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December 2014 OBF The Grinch Gift Exchange

ruthz
9 years ago

Our Blooming Friends December 2014 Swap.
This is my first time hosting, so members please feel free to remind me if I'm forgetting something.
Same rules as always applies.
I will post rules if needed.

This is my favorite game/swap at Christmas parties, however not everyone likes it.
So if you sign up, please have FUN.

OBF (Our Bloomin Friends) is a membership group of regular participants having the option to join a swap here each month.
Membership is required in order to participate. Please contact Shirley/Brittneysgran, if you want more information about becoming a member.


The Grinch Gift Exchange

The Rules of the Game

  1. Each Gift will consist of 3 parts. Post your gift. Pictures if possible or a list is fine.
    2. Include seeds (1 to 3 packs only), 1 gift item and 1 edible treat.
    3. I will put numbers in a basket and draw a number for each person playing. The numbers will be assigned to names of players in order of signing up.
    Example if # 5 is the first number I draw, that will be the number for the first person who signed up to play. If I draw # 4 next, that will go to 2nd person that signed up. You get the idea.
    4. The number designates the order in which each person will select a gift.
    5. The game begins. Player with the #1 will choose a gift.
    6. Player #2 can either choose a new gift or she can take player #1's gift.
    YES, THEY CAN TAKE IT. If player #1 loses the gift to player #2 then player #1 can choose another gift.
    7. Player #3 now chooses a gift. They can choose a new gift or take from player #1
    or player #2. If one of the players loses their gift to player #3 then they get to pick another gift.
    8. This continues until everyone has a gift.
    9. A gift can only be taken 3 times. So the 3rd person to have the gift keeps it. It becomes Frozen.

Note* You cannot steal a frozen gift
You cannot steal or take back the gift that was JUST stolen from you.
However, if later on you have the opportunity to pick and want that item back, you may take it.

Examples of items:

1 to 3 packs of seeds Commercial, garden grown or from a trade.
1 gift item - this can be anything of your choice, something for the garden, kitchen, bathroom, an ornament, earrings, brooch, book, etc. This can be bought, homemade or a neat garage sale find.
1 edible treat (homemade or bought), candy, cookies, dried fruit, nuts, favorite spice, jams, jellies, coffee, tea, hot chocolate

Sign ups thru the 7th. Please post your items/pictures by midnight the 12th.
I will post the names in order drawn at 8AM central time on the 13th. Let the game begin.
Please mail package no later than December 24th.

Comments (150)

  • Panhandle_Seed_Swap
    9 years ago

    Excellent swap Ruth. Saturday is the big day to make our difficult choices⦠that will be here before we know it! I sent you my BINGO words. Thank you for the game. :)

    Shirley, worrisome news about your foot. Healing prayers to you! I sent your birthday card, hope it arrived safely. I hope your Birthday Month gets better quickly!

    Dawn, love your seed album. IâÂÂm going to try that.

    Promise! Thank you for the prompt address list updates. You're wonderful. :)

    Sheri

  • Panhandle_Seed_Swap
    9 years ago

    My coffee has kicked-in. Christine! I didn't see you there! I've missed you. :) I hope you can play!

    Such exciting packages. Faye, that's awesome that you work for Amazon. It's my favorite place to shop. Love the Yoshi Mats and CHOCOLATE!!! I'm excited that there are so many kitchen tools to choose from in this swap.

    Mary, you're inspiring me to volunteer more. We give donations of food and needed items, but you've inspired me to give my time. Our favorite PBS show is "Call The Midwife". There's a surprising amount of drama in that show and great stories.

    Sheri

    P.S. Does anyone know what Annie's favorite treat is??!! Her seed offerings, alone, made me drool a little.

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Bingo words drawn this morning

    Baking
    Greetings
    Tree

    Gotta go take grandson to school and do errands.
    Be back later.

