It has been another unbelievably fun and successful Easter basket exchange. Not to say it wasn't without its...anecdotes.
Totally unpredictable mail service rushed some baskets and dragged others. (I think the key is to send Priority Mail; I'll mention that in the instructions next year.) My friend Margaret opted out this year due to gestational diabetes so I jumped at the chance to make TWO baskets, and the challenge of making one for her (nearly) candy-free. My beading friend Shanna went to painstaking measures to create a cherry-blossom-ish bookmark for my cousin Celeste who misses the East. Sydney emailed me for Erin's coloring to get her accessories just right.
And I think the best was when I got a frantic phone call the Friday afternoon before Easter. Gabe had driven from Culpeper to Leesburg, VA (over an hour each way) to hand deliver her basket to Marie just so it would get there by Easter. No one had been home so she'd left it in the bushes and called me to call Marie to make sure she got it. I told her, "You know hand delivery was not required, right Gabe?" She answered seriously, "I didn't want to risk the chance of being kicked out of next year's exchange! I know you have the power to do that." She knows me well...
One theme I picked up on, that many of you mentioned in letters and emails, was that you (we) made a much nicer basket for our person than we ever would have for ourselves. What a great chance to treat and be treated. What an awesome atmosphere of fun gifting this exchange created!
See for yourself:
As for me, I've got to tell you about the basket I received. I admit, I manipulated the assignments. I've been missing New York a little so I assigned myself to my friend Emily in Brooklyn, and happened to mention a few things I wanted from there. She came through and then some. Cadbury mini eggs and creme eggs, the only milk chocolate treats I like, check. Smoked almonds - lots of them - from the Turkish store on 5th Ave in Bay Ridge, check. Some awesome beads, check. Chocolate covered pretzels, almond bark, and turtle candies from another store on 5th, check. YUM! And on top of all that, THREE BOOKS I've never heard of or read! Which is good because I really need to pull myself out of the Twilight series and move on with my literary life. THREE BOOKS that all look awesome and that obviously took some time to pick out.
And all my stuff was packed in amNewYork newspaper and used-up metro cards; I loved that touch. And I almost - almost - cried when I turned one of the metro cards over and saw a magic marker "A" on the back. Emily's husband's name is Adam. Ed and I used to do the same thing to distinguish his metro card from mine in the drawer by the front door. It took me back. Emily, you're awesome.
But aren't we all? I was pretty proud of the package I sent Sydney, too. Egg timer (who doesn't need one?), Penzey's spices, Lake Champlain bunny, Trader Joe's chocolates, cookie cutters, dish towel, handmade earrings & bookmark, lip gloss, note cards, shopping tote, and my latest CD mix. Truly a package I would love to receive. What can I say?
Thanks again to everyone for participating. See you back here again next year for EBX10!
9 comments:
Emily (NY) to Tona (MA) - Emily knowing I am interested in women's history, sent me a sweet basket full of goodies from the Susan B. Anthony House gift shop, and a fair-trade pin from Kenya made out of paperclips and wire. Very, very, thoughtful and pretty. I really loved this and thanks for being the grand designer of such a wonderful project!
Tona! I actually went out to the National Women's Rights Park (the only national park commemorating women) and got you something there, too. But it is lost in my house! Never fear: I am moving soon and all shall become unlost and I'll send it to you. Or take another trip out to Seneca Falls and get you another.
Great time! Thanks for putting it all together!
I slowed down on the chocolates after the first day so I could savor, rather than devour them :) Thanks again for a great basket Kari and I look forward to next year!
I absolutely loved my basket; I am wearing the blue earrings today! The thoughtfulness of the cherry blossom bookmark made my eyes a little misty. People are so thoughtful in this world.
To Andrea, who received my basket, I should probably have apologized for making it almost purely choco-holic. Can you tell I am a fan of the easter candy? My sister Marie is right: Easter really does have the best store-bought confections.
Celeste, that kind of apology is hardly warranted on this blog, possibly not even allowed.
Yay! I'm glad you liked it! I'm sorry I didn't get out to Jacque Torres, though. Since my basket, which I LOVED, came so early, I thought that somehow I was late and was desperate to get it finished and mailed ASAP.
I loved this exchange! I had fun enjoying and sharing my amazing Easter basket. I, too, worried about making my basket so chocolate-y, but hopefully Jenni didn't mind too much.
My picture is late for good reason, I just got back from the Canary Islands last night. We missed Easter altogether. We did open the easter baskets people sent us late the night before we left, and took pictures, but not time to send anything. And I am not apologizing because the Canary Islands were awesome. Melanie did me right, I got lots of wonderful things and the kids were begging to have all of my stash, to which my husband sternly told them - THESE ARE ALL MOMMIES. I love that guy and Melanie for providing all the awesome stash!
Post a Comment