give that man a hand

Give That Man a Hand: Surprise Trip

05.17.11

It has been a while since we’ve featured an incredibly thoughtful man giving an incredibly thoughtful gift. When Liz of Arty McGoo sent me a note with this story, I had to share. And for any man who happens to be reading, I can tell you as a woman, authoritatively, this is the best idea ever.

superstar husband John and the lovely Liz of Arty McGoo

So, last Friday John says, “We need to go to Wal-Mart to get some things.”
Little did I know when I got in the car that he was going to wifenap me and take me away

for 4 days.

Instead of driving to Wal-Mart, he drove for 3 hours with me asking questions like, “What in the world are you doing???” “Where are we going?” After unsuccessfully trying to get information out of him, I resigned myself to being blissfully ignorant of where we were going or what we were doing.

After 3 hours of driving north we reached an Olive Garden and I’m thinking, “We drove 3 hours for Olive Garden???” John’s parents were there and they took the kids. “Bye kids! I love you! I don’t know where I’m going or when I’ll be back, but have a good time with grandma and grandpa!”

Then, John drives to an airport and I say, “Am I flying right now? Am I getting on a plane???”

John just smiles a smug little smile. And moments later I’m going through a security checkout and getting on a plane headed for Scottsdale Arizona!!! Carrying bags that John packed for me!!!

… Now, I am not picky and no fashionista, but I find some bizarre clothing choices and see that most of the items in my suitcase were destined for the Salvation Army. He packed a pair of gi-normous OVERALLS! a pair of jeans with a HUGE rip in them, a too small swimsuit, and some tiny T-shirts. Ugh! I was going to look really cute on this super mysterious trip he planned. To his credit he did pack one of my favorite dresses and heels.

After making a quick 11:00 p.m. trip to the 24 hour Wal-Mart (we did actually end up going to Wal-Mart!!!) for some cheap clothes that fit me, we had the most amazingly fabulous weekend. Arizona is where we lived our first three poor, silly, crazy newlywed years.

We visited all our old haunts, favorite restaurants, went to a Coyotes hockey game, Ostrich Festival where we saw camels, zebras and ostrich races (it was hilarious) went swimming and hot tubbing all hours of the night, ate milk and cookies, people watched at the über swank Fashion Square, saw old friends, shopped, ate horribly, and generally had a fantastic, fun, and carefree weekend. It was INCREDIBLE!

 

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Here’s to one rock star husband, from all of us.

Thank you to Liz (and John!) for sharing. If you haven’t been by Liz’s blog, Arty McGoo, head over now, and don’t miss all her yummy baking.

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Give That Man a Hand: Good Food in Jars

09.03.10

This is an all-time favorite story of mine.

I adore Destri and her blog, The Mother Huddle. A few months back, I heard from Destri about her grandfather. He is not only a warm and wonderful grandpa, but he is also devoted to canning the most magnificent food I have heard of, and then sharing it with all his family and friends. I thought you might like to hear a little more about how he works his magic. And so Destri and her grandfather were good enough to tell the story here for you today. I am in awe after reading this and know you will be too. Help me welcome and give a hand to one amazing grandpa. I’ll let Destri take it from here.

When I first wrote this article, it was a story of my 83 year old Grandpa and his generosity. A story of how the preserves he makes year-round find their way into the pantries of everyone he knows. How every time we visit my mom’s house I leave with a box full of jars, filled with all of his hard work. After taking the time to talk to him on the matter I realized there was a lot more to his generosity than a few afternoons spent in the kitchen. There is a story behind every recipe he bottles up.

Take his chokecherry for instance. Of all his preserves, it has long been a favorite of mine. It seems it’s existence is riding on the relationship between him and the guy at the wrecking yard, his main source for the berries. “He’s stubborn, wants me to go to church with him” He chuckled, “but I guess I need to go make up with him if I want more berries!” It made me wonder if the ladies behind the desk at his doctor’s office realize what has to happen for him to bring them a jar when he visits. So I decided it needs a new label:

His elderberry jam has always been liquid gold, only a few of these jars make into my pantry every year. I never thought to ask why, always thinking it was just hard to make. Evidently every year about this time he goes searching the mountains for elderberries and it has been three years since he has found any. He only has 2 jars of the juice left from three years ago, and crossing his fingers this labor day will bring him some luck. I hate to even go to the store to buy jam, let alone climb mountains to make it. So I decided it too needed its own label:

