We haven't done the accumulation and distribution of addresses for a Mudcat Secret Santa for several years, though I have fond memories of participating in the global gift exchange. The UK, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the US and its territories have all been included in the process of choosing a small and easily packed and shipped item to surprise the person whose name was assigned. There were usually two threads per operation – the folks speaking up to join, and then the hints and ideas thread that went along with it.

It often involved a modest spreadsheet so whoever did the distribution list could avoid pairing senders and recipients who had the same person the year before, though there were many occasions when someone asked to have a certain Santee in any given year.

There are lots of objects around my house that serve as reminders. This week I've scooped my gouda and pecan cheese spread onto crackers with a small Sheffield Stainless Steel spreading knife that has an unusual wood for the handle. I don't remember who sent it, but the wood is apparently a now rare one from Australia or New Zealand and the piece used in the handle was reclaimed from a very old bridge rail or beam that was recovered for woodworking use. Right now it's resting on a plate in the kitchen as the mineral oil application soaks in and dries.

In my closet is a lovely teal shawl crocheted by jacqui.c (now Morse), and I had one from MMario that I sent on to another Mudcatter who was a particular fan of his.

A tile on the wall in my laundry room from Badger Pottery in Oxford, England is of the white horse on the hillside, and there are other tiles people picked up on tours or made into custom monikers. Booklets, calendars, postcards, local specialty candies, all sorts of things traveled to reach us.

Carved lizards and stones, beads, costume jewelry, they're in the jewelry box or live on the edges of bookshelves in front of the books, occasionally getting a dusting to bring out their color.

I only remember a few of the items I sent. My kids and I worked on a lap quilt (flannel and corduroy, very heavy duty for those cold weather festivals) that we knotted and sent to MMario. There were recipients in other parts of the world who got seasoning mixes for American chili and boxes of local delicacies that would ship without damage.

We had quite a robust mix of things from Micca one year to Moonglow, who was slow to send her thank you note and got a reminder that it was the polite thing to do. I think that set her on the path of sending thank you notes ever since!

What do you remember about your participation in the Secret Santa exchanges we did, back when many of the participants were still alive and singing?

Here are a few (and there are often links back to previous years in each thread)

2019

2018

2017

2016

2016 hints

2015