2023 Secret Beans Gift Swap Thank You Post

November 17, 2023 6:45 AM

Thank You Internet Stranger for your most wonderful and precious gift . . .

This is the second time I have been the first to post a THANK YOU for the Secret Bean Gift Swap. I have no earthly idea who beaned me, there was no note or card or any info at all that might give a hint to who sent me the most amazing, delicious Guatemalan dark chocolates from the Cocoa Store in NYC. Whoever you are, dear Secret Beaner, I thank you. The chocolate is soooo good. I hope whoever is sending a gift your way sends you something that thrills you the same way I was thrilled when I opened your wonderful gift. Thank you, thank you, thank you. nom nom nom

posted by pjsky to Other at 6:45 AM (166 comments total)

WOOHOO
posted by RhysPenbras at 8:17 AM on November 17, 2023 [6 favorites]

I returned from a work trip to find some delightful beans from oceanjesse, including a proper chef’s tasting spoon and supplies to keep it in gleaming condition! Thank you!
posted by jedicus at 8:36 PM on November 17, 2023 [7 favorites]

My first thought on seeing this was "but we haven't had names yet", my second was "bollocks, yes we have, and I went to a market this morning which was spot on for getting mine something". Poop.
posted by biffa at 8:03 AM on November 18, 2023 [5 favorites]

I received my gift today! A lovely assortment of herbal teas from carnival_night_zone. Thank you so much!
posted by cozenedindigo at 4:59 PM on November 20, 2023 [7 favorites]

Thank you so much JiffyQ for the fantastic Korean cookery book and Mr Kipling book! Really looking forward to trying some of the recipes!
posted by ellieBOA at 7:53 AM on November 22, 2023 [7 favorites]

Thank you mostly vowels for the lovely gifts! The book clips are so cute! They will work much better than the random strips of paper that I have been using as bookmarks. :)

I’m excited to start reading the astronomy book! Stargazing is a perfect hobby for the cold winter months.

Hope you enjoy the holiday season!
posted by carnival_night_zone at 6:02 AM on November 25, 2023 [8 favorites]

KC all the way! Thank you very much, Chara, for the Kansas City-themed package! My partner and I especially liked the chocolate, and I am charmed by the cappuccino soap including lifelike foam on top. Despite being from MO, I am much more familiar with St. Louis than KC--but I should change that. Hope the city treats you well this holiday season, and <3 rightbackatcha. :)
posted by homelystar at 7:43 AM on November 26, 2023 [7 favorites]

Thank you to a generous gift giver who shared some delicious gummy treats (that were a particular hit with my children!) and some beautiful objects from MoMA. They brightened my evening!
posted by pingzing at 7:50 PM on November 26, 2023 [7 favorites]

I have been gifted! Thank you, lepus, for the extremely cozy assortment of gifts!!

Lucky me received a pair of deliciously warm socks, delicious-smelling hot fudge sundae cake mix, and delicious-to-dogs yak cheese! Speaking of the dogs there are also custom-printed bookmarks featuring photos of my best boys! Everything was packed up snugly in a dinosaur print bag (genius) and topped with 100 tiny origami paper stars. Absolutely charming, thoughtful, and made for me. Thank you, lepus!!!
posted by phunniemee at 1:04 PM on November 27, 2023 [8 favorites]

pingzing, you are so very welcome and I’m glad the items were a hit!
posted by meggan at 7:33 PM on November 27, 2023 [6 favorites]

Thank you to the mysterious internet stranger who gifted me an assortment of lotion bars. The lemon one in particular smells good enough to eat. Merry Beansmas to all!
posted by esoterrica at 8:28 AM on November 28, 2023 [6 favorites]

Many thanks to jason6 for the maple syrup from New Hampshire, the lovely notecards from his local coffee shop, *and* for his note that shared with me about how he visited not too far from my area in 2020! One of the best things about Happy Secret Beans is the connections I’ve made with other MeFites. Here’s to our community!
posted by apartment dweller at 10:49 AM on November 28, 2023 [7 favorites]

I have received my package!!!!!!!!

Due to Life Circumstances I cannot open it until Thursday evening. But, secret bean gifted, it is here and I am already so excited!!!
posted by samthemander at 6:36 PM on November 28, 2023 [6 favorites]

What a delightful way to start the holiday season! Thank you, miles per flower!! The frog pin especially is *chef kiss* perfection!
posted by orchidarea at 10:37 AM on November 29, 2023 [7 favorites]

I got two amazing books in the mail that are geared straight to me -- Let This Radicalize You and The Diaries of Dawn Powell -- from an anonymous sender. I wondered aloud who knew me so well to send those and was quite confused.

Then today I received Cain's Jawbone, which I have ALWAYS wanted, and exclaimed aloud, "HOW DO I KEEP RECEIVING THESE AMAZING ANONYMOUS GIFTS?!"

My husband then said, "Could it be one of your metafilter people?" And I felt like such a dope.

HURRAY! Thank you, Secret Beans Gift Giver! Please reveal yourself, because you clearly nailed it.
posted by knownassociate at 11:02 AM on November 29, 2023 [9 favorites]

Please reveal yourself, because you clearly nailed it.

It me! Happy Beans-Tide!
posted by jedicus at 7:51 AM on November 30, 2023 [7 favorites]

orchidarea, hooray and a Joyful Beansgiving to you! That frog's from a shop I learned about in an excellent askme on "unusually nice enamel pins." I like it when the green supplies good ideas for this gift swap.
posted by miles per flower at 9:26 AM on November 30, 2023 [8 favorites]

Thank you to RhysPenbras for helping to make the season bright! The Anglo-Saxon-style ceramic cup is so lovely—it somehow looks as if it has always been here—I'm just captivated by it. Other sensory delights included enticing spices, handmade soap, and one of my favorites from WNY—sponge candy! That and the delightful card are much appreciated little tases of home. My gratitude to RhysPenbras and the Secret Bean elves for facilitating a winning start to my holiday season!
posted by obloquy at 9:33 AM on December 1, 2023 [8 favorites]

Thank you so much to bunnysquirrel for the extremely festive beans! I received this super cute mochimochi knitting kit and the knitting needles (including directions, supplies, yarn, stuffing, eyeballs, etc.) to make not just one but TWO wee blue narwhals and I cannot wait to create and meet said narwhals! Thank you, I LOVE IT!
posted by hansbrough at 5:05 PM on December 1, 2023 [8 favorites]

Yesterday I got an incredible package from Robin of Frocksley, containing a book on the science of bread making, two incredible skeins of yarn (the recycled silk one is so soft!), and a Cappucino Crunch chocolate bar from the street my best friend used to live on! Everything was wrapped beautifully and it was such a wonderful treat. Thank you so much, Robin of Frocksley!
posted by SeedStitch at 7:53 AM on December 2, 2023 [8 favorites]

I came home this afternoon to a lovely little package containing an assortment of good-smelling black teas (my favorite) in cut little tins that will be excellent for storing all sorts of miscellaneous craft things once I am done. Thank you so much rednikki for the delightful gift!
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 12:37 PM on December 2, 2023 [6 favorites]

Many thanks to apartment dweller for a book that is exactly right for me, some locally sourced potato chips, and a lovely note. Here's to our shared love of old movies, apartment dweller!
posted by maurice at 3:57 PM on December 2, 2023 [7 favorites]

Thank you so very much to pisky for the wonderfully thought out gifts. I am using the journal right now. The book and book themed presents are just perfect, and warm my book wormy heart. You did a fantastic job, and I'm grateful.
posted by batbat at 7:54 AM on December 4, 2023 [7 favorites]

Thanks to Pretty Good Talker for a gift card at a romance bookstore, a bottle of hot sauce, and some INCREDIBLE stickers. It was a nice welcome home from a trip to go help my parents out.
posted by advicepig at 11:36 AM on December 4, 2023 [7 favorites]

You’re welcome advicepig. I almost sent you a book (either Of Fire and Ice, the Jasmine Throne, or Gideon the 9th) but I worried you’d already read them hence the gift card. But I recommend them all!
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 9:45 PM on December 4, 2023 [6 favorites]

Ahhh thank you to The Pink Superhero! I received a lovely package full of lovely wrapped surprises:

Pic of lovely wrappings

And inside I found

An assortment of lovely things! Including two multicolor pen sets, two notebooks, some adorable panda erasers (charmingly called a “puzzle” on the package haha), and some sprinkles for baking. I’m personally excited for the pen sets for an annual calendar I create for my mom (I write in notes and doodles on special days) and I know my kids are going to be PUMPED about the sprinkles and pandas. Thank you so much!!
posted by samthemander at 10:43 PM on December 4, 2023 [9 favorites]

Thank you so much obloquy for the little box of wonderful things, all neatly wrapped and all exactly to my taste! Is it weird that maybe my favorite thing is the tiny waxed canvas gift bag in which the delicious-smelling candle was wrapped? I am going to enjoy everything so much, and your calligraphic note is gorgeous. Also, a Metafilter (tm) sticker! The memento mori postcards are great for this dark end of the year, and thank you for including postcard stamps!