  • Christine00
    9 years ago

    thank-you Ruthz! it will be fun doing this swap with you all again :)

  • skyblue52
    9 years ago

    Hello everyone Nice to hear from Faye and Christine. Lots of people in this swap. Ohhhh these packages are great. I may have to put in an extra surprize to top it off. After 40 hours of rain had a nice day. Then rain moves in again over night. Cold and gray again. On the royal watch. I love Kate. She is so natural and nice. Talk to you all later. Susan

  • Christine00
    9 years ago

    so here is my gift bag :-)
    -salvia coral nymph seeds
    -tomato homestead seeds
    -coreopsis leavenworthii seeds
    -pennisetum glaucum purple millet seeds

    ***book***
    100 English Roses For The American Garden

    ***Dove Chocolates***

    ***your pick of either a succulent plant or cyclamen plant from my greenhouse****

  • Pmb2005
    9 years ago

    Great gifts ladies!!

    Faye, we didn't make it to Cleveland because we've been sick around here.

    Saturday we're going to the Niota Parade. That's our home. We've never been to their parade. This is our 3rd Christmas is our new home. Is it still new after 3 years? Still feels new to me :D

    Been bleaching everything down today and dancing to this song Cool Yule by Bette Middler. I just love her!!!

    Hope y'all are Merry and Bright! Time to get to the Post Office!!!
    Promise :)

    Here is a link that might be useful: Cool Yule, Bette Middler

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Sheri, I like the Midwife show but haven't really been hooked yet. I'm a late comer to Downtown Abbey. Someone here is always watching the Bears, Bulls or White Sox when it is on. Now I will be in those DVD commercials every half hour, until season six hits.
    Promise thanks for the link.
    It is gray and drizzly today, better than cold.

    Mary E.

  • NonnaG
    9 years ago

    Hi ladies. I'm sorry I didn't make it in time to sign up. Technology does not like me. I can read along though. Sounds exciting! The gift sets look great. I'll be checking in. Love you guys!

    NonnaG

  • cinnie0 (z 9b / So Cal)
    9 years ago

    My gift for the swap
    * 2 bear christmas ornaments handpainted by me
    * bag of yummy store bought sweet treats
    * choose any 3 seeds from my list.

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Baby Aloe Veras? Love them. There will be some babies over here soon.

    Sheri welcome back, look at those cute bears. Connie, great to hear from you.

    Mary E.

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    I picked up another cute little Fairy today.
    You can pick this one instead of the green one if you'd like.

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    A picture of all of them.

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Bingo words drawn this morning

    Eggnog
    Jingle Bells
    Noel

    If you haven't posted your gift items/pictures yet, please post by midnight Friday the 12th.

  • canyonwind
    9 years ago

    Ruth and everyone else, where do you buy your fairies?? Pinetree?? Where else??

    Promise...love, love, love Bette!! And her "Cool Yule" and everything else!

    Happy Wednesday!

    Annie

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Annie, most of our better nurseries have them.
    Two in Dallas, one in Arlington and one in Grapevine.
    I don't go to Dallas much.
    I got mine in Grapevine @ Marshall's Grain.
    I haven't looked at Pinetree, but I will.

  • sandlapper_rose
    9 years ago

    Here's my grinch gift.
    A statue of a bird on some kind of nut (I think it's a nut, not sure what it's sitting on --- from Garden Section so it sounds like it can be placed inside or outside)
    Seeds: Candytuft Dwarf Fairy, Cosmos 'Sweet Sixteen' and Zinnia Illumination
    Small Package of Osmocote
    Extra Large Hershey's Chocolate Bar with Almonds
    ...and no promise because I may run out of time, but I'll try to include a small handmade item.

    I have 3 Bingo words checked off!

    Talk soon.
    Jeanne

  • brittneysgran
    9 years ago

    What awesome packages, my oh my....decisions, decisions.

    Ruth-Those fairies are so darn cute. I find lots of fairy stuff at Israel's and Son but boy is it pricey.

    Lots of members showing up this month for the fun. So nice to see you ladies posting again.

    I received Birthday cards from Nicole and Sheri. Thank you ladies so much. I love coming home and finding cards in the box.

