, really miss dairy products. Particularly milk in my tea and cheese. Some day....
ReplyDeleteKath: Thanks, I hope everyone does enjoy their presents and my last sentence was heartfelt.
No surprise, I'm January too! :-) The 3rd. Funny to think that our birthdays are so close together, yet mine is in the depths of winter and yours is in the midst of summer!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about dairy, it's typically the hardest for people (especially women) to consider renouncing. I definitely whined at first about giving up cheese! But I highly encourage you to try, because once you actually do it (which is so much easier now with all the great vegan alternatives, both store-bought and homemade), it's really gratifying. Few animals are made to suffer as much as dairy cows and their calves, and many don't realize it's a slaughter industry (worse than beef). Dairy has also been implicated in MS (and other diseases), and is important to shun for health reasons. I'm happy to share some resources when/if you'd like, or provide any other help or encouragement when you're ready. :-)
GAH! Sorry, I've been flying under the radar, trying to get life sorted and only having energy for Facebook.
ReplyDeleteI love that you bought Fair Play! Have you read it yet?
I'm currently in love with 'When We Have Wings' by Claire Corbett, which is a relatively new release... all about humans growing wings, and it has the most wonderful descriptions of flying. I can't tell you whether I wholeheartedly love it because I haven't got to the end yet, but I hope she sustains the quality I've experienced so far...
i on the other hand love shopping, especially gifts i think. but not doing it surrounded by unsophisticated, rude people rushing around. though these days i mostly give gifts that i've made myself - or buy things by other crafters.
ReplyDeletei think all your gifts sound great, thoughtful and special (i'm especially intrigued by the tove jansson book), i'm sure they will all be treasured by the recipients!