Does anyone else have as hard a time as I do finding a great gift for your SO? (Apologies to those who do not have a SO -- consider that you have one less dilemma at holiday time , but I have been alone for the holidays many times so I understand how it is and don't intend to be insensitive.)

My husband is so hard to shop for. He is one of those "men who have everything" and doesn't care much for doodads and gadgets. He buys himself all the cool stuff he wants when it first comes out, before I can get it for him. It is very difficult to find clothes to fit him -- he is very tall and slim, so even the simplest thing (sweaters, pajamas) rarely fit him well -- XLs are often still too short and too wide. Plus, his birthday is right after Christmas too, so that's an additional wrinkle in the gift-giving plan.

So when he remarked a few times over the course of the last year that he really likes a beautiful bird sculpture he saw in a local shop, I took note. Yesterday I went to the shop and plunked down my credit card. It's an expensive piece, and I'm not sure where we'll put it (it's not small!), but I figure between home and the ranch, we'll figure something out. It's a beautiful, realistic carving of two huge woodpeckers by a local artist. I should have taken a photo yesterday but I forgot as the store was closing while I was making my purchase. It's really kind of perfect for our house, which is in the woods, and we hear and see woodpeckers out in the trees all the time.

Funny thing, the woman who manages the store knows exactly who my husband is! I told her he'd been admiring the piece, and she asked what he looks like. I described him, and she told me she remembered him being there just a month or so ago, which fits the timing of when he last mentioned the piece to me. She said he was so nice, and I said, "Yep, that's definitely him!"

I'm not sure if he'll truly be surprised, since I think he was dropping hints by mentioning it a few times, but it's expensive, and maybe he thinks I wouldn't spend that much. I am so excited to give him this, though! I had to share with someone, so I hope you don't mind me sharing here, where it's safe that he won't see it. It's so rare that I have the perfect gift for him. Last year we didn't do gifts (we had a trip planned, which ended up getting postponed, and later became our Europe trip for my birthday).

I hope you all find the perfect something -- small or large, even if it's just spending the time together -- for the people you love this holiday season!