    Nicole-I love the handmade stickers you included and the postage stamps. Boy they will come in handy mailing all the cards in the Secret Santa Seed Swap.

    Sheri-The card was beautiful and the stickers as well. I hope to start making my own cards someday.

    Can't wait until Saturday morning ladies.

    Shirley

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Our cat started having her kittens this afternoon, I knew it would conflict with the food pantry. She had two before I left. Everything was going just fine, or I would not have gone. Came home and there are two more. Four pretty kittens, isn't that a nice size litter, just four? They are bi-color, two mostly white and two pretty even.

    Mary E. I am so hungry, but had to check in with you all!

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Good Morning all.
    Hope everyone is doing well.
    Anybody getting any of that extreme weather?

    Got Mason to school already.
    He's in 9th grade at junior high and tonight the choir has a Holiday Concert at the high school where he'll be next year.
    Should be fun. They'll be wearing Tux and looking all sharp.
    Hope we can take pictures.
    Then in a week or so they have another one at their school and another at Six Flags.

    Great gifts being posted.
    Nikki, those hand painted bears are adorable.
    Saturday is just around the corner. I'm excited.
    If you haven't already, please post your gift items/pictures by midnight Friday the 12th.

    Today's Bingo words.

    Frosty
    Gifts
    Mount Crumpit

  • Melinda Hagen
    9 years ago

    Oh my, it is almost Saturday! I will be happy with whatever I end up with. I love something in all of them! Have a few words in the Bingo, but my grandson picked them all out, so we'll see. It's funny to look back and see the ones he picked out of all them.
    I'm posting a couple pics off my tree! One has the bird ornaments that I got from Shirley many years ago and the other has a bird ornament that came from Marea Sweeten! Does anyone know or hear from her anymore! I was friends with her when first started Facebook, but don't see anything or here anything about her. But I do treasure all the little things people have sent through the years!
    I hope all are having a good day! Hugs to all, Melinda

  • Melinda Hagen
    9 years ago

    This is one of the birds Shirley sent me years ago. It was in a set of 6 and I love them and still have them all. They all are different and have different sayings on them. The pic above has many things that were sent by OBF'ers through the years! I keep them all and love them all!

  • hibiscusfan -Northwest Ohio
    9 years ago

    Sounds like I missed out on a fun swap but I just wanted to thank these people for making my birthday very special: Erica, Melinda, Promise, Annie, Nicole, Jeanne, Sheri, Shirley S., and Susan. Thanks for the cards, seeds, bookmarks, stamps, etc. I had a great birthday and if I missed anyone that sent to me I'm sorry (let me know) Been busy getting ready for Christmas and helping my sister move. Suzanne

  • hibiscusfan -Northwest Ohio
    9 years ago

    Two more cards arrived today, thanks to Margo and Mary. Suzanne

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Suzanne, nice to hear from you and that you had a great birthday.
    Melinda, I saw your Mom's creche set on the Fotess thread...my mother and I painted one, made from the exact same molds, way back. Recognize every piece, our standing shepherd got blue eyes and I probably insisted on three camels.
    Oh, and my heart skipped because for a second I thought it was a Grinch swap package. LOL
    Mary E.

    This post was edited by cottonwood468 on Thu, Dec 11, 14 at 20:57

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago


    I was home with the Gang of Four (three boys and a girl) today and seed order came just in time. Mother cat moved the troops to a box today, not my first choice, hers. But now she is happy in my fleece blanket / cardboard box in "her" choice of spots. The box she chose was full of lumpy old bills or something.
    Mary E.

