So I have most of my Christmas shopping done.
The lovely Mrs_Bob is getting a highly collectable limited edition, Staub cast iron PIG dutch oven in basil enamel. I brought it in from Viet Nam. Some pieces are not available in the USA. She already has a couple cast iron enameled CHICKENS. And she has one other PIG. So this makes two PIGs for her collection, but this is in a rare color and from a foreign market, so not common in the USA.
Melen is getting a custom boxed set, 3 volumes, of the Faerie Queen, written by Edmund Spencer. It is a limited edition set. Along with some other 'merch' that was also very limited run, corresponding specifically to this particular edition of the publication. Melen loves books. She has limited editions. She has a (to me) odd mix of Greek classics, Latin translations, and graphic novels mixed with Harry Potter, JRR Tolkien and others. So this should fit well into her collection.
No clue what we will actually gettin for Dasha. Probably something practical as she needs to upgrade her pots, pans and cookware. For her birthday she got a nice set of Calphalon cookware from us. She thought we'd get her a single fry pan. But got her SMALL 'set' of one of their upper grade pots/pans. Seems like the logical thing is to add a few more pieces. Or maybe add bakeware? She likes to cook but only has the very basics.
No clue what I am getting for foster son Kobe . . . but the lovely Mrs_Bob will buy it and tell me what I got him. Pretty sure it will be toys. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of toys.
Normally I don't buy gifts for my brother, sister, non-family members or family friends. We do buy gifts for "God children' but the lovely Mrs_Bob takes care of that so she tells me what we got/gave.
I have a young adult fencer who is expressing desire to convert to the Catholic faith and she talks to me regularly about doing so. I ordered her a custom Rosary. We have been talking about he Rosary, she and I went through mine (I actually have 2 in my truck, one that hangs from the mirror, the other I actually pray almost daily. I try to pray it daily. Probably get it prayed close to 95% of the days. Sometimes I pray it twice, to catch up for a day I missed. Anyway she was holding mine and talking about how it felt to her so I ordered her a rosary that I thought suited her.
I don't trade gifts with my Brother or my Sister. We stopped that a few years ago. Just because why continue.
But this year I am breaking tradition. Sort of. My sister & B-I-L got a dog for their son. The B-I-L was reluctant but turns out he loves the dog. My sister sent me this photo. So I am having a custom polo shirt with this image (background removed, just the faces will be on the shirt). 2 shirts, one sized for my young nephew, the other sized for my sister. Both given as gifts to my B-I-L
I also had some cheap custom Christmas Tree ornaments made up. Just 2-D plastic cartoon images. They came from Cina and were very inexpensive. Fun little stocking suffers at a low price. I got 3 different variants. #3, for the whole family, I got several of those. But #1 and #2, those were just one of each. Melen can putter's onhertree.Kobe can put #2 on the tree at Grandma's house.
The lovely Mrs_Bob is getting a highly collectable limited edition, Staub cast iron PIG dutch oven in basil enamel. I brought it in from Viet Nam. Some pieces are not available in the USA. She already has a couple cast iron enameled CHICKENS. And she has one other PIG. So this makes two PIGs for her collection, but this is in a rare color and from a foreign market, so not common in the USA.
Melen is getting a custom boxed set, 3 volumes, of the Faerie Queen, written by Edmund Spencer. It is a limited edition set. Along with some other 'merch' that was also very limited run, corresponding specifically to this particular edition of the publication. Melen loves books. She has limited editions. She has a (to me) odd mix of Greek classics, Latin translations, and graphic novels mixed with Harry Potter, JRR Tolkien and others. So this should fit well into her collection.
No clue what we will actually gettin for Dasha. Probably something practical as she needs to upgrade her pots, pans and cookware. For her birthday she got a nice set of Calphalon cookware from us. She thought we'd get her a single fry pan. But got her SMALL 'set' of one of their upper grade pots/pans. Seems like the logical thing is to add a few more pieces. Or maybe add bakeware? She likes to cook but only has the very basics.
No clue what I am getting for foster son Kobe . . . but the lovely Mrs_Bob will buy it and tell me what I got him. Pretty sure it will be toys. THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS of toys.
Normally I don't buy gifts for my brother, sister, non-family members or family friends. We do buy gifts for "God children' but the lovely Mrs_Bob takes care of that so she tells me what we got/gave.
I have a young adult fencer who is expressing desire to convert to the Catholic faith and she talks to me regularly about doing so. I ordered her a custom Rosary. We have been talking about he Rosary, she and I went through mine (I actually have 2 in my truck, one that hangs from the mirror, the other I actually pray almost daily. I try to pray it daily. Probably get it prayed close to 95% of the days. Sometimes I pray it twice, to catch up for a day I missed. Anyway she was holding mine and talking about how it felt to her so I ordered her a rosary that I thought suited her.
I don't trade gifts with my Brother or my Sister. We stopped that a few years ago. Just because why continue.
But this year I am breaking tradition. Sort of. My sister & B-I-L got a dog for their son. The B-I-L was reluctant but turns out he loves the dog. My sister sent me this photo. So I am having a custom polo shirt with this image (background removed, just the faces will be on the shirt). 2 shirts, one sized for my young nephew, the other sized for my sister. Both given as gifts to my B-I-L
I also had some cheap custom Christmas Tree ornaments made up. Just 2-D plastic cartoon images. They came from Cina and were very inexpensive. Fun little stocking suffers at a low price. I got 3 different variants. #3, for the whole family, I got several of those. But #1 and #2, those were just one of each. Melen can putter's onhertree.Kobe can put #2 on the tree at Grandma's house.
1 - Melen and her dog Nelson
2 - Kobe and his dogs Walter + Mitty
3 - Kobe, Dasha, Melen, Marcia + Me
These are cute, and have images of the people/dogs mentioned, plus 2025, but more "stocking suffers" than real gifts.