To my beans-ee, I have posted your package priority mail and you should have it in hand later this week. Your MeFi username was not included in my info, so I won't name you here, but I hope you like it! Your cat should be forgiven for breaking your favorite mug and you should give them a lil kiss on their tiny perfect head.
posted by Lawn Beaver at 6:40 AM on December 5, 2023 [9 favorites]

Thanks, Pretty Good Talker! I'm going to pick up the Jasmine Throne. I struggled with Gideon the Ninth. So confused by all the various ways characters were named....
posted by advicepig at 6:41 AM on December 5, 2023 [5 favorites]

To the demon that lives in the air, THANK YOU so much for the marvelous assortment of baked goods from Zingerman's, which I have always wanted to try (despite the fact that I've never set foot in Michigan) and, despite my already-high expectations, still came in even better than expected! What a delight.
posted by mosst at 7:54 AM on December 5, 2023 [10 favorites]

Thank you, Captain_Science! For the excellent set of decorative gray pens and bright rotating pen/pencil holder - terrific additions to my handwritten correspondence setup. But that's not all! The package included a note about a mysterious additional handmade item that will be shipping later. Thank you so much, Captain_Science, you made my day in a rough week!

Happy Beans to all!
posted by Glinn at 11:40 AM on December 6, 2023 [8 favorites]

Thank you Beaning for the absolutely gorgeous gemstone skull!! I'm so excited to add to my collection of skulls and skull-related ephemera that I've been gifted from mefites over the years. LOVE IT.

(Also sorry for the delay, this sat in a pile with other packages for I don't even know how long until RhysPenbras was wrapping gifts last night and said "oops, your secret beans is here!")
posted by okayokayigive at 5:46 AM on December 7, 2023 [8 favorites]

Heartfelt thanks and warm holiday wishes to gemmy, who sent a beautiful ceramic pot they made themselves, a CD of singer/songwriter Greg Laswell that i can't wait to listen to, some truly horrific-sounding Swedish candy that i will nonetheless try in the interests of science and conviviality, and a fossilized shark tooth* they they had found in the Potomac river, along with a lovely card detailing these things with a gorgeous image of a damselfly called the Variable Dancer on it.

*(Little did they know that my daughter is a shark FANATIC, and was thrilled to receive this tooth! It now occupies a place of honor on her Shark Altar.)
posted by slappy_pinchbottom at 3:35 PM on December 7, 2023 [7 favorites]

I received a wonderful package from dizziest today! (Perfect timing since it’s the first night of Hanukkah!) It contained a mystery book that looks really good, some local treats, and a handmade snack dish. (I’m taking that to work, since I want a candy dish but hadn’t gotten around to getting one.) Thank you, thank you, thank you!
posted by SisterHavana at 4:02 PM on December 7, 2023 [7 favorites]

I know from the tracking details that my package has arrived at its destination so hopefully my Secret Beansee will have it very soon.
posted by essexjan at 1:43 AM on December 8, 2023 [6 favorites]

My Secret Beans package arrived while I was traveling and elicited a collective “oooh Canada!” And was full of fabulous new flavors from their region that despite their names are not an Ask title :) Chow Chow (sweet-n-spicy) and Chicken Bones (traditional candy with chocolate marrow) that have been a delight to explore! The candle adds a cozy note and delicious scent to telework, thank you A, Eh! What you didn’t know is we’re planning a family vacation to that province which adds an extra level of charm. I would totally include your Mefi handle but it disappeared with the recycling after I put up your fabulous card.

On the sending side to a different Beansee…while I enjoy stamps, there is a lollapalooza of them on the box due to a borked card reader.
posted by childofTethys at 5:03 AM on December 8, 2023 [5 favorites]

Thank you to Matthew for the maple bacon sea salt, it shall be savoured!!!
posted by tangaroo at 7:49 AM on December 8, 2023 [5 favorites]

Thanks to ZenMajek for a fun assortment of 3d printed goodies! And minty goodies!
posted by craven_morhead at 10:11 AM on December 8, 2023 [4 favorites]

You're welcome, Tangaroo! I thought it would be perfect for you.
posted by Servo5678 at 12:14 PM on December 8, 2023 [4 favorites]

I have been Beansed! Thank you, Xingcat, for the lovely Boston themed & handmade stationary plus the original artwork! May you have the happiest of Beans this season!
posted by KingEdRa at 12:40 PM on December 8, 2023 [5 favorites]

I'm so glad you like your gifts, KingEdRa, and I hope you have a wonderful season full of BEANS!
posted by xingcat at 2:16 PM on December 8, 2023 [5 favorites]

Thanks to Glinn, who was kind enough to send me not only some cute Chicago-abilia and delicious snacks (including hot giardiniera, which I love, and which isn't easy to find in my part of the world), but also a card printed with their own art.

Wonderful!
posted by box at 2:43 PM on December 8, 2023 [6 favorites]

I think that would be me, EssexJan! Sorry for the late update, am currently dealing with some gnarly health issues, and will open the exquisitely wrapped gifts (!) when I'm better. Am really excited, thank you so much!!
posted by seapig at 2:49 PM on December 8, 2023 [7 favorites]

I hope you're feeling better soon, seapig.
posted by essexjan at 3:31 PM on December 8, 2023 [6 favorites]

Just got an amazing gift from Lawn Beaver! A perfect small mug (I love the glaze color!), cat effigy, smol candle, and a pin. Thank you so much! I've given my cat a snuggle but also warned him against breaking another cute mug...
posted by aaanastasia at 3:42 PM on December 8, 2023 [10 favorites]

That is one chonky cat, aaanastasia.
posted by essexjan at 4:16 PM on December 8, 2023 [6 favorites]

I received my parcel from brilliantine today and WOW! Delicious treats (my fave so far are the yuzu gummies but they are all great - and taro is my favorite bubble tea flavor so the taro wafer cookies were a delight!), a magnet, and a book! Thank you so so much - the package felt very special and really brightened my day!
posted by meggan at 7:43 PM on December 8, 2023 [6 favorites]

I think I got my Secret Beanser's gift. But I don't want to open it yet, and I do two exchanges with online groups.

If you sent Northernlite a present, thank you so much. I'll let you all know what it is when my willpower to not open runs out. :)
posted by NorthernLite at 4:53 PM on December 9, 2023 [4 favorites]

Thank you to my gifter for a new fountain pen to add to my collection and a lovely & sturdy wooden storage bin that appears homemade. I am working on just what will live in it and where the bin itself will live, but am excited to make both those discoveries!
posted by chiefthe at 6:12 PM on December 9, 2023 [6 favorites]

I got my package from edencosmic and can’t wait to start my new scribbles with beautiful pens! Thank you so much! I really love the photos and they are going up on my bulletin board with other bits of art and fun.
posted by brilliantine at 4:08 PM on December 10, 2023 [7 favorites]

I got some lovely NY state hiking trail sign coasters from Maurice. Perfect for this hiking couple, one of whom grew up in NY state. Thank you!
posted by bondcliff at 6:35 AM on December 11, 2023 [7 favorites]

Thank you to my wonderful mystery sender! My gift arrived Friday!

