Little gifts that spark joy

HALLIE EPHRON: Hoping everyone is snuggled in for a quiet, warm holiday, networking with loved ones, opening presents, indulging in Christmas sweets and savories, and enjoying a bit of peace and quiet.

Usually both of our daughters, along with our 4-year-old grandson and 8-year-old grand daughter and our son-in-law would be here, opening presents Christmas morning and leaving the house awash in wrapping and ribbon.

This year we're snug in our own homes, Zooming the present opening. I am hoping we hit homeruns with our presents.

The thing is, you just never know with gifts, especially for children. I was forever buying not-quite-the-right doll or a knock-off My Little Pony for my ungrateful children, and believe me they let me know. But sometimes it's the littlest most unexpected gift that's an unalloyed home run.


In that spirit, I share with you our grandgirl's delight at one of her presents two year ago when she was six. That year she got dolls and tutus, party dresses and the nightgown she's got on. But watch and you'll see the one gift (from her Aunt) that gave her the most delight. Again... and again... and again.

Her laughter is the gift from that Christmas that keeps giving. Every time I watch this, it cracks me up.

So Happy Holidays to you all, HUGS from all the Jungle Reds! Wishing you a bit of artificial flatulence. And if you take a break from all the capering and cavorting, share a memory of the little gift from Christmas past or present that packed the biggest whoopee!.

All I Want for Christmas....

RHYS BOWEN: It's that time of year again when I want to start shopping for Christmas presents. I have time right now and it would be nice not to feeling any pressure. But trying to pin my dear ones down to what they want is impossible. Or else it's so specific that they have to choose it themselves... "I need a pair of waterproof boots, but not too clunky etc etc."

The grandkids are so easy. All they want is a gift card to their favorite store: Urban Outfitters, Sephora, Nordstroms (for my grandson who is obsessed with nice shoes). And these are easy to wrap too.  My husband John is the worst. He always says he wants and needs nothing. But obviously he can't sit there and watch everyone else unwrap gifts, can he? So we all try to find something that might excite him.  Every year he says "Don't buy me clothes." One daughter ignores this, buys him shirts and sweaters, and he always wears them!

I have reached the point in my life when I don't need anything, but I do like small surprises. One year I told John to surprise me AND he bought me Winston Churchill's autobiography. Useful and informative, yes, but not the same thrill as a diamond bracelet. I.'ve found if I want something I have to be quite direct with him. "Go into Macy's second floor, turn left, third rack, blue dress, size 10."
But that sort of takes away the thrill, doesn't it?
I think we've moved on to giving experiences. For our anniversary I bought us tickets to an evening of Malaysian cuisine with TV chef Martin Yan. That was fun. And we have Hamilton tix for next year.

Are your menfolk good at selecting gifts?.

I've just seen this year's Neiman Marcus catalog. The most expensive item is a solar powered 70 foot yacht, complete with helicopter pad, naturally. Yes, I wouldn't mind one of those but they are so darned awkward to gift wrap. And if you can afford that many millions for the yacht, would you worry about affording the fuel for it?

Or for $315,000 there is a secret agent experience including learning to jump out of a helicopter. Since I've been known to twist my ankle when walking down the sidewalk I think perhaps not.

The gift that did sound fun was a tennis experience, all four majors as a guest of Sloane Stevens , staying at player only hotels, lots of chance to interact with players... for a mere $550,000.

At least these selections seem better than the dreadful sofa in the shape of a hippopotamus last year!

I think we'll be settling for slippers and hand cream, unless you have good suggestions for an old cranky husband?

IDEAS FOR MYSTERY GIFTS FROM KATE CARLISLE

RHYS BOWEN: Today I'm delighted to host a good friend, Kate Carlisle. I'm sure she needs no introduction to those of us who love cozier mysteries. Kate and I share a publisher and an agent and seem to wind up doing events together, so I thought it would be a great idea to have her on Jungle Red with her suggestions for holiday gifts. 

