Buffalo Parrot Squawk Forums

We thought we would see who would be interested in doing a Christmas card exchange and possibly a secret Santa exchange. If you would be interested, pm me your address and let me know what you want to participate in.

For the Christmas card exchange, it is simple. Just send cards to the people on the list you will get.

For the secret Santa, there will be a limit of $30 and the gift(s) can be for the recipients bird (s), the recipient, or both.

This will be a world wide event so we need your decision by the end of the month. I will draw names for the secret Santa and get them out in the first few days of December. Hopefully that will give time for gifts and cards to make it by Christmas.

We will do a big reveal on Christmas day of who our secret Santa was (if you can figure it out or if they told you) and what we got.

This is a bunch of fun and we sincerely hope you all join!

 :woohoo: I love the secet santa exchange! Count me in  :thumb:

Of course count me in for both as well!! I sure hope we get a bunch of folks joining in.  It makes trying to figure out who your Secret Santa is so much harder.  :thumb:

Do you still have my address Debra, or do you need me to pm you.?  :confused:

I think I still have both yours and Blanca's. I've received Terri's and Wendy's. I hope more people do this too. It is so much fun!

Hopefully, we will have a few more members participate! If not, we will have fun anyway  :thumb:

Totally participating in the card swap!

I might just do the secret Santa as in used to do the cards years ago and spent ages writing them and a small fortune on stamps and only got a few back in return. No I know its all about the giving, but I felt quite disappointed as I was looking forward to receiving cards from all over :(

Jules do it its fun :grin:

I'll do the secret Santa then  :grin:

No problem on the Christmas  Card exchange Jules. I totally understand, it is getting so expensive with postage anymore.  :sadboy3:

You will love the Secret Santa exchange. Last yr was my first time for it on the other forum and it was a blast.  :laffhrd: I made a thread of all the goodies my birds got with photos and captions as if they were the ones talking and thanking their Secret Santa.  :hehe2:

In yrs past on this forum the members who were on back then always did what they called their Ornie Exchange. Everyone bought or made a Christmas  tree ornament for each participant and sent them to them. That was fun too, but tiring for me since I was one of the crazy folks who hand made mine. :faint:  :dmblaf:

So we now have a good start on our Christmas  Card and Secret Santa exchange. Come on folks, don't  be shy.  :sad8: Your bird will love the gifts they get from their Secret Santa better known as:

:flyingmacaw: :scarlett:

I have done the present exchange before with another forum. I made someone a bookmark with a cross stitched dragon fly, don't think I'd have time to make another now. I know she still has it though x

The ornament exchange sounds like it was fun, and something to treasure forever  :thumb:

Oh the cross stitched bookmark  sounds like it was a  super idea to make for gift exchange. I used to do a bit of cross stitching.  It does take time to finish one.

The ornament  exchange was really fun and most were in some sort of bird theme. But that was in the past here with members who never come around anymore. Seems like a lifetime ago and sad that most of the members of yesteryear left. I miss so many of them.

I personally  feel that Facebook  has killed the participation  of forums like this one. And as I travel the net to several of the other  forums I belong to, I see that the majority  suffer from lack of participation  from their members  the same as we have suffered here.  :cry: :sadboy3:

When will I know who to buy for please as I could take some time to get to the person, posting from the UK :)

I agree with the Facebook groups taking over, three forums have closed in the last three years due to lack of use and interest, such a shame  :cry:

I agree, it is such a shame that FB has taken over forums! Give me a forum anyday, rather than FB!

oh, what the hell...what's one more present and a few more cards.

 :handshappy: :towel: Oh Great!! Finally we have a little male participation!! George you know you love the Holidays! :woohoo: OK, maybe it's Doug that loves it, but you are in the hat now for an exchange!!  :towel:

I'm beginning to think we are a bunch of Fraternity Gals here and "No Men" allowed or something! I was even gonna' go out the 'BP door' and see if someone had put up a sign reading, "Women Only!! Men Will Be Beheaded Or Made Our Slave If You Dare Enter!!"  :eek2:  :laffhrd:

OK Debra, we need you to start getting this Christmas Exchange to come together.  :thumb: You're the one who has done this in the past and know how to get everyone set up so 'Santa Macaw' can deliver those cards & packages to everyone on time!!  :bounce:  :hehe2: 

I'm getting quite excited now as I love buying things for people. I really take my time and think about who would like what  :bounce:

In couldn't do this two years ago as I'd just lost my job and didn't know if or when I'd get my redundancy, so I didn't want to commit to buying then find I couldn't. Really glad things are better now  :thumb:

Ok, those of you who want to participate in the gift exchange, send me a short list of likes and dislikes of your flock to give your SS an idea of what types of things to buy. Like my flock likes bells and shreddables and dislikes acrylic toys.