I had no idea that the 14 day pickles brought out at Thanksgiving and Christmas actually took 14 days to make. For some reason I thought that was how long they should sit in the jar before you ate them. Turns out, each day there is a step taken for fourteen days until the pickles are ready to bottle. I went to pick my kids up late one night at my mom’s a couple weeks ago, and there stands my Grandpa standing at the kitchen sink scrubbing little cucumbers. He was leaving in two weeks and needed to have them bottled before he left. Next time I pop one of them in my mouth, I will be sure to savor it a little more. And just in case anyone he gives them to anyone in the future who doesn’t know, I made a label for them:

So after all, the story ended up being about a lot more than my Grandfather and his generous gift giving. I found it to be a story of a man who found something to do, turned it into a passion, then found the joy in sharing it. To me that is one of the truest forms of gift giving. Sharing our talents, passions, and hard work with those around us.

I asked him if there was a recipe of his that he would like to share with you, and with a little quicker step than normal, he scurried in the house and returned to the porch with a manila folder.

In it are all his recipes for bottling, and he pulled out this one especially for us. His recipe for mustard pickles that has been fine-tuned over the years. I made a couple labels for you (with no fine print), one small and one big in case you have a chance to make them, and hopefully share them. Enjoy!

Grandpa Ferre’s Mustard Pickles

1 qt. green tomatoes
6 sweet red peppers
¾ qt. dark cider vinegar
¾ qt. water
1 Tb. curry powder
1 qt. pickling onions
1 head cauliflower
3 C sugar
6 level Tb. mustard
¾ C flour
1 qt. cucumbers
2 bunches celery
½ cup salt
1 Tb. tumeric
Cube vegetables into ¾ inch pieces.
Combine vinegar, 1 cup sugar, salt and water. Steam with all vegetables except celery until tender. Sift flour, tumeric, mustard and remaining 2 cups sugar. Mix with some vinegar dipped off vegetables. Pour mixture back into vegetables. Add celery and bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Pour into sterilized jars and seal. Makes 10 pints.

To print labels just click on the image and save to your computer then print. You can also duplicate the images on word or similar application to make more labels to a page.


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Here’s to one incredible giving man and grandpa, from all of us.

If you have a story of a man who gives good gifts, I’d love for you to share. Stop by some time and submit.

Also, thanks to Destri and her Grandfather for sharing today. Be sure to make a stop by The Mother Huddle right away. You will adore the lovely Destri and all the wonderful things she makes and shares. Also, some very fun lists. I heart lists. Don’t miss it.

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Give That Man a Hand: Fathers

06.16.10

A while back I asked if any of you had a gift story that had to do with dads that is close to your heart. When Aedriel sent this one, I got pretty teary. In fact, you might want to have a tissue within quick reach.

Father’s day can be bittersweet sometimes, for many different reasons. But I thought Aeriel’s story might be a nice way to pay tribute to the men who are great fathers, the men who we love and adore and miss.

(Aedriel is currently a Giver’s Log sponsor. You can visit her’s blog here and her shop here. Thanks for sharing this with us, Aedriel.)

“My Dad whom I was very close to died 5 years ago from melanoma. As an avid fly fisherman/outdoorsman, search and rescue volunteer, runner he was always diligent about using sunscreen so it was a shock to us all when he was diagnosed and died only a couple months later. I miss him dearly.

At his grave site there was a brick with a silver plaque that simply stated D DIXON with the plot number. Too much time passed with this brick and by the time we arranged for a gravestone I was suddenly going to miss the brick. I asked my step-mom for the brick when it was going to be replaced. She was out of town when the gravestone was put in and the brick was apparently thrown away. I was so upset about this. This simple brick was more my Dad than the gold-lettered gravestone.

My husband, Matt, never met my Dad and he’s always been amazing about listening to my stories about him or wiping my tears when my heart aches. Two Christmases ago we agreed to give gifts to each other that didn’t cost anything…or cost very little. He was so excited about his gift to me. I opened the most precious gift anyone has ever given to me that Christmas.

It was a brick identical to the one that was thrown out. Apparently Matt was going to buy a brick and have a metal plate made to resemble the original. When he went to the cemetery to find out what was on it the man that makes the bricks left Matt waiting there and came walking out with a duplicate brick. He handed it to Matt and told him it was free.

We now have the brick under a pinon tree and that’s my little area to think about my Dad. Matt has lovingly planted flowers under the tree to make it a bit of a Dad sanctuary. ;)

My Dad’s name was David. And I now have my own little David. I see my dad’s eyes in my David every day and that helps me know that he is with me.”

