Christmas is a comin' and the geese are getting fat ...

[rubato]

Ok, ok, ok, you know what this is all about. What are your gift ideas for the wholly-pagan-holidays?

I've got books for one Niece, Music for one Nephew, baccarat crystal for assorted people and some Harry and David for unassorted others ( including the Highway Patrol on Highway 17).

Cool socks? Anything. I'm desperate here.

Yours,
Rubato

PS I already chipped in for the THAF, the Tropical Health Alliance foundation, for $1,500. Look 'em up. They do more good for less money than almost anyone.

[dales]

$

[wesw]

a few years ago I had a fellow in town make me six lap held drawing boards from some walnut wood he had from an old walnut tree that he salvaged the wood from after it was cut down or fell or something and had milled into boards.

pretty simple job for him and he only charged me 120 for all six.

really beautiful wood. some of them look like an abstract of a beach scene, with the horizontal light streaks thru the wood...

should last a good while, I still have the old pine one that my aunt gave me when I was a young man.

my daughter uses hers all the time..., for legos mostly when she was young, for school work and stuff now.

wes

[Burning Petard]

I love working with black walnut. When finished right it has depth and color like a 'tiger eye' gemstone. My only family 'heirloom' is the simple one drawer bedside table, crudely made by my mother's father, from black walnut on their farm.

As for the gifting, I almost exclusively give books, for all occasions. Although last Xmas I gave my two youngest grandsons pocket knives. (and books)

snailgate

[Joe Guy]

[dales]

Don't be such a piker, Joe Guy.

I'll send you one of these c/o General Delivery, Redwood City, CA

[Jarlaxle]

The usual: any gifts addressed to me will be destroyed unopened.

[Lord Jim]

PS I already chipped in for the THAF, the Tropical Health Alliance foundation, for $1,500. an amount I wanted to brag about that's actually covered by my wife... Look 'em up. They do more good for less money than almost anyone.

FTFY...

I took the trouble to check it out rube:

https://thaf.org/

And it is definitely a worthy organization, with an excellent record...

In fact I was very impressed with the work they do, and made a contribution, and encourage others to do so...

But I would never be so gauche as to brag about the size of my contribution...

[Joe Guy]

Good organization. I donated too. I sent them a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card.

[rubato]

PS I already chipped in for the THAF, the Tropical Health Alliance foundation, for $1,500. an amount I wanted to brag about that's actually covered by my wife... Look 'em up. They do more good for less money than almost anyone.

FTFY...

I took the trouble to check it out rube:

https://thaf.org/

And it is definitely a worthy organization, with an excellent record...

In fact I was very impressed with the work they do, and made a contribution, and encourage others to do so...

But I would never be so gauche as to brag about the size of my contribution...

$1,500 is not bragging. It is just a number. Overall I don't think we give enough.

You are thoughtless enough to attribute to others the ugly motives which would be your own.

Dr Larry Thomas is a family friend. His father practiced medicine in the same group my father did back in the 1950s-1960s.



yrs,
rubato

[dales]

◄ Matthew 6:4 ►

Parallel Verses

New International Version
so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

New Living Translation
Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

English Standard Version
so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Berean Study Bible
so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Berean Literal Bible
so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, the One seeing in secret, will reward you.

New American Standard Bible
so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

King James Bible
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

International Standard Version
so that your giving may be done in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

NET Bible
so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

New Heart English Bible
so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
So that your charity may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you in public.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Give your contributions privately. Your Father sees what you do in private. He will reward you.

New American Standard 1977
that your alms may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Jubilee Bible 2000
that thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who sees in secret, he shall reward thee openly.

King James 2000 Bible
That your alms may be in secret: and your Father who sees in secret himself shall reward you openly.

American King James Version
That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly.

American Standard Version
that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

Douay-Rheims Bible
That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

Darby Bible Translation
so that thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father who sees in secret will render [it] to thee.

English Revised Version
that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

Webster's Bible Translation
That thy alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself will reward thee openly.

Weymouth New Testament
that your charities may be in secret; and then your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.

World English Bible
so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Young's Literal Translation
that thy kindness may be in secret, and thy Father who is seeing in secret Himself

[Sue U]

My favorite go-to for gifts:

http://www.masrisweets.com/

[kristina]

That looks dangerously good, Sue!

I give very few holiday gifts; most people I know have more stuff than they need, and they don't want more!

If I do give anything, it's from the garden. This year, it's spicy zucchini relish, plum jam, and hot pepper jelly.

[Sue U]

That looks dangerously good, Sue!