KATE CARLISLE: 

How is it that the holidays—dates fixed well in advance—always manage to sneak up on me?! I've had a deadline looming, which is always a good excuse for neglecting to pay attention to every other date on the calendar. Yet somehow, despite my inattention, Christmas is right around the corner. And as my Jewish friends know, Hanukkah is already upon us.

In case you're scrambling like I am, I present you with a few Gift Ideas for Mystery Lovers. Or if there's something on this list that you'd like to unwrap, share this post with someone who might be looking for gift ideas for you.

A Handmade Mystery Charm Bracelet

   

Etsy is a great website for getting clever gifts you can't find anywhere else. One word of caution, though: if you're intent on committing a crime, this bracelet will give you away every time. It's going to be a little jingly.

GET IT HERE: https://www.etsy.com/listing/64585522/mystery-charm-bracelet-silver-charm

A Mystery T-shirt

This T-shirt featuring the late, great Edgar Allan Poe would be a conversation starter, for sure—which could be a bad thing, if people keep interrupting you while you're trying to read!

GET IT HERE: https://www.californiarepublicclothes.com/products/edgar-allan-poe-portrait-t-shirt-tee-1

A Murder Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle

A story and a jigsaw puzzle that helps you solve the crime—fun for a couple to do together!

GET IT HERE: https://www.bitsandpieces.com/product/murder_at_bedford_manor_1000_piece_story_jigsaw_puzzle/1000-piece-jigsaw-puzzles

A Mystery Novel—or two—or three—or more!

What a great gift books are—hours of entertainment in a convenient little package! If you've missed one or more of these books, then let your loved ones know which titles so they can get you something you really want. And be sure to check out all the other books by the Jungle Red Writers.

At the annual Victorian Home and Garden Tour in Lighthouse Cove, the competition is about to turn deadly....

Contractor Shannon is in high demand among rival homeowners, who will do anything to win Best in Show. One-upmanship and even espionage break out among neighbors. When a body is discovered at one of her home sites, Shannon must nail down the details and build a case against the killer before the door shuts on someone else—for good.

GET IT HERE: http://katecarlisle.com/eaves-of-destruction.php

Following the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, private detective Molly Murphy Sullivan and her husband, Daniel, are invited for Christmas at a mansion on the Hudson, and they gratefully accept, expecting a peaceful and relaxing holiday season. Not long after they arrive, however, they learn that the hosts' daughter wandered out into the snow ten years ago and was never seen again. But Molly slowly begins to suspect that the occupants of the house know more than they are letting on. Then, on Christmas Eve, there is a knock at the door and a young girl stands there. “I’m Charlotte,” she says. “I’ve come home.”

GET IT HERE: http://rhysbowen.com/

In the latest Library Lover’s Mystery, the library’s big fund-raiser leaves director Lindsey Norris booked for trouble

Lindsey Norris and her staff are gearing up for the Briar Creek Library’s annual Dinner in the Stacks fund-raiser. But the night of the fund-raiser, Lindsey finds Paula, one of her employees, crouched over the villainous library board president's dead body. As the plot thickens, Lindsey must catch the real killer before the book closes on Paula’s future . . .

GET IT HERE: http://www.jennmckinlay.com/death_in_the_stacks___8__132283.htm

A middle-of-the-night call wakes Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson and her husband, Police Chief Russ van Alstyne: a farmhouse has erupted in flames, killing the couple sleeping indoors – and their eight-year-old foster child, Mikayla, has disappeared from the wreckage without a trace. A recent transplant recipient, Mikayla will sicken and die without proper medication.

Can anyone unpick the trail that leads to Mikayla before her days come to an end?

GET IT HERE: http://www.juliaspencerfleming.com/through-the-evil-days.html

Wishing you peace, love, and lots of time to read this holiday season!

What books are on your wish list this year? Are you giving books, as well?

Stocking Stuffers for #Foodies and #Mystery Lovers

LUCY BURDETTE: Are you stumped about stuffing your favorite foodie’s stocking? Puzzled about holiday books for mystery lovers that will slide right into a sock? We have a few suggestions of books and delicacies to delight everyone on Christmas morning…I've included suggestions from my foodie friends, Krista Davis and Cleo Coyle, who both had books out December 2, too!