I love New Year's (hooray for new beginnings!) and I always like to spend some time in the deep sigh of that last week of December taking stock of the past year and planning for the next. It's a whole week of notes and lists and laundry and scrubbing, a kind of physical and spiritual exfoliation, and I'd asked for something they thought might help me mark that particular ritual.

And on Friday it arrived -- this absolutely beautiful large citrusy spicy candle in a glass jar! It smells just heavenly. It's absolutely perfect for this and it's a scent I couldn't have chosen better myself. I am heartened, and happy, and now my plan for 2024 will be literally forged in fire.

Thank you for the gift and the sweet note! I love it!
posted by mochapickle at 9:44 AM on December 11, 2023 [8 favorites]

I do apologize, I was all ready to ship out on Friday, but some nonsense happened at work and I was unable too. But the package goes out today, I promise.
posted by That darn sock! at 10:50 AM on December 11, 2023 [5 favorites]

Y’all. Y’ALL! To Wound the Autumnal City got me the most thoughtful gifts! A GORGEOUS all natural fabric covered in violets, delicious herbal tea AND chocolate, AND cozy socks. It’s so lovely and thoughtful and I’m so happy to be part of this community.
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 11:14 AM on December 11, 2023 [8 favorites]

I was mochapickle's Secret Beanser, and want you all to know that mp wrote the sweetest wish list note, very humble, very appreciative of the idea of this kind gift exchange with strangers.
posted by NorthernLite at 1:16 PM on December 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

A box full of wonderfulness arrived today from Rapunzel1111 (Lisa)! Thank you so much for all the goodies: goat socks and stickers will make me a hit in the barn, fantastic opener ( now in search of a sparkly bottle), the licorice and a book that I think is going to be a fun read 🤗. Thank you again internet friend - each item was thoughtfully chosen.
posted by ZenMajek at 1:51 PM on December 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

My gift arrived today. Thank you so much introp for your generous locally made truffles, hot cocoa mix, decaf coffee and box of tea perfect for the winter months. You covered all my favorite treats! It was a lot and really appreciate your generosity. You really made my day!! Thank you thank you thank you!
posted by SunPower at 1:57 PM on December 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

Firstly, I must give a million props to the Trackinator, because for those of us who LOVE to track things coming to us, it's a delight. Thank you, MeFi Elves!

My gift arrived today! The package contained the book Word by Word by Kori Stamper, and a delightful shopping list notepad with adorable doggies on it. The book has been on my Goodreads list for years and neither of my libraries ever carried it. I am off the last week of the year (I call it Sloth week) and now I have a book to read! And oh boy I loooove to make lists. And I love dogs! And I loved this gift!

A million thank to Mefi's own cozenedindigo for being my Secret gifter this year! You hit a homerun! <3
posted by kimberussell at 2:11 PM on December 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

Hooray for kind strangers and Holidays and dogs and things. I retrieved a box from my porch this afternoon but am waiting for the weekend to share the reveal with other curious cats that run amok through my life. So an early thank you to my secret pal in Oregon. I'll be writing again in a few days. Yippee!
posted by Rubydooby at 2:57 PM on December 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

I received my jingly package from homelystar today!

Yay, new gel pens! And even ERASABLE?! A new enamel pin, a tree ornament in the shape of a tree (meta!), delicious Ukranian candy, and some lovely postcards. I think the linocut winter card is absolutely beautiful! You have a great eye!

Thank you so much. 🥰
posted by jillithd at 3:19 PM on December 11, 2023 [7 favorites]

My beanster kindly sent some crafting supplies and a cute 3d puzzle! Thanks much!
posted by thomas j wise at 3:45 PM on December 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

Oh. My.

PearlRose knocked it out of the park. I owe them a memail before I even begin to describe how awesome the present was that I received.

I am well and truly humbled at the thought and "perfectness" that they put into the present.

Thank you, PearlRose!
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 5:40 PM on December 11, 2023 [6 favorites]

Holy cow, esoterrica!

I will certainly savor the luxurious chocolates and sudsy soaps. But the eerily perfect bit is the hand-painted card. It features a cheeky crested gecko in a jaunty Santa hat peeking over a bean.

What you couldn't possibly know is that I have a crested gecko pet. When my son and I got really into home-brewing, we had a logo drawn up by an artist pal featuring my cresty as the model and mascot. The cresty in our logo is in much the same pose as the one on your card, peeking over our brew name. Last year for the holidays, I had ornaments made with our logo, including a little Santa hat perched on the gecko's head.

If I ever figure out how to share photos, I'll have to come back and post the side-by-side images. It's a very satisfying synchronicity. Mind blown!

Thank you, thank you! It's all so perfect!
posted by rekrap at 9:13 PM on December 11, 2023 [10 favorites]

NorthernLite, thank you for letting me know who you are! I got your memail too and will write you back! Eeeee!
posted by mochapickle at 6:26 AM on December 12, 2023 [3 favorites]

And omg! Thank you to okayokayigive and RhysPenbras for organizing again this year!
posted by mochapickle at 7:33 AM on December 12, 2023 [6 favorites]

You're so welcome, SisterHavana! I'm so glad it made it to you with such perfect timing, and even more glad that you're pleased with everything! If you end up liking the book (which I hope you will!), it's worth searching out Fremlin's other books, even though they're a bit hard to find. She's consistently excellent.
posted by dizziest at 8:37 AM on December 12, 2023 [5 favorites]

obol, thank you for this extremely cool and useful gift!! I got a PERSONALLY SIGNED copy of the home repair book by Mercury Stardust, everyone's favorite trans handy-ma'am, a very exciting-looking cooperative board game (I prefer these as there is already enough conflict in my life), and the most delicately lovely shrimp (hand made from drinking straws! how!) with jeweled eyes!
Not to mention the awesome card with many bats and bat ears in all their infinite variety!
Thank you so much obol, this is such a delight, you've made my week (and the rest of my year!)
posted by exceptinsects at 10:12 AM on December 12, 2023 [7 favorites]

jillithd, I'm glad the package arrived (USPS had me worried for a few days) and was pleasing! We've had those cards for a few years, but I think they are from Northern Sun, not too far from you.
posted by homelystar at 12:17 PM on December 12, 2023 [5 favorites]

I'm so happy! I got the most wonderful gifts from jeoc. A TVA Official Handbook from the show Loki, a cute card, and some KnitPicks Shine yarn in indigo and teal! I love this silky soft yarn, it will work wonderfully with what I already have. Thank you so much!
posted by jet_pack_in_a_can at 12:51 PM on December 12, 2023 [5 favorites]

Many thanks to regular person oomny, who tends a very fine crouton garden. They sent me:

1. A sweet blue Zebra SARASAdry gel pen, perfect gift for a person on the quest for the perfect blue pen, which is exactly the sort of person I am.

2. A copy of "Grass" by Sheri S. Tepper, which I've not read or even ever heard of, and am looking forward to!

3. A delighful "For the Birds" blend of coffee from Flora + Fauna in Nashville. Had two cups this morning and this is exactly the kind of coffee I dig.

Plus, a sweet bird card.

Thanks, oomny!
posted by kensington314 at 1:11 PM on December 12, 2023 [5 favorites]

Glad you liked everything kensington314! It was fun to think of books I like that aren’t super known and popular already. There’s a 🍀 bookmark in there that’s been there since probably when I made it in the nineties.

I received my gifts from A non mouse, A cow herd and they are great! A bunch of crocheted birds (including one very dear to me, and also one that is a cat toy!) and some Spock socks, which are hilarious and am already getting a kick out of them!
posted by oomny at 1:27 PM on December 12, 2023 [6 favorites]

TheCoug, Thanks for the great surprise of the Star Trek patch, the amazing, custom framed artwork of the NCC-1701 and the watercolor collection of drawers. It's the variety and surprise of it all that makes it all amazing! It all found a great home.