These guys are freakin' awesome at pastry-ing. Their baklava is fantastic but their pistachio bourma is to die for. I see they have a new shop this year, so happy their business is doing so well!

[Guinevere]

No nuts for my family holiday treats, sadly. For the others, there will be unbelieveably good pralines from here: https://www.southerncandymakers.com/

Plus, I'm taking my best friend and godson to see, yes,

you know it .....





best musical ever.......










Hamilton!


I got the tickets months ago, before the latest kerfuffle. I'm hoping to grab more, and take my boys, but can't imagine that will be before springtime, as NYC remains sold out.

[MGMcAnick]

As for the gifting, I almost exclusively give books, for all occasions. Although last Xmas I gave my two youngest grandsons pocket knives. (and books)

snailgate

It should be noted that schools in my area, and I supect MANY if not most others, will expel any kid carrying a knife of ANY kind. Please be sure your grandsons won't get into trouble.

It should also be noted that I got my first pocket knife for Christmas when I was seven. I could barely open it. I've carried a pocket knife almost daily ever since, even in school. Every red blooded boy had one then. I carry, and highly recommend, a Leatherman Wave multi-tool these days.

[Burning Petard]

One of those grandsons last Christmas was a freshman in college. When he was ten years old I attempted to give him a pocket knife and he was very much afraid of it. His mother told me last summer that he told he was carrying it all the time and was amazed how handy it was to have it now.

An 11 year old girl in public school in Florida is under investigations by the local police for a felony weapons charge. She had a peach in her lunch box at school and a friend there in the cafeteria asked to share it. The first girl took from the lunch box a small knife that is part of a set of knife, fork and spoon that is labeled as safe for toddlers. The product is merchandised as suitable for very young children's first tableware, when learning to get food into their own mouth. This particular girl has been using it every since that 'teaching moment.' The school has a 'zero tolerance for knives' policy. The girl used the tiny knife to cut the peach in half. The school reported this action to the police and the parent have lawyered up.

I too always had a knife in my pocket. At first it was a very badly made barlow purchased at the candy store on the way to school. I and many of my friends used it to carve designs into the surface of our yellow wooden pencils. The rules were clear--if a teacher saw a knife, it was confiscated, so keep it in your pocket. (it was returned along with other confiscated items such as water guns, marbles, slingshots, pea shooters, gum and candy,on the last day of the school year.) The wooden desk tops were inspected regularly and if anything was carved in them, it was several trips after school to the maintenance shop to participate in refinishing desks. During high school I carried a tuxedo purchased at a real cutlery shop at about 9th and Oak street in Kansas City. It had real stag handles and my mother complained about how the small size wore holes in my pants. After high school I moved to a small stockman pattern, which I still carry. I had a Leatherman Wave in my desk at work soon after they started selling them. That one now lives on the top of my bedroom dresser. The accessory with a multitude of small screw driver heads has been worth the price of the whole tool.

For anyone thinking about gifting a pocket knife to a child, I strongly recommend the very economical knife with the recipients name on the blade. a 'first knife program' from the "Knives Ship Free" company online and located in Michigan.

snailgate

[wesw]

my first knife was a barlow.

got it in third grade.

still carry a knife and leatherman tool ti this day.

I always carried a buck 110 at work, but I dropped it into the jetty at roaring pt. this past spring.

that kinda sucked, as it was a Christmas present from my son, a few years back...

now I carry, a fixed blade knife, and leatherman, as a rule.

I kinda like the fixed blade now. it comes out easily and quickly , whether in the garden, under the truck or, god forbid, if I was attacked.

I never worried about being attacked before, but when you limp and look weak the wolves show more interest, and there are wolves about..., two legged ones...

[Guinevere]

I carried a knife in my backpack or my purse all through college, working after college, and through law school. But once you are in and out of courts, you no longer carry a knife. And especially not since 9/11.

[wesw]

yeah, I have had some doctor s appmts lately and I leave my knife in the truck when I go in, just to be polite..., unless I forget.

no one has seemed bothered by it..., I kinda look the part...

...and I use it all the time.

just as an aside...., i was never very good at sharpening knives..., and it pissed me off for years, as i m usually good at things that i do. my uncle and i bought the same knives once and used the same whetstone.., and his knife would shave your arm and mine wouldn t.

for years i sucked at knife sharpening..., then i watched a documentary about samurai sword making and learned how they put a convex shape and edge on the blade as opposed to the European style , which allowed the material being cut to separate more easily.

now all my blades are better... hatchet, machete....

i first use round files now and they allow you to reshape the edge quickly

...i still can t shave with my knife tho...., maybe i need a good stone to finish it....