    This post was edited by cottonwood468 on Thu, Dec 11, 14 at 21:00

  • Melinda Hagen
    9 years ago

    Sorry Mary! I just saw she said to post some tree pics and decided to post that. I miss my mother and it makes me feel at peace to have her things around. Next year I will have had that for 30 years!
    Don't you just love your new kittens. My cat had kittens last year on my granddgts. birthday. Right on the bed laying nest to me ( I realized what she was doing and put old things under her). But she had 5 and they were the sweetest things ever!
    I did move her to a box and put it right by my bed and as long as she could see me, she was ok with it. She always slept right beside me or top of me every night!
    2 more days! I am so excited! All packages are great!
    Hope you all have a great night. I'm fixing to go to bed, have to be at heart specialist early in the morning!
    Good night all! Melinda

  • dm_kelly
    9 years ago

    Mary, how fun to watch your baby kitties! Momma does pick her place LOL! What kind of cat do you have?

    I decided to stay home today and not sit still. My weekend cleaning is done and part of the spare room is clean. One of my finds was seeds I put "in a safe place" The date on the packs were 2004 so I guess it makes this place really safe I forgot about when we redid the basement. Maybe I'll do a new garden in the spring where I plant the seeds and see what comes up.

    Dawn

  • EricaBraun
    9 years ago

    Mary -- We need to see kitty pictures!

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    I am going to cook two half ducks in a frying pan. Any tips? Score the skin, check.
    The two cats, acquired by default separately, have sad back stories but happy ending. The female is an Angora, Van pattern. Bertha Palmer made Angoras popular in Chicago, a century or so ago, and this old fashioned type is still showing up. Flat coated and rounder ears than the current show-type Angoras.
    Melinda, she was just like yours, right on my bed, but I had a fleece thing waiting there for her. And the male was curled up in his own spot on the bed, for the duration.
    Erica, I thought I would wait til their eyes open. Hmmm...the photographer seems to be napping and I need my Grinch package photo shot.

    Mary E.

    This post was edited by cottonwood468 on Thu, Dec 11, 14 at 21:49

  • brittneysgran
    9 years ago

    Suzanne....So glad you received your Birthday cards. Hope it was everything you wanted it to be.

    Mary-Baby kittens...how special. Yes we need pictures please.

    Dawn-You never know those 2004 seeds may just sprout for you.

    Melinda-Your tree is beautiful...wow your memory is excellent that you remember who sent you the birds. I love birds and have quite a few of them.

    Shirley

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Package contents: Frango mints, red feather butterfly ornament, green feather butterfly ornament, hummingbird / hibiscus pin and the following seeds. The butterflies clip on, please note the color did not come out in the photo ... they are bright Christmas red and emerald green...not pink and black!
    ...Cosmos 'Rubenza'
    ...Dianthus 'Velvet n Lace"
    ...Snapdragon 'Night and Day'
    ...Thunbergia alata 'Susie White Eye' Black Eyed Susan Vine
    Mary E.

    This post was edited by cottonwood468 on Fri, Dec 12, 14 at 2:16

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Well, technically it is morning, so I will post today's bingo words before I go to bed.

    Hope
    Joyful
    Manger

    yes, we really are mixing up the words, but they seem to be close together anyway. My daughter has been drawing the words for me.

    Melinda, your tree is beautiful. Maybe I'll get mine up this weekend.

    Mary, sounds like you have your hands full with the baby kittens and your volunteer work.
    I've only cooked duck a few times, so I'd be no help there.
    Love the Grinch gift.

    The Holiday Concert tonight was nice. Some of those kids can really sing.
    Well I think I'd best be heading to bed.
    Later

    This post was edited by ruthz on Fri, Dec 12, 14 at 1:57

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    ?? Manger is not on the list of words to choose from. Good word, though. LOL

  • Panhandle_Seed_Swap
    9 years ago

    LOVE your package, Mary. Sparkly, clip-on ornaments are my favorites. ;) Love your "bird on a nut" Jeanne. I would love to have that one too. My "to steal" list is pretty long (thank goodness). Tomorrow is the day!

    Thank you Suzanne and Shirley for the birthday "thank yous". I'm so happy you are getting some birthday cards and having a fun birthday month (I hope).

    Congrats on the litter of four kittens, Mary! Are you going to name one Noel or Mary Christmas? How about Kris Kringle?

    Have a great Friday everyone!