Plus my kitties really are enjoying the waxed cord you tied it all together with, it seems to be the most popular thing so far!
posted by Nackt at 2:47 PM on December 12, 2023 [6 favorites]

Thank you to my beanser who sent delicious, beautiful and useful items. I’m looking forward to testing the balls on the cats tomorrow morning as I’m a really terrible juggler!

To my beansee: I have your things. I have not mailed them yet. Hoping to do so tomorrow.
posted by sciencegeek at 3:17 PM on December 12, 2023 [6 favorites]

I just got an AMAZING box of goodies from carrienation! My pup got a new bandana, and there are almost too many thoughtful and lovely gifts from Chicago to mention...tea! A poem! A bag of the world's best popcorn, which I haven't had in ages! A keychain and some awesome buttons to decorate my dog walking jackets, tons of treats from Penzey's spices, skyscraper models and a lovely shopping bag and postcard...so much! Truly this was a delightful surprise and much appreciated! Thanks to everyone who makes this happen every year!
posted by OneSmartMonkey at 4:47 PM on December 12, 2023 [6 favorites]

thank you tangaroo!!! The Six-Word Memoirs looks like a fun read, the washi page marker stickers are adorable, and the mug—THE MUG. How did you know teal is my favorite color? It's so elegant and lovely, I can't wait to drink tea out of it. (And, glancing at its bottom—handmade too? :D) Thank you again! ♥
posted by ilicet at 5:49 PM on December 12, 2023 [5 favorites]

Thank you to nat who hit it out of the park with my theme of "cozy" this year with local sodas, chocolate bars, a very intriguing drinking chocolate mix, cactus candy, and some fun folded birds! We've already enjoyed the birch beer, which was a new flavor to both me and my partner and are looking forward to going through the other sodas! I'm pacing myself with all the other treats so I can make my gift last as long as possible!
posted by astapasta24 at 6:52 PM on December 12, 2023 [4 favorites]

Hell yeah secret beans! I opened my box over breaksfast today and found a series of tiny parcels wrapped in the most adorable paper. Inside, a whole series of Colorado treats exactly within my parameters—locally made cinnamon almond butter, chocolate orange bark, a soap with a lovely lemon-grapefruit scent, and a little mousy for Oscar-cat.The card even featured an adorable mountain dwelling animal called a pika, which I had never heard of, but I love it and it will be going on my fridge along with past secret beans cards.

Thank you sugarbomb, this is all great and I can’t wait to put the almond butter on some waffles tomorrow.

Meanwhile USPS tells me that my gift has made it across the Atlantic to its destination country, so it should hopefully be with its recipient shortly.
posted by ActionPopulated at 7:03 PM on December 12, 2023 [5 favorites]

According to tracking info, my beansee should get their package tomorrow! (Well, technically today.)
posted by SisterHavana at 10:25 PM on December 12, 2023 [5 favorites]

Special thanks to holborne for the gifts of chocolate nonpareils and dried fruit nougat/torrone! I've enjoyed them already with my early afternoon coffee. I look forward to this gift exchange now every year; best wishes to you all for a holiday season filled with good health, joy, and happiness!
posted by jason6 at 12:49 PM on December 13, 2023 [5 favorites]

Oh, I’m so glad it arrived ActionPopulated!

I received the most delicious teas from aaanastasia! I started my day with the incredible black tea with tobacco and pineapple notes in my special loose leaf teapot. The ritual was lovely. I can’t wait til tomorrow to try the oolong with peach, pistachio, and lime! Thank you so much! Happy Beansmas!
posted by sugarbomb at 1:59 PM on December 13, 2023 [8 favorites]

Thank you to ilicet for the package I will have to open on Xmas Day!

From the rest of y'all, I need help, PLEASE. I have had an extremely bad respiratory infection for the last two weeks. Even though I got my beans partner's gift ages ago, I hadn't been able to get to a post office. Today I rented a carshare and headed to said office. The message with my person's name and address is NOWHERE TO BE FOUND in my gmail. More fool me, for not addressing it at home.

I dashed off a couple of panicked emails, then went to radiology for a chest x-ray. I was there two hours but no response, so returned the car and shivered home. If anyone knows how I can find my person's address, I'll grab another carshare or Lyft tomorrow, and try again. So it will be a wee late, but before Xmas!

Thanks so much.
posted by cyndigo at 2:16 PM on December 13, 2023 [6 favorites]

Welp, it's Rona. I will be mailing this later than planned, very sorry.
posted by cyndigo at 3:12 PM on December 13, 2023 [4 favorites]

i'm finally (mostly) over the jetlag from my holiday travels, so it's time to check in.

i arrived home to find a wonderful gift from darsh waiting for me! i received two pairs of pretty pretty earrings, three delicious looking chocolate bars (sea salt, maple toffee, almond crunch), and a risa r ís bar that i'm excited to try. also, a card with a cute rabbit in the snow! thank you so much for the gift, darsh!
posted by emmling at 4:28 PM on December 13, 2023 [6 favorites]

I came home from a long weekend away to my secret beans gift! Thank you, SweetieDarling, for the BEAUTIFUL coasters and trivet you made! The hand marbled paper they are decorated with is absolutely lovely and looks fantastic in my house.
posted by sit for a spell at 4:48 PM on December 13, 2023 [6 favorites]

Big thanks to kensington314 for all the fabulous food! Some sweet, some savory, and some for making recipes. Especially excited to try the lima (and no longer secret) beans, but it all looks delicious. Thanks for filling my belly!
posted by obol at 5:23 PM on December 13, 2023 [6 favorites]

Thank you kimberussell for your gift!!!! I have been enjoying the sour cherry gummy candies and burned the seasonally appropriate pine candle this afternoon :) Also love the little wind up guy, crystals, and sticker, thank you!! I feel like you really "got me" with these gifts!
posted by mostly vowels at 5:28 PM on December 13, 2023 [7 favorites]

I have been Beansed! PhillyBeansed, by ActionPopulated.

Three beautifully wrapped gifts, and the Philliest of Philly cards. ActionPopulated, you would have had no idea, but I have friends in Wilmington, DE, who are huge Flyers fans and they introduced me to Gritty, who I absolutely LOVE! So the card made me smile so much, it really is fantastic.

The gifts are so thoughtful - a beautifully-made hand-knitted ear of corn, and some lovely tea and an awesome spice blend, from local suppliers. I know I will enjoy the tea and spices, but as for the corn ... somebody (aka Rudi) stole it from me and will not let me have it back. I will have to wait until he switches to one of his other beds to sneak it back from him.

Thank you so much for these lovely, thoughtful gifts. You've made my day, ActionPopulated.
posted by essexjan at 6:14 AM on December 14, 2023 [7 favorites]

My gift from ilana arrived today and it is delightful! Thank you for putting together this little treasure trove of a package. The soap smells amazing, the ONIGIRI washi tape is adorable, and the stickers are eagerly awaiting homes on my belongings. :) The pencils I'll keep in my office and lend out to students as necessary.
posted by invokeuse at 5:29 PM on December 14, 2023 [7 favorites]

Glad you like the beans, obol!
posted by kensington314 at 7:21 PM on December 14, 2023 [4 favorites]

orchidarea's gift arrived for me today and it was SO THOUGHTFUL: a toy for my kitties, raspberry chocolate (my favorite), a feminist notepad and sticker, and three CDs, two by artists completely unknown to me, but judging from how well she hit my taste by the one artist whose music I've heard, I'll love them all.

THANK YOU SO MUCH. Christmas is a rough season in a good year because my dad died in the runup to Christmas (we buried him on Boxing Day) and my mom went into hospice the year before she died right before that anniversary. And this year my beloved mother-in-law died, plus I was diagnosed with cancer and am running around like a chicken with my head cut off dealing with all the pre-surgery stuff. Even though I have a 70% chance of avoiding chemo/radiation after the surgery, it's a LOT. So this perfect gift really did make my day.

