In my family of origin, we’re 3 sisters and a brother. All have kids. Got hectic and costly come Christmastime. At a certain point, we decided that we’d give presents to all the nieces and nephews, but draw among siblings and spouses. For example, I might give a present to 2nd Sister’s Husband, but receive mine from Brother. It’s worked well. In fact, we’ve created a new tradition of sorts. There’s the “Who is organizing the draw this year?” conversation and the “OK tell me what you want,” emails.
This year, since 1st Sister and Brother will be together at Christmas, while 2nd Sister and her family will be out of the country and I will be here, we (OK, well, I, big sisters have some inalienable rights.) thought that we’d do it as pairs. i.e., the couples who will be together will give to each other, my husband and I will exchange presents with 2nd Sister and her husband.
That “Plannerina” title? A family nickname for women who plan. Beautifully, I might add.
All of which is to say, “It’s not too early for a wish list!” I want 2nd Sister to have plenty of time to shop before her travels. Any of these would be great. I won’t even say, “Hint, hint!” Somehow the decades of High WASP coded messages made highly direct communicators out of us. Very affectionate, and highly direct.
- Fermob chairs + spray paint. The slate patio right outside my back door is furnished with a Weber grill, an old teak bench from Smith & Hawken, fuchsias, and an ugly white metal table. I think the setup would be infinitely improved by two orange Fermob bistro chairs and a can of light gray spray paint. Would orange be too much against this green, this pink?
- Small copper watering can
. I water my back patio plantings with a big can
, but the cyclamen at the front door require a teeny weeny spout to get in between the leaves. And copper would go so well with my goofy vintage escutcheon. (Thank you for teaching me that word.)
- Le Creuset dutch oven in the 4.5 size. I have a big one, and a really big one, but for me, my husband, and a good winter braise, (because winter braises are the best) I need a little guy. Maybe in sky blue?
- J. Crew Field Jacket in black. Now comes in tall too. I love my “moss brown” (known to the rest of the world as olive green) version. I kept looking for a different sort of anorak, in black, and then I realized, just stick with what works. Wave that preppy flag! No shame in heritage!
- Lalique blue fish. Two blue fish, actually, since the hankering I had here persists. Doctor Seuss reference, a plus.
.
Hey, 2nd Sister and Brother-in-Law, now it’s your turn. Your lists, my dears, if you please.
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48 Responses
Gee, I hope you sister reads your blog. All of these are nice choices. I have a couple Le Creuset dutch ovens. I leave the small one, in a sort of royal blue, on the cooktop because I use it nearly daily.
@AK, She does:). And I find I often wash my medium dark green one, and put it right back on the range:)
Firstly, I LOVE the Plannerina title! Perfect.
Secondly, I love the draw too. I keep suggesting it to no avail.
And thirdly, great list! A lovely oven dish should go on my list I realised last week, since mine cracked and I never replaced it. The watering can is also beautiful. And bonus points for functional!
@Laura, All the bonus for the function! Plannerinas of the Universe, unite!
Oh, that blue Le Creuset. Sigh.
@Susan (une femme), I know. I know:).
Great choice,my distant “Plannerina” sister!
I did some Christmas shopping this morning and my shopping list ( I am an only child,but my friends all love to get- little!- presents )was planned weeks ago! It is Christmas spirit,no?
Hope that your sister read this blog!
Dottoressa
@dottoressa, Christmas spirit, especially when your dear ones are, or will be, far away.
I love my Le Creuset Dutch ovens. I find I use my smaller one way more often than the big one. Mine are ancient and still going strong. I have read that they get passed on to the next generation. I can see why. So useful and good looking.
“Planerina”. Ha! Love this. I picture a sort of fairy with glasses and a notebook.
@Mary anne, The only time one ever gave up the ghost was when I tried to stirfry in it. Oops. Too hot. The enamel flaked off.
Great list! I love the chairs in orange.
I’m going to tell my family to call me Plannerina; it’s much nicer than Miss Bossy.
@Leslie K, So much nicer. All the pirouettes involved;).
Oh the watering can and the Le Creuset would be on the top of my list too…the smaller size is perfect for the two of you…braise on Lisa!
I hope your sister reads your blog.
@Bungalow Hostess, Braise on, my friend! I think the watering can would be great in the Bungalow, or on its porch, for example.
We (four sisters + spouses) do the same. My parents have always been the clearinghouse for names & list cross references, but I fear it’s becoming too much for them to handle. As the eldest, I think I’ll use my Plannerina skillz and see if we can do a family experience this year. We did the theater as a group many moons ago (we were all still single) and it’s time to resurrect that!
@Patsy, Totally take on Big Sister. After years where my siblings weren’t so sure their adult selves liked Big Sisness, I think now it’s all good.
Gosh, I love your taste! Hope you get everything you want this year :)
Plannerina is such a great term. I imagine it written in a swirly cursive font, over an office door :)
@Danielle, Thank you! And maybe I should get one, in clear Lucite with black lettering, just like that, for 2nd Sister;).
Is can of light gray spray paint going on ugly metal table and/or old teak bench? Take care to consider your grays since [just like you found w/ reds] undertones will likely lean toward green or blue [and maybe even purple sometimes], make sure ahead of time you get what you want. I found the perfect light gray spray paint w/ my preferred undertones of green, Krylon “Castle Rock.”
@TheHuntingHouse, On Ugly Metal Table. Old teak bench is quite weathered and wooden and I like it:). Light gray with undertones of green is exactly what I want, to be almost the same color as my house exterior! Castle Rock. So very Game of Thrones…
The small Dutch oven would be on my list as well. I think orange chairs would be perfect.
