Queereaders discussion

Now is the time of year when people get presents and gifts - what was everyone's favorite gift? Favorite present given?

I was excited that I got Civilization V so I can waste lots of time on the computer. As for my favorite gift given, I gave my boyfriend's mother a Pandora charm she really liked - I love her Christmas present open face!

For the last few years we have "adopted" a needy family through our church and have bought Christmas presents for them in lieu of buying each other presents. No more questioning, "What do I buy someone who has everything." There has been such joy in buying a child someone who's biggest wish is a new pair of tennis shoes v. trying to show enthusiasm for a new neck tie that I would never wear.

I have one other tradition. Over the past 40 years I have always given books to my family. I spend a great deal of time trying to find just the right one. I don't know if I can take credit, but all of my children and grandchildren a enthusiastic readers.

Loren Olson

I think giving presents a lot more fun than getting them too. My grandkids usually get books, though this year I gave an iPad to the oldest. She's brilliant (grandpa bragging) and will make good use of the various e-readers and such. And she's started writing.

Chris and I usually get something together, this year a drywall hoist and 2 electric drywall screwdrivers (how butch!) - the house is getting ready to drywall.

We are also trying to rescue a 22 y/o guy whose life was screwed up for having an ounce of pot for which he got a 7 year prison sentence—Missouri justice in action >:-(

He's out on parole now and we're trying to help get him back on his feet as he's been abandoned by his family. He's a good kid.

Kernos, I utterly agree with you that giving is much more enjoyable and rewarding than receiving.

This year I handcrafted some cross-stitched bookmarks, a three panel wall-hanging, some small framed samplers and a couple of tree decorations.

I also like to give fabulously-wrapped homebaking; I get so much pleasure from delivering christmas gingerbread, cranberry and orange muffins and traditional mince pies to my friends and neighbours. Yum! ;)

I also like Oxfam Unwrapped gifts. This year I enabled many of my friends to "Protect Women" and "Plant an Allotment". http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/oxfam-un...

Hi Fiona! I've missed the yawning kitty :-)

Getting homemade gifts is really special. One of my favorite 'thing' gifts is a hunk of Presali bluestone a web friend sent me from Wales, from the Stonehenge quarry. Not homemade per se, but it was very thoughtful, personal and took a special effort, permission was required eg. And, the next year sent a piece of serpentine from sacred Iona. These little pieces of Britain are very special to me and have become meditation stones.

Chris, before he became a build-our-house slave, baked cookies for Solstice gifts. People still hint, "Is Chris baking this year?"

You've got me thinking and I'm feeling a bit guilty—Two of may grandkids, brother (6) and sister (10) were overwhelmed with Christmas presents this year, largely due to 2 competing sets of grandparents, me being one. It is not really conscious, but is there nevertheless. And, William spent his time playing with a little horse and knight, while Ria was drawing on a blackboard. Simple things.

I'm wondering what I could make next year for then a 7 y/o boy and an 11 y/o girl. I could only come up with a cornhusk doll for the girl (she collects dolls and books) or maybe even a Brigit's cross. I'm not very good at arts and crafts, which is a retirement goal, esp wood-carving. Any suggestions for a year-long project?

The Oxfam project looks very interesting. £50 is not bad for a pair of goats, but I think £11 for a chicken is high. We can get 10 egg layer pullets (New Hampshires, Barred Rocks, Buff Orpingtons etc) for as little as $1.50 (~£1) apiece and straight run meat chickens are even cheaper. Of course there's overhead, shipping… involved. There must be such organizations in the US.

Kernos wrote: "Hi Fiona! I've missed the yawning kitty :-)

Getting homemade gifts is really special..."

Certainly, the most precious of my possessions are those which can never be replaced, either because of the careful thought and special efforts of others in their gift-giving and also due to chance circumstances that have arisen in order for a particularly unique object to become part of my life.

I am in great admiration of your aspiration to involve yourself in wood-carving projects. That is certainly a skill I would love to add to my humble repertoire. It is delightful to know that two of your grandchildren enjoy simple (un-branded, technology-free) play; I have such great concerns about the direction that our respective societies are heading as the younger generation are overwhelmed with gadgets and gizmos. Whatever is wrong with sharing a book or a traditional board game?!

A year-long project.... Hmmm... How about setting yourself the challenge of wood-carving (a small set of) figurines for the grandchildren you mention? For the children in my life I tend to buy books. For every book I select I also strive to find a little companion such as a handknitted animal or character/wooden toy that can be played with in harmony with their reading experience. You could refamiliarise yourself with some of your favourite childrens stories or picture books, search for a copy - perhaps find a lovely first edition, and then select a character or scene from the writing and create something out of a special piece of wood gathered from nearby to your home.

With regards to Oxfam Unwrapped gifts for others. I really like the fact that Oxfam always spend the donated money either on the chosen gift or on something else in the same category; this flexibility means that poor communities worldwide get exactly what they need if and when their circumstances change. Earlier on this year I received a Kiva gift voucher. You might be interested in checking out this site: http://www.kiva.org/

Making something to go alone with a book gift is a great idea. Why didn't I think of that?

The wood carving is a hope at this point. I've only just started looking into it, trying to find a beginner's book and figure out what tools I really need, about woods etc. I don't want to go overboard with things as is my want when I start a new hobby. This would be a retirement activity, if I can ever afford to retire.