CharityRackham

Ditto with William. I do bow to your strength and courage. I noticed you earlier and took a peek at your pics and such. It is nice to see that there are still wonderful people in the world who are willing and able to turn lemons into lemonade, instead of the other way around (although how you make a lemon from lemonade, I don't know but it sounded fine in my head). You are a rare treasure indeed and I am happy to see you here. Welcome aboard and may we get the chance to meet in person some day. Yours, Christina AKA Captain Charity Ann Rackham

I opened mine today. Looks like Jaded did all right. I see by a previous post that there is to be another part to come. Really? Jaded, honey, should I be watching out for something? Cools and wow. Thank you. The one bracelet is pretty solid. It's nice. And the little dragonfly is neat. Jade green... Just the right colour. And the fact that the gift includes hand made in the description. Very personal and that's wonderful. Here's a pic. I'll post anther pic when the 'other' arrives. Thank you sweetheart. Can't wait to see what part two is. Now I have another reason to visit Florida. To come and see you. Later. Martin is waiting for me to go to dinner.

My gift arrived safe and sound. I am happy to see no pirate name on the outside of the envelope (only a real name) so I still don't know who. I got down past the outer two envelopes (and the tape saying that it was inspected) to the inner envelope and gently squeezed it. Feels soft but didn't hear any crunching of wrapping paper so if it is OK by my secret Pirate Santa (that just sounds soooo right) I'll just leave it inside the inner envelope and place that under the tree. I don't want to know until Christmas. If my sender would like me to do something different with it then please tell Duchess and she'll let me know. This way the secret can remain. Okay? But no fees or charges. I guess on inspection they decided that it was not their focus or it didn't look like I may have bought it from a US company and someone was lying.... Not sure but that was a nice change. So... to the one who sent it. It arrived just fine but I'm not sharing what it is until I've opened it on Christmas. I'm actually pretty excited. Later!

I have done so and you are one talented pirate... Good luck and let us know how it comes out. I did pop in under the Youtube of BCRenfest but I hope to find a moment (and a full size computer instead of the iPhone) to pop back in as my personal ID ( carrhunger ) and make a second posting/like. I am sure I am not the only one with more than one ID or some friends we can corrupt... I mean influence.... to do the same. Good luck man. And if you win.. Drinks on you!!!

Does look warm but also... Well.. Christmas like? And I see you agree. Wearing it in the Christmas parade makes sense. Do you have a summer outfit too? I think it's humourous when folks have summer and winter garb. ;-)

Nice one, Bright. Thank you. Well.. How about the rest of you?

Ship turned out nice... I love the little girl in the dress. What a cutey. Gotta watch those ones... I see her challenging you in the last shot. ;-) Can't wait to see the video. The adult in me is happy to see the success. The kid in me (aww shucks) is jealous of the munchkins. All that matters in the long run is that all had a grand time and it looks as if they (and you) did. I do wish more folks took part in their kids parties. Recently we did this mini event out at a winery/bistro and a small group of tikes showed up with two adults. The poor adults seemed overwhelmed. We played as much as we could with them but I do feel sorry for the two adults with a hand full of kids in two mini vans, who had to be with them. They looked drained before they even got out of the cars. It was very sweet of you to do this and I hope all (including the adults) were satisfied at the end of the day. Good on yah and BRAVO!!! Until next time...

Jaded - To Canada? Yes and no. Sometimes it's more a red flag but then again... It's all in the value of the item not the shipping method. When I send to the States I put the value in the top line (next to item description) and then in the final value NCV (no Commercial Value) and 99% of the time it works well. To here? Well... The girl on the Canada Post 1-800 # says to gather together any gifts they charged and hit them up for a tax refund once they're together. So I've put some cash near the door (2 more gifts are due to arrive) and I'll do as she sugests. She says, because of the time of year, I'll have a greater chance at a tax refund for gifts if I have a cluster...

Elena - You may post as many as you would like. More the better. Iron Hand - That video is GREAT!! And it played on my iPhone too. Come on! Rest of you. Let's see your Season's Greetings!!

Left a note on your profile. Nice work. Will drop in first chance I get. Gotta dash TTFN

It does suck but at least someone can send anything to you and it will all be well in time for birthdays for friends and such. Chin up honey. I am sure the receiver of your item will be happy. See you all soon.