In my fifth Key West food critic mystery, DEATH WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS, it may be Christmastime, but thoughts of peace on earth, good will toward men, don’t seem to extend to the restaurant business. Food critic Hayley Snow has been assigned to interview Edel Waugh, chef/owner of Key West’s hottest new restaurant. But off the record, Edel reveals that there’s been sabotage in the kitchen and asks Hayley to investigate.
 

As for immediately edible treats, I'm mad for Nocciolato, an organic Nutella-like hazelnut spread that I use to make fudge (about $10.) I took the fudge when we were houseguests at our son’s prospective in-laws’ home—it was an instant sensation. 












KRISTA DAVIS:  Thanks for including me! The newest book is called THE GHOST AND MRS. MEWER, but I have a Christmas book perfect for stockings too. In The Diva Wraps It Up, it’s beginning to look a lot like murder. When the neighborhood cookie swap turns deadly, domestic diva Sophie Winston has to wonder who’s naughty or nice. One dozen cookie recipes and two holiday alcoholic beverage recipes included!

For foodies, I recommend Theo Pink Salted Caramels: Perfect caramels are enrobed in dark chocolate and sprinkled with exactly enough pink sea salt. About $7.50 for four little mouthwatering wonders. I added a box to our tip for the garbage collectors last Christmas, and our trash cans haven’t been tossed to the curb since.

RHYS BOWEN: My Royal Spyness mystery series includes a book called The Twelve Clues of Christmas. In this book I’ve recreated the old English Christmas at a country house (with the addition of a few bodies). Food is an important element in this book, with traditional sausage rolls, mince pies, and of course the Christmas pudding, served flaming with a sprig of holly in it.

My gift for a foodie would be a Cross and Blackwell’s miniature Christmas pudding. Almost as good as home-made and you just need to microwave it, not spend hours making it. And with the addition of brandy poured over it and the sprig of holly, you can have your own Olde English Christmas.

HALLIE EPHRON: Great gift book ideas. I'd add, even though it's so big it'll probably bring your Christmas stocking crashing down from the mantle, "The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries" edited by Otto Penzler is a mix of classic and contemporary tales. Just be careful not to fall asleep reading it -- it could fall over and break your nose. And for writers on your list, you can't do better than the anthology of essays our own Hank Phillippi Ryan edited, "Writes of Passage" in Sisters in Crime's Writing Life Series.

And I recently discovered a fantastic candy maker in Dorchester, MA (think Dennis Lehane) -- Phillips Chocolates. They roast their own nuts, make their own caramel, and assemble fabulous turtles. Make someone happy.

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN: Thank you, Hallie. Yes, WRITES OF PASSAGE is the perfect gift--it's beautiful, thanks to Henery Press, and the essays are generous and lovely and incredibly valuable. A perfect gift for anyone who is even thinking about writing.
Whoa. I want those caramels from Krista.

And for your holiday libation--a "Bestseller!" (Jonathan and i named it that--so one can ask: would you like a Bestseller? And the other can say: Sure!) Shake 3 parts vodka and one part Pink Grapefruit liqueur (Giffard Creme de Pamplemousse rose') with ice, pour into a martini glass, and add a wedge of lime. Red (ish) and green!  And SO delicious. (Talk about naughty and nice!)

CLEO COYLE: For coffee lovers, a premium package of coffee makes a lovely gift. This year, Marc and I are excited to be giving our very own blend, "Billionaire's Blend," which was created by Holly O'Connor of One Good Woman Fine Coffees and Teas and her master roaster Shane in honor of our visit to their store in Eastern PA. 