<3 <3 <3
posted by gentlyepigrams at 8:44 PM on December 14, 2023 [10 favorites]

I got a glorious package from rekrap, with beeswax lip and hand balm, lovely smelling soap, sage-infused olive oil (which I'm planning to try on roasted delicata squash tonight) and LEMON BARS. The lemon bars are impossibly good; the lemon flavor is complex and almost floral. I'm guessing this is because they're lemons she grew, so not something I could reproduce with a recipe and grocery store lemons, but oh wow do I wish I could. So many thanks!!
posted by dizziest at 6:51 AM on December 15, 2023 [7 favorites]

I asked for arts and crafts related "instructions, tips, and/or secrets from personal experience" and astapasta24 sent me a delightful and detailed set of hand drawn and illustrated directions on how to create whimsical ceramic cats - with a potential butt whistle option as skill level increases! These are so thoughtfully laid out and must have taken forever to complete. Thank you!!
posted by to wound the autumnal city at 7:11 AM on December 15, 2023 [8 favorites]

So glad you liked it, invokeuse!

I picked up my gift yesterday; I know my gifter's real name but not their username, so I can't thank them properly on here, but thank you very much for my own copy of Cain's Jawbone! I appreciate your faith that I will be the fourth person in 90 years to solve this puzzle, though I am not holding out much hope for my own abilities.

Since it seems like a popular Secret Beans gift this year, should we get a MeFi group of book recipients together to see if we can properly crack it? (Not until I've got my grades in, though. Oof.)
posted by ilana at 8:26 AM on December 15, 2023 [7 favorites]

It's been a week, so I am just getting around to posting this, but my lovely package with a collection of thoughtfully labeled local/handcrafted surprises arrived from PistachioRoux, with a package of smoked salmon (so good! my dogs are quite jealous!), a yummy-smelling tin of mint chocolate beeswax balm, an ice-printed (sort of like tie-dye I guess?) handkerchief and a linocut art card. A Merry Beansmas indeed!
posted by drlith at 8:37 AM on December 15, 2023 [6 favorites]

Thank you so much, Rubydooby, for the peg game, wonderful mug and chocolates, and AWESOME BENDY LED GIRAFFES!!!!!!! I have won at Secret Beans, everyone is jealous of me this year. :) What a wonderful combination of practical, delicious, and whimsical gifts! Thank you thank you!
posted by epj at 10:44 AM on December 15, 2023 [5 favorites]

Essexjan, I’m so glad you liked your gift! If you ever find yourself visiting your Wilmington friends and up for a side trip, please come up my way for dinner at All the Way Live.

For anyone else keeping track at home, this marks the fourth year that I have made a knitted vegetable for my beansmas recipient. (Though there are five veggies in total, since one recipient got two. I’ve since realized I need to scale back for time’s sake). You can see all the final products here.
posted by ActionPopulated at 12:03 PM on December 15, 2023 [6 favorites]

Secret Beans Stats as of 12/15/2023
82 of 148 Received (55%)
126 of 148 Sent (85%)
7 of 148 Shipping Delayed (4%)
1 Second Chancer Engaged

Y'all are killing it this year! Thank you for being AWESOME.
posted by RhysPenbras at 12:59 PM on December 15, 2023 [13 favorites]

I am one of the 22 people who haven't sent my gift yet. Apologies to my recipient. I'm hoping to get it out early next week.
posted by bondcliff at 1:45 PM on December 15, 2023 [5 favorites]

Huge thanks to RhysPenbras and okayokayigive for your dedication to everyone having a great beansmas swap! You're awesome.
posted by Scout405 at 1:58 PM on December 15, 2023 [14 favorites]

!!! dorinda !!! The hummingbird print is the cutest, sweetest, simply bestest thing and I can't wait to add it to my office gallery wall so I can look at it every day. Thank you!!
posted by Sweetie Darling at 6:55 PM on December 15, 2023 [4 favorites]

Thank you so much bettafish for a lovely box of candies and chocolates, orange peel, and tea, and maple butter. I look forward to it all. Apologies that i only collected it from the post office today, somehow this week was super busy. But i truly enjoyed opening it today.
posted by 15L06 at 3:20 AM on December 16, 2023 [5 favorites]

Early this morning, I heard the postal carrier drop off something in my mailbox, and it was a lovely postcard, card and the BEST handmade cat ornament from erloteiel! I love anything that's handmade/original art, and this is a perfect addition to my Christmas tree! Happy Secret Beans to you and me!
posted by xingcat at 5:11 AM on December 16, 2023 [6 favorites]

A wonderful package arrived from invokeuse on Thursday afternoon. A bag of Cree fry bread mix that looks really great and will be a fun treat when I have a few days off next week. It's from a woman owned Indigenous business which is fantastic and appreciated by me and Mrs. Wreckage. There's a jar of jam which will either go great with the fry bread or maybe just be eaten with a spoon considering how much I love a good jam. The purposely mismatched funky socks will keep me warm and the card is a cut and fold craft project which is really fun. Thanks so much invokeuse - the package brightened my day!
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 7:38 AM on December 16, 2023 [6 favorites]

My box-o-beans from maxwelton arrived this evening! Included: a stack of lovely sci-fi books including Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett (which I have read but don't own and getting a copy was on my list!!!) and two authors I'm not familiar with so very much looking forward to digging into those, a hefty bar of exploitation-free Tony's dark chocolate which I will parcel out judiciously, and a tennis ball I can only assume was snuck into the box for my Emery dog by maxwelton's gorgeous dog Brodie (I got a picture, trust me when I say Brodie is a very good dog indeed)!

I'm on day 13 of COVID (including a rebound case after Paxlovid) so this was wonderful timing. Thanks maxwelton!!
posted by cooker girl at 4:30 PM on December 16, 2023 [6 favorites]

Yay, cooker girl, glad the box got there. Brodie insists every pup needs more squeaky tennis balls (he has eleventy jillion) and I am in no position to argue.
posted by maxwelton at 4:40 PM on December 16, 2023 [7 favorites]

Mine came today, all the way from the UK, the cutest little Gentoo penguin enamel pin I ever saw! It's perfect in every way, thank you so much! I didn't find the gifters name in the box, so I do hope you're keeping an eye on this thread, to know that your gift is received and very appreciated!
posted by dorey_oh at 12:05 AM on December 17, 2023 [4 favorites]

Mod note: As a workaround for the thread closing, I've changed the category to "Mefi Gatherings," which stays open longer than regular posts, so carry on with yer secret beaning!
posted by taz (staff) at 2:50 AM on December 18, 2023 [9 favorites]

dorey_oh, I'm so glad the little penguin arrived safely!! When I saw it, I knew you had to have it. :)

(and while the penguin flew [swam?] overseas for you, I'm located in the U.S.)
posted by cooker girl at 6:05 AM on December 18, 2023 [4 favorites]

Thank you, Mo, for the beautiful ornaments! So lovely on my tree and such a wonderful yearly reminder of all my wonderful Mefites around the world.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:25 AM on December 18, 2023 [3 favorites]

astapasta, glad the soda made it! I haven't shipped soda before so I was worried it might leak or something...

