Next week is Aunt Mary's 75th birthday party. I hesitated about a gift, waiting for either inspiration or panic to set in. This morning it was inspiration: My grandparents were originally from Newfoundland, Canada. They moved to Brooklyn when my oldest uncle was an infant. We all grew up listening to Newfoundland music (specifically Harry Hibbs for you Newfs out there.) I got up this morning and found a website. I ordered a Harry Hibbs CD and a collection of Newfoundland folklore-- right up Aunt Mary's ally. The problem: I ordered it today and the party is next Saturday. Delivery will be tight. I did print up the website description of both gifts. If the items don't arrive, I'm thinking of writing some sort of Ode to Aunt Mary or Here's what I got You poem or something. Any ideas?? For what it's worth, here's the website:www.tidespoint.com
OK, here's what I came up with while watching the kids in the pool: A gift for our favorite Aunt Mary: A tale of a Newfoundland fairy With a Harry Hibbs song To follow along. A package the mailman will carry. (FYI, Newfoundland is pronounced, at least in our house, with the emphasis on the 1st syllable.) Suggestions??
Hi Alice, Love the poem! I am thinking that you can type and print out the poem on really nice parchment paper. Then you can roll it up and tie it with pretty string or a ribbon. Then you can put it in something related to the gift/to Newfoundland. Since I know nothing about this place, I cannot help much there...but you mentioned a fairy. Could you find a small figurine/statue of a fairy and slip the paper in it or attach it to it with more ribbon/string? Or use something else related and put the paper in/on it. My aunt did this for Christmas one year-the gift was delayed and she put a little note in a small stocking-actually wrapped the note in a tiny box. Your aunt will love those gifts!!!!! I hope they do arrive in time!
Well, there's a FOUL kind of liquor aptly called Screech. But I haven't seen a real bottle of it in decades. I could fake it though... Hmmm.. let me think about this one.
Oooh..empty bottle of said liquor (or similar faked bottle), then put in note and cork it. Wa la----Message in a bottle!!!!
What a great idea!! I googled Newfoundland Screech and came up with their website. They've changed the bottle from what I remember, but they include a picture of the old version. Here's the website if I've piqued your interest: http://www.screechrum.com/home.asp This is going to be so cool!!! Thanks for your help!
Make up a fake potation: you could call it "Squeal" and let the kids design the label... or, wait! Your local arts & crafts store probably carries plastic personalizable mugs - the way these work is that the linder unscrews from the outside of the mug and there's a piece of paper in between on which kids (or grownups) can color or otherwise make a design. You could maybe have the kids do a "Squeal" or "Squall" label - lots of unlikely looking sea birds, perhaps? (sorry, bad joke) - or a collage of things Newfoundland, or maybe even just of Newfie dogs. (I have fond memories of visiting a friend who lived in a relatively remote canyon, next door to the house that had a pair of Newfies. So I pull up in the driveway in the little old Fold Pinto, and I reach down for my coat and all, and when I look up I can't see anything but this wall of curly black fur out the window that turns out to be the chests of the two biggest dogs I've ever seen: not jumping, not barking, not even unfriendly, just... very there. And making sure that I meant no harm. My hostess later explained that the Newfies regarded the canyon and everyone in it as their "beat", in the neighborhood-cop sense.)
I posted this a long time ago, but it fits, so here goes: Funny story: We went up there once as kids. I was sitting on Aunt Kitty's fence with the girl next door, who had become my new best friend. Suddenly this big brown BEAR-LIKE thing came into the yard. We WERE in a foreign country (hey, I was 10 years old ) where things are different, so I assumed it was a bear. (Forget that they live in the CITY of St. Johns.) I fell off the fence and got a concussion. The "bear" was a Newfoundland dog!
That sounds quite wonderful! The time that you have spent to go and order the songs, poem, will definitely be appreciated. I love the idea of the bottle with the poem. Actually if you decide to to do it you could just print up the bottle on the website(yes, curiosity got the best of me~I looked) on a color copier then enlarge enough so that it will fit on your bottle and then you cut around the wavy parts and then lightly paste it down~ absolute fun! Keep us posted on what you decide to do.
A brown bear bottle would look similar and you could glue the poem on over the label. Another option is to put the poem in a picture frame with a background of stuff your kids drew for her. Related funny story to yours: When I was six my parents got a full-grown"purple" (actually golden) chow dog. I was taking a bath with the door open a crack when the dog got there. I rinsed my hair and sat up just as the dog nosed the door open. I saw the dog and said "Oh s h i t - a lion!"
Well, the timeline isn't as much of a concern: My uncle was taken to the ER this morning. It looks like either a blood infection of some sort or a kidney issue, possibly related to his dialysis. So the party is postponed indefinitely. I'll still send Aunt Mary the gift, and I'll play with the wording of the poem... I like this idea too much not to use it.
So sorry about your uncle, Alice; I hope all is well. I like your idea as well; I'm sure they'll appreciate the time you have put into your gift.