I will be working on sending out pm's tonight so be watching your inboxes!

Ok, I believe I have everyone's addresses so I will be sending the card list and addresses to the secret santa's hopefully today. I've been sick this week so it had to wait until I got to feeling better. I've got physical therapy today so when I get home I will get busy with the pm's.

OK thanks Debra, sorry youve been I'll. Hope you're feeling better soon  :hugu:

Super Debs!! :handshappy: Don't stress yourself out tho. We are all adults or almost adults, if some of our Secret Santa Macaw gifts don't quite get there on or before Christmas it will be OK I think!!  :okay: As long as we participate and everyone gets it within the month I don't see a real problem.  :hugu:

I so glad to see we had a nice turnout of participation this year. Thanks everyone, hopefully next year we can get more folks involved.   :ys: It takes every member here to make this forum and the fun things we do keep going. Ya'lls participation is the most important thing and we can't do it without each & everyone of you!  :grouphug:  :heart:

Ok, I sent out the info to the participants. Please, if I missed you, please let me know. I'm still not feeling 100% and I just got off work so I could have easily forgotten someone. I have not gotten all the info about likes/dislikes from everyone but will pass that on as I get it.

Haven't logged in for a while but I just wanted to pop on and wish you all a wonderful christmas and a brilliant new year  :hugu:

Thanks tascha, you'll have to visit more often. Merry Christmas to you and birdies too  :bounce:

Just a quick note. Some of the gifts that will be sent overseas might be a little late as I got this started late. I apologize for this. I know I won't be able to do mine until the 20th when I get paid again.

When/if you get your present before Christmas, try to wait until Christmas to open it then shower us with pictures of all your goodies. If your package is late, open it immediately and shower us with pictures.

I got my cards all filled out and ready to go into the mail tomorrow! This is so exciting!

No problem Debra. I so understand that!! So just in case you got my name I won't worry a bit if it comes a few days later.  :hugu:

Mine will go out this week as soon as I'm off work for my 4 which will be Tuesday morning.  So be on the lookout for cards & gift from me whomever that might be~~Oops~~I mean Santa Macaw!!  :flyingmacaw:

And a Very  Merry Christmas  to you too DizzyBlue and your flock!![color]   :hugu:

Posted my cards today. My SS gift will go off to its recipient tomorrow, so I am hoping they will recieve it before Xmas  :thumb:

Merry Christmas Dizzyblue, its lovely to see you  :grin:

Not to worry about late presents, it could be a new years present  :grin:

Mine should be on its way by the weekend at the latest, quite exciting  :woohoo:

That is quite alright Blanca!! We all miss you very much, but we do understand.  :thumb: With your business I wonder when you have time to sleep!  :sad8: :think:

You just remember to never leave for good & forget to come by to visit with us when you can!!!!!!  :loveuk: We will just not be having that ever never, never ever!!!!!  :lol1:

Love You Too~~  :hugu:  :lovit2:  :grouphug:  :grin:

Great to see you Blanca  :thumb: Yes, we understand how busy you are this time of year making all that yummy chocolate  :smile3:

Look forward to catching up with you after the holidays and love you too  :hugu:

I have gotten  a card fro Debra, Maddy and George!!  :hugu: Thanks~~I love each and every one of them.  :loveuk:

I got my SS gift out in the mail now, it is on its merry way~~finally!  :faint:

And I got my cards out week before last I think, so most of you should already have gotten yours from me. Hope they all get there without becoming lost & have to wait for Santa Macaw to carry them tucked in under his beautiful wings.  :flyingmacaw:

I got my cards from, Blanca, Jules, Debra and George! Thank you very much, they were lovely  :thumb: George, thank you for the feathers  :hugu:

I sent my SS gift off weeks ago, so my recipient should have received it by now  :clap:

I just sent my SS gift off today. I've gotten cards from Maddy, George, Wendy, and Blanca. Many businesses have remembered me too as they've sent me bills. :(

I got my Secret Santa gift delivered by Santa Macaw today!  :grin: I have to leave for my last night of work for this 4 in a few mins. Tomorrow I will have loads of fun opening this special gift with my feathered kids. And I hope to get a photo I can enter in the competition of one of them helping.  :dmblaf:

I got a card from Blanca today. Thanks Blanca, love it!!  :hugu: And I forgot to say thank you too for my feather George!  :hugu: It is so different that what my flock blesses me with. Very beautiful colors!  :grin:

See ya'll tomorrow to show what my flock's Secret Santa sent to them.  :grouphug: :towel:

The feathers were a gift from Lola. You now have a Cuban Amazon in your home...at least a tail feather :hehe:

Oh! I guessed right! I had a feeling my feather was hers!

Let's just say she's been VERY generous this year! Merry Christmas everyone!

Thankyou Jules !!!!! It came here safe and sound :bounce:. She sent me a sign that has parrots on it [my family says its fitting ]. Some gourmet food goodies for the birds [Ive always wanted to try ].I see some chocolate in there for me  :grin:  :thku:

You got it, all safe and sound?  yy

Glad you like your birdy sign (plaque) i guessed you would. Hope you didn't realise it was from me until today, because I had to put my address on the back, afterwards I thought  :slaph: but glad you like it, enjoy your choccies too, and hope the birds like their spicy noodles  :heart:

Also thankyou again to Debra, Blanca and Wendy for their cards, they're lovely  :hugu:

My secret Santa was Terri. She sent the fids some toys, which they are terrified of right now but will want by Monday since I left them on my desk in "their" room, as well as a beautiful calendar. Thank you so much for your thoughtful choices, they will enjoy them (when the mood suits them, of course) I'll try to take pictures tis weekend of the loot and post.

Hi there my favorite forum family (BP members)!!  :hugu: Sorry I've been a bit missing on the forum this past week. It was my work week again, but I am off work as of this morning for my 4. Got to spend Christmas with my favorite feathered kids, 'wolf pack' & hubby (yeah he's my favorite hubby~oh wait~he's the only hubby I've ever had~  :dmblaf: )

Alrighty, my Secret Santa is Blanca!!  And she went above and beyond with her most generous gifts to my feathered kids, 'wolf pack' and me!!  :hugu: :hugu: :loveuk:

Blanca gave those feathered brats 4 different kinds of snack treats that they were quite happy with, especially the macaws.  :drool: Those gluttens!  :hehe2: (No they didn't get to eat it all at once. A little at a time for these brats).

And she didn't forget about those buckets of noisy fur I lovingly call my 'wolf pack. Oh no she got them not one, but two boxes of doggie treats that look good enough to eat myself!  :hehe: Now they think they are uptown and high classed instead just plain old country dogs.  :lol1:

She gave me a calendar with my favorite birds in the world on each month~~Parrots!! Thank you so much, Blanca. I love it!!! And I have actually looked at that very calendar thinking, "One day I need to get this." Now I don't have to wait!!  :hugu:

Got a few photos to share with ya'll showing how my zoo made out like bandits with their gifts.  :grin: If I can manage a few good photos of the 'wolf pack' I will add them too enjoying their gifts. (dogs just never stay still for photos~~at least my unruly pack won't  :sad8: )

My quick attempt to decorate for the photo shoot.
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/005458x640_zps1d08614d.jpg)

Kachina Raye taking a look at all the goodies his Secret Santa brought.
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/006640x427_zpse89ec757.jpg)

"Hmm, wonder who this yummy stuff is for?"
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/007640x427_zpsad981a6c.jpg)

Yippi Yay!" "Mommy said it for me~for me!"
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/008640x640_zps732ec2fc.jpg)

"Maybe if I sit really still Mom won't notice and when her back is turned I can grab me a beak full."
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/009535x640_zps9d32db34.jpg)

"Oh Yum!" "Thank you Secret Santa, this is good!!"
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/020485x640_zpscd525353.jpg)

"Did you say I get some of this too?"
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/037_zpse6a6c119.jpg)