The name of the blend is taken from our Coffeehouse Mystery, Billionaire Blend, and the customers liked it so much that Holly and Shane decided to keep roasting and selling it. Giving someone a gift with the word "Billionaire" in the title is a real hoot. And while this delicious blend is rich, the price is not (under $15.00 a pound, which is a good deal for premium, small-batch roasted coffee). To order it for yourself, simply call the toll free number at their shop 1-866-610-2872. Their staff is incredibly warm and friendly and they excel at fulfilling special orders. May you drink with joy!


Reds, have you found anything wonderful on your shopping excursions this year?

All I Want for Christmas is what???

RHYS BOWEN: Are you all in the holiday spirit? I would be if I could get the bleeping lights on the Christmas tree to work. I've ordered most of my gifts online which avoids going out in the rain. And if you're anything like me, you've received several gazillion catalogs. Some of them are fun and useful but this year I got one of those MOST OUTRAGEOUS AND USELESS GIFTS EVER type of catalog.
So here is my top ten list, starting with the most harmless.

1.The spinning spaghetti fork. It has a thumb-activated button that sets the fork rotating to wind up your spaghetti. At only $20. A bargain if you can't twist a fork by yourself.

2. The Darth Vader Toaster: toast your bread in this likeness of the iconic villain. Would you want Darth Vader staring at you, early in the morning, on your kitchen counter? Who could possibly want Darth Vader on their kitchen counter, unless you are George Lucas or have a Star Wars themed house?

3.The bearded beanie: A special knitted hat with a beard covering in contrasting color for those whose beards get cold (bearing in mind that hair has no sensitivity)

4.And if gets even colder: The Subzero Warm Breath Mask. Preferred by high altitude mountaineers (in case you have any of those on your gift list). It humidifies and warms winter air for more comfortable breathing. Maybe our Red who lives in Maine might think it's wonderful.

5. Light-casting gloves. An LED light in your gloves can shine on the front door as you try to insert your key without taking your gloves off. And the fingers are tipped with a material that mimics human skin so that you can use touch screens without taking gloves off. May be useful to see what you are eating if you go through the drive-through in your car.

6.Now we move to the more exotic. This one fascinates me: THE WORLD'S FIRST 3D PRINTING PEN. It sends out a thin stream of plastic to create 3D drawings. I still don't understand how it works but it's a steal at $99.99

7. Here is my favorite (NOT) a realistic remote controlled tarantula! Anyone who bought one of those for me for Christmas would definitely be on the "naughty" list forever.

8.And for those who like to go big: a 15 foot inflatable Rudolph. In the picture it looks like the reindeer could squash the house if it sat on it. And it's only four hundred dollars. I must get two.

9.And speaking of big things: A LIFE-SIZE TYRANNOSAURUS SKELETON. And I mean life-size. I don't know about you but a forty foot long and fifteen foot high Rex would not fit in my house. (Maybe it could go on the lawn and devour Rudolph). And it's a mere HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS!

10: And last but not least: The Celebrity Robotic Avatar. This robot is adult-sized, has appeared in movies, and is controlled by a wireless remote, small enough to escape detection so that it looks as if the robot is reacting by itself. It can engage in impromptu banter with guests. It's LED mouth lights up when it talks. Shipping weight is 500 pounds and it costs a mere $345,000.
For that amount I could hire a first-class butler whose mouth didn't light up when he talked but could move without a remote!

So Reds:Would you want to put any of these on your Christmas list?  Have you found anything more outlandish than these? Do share.

Be careful what you wish for...

HALLIE EPHRON: I had a friend who made the mistake of telling friends that he liked frogs. Soon he had a massive collection of them, gifts from well meaning buddies who now knew what to get him. Believe me, he did not like frogs that much.



My family knows I like soap, and I truly am happy that every Christmas I get some lovely bars of the stuff... which I use up before the next Christmas. But telling my husband, in particular, that I like jewelry and silk scarves has made no discernible impact. I once confessed that I like fruitcake as long as it doesn't have tutti fruttis in it. That he remembers.



So have you inadvertently generated a collection of something (cats, dogs, elephants, fruitcake door stops??) that you sort of like and happened to mention?