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Here’s to a great dad, and to the great husband (and dad) who understood what that man meant to his wife, and here’s also to the next generation. Thanks for sharing this, Aedriel.

It would be great to add a few more stories to this series that have to do with dads. If you have something that you think might work, I’d love to hear it, you can send me a quick email and share your story.

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Give That Man a Hand: Poetic Proposal

05.21.10

You are not going to believe this proposal story. I had to read it twice just to be sure I read right. Thanks for sending this, Dawn. You have one thoughtful man.

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“Normally for Christmas we don’t get each other many gifts, but one year we decided to get each other massages. The package included a manicure so I got my nails done too.  After we got home we were relaxing on the couch, opening Christmas cards and waiting for my nails to dry. Brian got up and came back with a poem.

Ever since we first started dating he’s been writing me poems and giving them to me on special occasions. When he gave me the first poem he gave me a homemade box with it. He expected there would be more where that came from so I needed a place to keep them.

Then he asked me if I really kept all of his poems all these years.  I said OF COURSE!  He said he hasn’t re-read a single one since he wrote them and he said, “I bet if you read all of them in a row you could get a really good overview of the history of our relationship.”

So he got up and got the box with all the poems.  He started reading each one and then just putting it on the floor!  At this point I said, “Brian—DO NOT get them out of order!”  He told me what he always tells me, “Calm yourself.”  So we read through all the poems taking time after each one to remember what was going on in our lives and in our relationship.

So we’re just lying there on the couch and Brian says, “You know…I did this on the first one, so I had to keep doing it, but I really don’t like it….I made the first letter bigger than all the rest.” That’s when I noticed that three of the poems that were lying next to each other spelled out Y-O-U if you just read the first letter.  And then I hopped up on the couch and looked down and saw that if you read just the first letter of each poem it said W-I-L-L   Y-O-U   M-A-R-R-Y   M and I started freaking out, saying “That’s not on purpose. Is that on purpose?  How can that be an accident???”

He said he had one more poem for me, dated for today.  When I got to the end it said, “Will you please guarantee my happiness and say you’ll be my wife.”  Then I put the paper down and looked up to find him on the floor, one knee with the ring box open.  He said, “Dawn, I love you, will you marry me?”  Well of course I screamed and hugged him and said yes and everything.   So every poem he gave me over those three and a half years was just the next letter in the sentence. He’s quite the planner!

When we first started dating we knew someone who got engaged and I remember casually telling him what I would want when I get engaged. First, I wanted to be surprised. Second, I wanted everyone else to be surprised. I knew a girl whose fiance told everyone the day he was going to do it, so everyone she called already knew. That’s not for me.  Third, I wanted a good story to tell.  Finally, I wanted to have my nails done so it would look pretty when I showed people.  He definitely succeeded on all counts and I know I’m the luckiest girl in the world!”


Brian, you are the man. This is for you.

If you’re new here, don’t miss the other stories of thoughtful men in this series. And if you have any stories that you think might work for this series, if you know a dad, husband, uncle, or friend who gave a great gift, I’d love to hear the story. Send me a quick email.

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Enjoy the weekend. It’s so nice here I’m tempted to spring my daughter from school for the afternoon and go picnic. And speaking of picnics, I have a few great recipes to share next week. Plus so much more, so very much more. Maybe even a free printable or two. So stop by and we’ll get busy in the kitchen. See you then!

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Give That Man a Hand: Proposal by Their Tree

05.19.10

While we are the topic of weddings for a couple weeks, I thought we’d feature a couple of your proposal stories and congratulate the men who went out of their way to be incredibly thoughtful.We’ll start with this one, from Erica. It involves a tree with names carved into it and an impressive collage-style gift that any scrapbooking woman, let alone man, would be proud to have created.

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“Jon and I had been dating for 5 years, so I knew that we’d be getting engaged pretty soon. It was August and we were both preparing to move overseas (to different places) for a few months. Two weeks before I was scheduled to leave, we went for a walk in the forest preserve near his house. While we were walking, he suggested we visit “our spot,” a tree in a little grove where he’d carved our names a few years prior.

As we neared our spot, I could hear faint music playing. We came around a bend and I saw a table and chairs with decorated for dinner. On my chair was a gift—a picture frame. Jon had framed 59 ‘Remember when…’ memories from our 5 years of dating (we were in the 60th month). He got down on one knee, proposed, and handed me a ribbon that said ‘Remember when I asked you to marry me.’

There’s nothing like a man who appreciates the value of a homemade gift.”



Jon, congratulations on pulling off a stellar proposal. This is for you.

