Secret Santa Show and Tell 2011
The Irish Fireside elves have been sending presents around the globe this week as part of our third annual Secret Santa. Each participant signed up to send someone a gift valued at about $10, and in return, someone sent them a gift.
Here are a few of the gift reports… we’ll add more as they come in:
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- I love the original hand print Angela Crawley sent from her www.rubyclover.etsy.com shop. I love it and had a pretty black frame that I put it in already!
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I received my Secret Santa gift from Wendy LeVine. It's a lovely wool Ireland's Eye scarf purchased from Standún's gift shop in Spiddal, Co. Galway and a shamrock pendant - Wendy's favorite spot in Ireland! It's sure to help keep me nice and warm when I'm out and about this winter.
-- Dana Saretsky --
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Heather Stanfill, sent me "The Claddagh Ring" by Malachy McCourt. I love to read, & books about Ireland are a favorite. Can you believe I don't know the whole story about the Claddagh? She also sent a lovely Irish Blessing ornament. Wonderful gifts!
-- Carla Moser --
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Received a lovely gift from Judy Arnold - a book "Tales from an Irish Heritage." Also in the package was a set of old-time Irish stickers as well as a hand made shamrock book-marker AND a crocheted angel ornament. An overwhelming gift to say the least!
-- Wendy LeVine --
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My secret Santa Marsha Marhofke sent a music CD and tasty loaf of lemon poppy seed bread. Here's a photo of the CD; unfortunately, no photo of the yummy bread is available, since it was shared with family and friends and is already gone, crumbs and all!
-- Travis Nelson --
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I got the most gorgeous green scalloped edge scarf from Sherry Yates! This was lots of fun!
-- Angela Crawley --
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My Secret Santa was Sarah Velasquez. She sent me a beautiful Irish themed ornament. Its so sparkly and when the lights shine on it, its the star of the tree. Christmas is s special time of year isn't it.
-- Alesia Barbaro --
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I received a beautiful picture frame with an irish blessing from my Secret Santa Karen Coles. It sure brightened our Christmas this year! Thank you, Karen!
-- Claudine Schurian --
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Attached is a photo of the book I received from my Secret Santa. It is a wonderful book on Ireland from Kim Hathaway. I will enjoy it immensely!
-- Susan Delaney --
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Thank you to my Secret Santa Bill Sweeney for the lovely book about Irish Life, I can't wait to start reading it after the Holidays! :)
-- Michelle Wentling --
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My thanks to my Secret Santa, Travis Nelson, for the beautiful print of the Cliffs of Moher! One of my favorite places in Ireland.
-- Carrie Pedersen --
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Merry Christmas! Here's a pic of my present from Joyce Jentges! I love it!! Thank you for the opportunity to get to know some amazing people who share my love for Ireland!
-- Ms. Micheal Hodge --
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It's a wonderful Irish cookbook with pictures from Ireland throughout, sent by Jody Halsted. My wife Cheryl and I can't wait to try out some of the recipes!
-- Ernie Huntley --
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I received my Secret Santa delivery from Kathleen Steel. A nice photo of the Torc Waterfall in Killarney National Park, a brass Claddagh decorative piece, and a little local Irish News from Chicago. Always nice to receive a special delivery from Irish Santa :-)
-- Bill Sweeney --
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My Secret Santa was Cindy Doe, & she sent a great picture frame with pics fom her trip to the Dingle Peninsula, along with a book, The Smart Shopper's Guide to Ireland. It sure was a nice surprise, & just looking at her pictures, I could feel the love for The Emerald Isle.
-- George Shornack --
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My Secret Santa Carla Moser sent me a beautiful book called From High Place... mountain photos from all over Ireland. I am know dreaming of visiting some of those place.
-- Annette Taratuta --
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I received my Secret Santa gift from Keith Owen. I can't wait to dig into this book. In his note Keith mentioned that it is on his Christmas list.
-- Jody Halsted --
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Camille Grimshaw, sent me a gift from the heart! She's an artist and created a Celtic J for me. It is so very beautiful, and so lovingly made. The colors are stunning, and seeing it both makes me very happy and reminds me of the wonderful times we had in Ireland
-- Jessie Voigts --
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I received a fabulous calendar with photos of Ireland taken by Christy Nicholas. It is hung in our sunroom right next to the full-sized map of Ireland that is permanently tacked to the wall. Thank you! It contains photos of many of my fave places in Eire.