And here I have also been well-beansed, thanks to rocketing! Many flavors of Tony's Chocolonely to try (very excited about that, I've been wanting to try it for a bit now, thanks John Oliver). And some chocolate+marzipan, as well as a puzzle I'm looking forward to digging into over the holidays. Mr. Nat is excited too!
posted by nat at 10:12 AM on December 18, 2023 [6 favorites]

Holy Mackerel! I received the most original and perfect gifts from my new friend dorey-oh! First may I just say that I have not one crafting gene in my DNA. It skipped me by a mile. And so oh the joy I felt when opening each treasure in my package. Where to begin? Lovely hand made hat with matching mittens to keep me warm in the Rocky Mountain winters. Beautiful dishrags/hot pads also hand made. A variety of (yes, hand made) soaps (heavenly scented) and hand crafted caramels for my never ending sweet tooth. The mug made from Mt. St. Helens ash (circa 1980) is particularly meaningful as that is the year I graduated from high school, and our senior trip took us through the area right after it erupted. Mountains of ash everywhere, so severe that it fell like snow. We had to cover our faces when we went outdoors. Now I have a physical treasure to go along with that memory. Thank you dorey-oh and every good wish for you in the new year.
posted by Rubydooby at 10:35 AM on December 18, 2023 [7 favorites]

Theora, thank you so much for the presents! My kitchen is incredibly grateful for the lobster towel and feet appreciate the pine tree socks! I love useful presents and will enjoy having a fun story about these.
posted by beaning at 2:27 PM on December 18, 2023 [5 favorites]

A belated but sparkly and well-caffeinated thank you to hanov3r for an amazing gift that caters to my interests, represents multiple community in-jokes, and is just plain delicious: Unicorn Pony coffee beans from local roaster Chromatic.

You can see the amazing bag design in all its rainbow foil-embossed glory (or read the descriptive alt-text) on Mastodon.

Unicorn mocha not pictured because I already drank it all.

I aspire to one day send a gift this perfect.
posted by rhiannonstone at 3:09 PM on December 18, 2023 [5 favorites]

Today has been magical because I have received my BEANS and they are totally fabulous!!

The first surprise was that there were two boxes and one of them is hand painted! I am a nerd for packaging and have never been mailed a hand painted box before. Marvelous! So I set that one aside and opened the other one to find this oracle deck full of enchanting illustrations of animals and plants. I gasped with joy no lie. After consulting the guidebook I chose my first card which is actually spookily resonating with where I am at in my art life right now so much that I got a little emotional about it y'all. The cards are all so gorgeous and I love them!

So then I did consider being a grownup and saving the other box for another day but I am not grownup so that lasted like an hour or two and then I carefully opened my gorgeous painted box to find amazingly wonderful handmade things!!! The card is covered in a shiny sparkly floral pattern and the awesome stickers came in a bag with a magnificently weird stamp on it! Did you see that sticker of the coolest old woman ever?? I am pretty sure there's a rabbit on her hat and also the one I have named Sir Birthday Frog? I love him!!

I really don't mean to yell so much but you guys that's not all the last thing that made my whole face crack open with delight was the beautiful soft pink ceramic skull bowl that has already made itself at home on my art desk. I love pink. I love skulls. I am beyond thrilled by my new pink skull!!!!!

My boxes had the name of the artist but no Mefi identifying info so I can't thank my extremely generous bean giver by name. THANK YOU bean giver!!! My gift guidance is always a whole circus so I can't thank you enough for getting me such magical and witchy and glorious PERFECT gifts!
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 4:35 PM on December 18, 2023 [7 favorites]

Thank you SEAPIG for the wonderful collection of durian themed items all the way from Singapore, and also for not sending an actual durian! (That would have been a merry stinking beans indeed!)
posted by TheCoug at 11:45 AM on December 19, 2023 [7 favorites]

cooker girl, I'm glad to know who sent the adorable penguin. I'm going to a winter fair this afternoon, the penguin will join me!

Rubydooby, that's cool that you have a St Helens connection! I was just turning 4 when it erupted. We lived on the Oregon coast, my earliest clear memory is watching a layer of ash shake on the leaves of the camelia bush my great grandpa was cutting down, so my parents could build a deck onto that corner of the house. I didn't see the great piles of ash, but the event feels very linked to my childhood. I actually got a set of mugs and kept one, so we are mug siblings now!
posted by dorey_oh at 1:17 PM on December 19, 2023 [6 favorites]

Huge thank you to SparkyButtons for the incredible secret beans package, including detailed gift explanations. And it's cool that we're both into some of the same crafts. As you know from my gift guidance, I'm an avid cross stitcher, but I can only hope to reach your level of embroidery some day. The sparkly "happy" holiday embroidery you made is beautiful and will now be a permanent addition to my holiday decorations.

You definitely chose the best gifts for a stitcher—the marbelized embroidery scissors are delightful and whimsical, the teeny tiny scissors will be great for traveling, and I love the fox needle minder.

I so appreciate getting things local to you, including the lovely card. The little handmade ceramic dish is my favorite color, and I can imagine so many uses for it (in addition to the suggestion for my used tea bags). Last, but definitely not least, really good choice with the dark chocolate bar that I will thoroughly enjoy.

Please accept my gratitude for your thoughtfulness and generosity, SparkyButtons! Wishing you and all the secret beansers a magical winter Solstice and a happy new year.
posted by Scout405 at 2:23 PM on December 19, 2023 [6 favorites]

Friends - I have been secret beaned to the max! There I was, sad on my couch because I'd caught a pernicious case of The Crud, when a knock on the door alerted me to a delivery from the USPS. What should I find on my porch but a box, festooned with a colorful "lollapalooza" of stamps, and no small variety of fabulousness within! childofTethys, thank you so very much for sending such an amazing selection of gifts. As I mentioned in the memail I sent earlier, you got my flavor profile down so well, I had to look over my shoulder to see if you were behind me, watching my snack choices!

So, so many tasty treats to enjoy. The pickled mushrooms are scrumptious (I love all things pickled, but have never come across magic mushrooms like these), as are the Chesapeake Bay flavored UTZ chips, a brand I've heard of in movies and the like, but never tried. They're amazing! childof Tethys sent Zeke's Holiday Coffee, (so delicious. I love rich, small-batch roasted coffee), and some fancy black salt from Hawaii. My taste buds have gone on a trip from one coast to another! There's an adorable catnip-filled knit piglet that I started to let my cats play with, but then selfishly wrested it from their clutches, as it's too fabulous to let them destroy it. I love the crab shell hammer/cracker, as well as the regionally-specific Trader Joe's bag. No one in Eugene has a TJ tote from Maryland; I feel so special! All the post cards and sticky notes, and the crumpled up fliers-as-padding were also fantastic, and made for a savory and beautiful package. Thanks so very much, childofTethys! You are 100% fabulous and surely make the greater Baltimore area right proud!
posted by but no cigar at 3:19 PM on December 19, 2023 [7 favorites]

So I arrived home to a lovely package from kathrynm filled with all sorts of local chocolates from Cleveland! I'm very fond of Cleveland, having spent a couple of Election Days there for political stuff. I asked for sweet stuff and boy did kathrynm deliver. I put the goods in my chocolate drawer (yes, I have a chocolate drawer) so I don't eat them all at once, which is an actual risk for me with a bunch of good chocolate. The packaging was also lovely and I'm going to repurpose it for my husband's Christmas present, so it was basically a double gift. Thank you for making my holidays sweet, kathrynm!
posted by holborne at 9:22 PM on December 19, 2023 [5 favorites]

Thank you emmaling for the AMAZING collection of sweet and savory Japanese treats and the lovely earrings. My days are made brighter knowing that I have so many tasty little bites to savor over the next few weeks. This was truly a delight! Thank you so much!!!!
posted by chara at 6:49 AM on December 20, 2023 [6 favorites]

Carrying on the Mount St Helens connection, UK Customs finally let through my gift from OneSmartMonkey, a lovely piece of artwork depicting the volcanoes of Washington State, very much in line with my liking for gifts that reflect where the sender is. It will be getting framed and added to the wall in the NY. I wouldn't have thought volcanoes when I thought of Washington but remembered the eruption once I noticed the name. Many thanks OSM!
posted by biffa at 7:34 AM on December 20, 2023 [7 favorites]

Secret Beans Stats as of 12/20/2023
100 of 148 Received (68%)
138 of 148 Sent (93%)
3 of 148 Shipping Delayed (2%)
1 Second Chancer Engaged

Dang gang, keep it up!
posted by RhysPenbras at 11:24 AM on December 20, 2023 [8 favorites]

(Dang, I forgot that last year the post office neglected to put a "you have a package" card in my PO box, which led to me not picking up my beans until way late. Guess I should go check and see if they did the same thing again.