"Wow, it IS good!" "I must sneak in the cabinet and find this later when Mom goes to bed."
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/023450x640_zps1d8f1c64.jpg)

"You just try and get this away from me!" " :hehe2:"
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/026468x640_zpsca0fbf22.jpg)

"Hi Blanca, my Secret Santa." "Mom says I should thank you for my treat." "See I like! I like!"
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/027444x640_zps69de1c9d.jpg)

"Mom told me if I didn't behave Santa wouldn't come see me."  :cry:
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/024640x427_zps27522a5b.jpg)

"You mean Santa did come see me, Mom?"
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/052640x527_zps9becb940.jpg)

"I I don't know what to say." "I wuv you Secret Santa!"  :heart:
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/053640x527_zps1083de08.jpg)

"I promise Mommy next time you tell me to get off some place I'm not supposed to be, I won't say 'Oookay' and then keep going."  :laffhrd:
(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Secret%20Santa%20Gifts/051640x511_zpsb490ab14.jpg)

 :laugh: You too Debs on the businesses remembering you?  :sad8:

I'm glad I'm not the only one that gets "personal" cards & letters from my loyal debtors.  rofl2

The doctors & hospital (Jerry's bills, not mine  :dmblaf: ) seem to be especially happy to send me "holiday wishes".  :2funny2:

De 'andrea  these were the best pictures [made my day]. Your birds are beautiful  :grin:

Oh wow, what wonderful gifts you have from Blanca  :thumb:

I love your little captions, they have made me laugh sitting here  :hehe2: Oh my, did I need a laugh today!!

Fantastic pics. I like how you have added a Christmas Tree to your pics as I know you didn't put one up this year  :clap:

Glad they all liked them, Blanca and you are very welcome  :hugu:

Some great photos of gifts from all of you, enjoy them lots. Blanca thorntons chocolates are some of the best ever  :thumb:

Still waiting patiently for mine, I'm guessing it could be from Debra? Can't wait for it to arrive now  :woohoo:

Jules I am going to tell you that I am your Secret Santa since almost everyone else has theirs in and it's not too hard to figure it out now.  :lol1:

I am so sorry it was sent so darn late.  :ashmd: When I ordered the items it took the site 9 days to get it to me.  :pullhair: That put me having to send it this past Monday, so hopefully it will get to you sometime this coming week!!!!!  :ipray:

I have to say I tried to figure out the money conversion between your country and us. I just gave up and ordered from a US site. I was never very good at mathematical equations past simple add, subtract, multiply and divide.  Probably why I have only one child and 16 parrots (remember there's 8 budgies too).  :laffhrd: 

Oh those are awesome photos of Coqui helping out. I love that look she is giving in photo #2 & your caption is spot on with that look!  :hehe: Parrots make it so easy to caption their photos. Coqui is definitely having fun helping unwrap the flock's Christmas.   :mgc:

Those are great gifts you got for Blanca's flock Wendy.  :thumb:  So colorful almost like tree ornaments themselves.

Another box Blanca?  :confused: Oh my, now I am excited all over again!!  :handshappy: :grin:

 :woohoo:  :bounce: I will be watching for it! :happy:

Oh bless you De, I'm lost as to who has sent what to who  :stupid1:

Don't worry I'm listening out for the delivery man, hope its not royal mail as they're notoriously so laid back they're almost asleep  :hardlaf:

What I do with dollars to pounds is just knock a couple of pounds off, for example. £5 GBP would be $3.50 or £10 would be around $7, does that make sense? I'm never far off  :roll:

Thanks so much for being my secret Santa  :heart:

My secret Santa presents came today, lots and lots of toys for Jasper, for her to shred and chew, she will love them once she is used to them. Sorry I've left it too late to take photos, but I'll put them on here tomorrow  :thumb:

For me there was a pretty necklace with a snowflake on it, in a fantastic jewellery box made by Jerry. I love it, thankyou so much De and Jerry  :heart:

Oh Awesome!! I'm so glad it finally got there Julie!!!  :handshappy: :hugu:

Did Jasper like her personal card from Santa Macaw? He wanted her to know she was a good girl even tho her gifts were late.  :heart:

Glad you liked your gift too. Incidentally I made the necklace part your snowflake is attached to. I tried to get a small feather to hang from it, but no matter which one I trried, they all looked to large & covered the charm. So, sorry I couldn't send you a tiny feather from my flock on it.  :sad8:

Happy New Year to you and Jasper!!  :cheers: :drunkards: :drinky:

Yes they all got here safely, it was with royal mail but they were early for once. Not to worry about the feather, it is just as lovely De, thankyou.