Could be why hubby and I chose to not have any. Too much competition. I've been working with the kids for YEARS and I love playing with them, filling them with sugar, winding them up then handing them back... Sorry. So... You going to do the same to the lot who added the extra munchkins. Fill them with sugar, wind them up then hand them back? I think I want video of that. Have fun and I am sure everyone here is now INSANELY curious as to how this one is going to turn out. Later... That is if you survive.

Just got this last post via my phone so I wanted to reply before it's too late. The grabbags. Put them in a box/chest and as each kid wins the first game, let them pick. You run the risk of the last kid or two maybe being disappointed but you decrease the chances of a mass disappointment. Encourage the kids to trade and barter (a common pirate thing as well) for items from the bags. And the cupcakes... Do you have a dagger? Let the birthday kid cut theirs and then, maybe, cut the others. Make each cut a wish. The whole thing with a couple cutting a cake is to create an additional energy for their wishes. If the birthday kid cuts each kids cupcake they can make a wish together and it will keep the birthday kid busy. Ok. Gotta go. I have Costco shopping to deal with and hubby is patiently waiting. Good luck.

Elena. That's less then a pound? Really? Bugger. Is it like that the rest of the year or only during Christmas rush? It amazes me how different countries handle their situations. I called Canada Post on the gift that came for me. This last year has been the only time I've had these issues. They gave me another phone number I can call as, if it is a gift no tax should be charged. I haven't called yet as I'll have to account for hold time and I don't have that right now. But Canada Post said that anything that is valued $20 or more can be charged duty and HST, no matter what so the sugestion was once more made to me that NCV be put in the value space. I've done that with sending down there as well. She says for the US it's a $35 limit but up to $600 can be claimed depending on what it is. I chuckled as she said 'she thinks'. I know a lot of you send back and forth to the States. I've been receiving from the US for years and when something is handmade in the US I get a NAFTA filled out. Wish Canada had that but alas. So yeah... I wanted to share that on a whole as I do know a lot of you send stuff back and forth and it looks like things may be changing. I figure it may be move to help get rid of gov debt. We'll have to wait and see. Gotta dash. Headed out to one day of just hubby and I. Cheap day date but we need a day to us. TTFN

Note to gift exchange people. The Canadian Government has gone mad with HST (our two taxes combined to make one ridiculous sales tax). They are charging the receiver HST on any items shipped to them. Today I had to pay $42 in order to receive a gift from a friend in the US. Please, if you haven't sent your gift yet (Gertie is up here as am I - Don't know who else) do not put an actual value on it. NCV is the acceptable value. It means No Commercial Value. I'm going to have to let the two other friends who are sending me Christmas Gifts that this is so. I'm going to go broke accepting gifts. Darn it!!! Thanks guys and gals.

I always say... If you can't do better vote for those who can and be proud. Mister. You grow far sight better facial hair then I could so you have my vote as many times as I can drop in there.... I'm just happy it accepts Canadian voting. Many a contest for friends, associates and the like have blocked me because I'm North of the 49th.

Every year, for the BC Renaissance Festival Ed Appleby (Firstmate Cobbs and http://www.edsrus.com )custom designs our cards. I know we are not the only one as I see plenty of custom cards posted on my Walls (Myspace and Facebook) and sent to me either by email and/or by post. I do love displaying the cards so if it is sent electronically I print it out and it gets put on display. So I got to thinking. There must be a ton of custom cards here, in this group. Pictures of folks modified to have a greeting on them, an already existing cartoon card that has been sent around or unique cartoon cards that get made but never really spread as far as the artist deserves.... SO! As in my case it is the last point (Ed has grown soo much in his talents and deserves so much credit for doing this for us for so many years) I would like to start this subject and spot, in order to encourage all of you to wide spread share your holiday cards. If you link to them it would be great if they are a good res to be printed out for those of us who love displaying. If they are for sale, make sure we have the link. Supporting our fellow artists is important. For example: Ed's cards for this year can be ordered via cafepress. http://www.cafepress.com/bcrf I am looking forward to seeing the results of this. I love this time of year. So here you go... This year's creative card from Ed: Links to previous year's cards from Ed. http://www.bcrenfest...RFxmas094X6.jpg http://www.bcrenfest...s/BCRF07LOW.jpg You can see his progression in style. SEASON'S GREETINGS TO ONE AND ALL. MAY 2011 TREAT YOU BETTER THEN 2010 DID!!!!!