DEBORAH CROMBIE: Everyone knows I like tea, so I do get tea things, which I quite like. And books, of course.

But like you, telling hubby I'd really love some nice jewelry has had no discernible affect. Are we doing something wrong? Maybe they're not watching enough jewelry store ads on TV? :-)

HANK PHILLIPI RYAN: This is hilarious. I have a pal who did it with elephants. Said so, I mean. Now his house is FULL of the creatures. And what are you supposed to do? Say I don't like elephants anymore?

And I agree, when you TRY (ooh, look at that gorgeous scarf!) it never works. Searching for an inexpensive-y easy thing, I once told relatives I love grapefruit-scented bath gel. Easy, huh? How hard is that? Got none._._,_._

Want me to call everyone's husbands?

RHYS BOWEN: I used to collect elephants--ebony, ivory, glass, ceramic and then my kids started giving me elephants for every occasion. I still love elephants (the real thing) but I've boxed up the collection and anything else that attracts dust.

And Hallie, if I want my husband to buy me something specific and non-techie for Christmas I have to draw a diagram leading him to the correct rack or counter in Macy's and describing the item in minute detail. Hints with men never work.

When we're driving I used to say "Oh look, a craft fair. How adorable." And that meant "I want to stop and take a look" but to John it meant keep on driving. So I learned to yell "Stop! I'm going to take a look at that craft fair. Find some coffee. See you in half an hour." 

You have to be specific with them. And foreceful!

HALLIE: Laughing, Rhys - this year I sent my husband the web link to the cast iron fry pan I'm coveting (really)... I think it worked. Time will tell.

LUCY BURDETTE: I'm laughing with you Rhys because my John does the same thing when it comes to restrooms. I'll mention to him that I need to stop. Okay he says and then drives right by the next exit.

Hey I say I need to use the bathroom. Oh he says you didn't tell me you need to use it now.

To get back on topic, my mother used to have a collection of owls. Owls made of everything--marble, felt, wood, everything owl. My collection as a kid was stuffed cats. I kept all of them until we moved to Florida in the 80s and the roaches ate the rabbit fur covers. I still miss those cats.

DEBS: Oh, oops, Lucy, you know what's going to happen now. Everyone is going to give you stuffed cats!!!!

HALLIE: Writing it down...

SUSAN ELIA MACNEAL: My husband is a puppeteer for Sesame Street and the Muppets, and he's also played a dragon (Majellan on Nickelodian's Eureeka's Castle) and Bear on Disney Channel's Bear in the Big Blue House. So we have tons of dragon and bear stuff around — gifts from people, mostly. The current show is Mouse King, so are we in for lots of mouse and rat stuff, too?

(I was going to type, "oh, I hope not" — but then realized a bought a mouse king ornament for this year's tree.... I'm part of the problem here, aren't I?)

HALLIE: Okay, so confessions are good for the soul. Did you ever inadvertently start a collection by saying you liked frogs... or some other cute creature... and then end up inundated with them?  (Ellen Kozak: You won't believe it, but I had this blog in the works before your comment!!)

Secret Longings

Twas the day after Christmas
We're off in the car.
Returning gifts we travel afar...

RHYS BOWEN: I'm not going to ask how many of us are taking stuff back to the store. Instead I want to know what was the one gift you really really longed for and didn't get. If you'd had the chance to whisper in Santa's ear what would you have wished for? Neiman Marcus catalog kind of stuff. The best gift ever. Money no object.(and it can't be world peace or freedom from hunger, because we all want that and even Neiman Marcus doesn't have the power to grant it)

I started gaily on this topic and now I'm finding it hard to come up with an answer because I don't really lust after material things. I'm happy driving my Camry and don't need a Lexus under the tree. If I had a huge diamond I'd only worry about dropping it down the bathroom sink. (I did that to a sapphire).

A few years ago it might have been a date with Robert Redford. But now he's looking a little worn. One thing I've always wanted was to land a 747. To make that giant bird touch down gently would be so cool.
And I'd like a luxury safari... a house on an island in the Caribbean maybe?
So how about you, dear JRW sisters? Secret longings please.