Look for one more story to come this week. In the meantime, if you’re new here, don’t miss the other stories of thoughtful men in this series. And if you have any stories that you think might work for this series, if you know a dad, husband, uncle, or friend who gave a great gift, I’d love to hear the story. Send me a quick email.

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Give That Man a Hand: A Work of Art

04.23.10

I just loved this story from Vanessa, an expecting mom, and knew you would too.

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“Leslie Patricelli is my favorite children’s author and illustrator. For last Valentine’s day, Paul contacted Leslie and asked to purchase an original painting from one of her books. The 2 kids in the painting look like my kids and the Teddy Bear in the painting is supposed to be baby #3 on the way! He had it framed and Leslie wrote ‘to Abbi, Jack & baby’ on the mat.”



Paul, you totally rock. This is for you.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

If you’re new here, don’t miss the other swoon-worthy stories in this series. I have more great stories on the way, but am looking for more. Here, in particular, are a few I’d love to hear.

1. Mother’s Day stories: Anything special your man or dad did to make the day special? After we all ooh and awe over your story, we might happen to forward it on to our own men, you know, just to get them thinking. A subtle hint never hurt.
2. Stories of something special from your dad. Any special gift or thoughtful thing your dad has done for you or someone else.
3. Wedding proposal stories. I love a good engagement story. I’m hoping to feature one or two, if it involves a gift, all the better.

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Give That Man a Hand: A Very Special Bench

03.19.10

Wow do I have a story for you. Once you read it you will never forget it.

If you’ve been around here a while, you may remember the lovely Crystal. She’s the one who knits the yummiest kidswear, which you can see at her shop, Darling Clementine. (And have you heard of Tot Toppers? I just discovered this knitting phenomenon. The Cabled Tweedy Topper and the Master Charles are the kind of thing that make me say, forget girls, I want to have a whole slew of boys so I can dress them up. Look for the toppers soon at Darling Clementine.) Crystal emailed with the most amazing story. I can’t wait for you to read, so without further ado, here is Crystal.

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When my husband & I were first dating, we went on a walk around my sister’s neighborhood (I was staying with her at the time).  A few streets away, there was a large house on a corner lot that had a park bench situated right next to the side walk and it was just begging us to stop and sit.  Neil & I obliged and ended up having our first kiss on that bench.

Fast forward.  Neil & I are married.  It is Valentine’s Day and it’s an extra snowy winter.  I come home from work, open the door to our little apartment and see an old, weathered park bench sitting in our living room.  I was so confused.  After asking Neil about it, I learned that he had been driving around my sister’s neighborhood each day after work for the past two weeks, trying to find the house with our bench again.  It had been quite awhile since our first kiss by this point, and given that the city was blanketed in tons of snow, it made locating the bench very difficult.

He finally found the house and knocked on the door and asked the homeowner if he could buy their bench.  The woman was a little confused and told him that he could buy park benches at any major hardware store.  He went on to explain why he wanted to buy her bench.  The woman thought that was the sweetest thing she’d ever heard and called her daughter on the phone to tell her what Neil was doing.  She let Neil take the bench free-of-charge. He loaded it up into our tiny Honda CRX, drove across town, dragged it up to our third-floor apartment, and even had a little plaque made for it that says, “First Kiss, July 1, 2002.”  So sweet, right?  I love my Neilio.

Accolades are in order. Neil, this most official document is for you, and will arrive in your mailbox shortly.

If you have a man you’d like to gush about, and think it might work for this series, be sure to pass the story. I’d love to hear.

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Give That Man a Hand: A Year of Letters

03.10.10

All the ladies in the house, tell me this. How much do we appreciate a man who can pick up on a hint?

How nice it is to mention your favorite flower, and then be presented with a bouquet of them? Has anything similar ever happened to you? Men, if you’re paying attention, we like you to read our minds. And if you can’t do that, listening to our hints is almost as good.

I had a lovely reader tell me this story about her man, who not only followed through on a hint, but took it to the next level. Michele was once a journalist, is now a calligrapher (her work is beautiful, be sure to check it out). Michele mentioned to her husband, Todd, how she’d love a handwritten letter from him as a gift. And he delivered. Not only with a one hand-written letter, but one every month. And I have for you here, a picture from Michele of the real, actual year of letters.

(thanks for the picture, Michele, totally beautiful)

In Michele’s words:
“As 2009 unfolded, on the first of every month I found a handwritten letter waiting for me. The letters were wonderful and completely heartfelt. I consider each one a total treasure. So you can imagine how pleased I was when, in his December letter, he revealed that he would be renewing my “subscription” for 2010. Hooray! I couldn’t ask for a better gift or a more thoughtful husband!”

