My Holiday Swap present arrived yesterday from my Secret Santa. Evidently, Santa was vacationing in Viedma, Argentina before he had to start delivering all those presents tonight. 
Okay, really my Santa was the delightful Ella, who blogs at The Clock Monkey. Go check her out, because she’s smart, talented, and only 17! And yes, she’s from Argentina. And she sent me the bestest presents. Behold…
Ella wrote “I’m sorry I couldn’t send you a book, but I didn’t know if you read in Spanish, since it’s really hard for me to get my hands on a book in English. Everything I send you is handmade! Not by me, but by local artists.”
Sweet! Ella, the gifts are perfect…and much better than a book (*gasp*). I can’t begin to thank you, and I’m so excited that my Secret Santa is from Argentina.
Do you all see that cute little wooden parrot? Ella explains its significance in the last paragraph of her letter, so be sure to read it.
Thanks again, Ella! Happy Holidays!!
That’s really nice
Now, if the real Santa brought you plane tickets so you could use the map 
Have a Magically delicious winter festivity
.-= The Kool-Aid Mom´s last blog ..Santa – Weird, Creepy and just plain WTF?! =-.
I love it! How wonderful! Such a sweet gift, Jill.
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..Gifts & Christmas Greetings =-.
Wow, she really went all out. Very cool handmade gifts. Love her note about the parrots. Merry Christmas!
.-= girasoli´s last blog ..mele kalikimaka =-.
What wonderful goodies! Those really are treasures. Enjoy, Jill!
.-= Literary Feline´s last blog ..Review: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens =-.
Hey, you can buy your own book in English anytime you want to, but how often do you get handmade goodies from Argentina! Ella did a fabulous job selecting gifts for you!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Merry Christmas =-.
Wonderful thoughtful gifts! What a great time of year…
.-= Helen´s last blog ..My top picks for 2009 =-.
That’s FABULOUS! Yay for you
.-= Aarti´s last blog ..Review: Nyphron Rising =-.
What awesome, unique gifts! Happy holidays
.-= She´s last blog ..Merry Christmas, dudes! =-.
The gift looks fantastic! Ella is so sweet!
.-= Sheila (Bookjourney)´s last blog ..Morning Meanderings… =-.
All kinds of neat stuff! You had a great Secret Santa this year.
.-= Ladytink_534´s last blog ..Have a Furry Christmas! =-.
That’s a rock awesome Secret Santa gift!
.-= Andi´s last blog ..Merry Christmas!!! =-.
What a terrific idea and truly unique! Ella did a great job! Enjoy!!
.-= Wrighty´s last blog ..How cool is this? =-.
What a super Santa you have! Enjoy!
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: Cranberry Hot Toddies =-.
Wow! How exciting to get a gift from Argentina! Ella was a fantastic Santa!
.-= Nymeth´s last blog ..I Haz New Books! =-.
What delightful gifts! The Secret Santa thing sounds really fun.
VERY cool gift.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..My Year in Reading =-.
How cool that you received all locally-made gifts! What a fun Christmas surprise!
.-= Dreamybee´s last blog ..What You Helped Me Do =-.
Wonderful goodies! I love especially the bookmark and necklace. But a paper bag saying Patagonia is something to be envied as well!
.-= Gnoe (on Graasland)´s last blog ..The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson (The Sunday Salon of December 27th, 2009) =-.
What a lovely gift … and I so wish I had known about blogging at 17!! (Well, to be honest, PCs weren’t really common when I was 17 but still.)
.-= Jenners´s last blog ..Show Me 5 Saturday: Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris =-.
What an awesome gift!!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Sunday Salon =-.
What a wonderful gift! Handmade gifts are the best. That book mark looks beautiful.
.-= Darlene´s last blog ..Book Review: Bel Canto by Ann Patchett =-.
What a great not-so-secret Santa!
.-= Stacy´s last blog ..The results are in… =-.
That’s so cool! International swag is always fun
.-= Lenore´s last blog ..Book Review and Giveaway: When She Flew by Jennie Shortridge =-.