December 13, 2024

Today is the day our 12 Days of Christmas was to start. Due to the postal strike we have decided that we won’t mail out any of our Christmas parcels until the strike is over. So the 12 Days may be 12 Days after the package arrives. Or it may be catching up on the 12 Days if the parcel can be sent before Christmas. Or maybe it will be the 12 Days of the New Year.

I didn’t do a lot of handwork for the packages so I went a bit overboard on making gift tags. Since I can’t share what is in each of the parcels I’ll share the tags that were attached. In some cases I forgot to take a photo before the parcel was wrapped so you’ll see a bit of wrapping paper in the days that follow.

When the time is right I can share what’s in the boxes.

Author: Matt Cohen

I read this book years ago; I have copies of my website dating back to 2010 but I couldn’t find my initial review. I couldn’t remember anything about the story but in my mind it was the greatest book ever. I’ve carried it around with me since at least my Port Coquitlam days, and maybe even longer. It sat on the shelf on Texada (with my really good books) and I decided to read it again.

Sadly I have no idea why I thought it was so marvellous. Carl has been away from the town he grew up in for a few years. He was running from his partner and their child, and the memory of his mother, at a time when his life was falling apart. When he returns, all the old feelings and acquaintances are waiting for him.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

December 14, 2024

It wasn’t easy finding a tree that would fit on the template but I did it. And it wasn’t easy finding a template that seemed the right size. I used lots of paper printing out various sizes for each of these.

A friend gave me some corners off a fabric box she was making and I was able to use the backing from those corners to “lift” the tree off the tag.

December 12, 2024

Dylan will be travelling to Miami on his birthday and, with the postal strike, his celebration will be delayed until he returns. Hopefully his present will be waiting for him when he gets home.