Way to go, Todd! This is for you.

If you have a man you’d like to gush about, and think it might work for this series, be sure to pass the story. I’d love to hear.

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Give That Man a Hand: Skate Ramp

03.03.10

Spring fever is creeping in over here. We are all peeking out the window at the rain (today is our Mario party, looks like it may have to happen indoors) and waiting until we can burst outside and ride bikes and hike and picnic and play. I want to lounge in my hammock, bask in the sunshine, and read The Secret Garden. Doesn’t that sound nice?

On the topic of outdoor play, I have a something to share with you, and someone to introduce you to. Mark and Heather are a very impressive couple. Heather is a quilter and turns out beautiful quilts like nobody’s business. While browsing through quilt after quilt of hers, and having one of those moments when I ask “how does she get it all done?” I came across some handy work by her husband. How fun is this?

This is the actual skate ramp Mark built in their backyard. You are looking at some lucky kids in this picture.

Incase you’d like to transform your yard into a skater’s paradise, I found a couple places with great plans:
DIY Skate: How to Make Ramps, Ledges, and More
Free Halfpipe Plans

If you know a man who gives good gifts and think it might work for this feature, I want to know. Share the story with me so we can congratulate him formerly and officially. (Maybe I should mail out certificates, wouldn’t that be official?)

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Give That Man a Hand: Made by Joel

02.23.10

Have you seen this? Made by Joel (first brought to my attention at ohdeedoh) is a blog by Joel of things he makes for his family. Here is Joel himself in a truly inspiring playhouse he raised in the backyard.

And here is one other favorite of mine, curled paper animation. I am trying this today. It will make me much more popular with my kids.

I’d love to keep this series going, to congratulate more men for cool gifts they’ve given. So if you have a gift from a guy to gush about, I’m your huckleberry.

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Give That Man a Hand: A Story of How They Met

02.12.10

I heard about this and had to post immediately. Did you see what Hil’s husband made?


It’s the story of how they first met. His version. And with illustrations. Wow.

If you want to hear her version, you’re in luck. Hil has shared it this week in honor of Valentines Day. It’s so fun. I love her adorable note about him not liking her cookies.

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Give That Man a Hand: Loveletter Book

02.11.10

I’d like to take one post to applaud my own man.

Since he is currently kicked off this blog (for the purposes of being able to be surprised on Valentines day) he will have to accept our congratulations next week. But I really wanted to share something he did.

A few years back he gave me this. It is a love letter book. His dream was that we’d compose lengthy epistles of affection to each other often. We’d write a love letter then leave the book on the pillow for other person to discover. I have to admit, it’s pages aren’t full yet, even after a couple years. But it does have a good twenty or thirty good pages of solid love letter material. And all in one place.

Don’t forget to go here and enter my $100 Bed & Breakfast giveaway by tomorrow.

Celia thought La Zarzuela looked like a good place to stay.

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Give That Man a Hand: A Homemade Telescope

02.11.10

I know this has been blogged a time or two already, but I find it so romantic I have to add it here. Average Jane Crafter’s husband made her a telescope of her very own. Yes, that’s right, he made it. Isn’t it beautiful? And what could be more romantic than an evening of stargazing? (Through something you made!!!)

Don’t forget to go here and enter my $100 Bed & Breakfast giveaway.
Just stop by this post and
1. Mention an inn you like, or
2. Mention a favorite item from my gift or wrapping guides, or
3. Twitter about it, or
4. Post about it on your blog along with a favorite local shop or restaurant of yours.
Winner chosen tomorrow.

Mel thought the Taughannock Farms Inn looked dreamy.

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Give That Man a Hand: Six Red Purses

02.11.10

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

This story is from a local friend of mine. Her name is Rachelle and the man we are applauding is her man, Tyler. In her words:

“You may know I LOVE a good surprise.  In my husband’s quest to surprise me AND get me something I would love he bought SIX (yes, I said six) red purses.  When he arrived at the checkout the woman smiled and then he explained.  Indeed buying a woman a purse is an impossible job and is as personal as picking out a tie for a man!  She totally agreed.  Tyler told me to close my eyes displayed the purses and then kindly reminded me I could choose one.  I am not a purse collector, as in I usually use one (two tops) at a time, brown and/or black.  Red (wow!) and then the choices…no wonder I love him so much!”

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