James you really know me...

17 years ago

I think half the fun with these swaps is finding out who your swap partner is. I was lucky enough to receive from JimTex (James). James, I love everything that you sent and will always think of you when I cook Thai food. Thank you for your patience with me posting this. Your package arrived just as we were leaving for the cottage for the weekend. I quickly notified Ann that it arrived so you would know the package arrived safely. Everything was beautifully wrapped and I am saving the wrapping paper. LOL

James sent me a wonderful cookbook -- Thailand The Beautiful Cookbook. This has beautiful photos and is a cookbook that I will treasure and put on display. James knew that I was interested in trying some Thai cooking, and IÂm going to love using the recipes from this cookbook. Thanks James!

James made me an exceptional item. IÂve always admired the decorative dried gourds at the craft shows, and guess whatÂ..James is ones of those talented individuals that paints gourds. The gourd is a work of art that I will always treasure. I canÂt thank James enough! Again, I am so glad James was my swap partner.

{{gwi:1467284}}

And I received a bottle of wine. We didnÂt waste any time and have already tried the wine. ItÂs a good sipping wine on a rainy and cold Sunday afternoon. The wine was produced in JamesÂ town, on the Gulf Coast. Not bad for a Gulf Coast wine! LOL Joe is in the kitchen preparing Buffalo chicken (his signature dish from college days), and I am sipping wine and typing this thank you note. LOL

{{gwi:1467285}}

James, thank you for your nice note. IÂm glad that you enjoyed having me as your swap partner, and the feeling is very mutual. Thanks again!! You have a friend in New York, Debbie

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Comments (35)

debbie814
Original Author
17 years ago
{{gwi:1461123}}

Here's the entire package.
compumom
17 years ago
James does it again! When he was my swap partner he hit a home run and it looks like he did another great job. That gourd is exceptional, if you tire of it Deb, think of me!
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lorijean44
17 years ago
James, that gourd looks like African art! Very cool. I guess you are a man of hidden talents!! ;-)

Beautiful cookbook, too. I've never heard of that winery before - I'll have to check it out. What a great package!!

Enjoy, Deb!

Lori
User
17 years ago
OOOOOOH Wow, that Gord is a work of art. That is absolutely beautiful. James you are a very talented man. And what a wonderful cookbook and bottle of wine. Enjoy.

Ann
netla
17 years ago
The gourd is gorgeous! A really, really special gift.
Thai food is really good and I know you will have fun trying the recipes.
lakeguy35
17 years ago
WOW! James, that is one cool looking gourd! Amazing! I know Deb will love the cookbook and I see she is already enjoying the wine. Super package! Enjoy Deb, clink!

David
ziporion
17 years ago
James, I love that gourd! I'm sure Debbie already has a place of honour for it to be displayed. And that Thai cookbook looks very good too, wit a beautiful cover and presentation of food. And I'm sure the wine will be a hit with Deb as well.

Excellent job, James!
Lars
17 years ago
The gourd is stunning! What a special gift to receive. It's absolutely gorgeous.

I was unaware of any wineries around Houston, but I have had good wine from Texas. That winery appears to be in Galveston County, and it sounds very interesting.

I assume cookbook is a continuation of The Beautiful Cookbook series. I have the Mexico edition (published before the Thai book), and it truly is a beautiful cookbook and also my favorite Mexican cookbook. That's a great choice, and good Thai cookbooks are somewhat rare, I think - at least I haven't seen any that would compare to the one you received.

Lars
kent4489
17 years ago
Debbie, Oh, when I saw your thread title, I knew it would be a great package. I received a WONDERFUL package from James in my first swap. I think of him nearly weekly as I use something he sent me. James, terrific package!

Jayne
maggie2094
17 years ago
I have never seen that done before. I would never know that was a gourd. It is gorgeous! Oooh, Deb, pour me a glass! Nice job, Jim.
lori316
17 years ago
Oh, wow, James...you made that?? I'm very impressed. It's beautiful. I'm sure Debbie will absolutely love it.

I've leafed through that book and it sure looks good.

Enjoy your package, Debbie.
momto4kids
17 years ago
Debbie-I love that gourd. It's really beautiful! I'll bet that wine was good! And that cookbook sounds great. I love Thai food. Enjoy everything!

James...great job!!
jimtex
17 years ago
Hi Debbie. I'm glad it got there intact. It's not very spectacular but it's a piece of me from way down here and I had fun doing it.
James
annie1992
17 years ago
I agree, that gourd is stunning, I can easily see it with some of Debbie's New York fall hardwood leaves, all reds and golds for a wonderful Thanksgiving display.