@Mardel, :)
Oh my goodness. This is lovely and hilarious on so very many levels!
@Sibyll Catalan, And there are links too! Hooray!
@Sibyll Catalan, But of course!
All the gifts with the exception of the field jacket could be considered “couple” gifts, right? If you get the field jacket, does your husband get something else?
All great gifts.
@Kathy, Yes, they could be considered couple gifts, but for whatever reason we don’t do it that way. So my husband will get something else, no matter what. Hence the range of price options:).
My 2 sisters and I (all late 50s/early 60s) have lost both parents over the past year and have decided that we are just happy being together – that’s a great gift for us. We do buy nominal ($30 or under) gifts for our own adult children and any grandchildren (all are 7 and under) and that’s about it.
I do love the choices on your list, though, especially that jacket! And “planerina” is a great name for the organizers! Have fun!
@Barb, Thank you. And I’m sorry you’ve lost your parents. I hope you have a happy and family-full Christmas.
I love my Le Creuset!
@Susan, <3
Oh dear, I really have to start thinking about this soon, don’t I?
No draws or list exchanges for me. Our kids organize same amongst themselves, and I’m not sure how that will work with one in Rome for the first time. . . Very tempted to do some social engineering. . . but Mom Plannerina is not nearly as acceptable as Sister Plannerina, so I’m going to sit back and trust. And make sure my own package to Rome gets in the mail soon! Hence the Oh, dear! all over again! Is it really November 20th!!?!
(crossing my fingers you get the Fermob chair ;-)
@Frances/Materfamilias, The Fermob chairs would be the corollary of your Adirondacks that overlook the sea. I’d have to imagine the wind in the trees as my ocean:).
We dispensed years ago with the sisterly, brotherly gift giving except for those years when we would be together. And now my sister and I who live close and spend the holiday together have done likewise. Seriously, Hubby and I don’t need anything and neither do she or her husband or grown children. And other siblings are too busy thinking of their children and grandchildren and newly minted spouses of children to worry about their siblings. So it’s a plate of homemade cookies and a bottle of Hubby’s famous pickles when we arrive at my sister’s house for Christmas dinner or a small bag of my favourite goodies from her store when she arrives at ours for Christmas Eve dinner. Otherwise… no pressure, just merry making.
@Sue Burpee, Ah, you don’t miss the fun of unwrapping? The surprise? I guess not, and certainly there’s no requirement for more stuff!
The sky blue Le Creuset and the copper watering can are so pretty! I already have a cobalt Staub Dutch oven in that size but I sure could use the watering can. Hope you get everything you want and more!
@Jane, Thank you!
Snap to everything you wrote in first paragraph! We came to same conclusion in our family of origin about 7 years ago.
The plannerina can be any of my sisters or me- just depends on the year and how everyone is coping with the year’s happenings.
My brother takes it upon himself to book a huge house on the coast for a minimum 4 days, when we all get together and the highlight is the dress up parade. The best adult and kids dress up outfit means the winner gets to have at their home, the highly coveted trophy until the following year. My sister bought 2 trophies, one for the kids and one for the adults. The kids have had some of the best ideas for dress ups. My 9 year old niece dressed up as queen Elizabeth II one year and stole the show.
@Den, This sounds so fabulous I am almost not sure it’s legal. We have had some miraculous games of Charades, and Fictionary in the past. Definition of a word: “Human guts, very sickutating.” Author? Boy who grew up to write beautifully;). I fear we are all too old now for a dress up parade but, then, again, maybe not. Too good to pass up, perhaps.
“Planerina”, I adore this and may have to adopt it for the women in my family.
When we used to attend Christmas day celebrations at my husband’s family home, we too used to draw, which made things far simpler and actually more personal as one would really have to think about what the recipient would like, as opposed to buying a generic gift, as in “one size fits all”.
I hope you get everything on your wish list this year.
@Chronica Domus, Thank you. I won’t get everything – I’ll only get a few presents, and I know two of them and they aren’t even on this list;). So, some of the fun in a way is the imaginary Christmas that doesn’t even need to happen.
Great gift choices. Sounds like a perfect gift giving system. Best of all you get something you really want.
A few days ago, I vowed not to do anything about Christmas until after Thanksgiving…So much for vows…today, I bought a wreath for the front door. Couldn’t resist. My compromise is to put the wreath inside the garage until after Thanksgiving.
Loving the holiday season – Susan
@Susan, Loving the holiday season too! Particularly excited about Christmas, since I’m not in charge of Thanksgiving this year. I bet I go out and get myself a wreath too, like, Friday;).
Much nicer than my family’s nickname for me: Holiday Hitler.
I fancy myself a Le Creuset aficionado and had no idea there was a 4.5. Would be a great size. You might also consider the highly versatile 3.5 quart braiser. what color are your big and bigger ones? My collection spans Marseille, Caribbean, Flame, and Kiwi. And I think I might need some cherry, too. Remarkably, it’s often all in use at the same time. No, doing dishes is not a quick affair in my kitchen.
@Stephen Andrew, Bwahahahaha. What do you cook in the 3.5? Can it take, for example, a potted chicken half, for two? Red-braised oxtails, for two? And the colors of the bigger ones – Dark Gray and Dark Green. I am not so acquainted as you are with the Le Creuset nomenclature. I must remedy that.
Done! (And I won’t tell you what it is just yet — want to leave a little and fun element of surprise.) Sent with lots of love.
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