They never forget to put the generic junk mail into the box...)
posted by maxwelton at 12:20 PM on December 20, 2023 [6 favorites]

Exceptinsects! You did fantastic again! The hot chocolate is going to be so good and the other snacks will get devoured by us all. And my partner is actually looking forward to reading that book. Thank you thank you!

To my giftee, I'm sorry there's no note, but once you say you got it, I'll send you a memail!
posted by deezil at 5:44 PM on December 20, 2023 [7 favorites]

The lovely initapplette took my TL;DR guidance, obviously *did* read, and sent me a package so well customized that I scared my cat with my repeated yelps of "this is perfect!" as I opened. Along with a gorgeously illustrated card (and note cards) I received a mini version of one of my favorite games and a book on the history of the telegraph, which I cannot wait to read. Thank you so much, and peace and joy to you and mr. init!
posted by bunnysquirrel at 12:25 AM on December 21, 2023 [7 favorites]

Sweetie Darling, I'm so glad you like it! I discovered the artist when research/stalking your AskMe comments, and was totally charmed by their work, so thank you to you, too, for introducing them to me!

My package has also arrived, but I will hold on to it until the 25th, and open and enjoy it then. Thank you in advance to a mysterious friend in Texas!!
posted by Dorinda at 2:14 PM on December 21, 2023 [7 favorites]

dorinda, it was me! i always forget to sign w the handle part. glad it’s arrived!
posted by monologish at 3:28 PM on December 21, 2023 [7 favorites]

Huh, I thought I posted earlier. Anyway, I received a lovely gift of seed bombs and a card that cleverly can be planted. Thanks to my unknown gift giver of local Australian flora.
posted by jadepearl at 5:25 PM on December 21, 2023 [6 favorites]

Glad you like them holborne! I love Malley's.

My depressed self arrived in my new temporary home to a large package. bondcliff, I teared up when I read the letter, and then started crying when I pulled out your gift. The turned bowl and box with the paw print are beyond my wildest dreams. Both will hold a place of honor when I finally get my new home. And there were chocolates too, which definitely helped my mood.
posted by kathrynm at 5:33 PM on December 21, 2023 [7 favorites]

I just got my gift from rhiannonstone and it's great! A rechargeable pocket light that clips to my key ring! No more fumbling with the hilariously bad iPhone flashlight functionality! Light on-demand, like I'm some sort of wizard! Thank you much!
posted by Twicketface at 6:29 AM on December 22, 2023 [7 favorites]

I'm glad you enjoyed them, kathrynm. I posted a picture of the box to Instagram and a couple people, including the owner of a popular community weblog, said they thought it looked like a little coffin for a pet. I never even considered that, but now I can't unsee it. Perhaps I should have inlaid "NOT A COFFIN!" on the top.
posted by bondcliff at 7:03 AM on December 22, 2023 [6 favorites]

I received a DELIGHTFUL box of Australian goodies from Lesium!
As a rare household that enjoys black licorice and aniseed flavorings, the bags of candies have already been set upon. There was a book about edible flowers that has me already rethinking some of my spring planting plans, SO MANY dragonfly stickers, and a really fun looking fridge magnet construction kit. All of it was wrapped in a reusable fabric gift bag (I'm using this idea going forward) and accompanied by a beautiful card that I plan on saving as art.

THANK YOU THANK YOU
posted by RhysPenbras at 7:59 AM on December 22, 2023 [5 favorites]

But wait! There's more! I got a second package from rhiannonstone today! Some super sweet Sharpie Pros! To replace my dried out Sharpies that I for some reason couldn't part with! I'm off to mark all the things - thank you again!
posted by Twicketface at 1:16 PM on December 22, 2023 [6 favorites]

Sorry I didnt post sooner, but I received a lovely gift from my Secret Beans buddy last week. It was a beautiful collection of different teas inspired by Alice in Wonderland. I see lots of happy afternoon tea time in my future! Not sure who sent it but thank you whoever you are!
posted by silverstatue at 2:07 PM on December 22, 2023 [6 favorites]

Twicketface, I'm so glad you like them! You asked for something useful, and these are the two most useful things in my day-to-day life.
posted by rhiannonstone at 2:53 PM on December 22, 2023 [5 favorites]

silverstatue, that was me! Glad you like it! : )
posted by SisterHavana at 3:20 PM on December 22, 2023 [5 favorites]

It’s Secret Beans Day for me! Well I never gifted me a lovely piece of glass art. It’s the tiniest goldfish in a carnival-prize bag and he’s even blowing tiny bubbles! I absolutely love it! Many thanks and happy holidays to you, Well I never.
posted by erloteiel at 3:34 PM on December 22, 2023 [6 favorites]

Ertoreiel, I'm so glad you liked it! When I saw it, I thought it was adorable and not like something I'd seen before.

I opened my package from mulkey today, and it was a delightful potpourri: a book of poetry from a new-to-me poet, a handmade notebook, a zine, stickers, some pens, and a really nice bar of chocolate. And the wrapping was perfect. Brown paper packages tied up with string, indeed!

For dismal reasons, I've always been convinced I don't care about receiving gifts. Turns out I love giving and receiving things. The gift swap was terrific this year, my first, and I'll keep doing it.

I signed up for the card exchange, but bowed out early in December when it became clear I wouldn't have the spoons for it. Nonetheless, I got a dozen or so cards from Mefites, a couple of which referenced, "I know you dropped out, but I wanted to send you something anyway." It really lifted my spirit. Thank you, generous strangers, for filling my mailbox with such beautiful and cheerful things. It has redoubled my desire to do it next year. I'll start planning earlier.
posted by Well I never at 5:10 PM on December 22, 2023 [12 favorites]

pjsky, the whole collection you sent — the journal, the notebook, the pen, and especially the lovely note — means so much to me. Due to a family medical situation, November and December have been filled with worry, stress, disappointment, and general poopery, but your gift package ushered in an improved mood and a general amelioration in the universe.

A real, hand-written, thank you note is on its way to you, and I'm waving up the highway from my state to yours! THANK YOU! Happy 2024!
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 12:31 AM on December 24, 2023 [6 favorites]

Oh people, I'm a tiny bit verklempt. I finally opened Silverstatue's gift package. I must've mentioned that I've had some serious health challenges recently (I'm doing pretty good), as well as being a nature lover.

So Silverstatue sent me items "that will bring the outdoors in to you as you rest and heal."

This includes a balsam fir terraforming kit, a bird ornament, and a Constellation Finder booklet, complete with fascinating facts /trivia about constellations!

How very thoughtful and cool.
Thank you so much!
posted by NorthernLite at 4:22 PM on December 24, 2023 [8 favorites]

Thank you Secret Bean Person! The Lindt chocolates are so good, and the coffee mug feels so nice in the hand.
posted by Orange Pamplemousse at 7:23 AM on December 25, 2023 [6 favorites]

I did it, I waited to open my gift until today! It's basically my only real present and totally delivered! I love all of it Known Associate. Spot on gifting :-)
Thank you very very much. Even the postcard with the note was something I appreciated. Can't wait to read all about pigeons. And read the cool zines too!
Also thank you organizers for making this happen. It's really fun for me. Now I'm getting emotional ;-)
XO
posted by PistachioRoux at 7:53 AM on December 25, 2023 [6 favorites]

Merry Beansmas!
In an uncharacteristic display of restraint, I waited until today to open my gift, even though I don't celebrate Xmas. It made this dreary Seattle morning feel a bit more special than just a typical day off work =) In the meantime, my cats have been playing king-of-the-USPS-box continually. It contained a card that made me laugh (first at the cartoon, and second after I opened the rest of the gift), and two books very much to my taste that'll be perfect for cuddling up with today. Thank you okayokayigive!!
posted by Metasyntactic at 10:50 AM on December 25, 2023 [7 favorites]

Thank you, stranger, for gifting me the exact delicious-smelling soaps that I longed for!
posted by rednikki at 12:09 PM on December 25, 2023 [5 favorites]

