The Elves Delivered!

I came home after closing this year's run of the Dickens Christmas Fair to find a lovely parcel from @TrustNotTreeBone waiting for me.

There were a number of gifts from the hilarious to the heartfelt, each with a little note from Santa.

Thanks to @ParallelParkingInABurka for organizing this Smol Secret Santa Exchange.

I always liked the cultural exchange part of the original Secret Santa, so I'd asked my match to supply me with one of their favorite treats or a family recipe and got both!

Taveners is the best! Just yesterday, a man with a very long scarf and peculiar blue box offered me a Jelly Baby...but that's another story. Licorice is divisive in my family, too--the gents won't touch it, but the ladies like it!

And there are (not pictured) mince pies in the future! I've not yet made a streusel-topped version.

The Psycho Kitty & Meme Cat magnets got a proper laugh & will soon adorn the fridge and file cabinet.

I mentioned that I'm a bit outdoorsy & have developed a fondness for travel and photography.

These two books hit the mark! I've done several of the hikes listed in WA, OR, CA, UT, & MT and look forward to exploring points further east.

Thank you again, @TrustNotTreeBone. I hope you & yours enjoy the best of the holiday season. As promised, an old-school note will be sent in kind.

Xander tax.