A gift that hit the spot

The perfect gift is a rare jewel that most of us are lucky enough to give – or receive – only a few times in a lifetime. In the dismal, isolated Christmas of 2020, my sister Betty and her husband Bert were the recipients of what I’d consider a pretty perfect gift. To my mind, it hit all the marks – it was unusual, thoughtful, tailored just to them, a complete surprise – and most importantly, it sparked delight.

I heard it in my sister’s voice during our post-Christmas FaceTime visit: “Just wait till you see what Etienne and Aya gave us,” she said, referring to her son and daughter-in-law, who live across the country from Betty and Bert but have a pretty good idea of what gives them joy.

The gift was a birdhouse -- but not just any birdhouse.

I call this unusual birdhouse a perfect gift for my sister and brother-in-law.

It had the requisite bird-hole in its sloped roof, but the ground floor was a kind of veranda reflecting the most treasured aspects of the Laurentian cottage that my sister and her husband call home. Two doll-house-sized Adirondack chairs recall the lazy days of summer and family vacations.  A tiny water bowl and a leash hanging on a pillar nod to the important third member of the household, their dog Molly. A fat Holy Bible on a little table honours their faith.  Tiny versions of snowshoes, paddles and a telescope recall their diversions, and a little signboard of boating rules is a reminder of the exquisite lakes nearby. And just to ensure that future feathered tenants know where they live, a little wooden sign on a veranda pillar bears the cottage’s address.

Thoughtful? Tailored to the recipients? Unusual? Causing delight? With this gift, Betty’s son and daughter in law – far away in Vancouver but knowing their elders’ softest spots – scored on every count.

The chairs, the Bible-bearing table, the snowshoes, dog bowl and address sign.

The dark dot on this tiny log stump is a replica of a ladybird. Nature abounds in this cottage country. 

A mini dog-leash to the left, and a canoe-carrying sign.