    Sheri

  • bluee19
    9 years ago

    Good Morning Everyone! Its raining in Rosemead, CA and boy is it raining. We haven't had rain like this in years.

    Here are the three items:
    1) Garden gloves
    2) Red Garnet Amaranth seeds/Liliput Zinnia Seeds
    3) candy

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Good Morning,
    Mary, I'm glad you caught that.
    Remember how you thought it was too many words.
    Well it was actually a few more than that and I took some off, but I guess I forgot to reprint the list.

    New bingo word. Heck, lets do 2 words.

    Poinsettia
    Whoville

    Nicole, good to hear from you. I know several of our members live in California and it's been on our news about all the rain. I know CA. needs rain, as we do, but flooding is always an issue with that kind of rain.

    Great packages everyone.
    Tomorrow's the day.
    I'll put everyone's name in a bowl and have my daughter draw.
    The order the names are drawn will be the order we choose gifts.
    I will post that no later than 8:00 am Central time.

  • canyonwind
    9 years ago

    Good Friday Morning,

    Reviewing all the GRINCH gifts...decisions, decisions. They are all wonderful and I will be happy with any of them.

    Nicole, don't float away!! Be safe! Loving all this rain however, mud slides in the burn areas, flash floods are an issue. I have the pool ready to dump water if necessary........My vegetable garden is so happy!

    Ruth, I have not seen any fairies at any of our high end shops/nursreys......I will keep checking.

    Enjoy your day...see you in the morning.....fun, fun, fun!!!

    Annie

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Ruth, you, too, like rocks, right? Could you tell us about that? Have you been to those big gem and mineral shows? I help at the Chicago Rocks and Minerals Society auction in March. That is an old rock club. I like getting up to Evanston and Dave's Down to Earth Rock Shop, in Feb when he is back from Arizona.

    Mary E.

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Mary, I do like rocks but don't collect or belong to any clubs.
    I haven't been to any shows, but sounds interesting.
    My FIL used to be seriously into it when he was younger.
    I believe he had a rock polisher tumbler and books.
    He gave me one of his books after he gave it up.

    Annie, I don't think these are chain type stores but could be.
    We have Redenta's in Dallas and Arlington, Jackson's and North Haven in Dallas and Marshall's Grain in Grapevine and Fort Worth.
    They all have fairy stuff. Several others I go to does not.

  • brittneysgran
    9 years ago

    I received a Birthday Card today from Erica and it was filled with these fantastic seeds.

    French Lavender
    Liberty Classic Snapdragons
    Violet dusk Penstamon
    Carthusian Dianthus

    Can't wait to grow these beauties. Thank you so much Erica.

    Well we have almost made it to game time: 8:00 a.m. the fun begins. See you ladies in the morning.

    Shirley

  • brittneysgran
    9 years ago

    Good Morning ladies waiting on game time here.

    Shirley

  • EricaBraun
    9 years ago

    *yawns and crawls from bed* This is earlier than early here on the west coast. But I'm ready!

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Good, morning everyone. Mary E.

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Good Saturday Morning everyone.
    Hope everyone is excited.
    I'm going to start a new thread for our gift choosing.

    First here is today's bingo words.

    Candy Canes
    Nutcrackers
    Wrapping Paper

  • ruthz
    Original Author
    9 years ago

    Sorry Erica. What time is it there? Around 6:00 I think.

  • EricaBraun
    9 years ago

    Indeed! I was up at 5:40am. I didn't want to hold anyone up from picking!

  • bluee19
    9 years ago

    Thank YOU ladies for making my birthday so awesome.

    Shirley ~ I was using my Sharpie Fine Point Pen and didn't even see the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon. I luv the pen even more.

    This post was edited by bluee19 on Tue, Dec 16, 14 at 20:58

  • cottonwood468
    9 years ago

    Pretty festive at the PO this morning! Sheri's package is on its way. I emailed her the tracking number. Mary E.

  • bluee19
    9 years ago

    Thank U Skyblue52 (Susan) for the salad leaves from Thompson & Morgan and the cute basket of flower card.