The cookbook is beautiful and it appears that Debbie has already "appreciated" the wine a couple of times. (grin)

We sure have some talented people on this forum.

Annie
granjan
17 years ago
That gourd is incredible. Did you grow it as well as decorate it? Such talent around here. I only cook.
trixietx
17 years ago
The gourd is amazing, I keep scrolling up to look at it.

Debbie, share some recipes from the cookbook, we love Thai food and I would reaaly like some good recipes!

Very nice package, James.
traceys
17 years ago
James, What do you mean it's not spectacular? It's just gorgeous!! You are really talented!

Debbie, Thats one great package. Sounds like the wine is a winner. I can't wait for recipes I've never had Thai food.

Enjoy
Tracey
teresa_nc7
17 years ago
Marvelous swap items, James. Kudos on the hand painted gourd - that is certainly original and beautiful. I love that cookbook series with great photography and authentic recipes.

So did you and Joe finish that bottle of wine, Debbie?

Teresa
debbie814
Original Author
17 years ago
Teresa, we didn't finish the bottle. LOL It is on the sweeter side, so one glass was plenty. It was nice for sipping before dinner.
riverrat1
17 years ago
Oh my! That gourd is gorgeous! Galveston County wine! I'll have to look that particular winery up the next time I'm over there.

James, You sent a lovely box.

Debbie, Enjoy that wonderful box!
chancesmom
17 years ago
James, that gourd just made my jaw drop! You made it!! Very special package, and you can tell you really like it Deb!

really excellent, Jim.
sally2_gw
17 years ago
Ditto what everyone else said. I called DH in to look at the gourd; we both think it's beautiful! The cookbook looks good, too. I'm going to have to start trying some of these Texas wines. Great job, Jim. Deb is sure lucky to have received this package.

Sally
blueiris24
17 years ago
Aha, more hidden talent out there -- that gourd is GORGEOUS. I have a couple of books from that series of cookbooks and they are both great - am sure the Thai one is as well. Enjoy the wine! Very thoughtful package, James - in awe of your talent.
lowspark
17 years ago
More Texas Wine!! I love it!! That winery is about 35 minutes from my house, I've been there to taste and their wines are quite nice. They also have live music on their property sometimes but we've never made it there for that. Texas actually has a lot of wineries, and some darn good wine!! SORRY just had to throw in some Texas bragging there.

That gourd is way-cool, Jim! Beautiful.
sheshebop
17 years ago
That is a nice swap package, but the gourd is absolutely gorgeous. I also have longed for those painted gourds, and to think our James is a gourd artist! Fantastic!
Gina_W
17 years ago
Jim, that gourd is beautiful. You're so talented. Great package, Debbie!
Terri_PacNW
17 years ago
Very nice James..what a thoughtful package you put together!

Stunning, that gourd is just fabUlous!
mustangs81
17 years ago
James that is just Gourdgeous!

This group should meet half way and have a craft show. I'll be the craft muse.
brenda55
17 years ago
That gourd is amazing. Such talent and how nice of you to share it with your swappie. That Thai cookbook looks great, too. I'm with May, I like Texas wines, too!

Great job, James!
doucanoe
17 years ago
Holy smokes, that gourd is really cool! James, you are certainly a talented artist!
Debbie, I could sip that wine and curl up with that cookbook, too! Love it all!

Linda
User
17 years ago
Oh Debbie lucky you receiving from James. I have some wonderful treasures that I received from James and his lovely wife in a long ago swap. Very special to me is the little Eagle jug he sent me.

That gourd is gorgeous! It must have taken a long while to do, very special. The cookbook looks lovely! I know James would have "angst'd" over that! LOL Texas wine you say, guess it has "BIG" flavour! LOL

Enjoy Debbie, great job James!
andi_2006
17 years ago
James, that gourd is stunning!! The talent (outside of cooking) on this forum amazes me. That is a very special gift. The cookbook is a favorite of mine and Texas wine is always a treat! Enjoy, Debbie!
robinkateb
17 years ago
James I am also stunned by that gourd. The whole swap package is great but the gourd is amazing. Part of what i am loving about this swap is learning about all the talent on this forum.

Robin
alison
17 years ago
What a beautiful package! I'm a big fan of Thai food, too, and that cookbook looks great. The gourd will make a really lovely centerpiece for along time. And it sounds like the wine is already a wonderful memory.

Nice job!
triciae
17 years ago
Well, add me to the list of many who think the gourd is fantastic...very talented, James!

Debbie, what a wonderful swap package. The Thai cookbook looks interesting...anxious to hear about what you try from it.

And, it sounds like the wine is not going to waste! lol

Enjoy your package, Debbie & great package James.

Tricia

James you really know me...

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