Orange Pamplemousse, I’m so glad ypu like it!!! Sorrythere was no card—I lost it and wanted to allow plenty of time for international delivery!
posted by epj at 1:42 PM on December 25, 2023 [4 favorites]

I got home from a little jaunt out of town to find a box with a great, sturdy coffee mug from Boxer Donut and Espresso bar, local to the sender, and a bag of Stumptown coffee beans which I cannot wait to brew up tomorrow. Thank you mystery Mefite gifter!! <3 !!
posted by Sparky Buttons at 3:32 PM on December 25, 2023 [4 favorites]

Thank you to 15L06 for such a lovely set of gifts! Between the art, vegan chocolates, cat postcard, and bookmarks, my wife would like to be friends with you!
posted by JiffyQ at 4:58 PM on December 25, 2023 [5 favorites]

emmling, I'm so glad you liked the earrings! Enjoy the chocs
posted by darsh at 3:32 AM on December 26, 2023 [5 favorites]

JiffyQ, i am happy you and your wife liked the gifts. I was not sure how to meet your description, to share something about myself. So i am glad it worked. Greetings to your wife,
posted by 15L06 at 6:34 AM on December 26, 2023 [4 favorites]

Thank you Mdonley for the lovely pens to use in my craft.Had a play and they were wonderful. Apologies for the delay in thanking you. I was unwell and the parcel had gotten bundled up and taking to my inlaws, only just opened it.
posted by daffodil at 2:43 PM on December 27, 2023 [5 favorites]

monologish sent me the most delightful, personal, and thoughtful package of goodies, and it made my Christmas morning extra sweet! I'm looking forward to having the downright cutest little alien mug at every trailside and campsite my backpacking takes me to this summer (and it will sure beat out drinking piping hot coffee from a collapsible silicone cup, which is my current gear!!); and I am excited to try the green tea, since it comes with the monologlish stamp of approval; and I am absolutely delighted by the 1951 copy of "The Silent Traveller in the Yorkshire Dales" by Chiang Yee, which appears to be not only a lovely set of writings and drawings, but a fascinating window into a particular moment in history and a particular experience of the world that is wonderfully unlike my own. Thank you, monologish!
posted by Dorinda at 9:32 AM on December 28, 2023 [7 favorites]

A huge thank you to the very possibly clairvoyant hansbrough for gifting me the exact tools I need to start a long-considered journal/daybook project in the New Year! Fun-shaped paper clips, color pens, stickers, a gorgeous pen case, and a lovely large green floral hardcover notebook with- get this- a specific place to write the date on each page! Perfect. Thank you so much!
posted by initapplette at 3:26 PM on December 28, 2023 [4 favorites]

The post office finally got round to populating my box with my gift from jgirl, many thanks to them for the excellent-smelling hand-crafted olive-oil soaps in yummy scents. I'm excited to give them a try, starting tonight--it has been ages since I've had any "nice" soap in the shower (and its one of my favorite things, too). Nicely wrapped and very much appreciated. Thanks so much! Yay beansmas!
posted by maxwelton at 4:49 PM on December 28, 2023 [5 favorites]

@rednikki: I am your stranger—an orderer of exotic aromas and suds.
posted by jadepearl at 9:35 PM on December 29, 2023 [4 favorites]

Hearty & belated thanks to my gifter, whose mefi handle I don't know. The flowery origami bird found a home straightaway along the pride-of-place latitude of our xmas tree: too high for the cats to claw but safely below the sticky reach of our tentacled tree topper. (It's a narrow ecological niche that's home to many other bird ornaments.) I won't be able to tell you if that chocolate is any good for baking because I just wolfed it down, as suggested; in a nice connection, it's from a city that I married into and visit regularly, so I'll likely pick more up the next time I'm there. And the pen was a great guess--satisfyingly smooth to use. Thanks again for all, and a joyful bean-tide to you and yourn!
posted by miles per flower at 8:34 AM on December 30, 2023 [5 favorites]

Belated thanks to but no cigar for my very thoughtfully chosen gifts! I hope you are feeling better! I opened my things (Secret Bean is the only holiday gift I get each year) late on Christmas night. I was unwell the rest of the week and regret not being able to check in sooner.

She sent me things from her city, Eugene, Oregon: a cool wood-effect postcard, chocolate shortbread, a raspberry-filled chocolate bar from Euphoria Chocolate ("an institution"), some teal and turquoise pens, a lovely handmade blue and green pottery vessel crafted by one of her friends that looks like water and waves (I swim, so that is very good), a serving of Portland's Aviation Gin, and some maple hard candies in the shape of maple leaves that are really too pretty to eat. All of this bounty came in a tote from her public library (I used to work on a library contract).

Thank you for everything, but no cigar, and Happy New Year!
posted by jgirl at 3:33 PM on January 1 [6 favorites]

I'm so glad you enjoyed your gifts, jgirl! It was great fun choosing things for you, and I wish you all the good things in 2024. Huzzah for the magic of beansmas!
posted by but no cigar at 1:25 PM on January 2 [5 favorites]

Secret Beans Stats as of 1/6/2024
126 of 148 Confirmed Received (85%)
148 of 148 Sent (100%)
2 Second Chancers Engaged (1%)

All Gifts have been shipped! A large portion have been confirmed received! This is AMAZING, you all are absolute rock stars and kind people!

I'll do one more update around the 15th, then I think we can call this year VERY successful and wrap it all up until the fall.

Thanks Again, Amazing Mefites!
posted by RhysPenbras at 2:17 PM on January 6 [11 favorites]

Ah great, that has been a big success. Thank you for all your work. I know my Beansee was too ill to open their gift, but I hope they've now been able to do so.
posted by essexjan at 8:05 AM on January 7 [4 favorites]

I couldnt tell who the gifter was from the return address, but I opened a package from Vancouver, Canada yesterday and am so looking forward to trying both the sea salt and the chocolate! and the super cool dish towel has already been pressed into service this morning. thank you!
posted by darsh at 9:01 AM on January 7 [3 favorites]

A big thank you to my gifter for the soap and book! Such a thoughtful gift!
posted by unreasonable at 7:14 AM on January 9 [4 favorites]

I was anonymously gifted a beautiful and fancy origami book that came with beautiful and fancy origami paper, and a big bag of spicy pumpkinseed brittle. Am I snacking on it right now? Why yes, I am. Thank you so much, mystery gifter!
posted by rocketing at 1:13 PM on January 10 [4 favorites]

That was me, and I'm SO GLAD that you received it! Between Covid, pneumonia and a death in the family, getting to the post office before Christmas wasn't possible, and for that I apologize.
posted by cyndigo at 4:23 PM on January 10 [5 favorites]

Thank you knownassociate for the very cute cup and the stickers. <3
posted by monologish at 6:46 AM on January 12 [3 favorites]

Secret Beans Stats as of 1/16/2024
128 of 148 Confirmed Received (86%)
148 of 148 Sent (100%)
2 Second Chancers Engaged (1%)

An absolutely rousing success y'all!! Thank you all again so so much!

As always, we look forward to being your Secret Swap Elves for 2024!
posted by RhysPenbras at 5:45 AM on January 16 [8 favorites]

Thanks again, RhysPebras and okayokayigive, for providing an opportunity for joy and connection. This was my first time participating, and I'm already looking forward to the next beans swap. (Also, I hope you stay safe and warm during this roller coaster storm we're currently experiencing. )
posted by Scout405 at 7:53 PM on January 16 [4 favorites]

I had to travel to Europe unexpectedly, and was gone for a month+. I got back last night, which is why I only just now got to open my box from unreasonable. Thank you so much for my lovely gifts. It was a great pick me up after my 33 hour cursed journey from northern Sweden. I really loved everything, and much appreciated the spot-on-for-me idea of including a rock from your Maine Island!!

Thank you to the elves too for doing this!
posted by gemmy at 3:40 PM on January 27 [2 favorites]