-- Kathy Nelson --
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Here's my nifty gifty from Dana Saretsky. The CD of Renaissance music and the triskelion are this year; the green glass ball with shamrocks you will recognize from a previous Irish giveaway!
-- Judy Arnold --
I received my Secret Santa gift from Kate Noland from California. I hit a lovely card and a “grow your own lucky clover kit.”
–Terry-Jo Lewis –
I got a lovely piece of jewelry that was made by my Secret Santa Susan Delaney. It’s a beautiful necklace and I wore it as soon as I opened the gift. Love, love love it!!!
– Maggie Cosgrove –
I got my Secret Santa gift from Diana Goings, and I love it! I love all Celtic Music, and this is one I don’t have – amazing, as I have almost 100 CDs of the genre 
She also wrote a lovely note in the card, which looks handmade as well.
– Christy Nicholas –
I got 2 nice things from my secret Santa Patricia Wakefield: a lovely little bottle of maple syrup and a jar of crab-apple jam. It was lovely to get a present in the post and a nice e-mail from my Santa.
– Carmen G Carballeira –
I also received my from Bit Devine! A beautiful hand colored print from Ireland. “Come in the evening, come in the morning, come when your looked for or come without warning…….” so glad I became a part of this!
– Lisa Waters –
I received a wonderful jar of Irish sweets from Suzette Minton. We got to have a nice email exchange and compare our notes on Ireland and our Irish heritages. Thanks so much for coordinating this – it was so much fun!
– Karen Coles –
I got a nice St Brigid’s cross from my secret Santa Melissa Guerrero.
– Angela Brown –
I got a nice photo of the Cliffs of Moher from my Secret Santa Kathy Nelson.
– Hannah Brown –
I received a beautiful Ireland ornament from my Secret Santa Lynda Bowes and I love it!!! Thanks Lynda!
– Patti Wakefield –
I received a beautiful wooden shamrock plaque with the word “Hope” on it from my Secret Santa, (Ms.) Micheal Hodge. An inspired gift, as my mother-in-law, my daughter, and my granddaughter all are named Hope!
– Suzette Minton –
My Secret Santa Patty Giroult sent me a CD of Irish music, and a lovely calendar with photographs of Ireland. When I opened up the calendar, the first shot in it included a road I travel often, heading up toward Newry in County Down, with the mountains of Mourne across the water. Nice surprise.
– Kerry Dexter –
I received a wonderful CD and booklet from Anne Roos of her music. She is a wonderful harpist and the book is a present itself.
– Sherry Yates –
I received a beautiful calendar from Nicole Haase, made from photo’s of Ireland that she took herself. It’s simply beautiful!
– Cindy Doe –
Jessie Voigts sent me 8 or so (don’t have them in front of me) blank cards to which she attached a photo of places in Ireland she has been. Lovely photos! Problem is, I don’t want to use the cards now, I want to keep them for myself!
– Joyce Jentges –
What a surprise someone sent a beautiful red, green and gold ornament from Anne Kiehm.
– Marsha Marhofke –
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Annette, I have that same book – the first edition sold out quickly, and it has such fantastic photos. Kathy, enjoy the calendar!
Everyone’s gifts are so cute and varied!! I’ve hardly taken off my scarf, love it
We had a great time participating in the Secret Santa this year! Can’t wait to join in the fun again next year!
Happy Holidays, everyone! Stay warm by the Fireside
Still waiting for my Secret Santa gift but glad Angela Brown got hers from me. Enjoy, Angela.
EEk!!! I was down and out with teh flu and forgot to say my Thank you!
Kerry Dexter, thank you for my CD! It kept me company whilst I was sick and made thw time go by much faster!
Lisa Waters, I am glad that you enjoyed your Print. It is part of a collection of Hand-coloured prints offered in 2005 by a local artist near the Blarney Woolen Mills. I purchased as many as my budget would allow and my suitcase would hold. I give them out for special gifts.
It looks like the Secret Santa program was again a huge success! Many thanks to Corey and Liam for organizing this!
Slan Beo,
Bit
I never got my Secret Santa gift. Ah well. Maybe next time.