ROSEMARY HARRIS: Okay, this is a trick question because if we SAY something we're shallow, but if we say we have all we need we're smarmy. So I'll go first and be shallow - then the rest of you will sound more highly evolved.

I went to a fabulous dinner party last week (Ladies only.) Among other things the hostess had a giving tree from which we all plucked watches or bracelets. But it wasn't just the opulence of the home (I would happily live in her kitchen) or the event. There were two dining rooms set up and I chose to dine in her library. A wonderful book-lined room with a giant fireplace. Me like.

HANK PHILLIPI RYAN: Okay, I'll play. And I'm not evolved either, you've seen my closet. Anyway, you're going to be so surprised, because you know me, and you know I hate to drive and and I do not care about cars. At all. But the other day I saw a great looking car. I said to Jonathan: whoa. What kind of a car is that? And he said it was a Porsche Panamera.
:-)
FOlks, this is a VERY cool car. SO nice, I started singing a song about it. To the tune of Guantanamera. "Porsche Panamera, I want a Porsche Panamera....Porsche Panameeeeeraaa...we need a porsche panamera..."
We're not getting one. I think--well, how much do they cost?

JAN BROGAN - Oh Hank, please don't tell me there is another Porsche my husband is going to want. We have one, and I hate driving in it. And not because I'm evolved. But because it's too low to the ground and you feel the road. Which I guess is the point, since its a sports car, but I hate going fast. If I were going to long for a car, I'd long for one of those antique Bentley's or even a Model-T Ford. Something you only drive on Sundays and that you usually see parked at ice cream places.

HALLIE EPHRON: Hold the car. Don't need no boats. Can't tell the difference between really good champagne and a 12-dollar bottle. I'd lust after cashmere but it makes me itch. Expensive jewelry makes me nervous.

We're dreaming here, right? The one thing in this world that I would love love love to have is my pick, a print from the original elephant folio edition of Audobon's Birds of America. The Flamingo or the Gyrfalcon or Avocet or Arctic tern or America White Pelican.

LUCY BURDETTE: Rhys, ditto on the Robert Redford! Hallie, cannot believe you didn't say something about decadent comestibles...like here's some mail-order ham and bacon, recommended by my new friend Scott Haas, from whom you'll hear next week: Gatton Farms Bacon, found at http://www.fatherscountryhams.com You will salivate just reading about it.

But what I really, really, really want is to see AN APPETITE FOR MURDER on the New York Times extended bestseller list. Doesn't have to be the top twenty, that would be over the top.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Lucy, every wish I made on the first star for a year before my last book came out was, "Please let it be on the New York Times list!" And it was! So get star-gazing, and I'm sure AN APPETITE FOR MURDER will do you proud as well.

As for my dream Christmas gift, it's that Ross and I could take an exotic, warm-weather, grown-ups-only getaway. I'd like to be in Barcelona and stay up eating and drinking til midnight, or see Carnival in Rio or go back to southern Africa for another safari. But with two kids still at home, any holiday we take is a family holiday, which can also be lovely except... with one in college, our funds only stretch as far as a weekend up the coast here in Maine.

Of course, I know this is something that can be solved with time. I just worry that by the time we've paid our last tuition bill, the only place we'll want to visit will be the Bide-a-Wee Rest Home!

DEBORAH CROMBIE: I'm with Lucy on the wishing for the New York Times Bestseller list!!! Hallie, cashmere makes me itch, too. Don't especially want a fancy car--I'm perfectly happy with my three-year-old Honda. And Rhys, I agree, Robert Redford is looking a bit worn.

But if we are going for real fantasy here, I'd like to have a Christmas in an English country cottage. With snow. And fairy lights. And a fire. And carols in the village church. Christmas pudding and long, cold walks across the fields with the dogs. With a nice cuppa or a wee dram waiting. (And no murders!)

RHYS: So who would like to share his or her secret longings? And who got exactly what they wanted for Christmas?