Jasper loves her card, and me too. What a cute polar bear  :heart:

Lots of 'ooooos' from jasper, she will love playing with her new toys. Sorry no photos yet but I will post them soon, promise  yy

I got my gifts today from Debra  "chick" Thank you so much, Deb! Opie and Codie are going to love these  :thumb: I also love my mug  :grin: Here is a pic. I will post some more pics tomorrow with Codie and Opie playing with their new toys  :thumb:

(http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/n639/wenz2712/20150105_121441.jpg)

Oh Wow!! Those are great toys Debra picked out for your fabies, Wendy!!  :thumb:

I love that foraging toy. Bet they will love trying to figure it out.  :dmblaf:

And that is such an adorable mug. And with your favorite thing to relax doing. ( :shrug: gardening was never relaxing to me. I called it 'hard work!' ) 

That should conclude all the Secret Santa Gifts now. Thank you each & everyone who participated.  :bounce: Can't wait til Christmas of 2015. We're gonna' ROCK this place!!  :metal:

This was a very fun year of giving & receiving our first year for many of our members here on BP.  :hugu: :grouphug:

I couldn't agree more  :thumb: The SS exchange was fun and this year it will be even better  :clap1:

Hopefully, BP will continue to grow and we will have lots more members participating  "chick"

Wanted to share one more gift with ya'll.  :grin: Blanca was my SS and she was more than generous with the treats she sent to my flock and even my 'wolf pack' (dogs, just dogs. no real wolves involved for millions of years.  :dmblaf: )

Blanca told me to be waiting for another package to arrive. It was supposed to have arrived last Friday, but it was delayed. Probably due to the little ice storm we had down here in the south where we are not used to such very often.  :lol1: Nonetheless I was hoping it would get her yesterday. My mailman comes around 2 in the afternoon and I checked my mail at 2:15 and only had a piece of junk mail. So I figured it was still in transit.  :hmm: :sadboy3:

I get a message from Blanca this morning telling me my package was delivered yesterday. Bless her heart that she did this cause I had to go check my vehicles to see which one the mailman put it in this time?  :slaph: Out here in the country in 'small town' Texas no one bothers our mail or packages and it is not uncommon for the mailman to leave the packages in our vehicles or in my garage. Usually he will leave a note for me in the mailbox, but not always, and this was one of those times. If he knocked on my door which I highly doubt, he did not knock hard enough to alert my 8 dogs!  :roll: :confused:

So anyway, I went out & found it all safe & sound in my old pickup in front of the garage. Thank you so much Blanca for my 'special' gift!!  :hugu: You have been way to kind to me. Those treats look so delicious! I will so enjoy some tonight at work. I may share with Jerry, but only a little.  :2funny2: 

And I got a very touching special card from Morgan & Marcus letting Jerry & me know how much they loved their jewelry boxes we sent them with Blanca's plaque of Savannah she won for the July photo competition I made for her.  :loveuk: This card will proudly go on my bedroom wall where I keep my dearest to my heart cards note & photos!!  :heart: I will cherish this card from these two special kids of your Blanca!! Give them  a super big hug for me!!  :hugu: :grouphug:

Here is a photo of my goddies and my precious card from Morgan & Marcus. I love the picture of Savannah by the tree. That is adorable!!  :heart:

(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Forum/003640x427_zps51d6e195.jpg)

(http://i879.photobucket.com/albums/ab352/Mikkwa/Forum/005640x427_zps9e157324.jpg)

Well George was my SS. As soon as I have time I will post pics. My birds have been eyeing them for a while now. Lol

Oh wow, De, those look yummy  :thumb: I love the card the children made for you  :smile3:

Aren't they all great? Jasper has one of those sneakers and she flies away from it  :hmm: your birds will love them Wendy, some great presents your have there x

The card your had De is definitely one to save and cherish x

I loved taking part and looking around for gifts to send, and thank you everyone for sending me cards too. Next Christmas I hope to do both  :handshappy: