Seska is the bestest Sekrit Santa a Buffista could have! (perhaps one among many, okay) Yesterday, another present arrived in the mail. It's a 2011 calendar, "Around Britain in 365 Days," the kind with a gorgeous little photo on each day of the calendar. It's lovely. I don't think Seska knew this before, but my grandfather emigrated to the US from Northumberland when he was 16, settling on a a large apple farm in upper New York state. So it is really cool to have all these lovely photos of the ancestral homeland, too!

I was going to post last week, "I'm wearing the necklace and earrings that Seska gave to me with my purple v-neck shirt, AIFG," so here I am with a late post.

Thanks so very much for all the gifts, Seska. You have been unbelievably generous and it's very much appreciated.

I didn't know that, but how cool. I'm glad the present's been a hit!

Did anyone perhaps get a (shamefully late) present earlier this week?

I have neither sent nor received a slacker gift. Mine is almost ready to put in the mail.

That's some quality slacking right there.

(To be clear, I've done worse in years past.)

I've been an epic slacker in the past, and there was one year I never did get a gift.

Sent mine today after major slacking. Happy with what I got so far.

I think I did finally hear from all people, but if anyone in the regular exchange did not get a gift, please email me.

Dana! I did, and I swear a posted here about it... I mean, I know I composed a post, but it sure isn't in the thread. It was actually last week. Mea culpa.

I was Secret Santaed again by the lovely Dana, which was a surprise, because of the happy accident of a misdirect from the lovely orchid pendant made in Thailand that I received earlier from my SS, who was Dana but I had not guessed.

In addition to that, I recently received a box with candy (already gone, yum), a beautiful card from Dana, postcard and bookmark with New Orleans imagery, some scrumptious Gardenia scented bath salts - my favorite scent, looking forward to some relaxing bath time, yay - and some adorable little penguin magnets.

Thank you, Dana! I actually loved getting a package this month - it was very cheering, I have to say. And the orchid pendant necklace is lovely; I've worn it several times, and someone always compliments it - love that!

I can haz prezzies! And they are absolutely wonderful!! Thanks to the best sekrit santa ever, Ginger! It was thoughtful and me and totally worth the wait.

First, I discovered, all wrapped in tissue paper, red pepper jelly, which I have never had and which I'm looking forward to trying. I'm kind of thinking of having it with some lamb. I don't usually do sweet with lamb, but it just sounds good to me.

Then, I got a beautiful illustrated Gospels. After I post, I shall peruse the pages at length. The cover is gorgeous, but I was so excited about the third present that I haven't removed the plastic from this one yet.

The third present. The piece de resistance. The present that outdoes any present. The present that made me squee out loud to the astonishment of my cats: a box.

Well, that's what I thought at first, and it is a nice cigar box. Then, I turned it over. I has lovely distressed Chinese characters on the cover. Nice. Then I opened it and saw "I aim to misbehave" on the inside, along with many other bits from Firefly and Serenity. OMG, it could almost be Inara's box. It is the most beautiful, wonderful thing ever, and I'm pretty sure Ginger made it. I am the most pleased Buffista in the world.

I think I must go gaze lovingly at it and pet it now.