Software
Houzz Logo Print
bluee19

DECEMBER (FOTESS): Christmas card exchange

last month
last modified: last month

FOTESS is a group that requires you to be approved for membership so mesaage Jeanne sandlapper_rose if you are interested and not a member at this time. The name FOTESS stands for Friends of the Earth Simple Swaps. We have a theme we post each month. Usually there is a swap of some sort (cards, seeds, small gifts) but we also share photos, garden information and other ideas. All swaps are within the U.S.

December is one of the busiest holiday months so let's keep this swap easy.

If you sign up: you will send holiday card and anything you would like to share with those who sign up.

Sign-up date: Monday 12/01/2025

Last day to sign up: Saturday, 12/06/2025

Hopefully that will give enough time to send out the cards to arrive by Christmas.

Comments (37)

  • last month

    I am in for the December card exchange!!


    Happy December FOTESSERS!!

  • last month
    last modified: last month

    I'm in for December card exchange.

    We just got our first below 32 degree night this week.

    (28 degrees Tuesday night)

    Goodbye to some of my beauties.

  • last month

    I'd love to join!

  • last month

    Thank you ladies for signing up!! Please send out your Christmas Cards/goodies as soon as you can since the post office will be quite busy.


    Mandy, Ruth, Annie, Jeanne, and me (Nicole) - I think everyone has their updated addresses unless you moved recently.

  • last month

    I mailed my cards today. Hope they arrive safely.

  • last month

    These are some determined tomato plants. This is after our first freeze last week.
    I also mailed my cards yesterday.
    I don’t have a tree up yet, but did manage to wrap a few presents yesterday after finishing all of my cards.

  • last month

    Happy Thursday!!


    I just popped my cards in the mailbox....

    Today is Dec 11....let's see how long it takes for the cards to arrive to each of you....LOL!!


    Beautiful weather out here in Southern California. I am still in shorts and a tank top. No rain in site....


  • last month

    Thank you ladies for sending out!! I haven't even started. I'm so bad :(


    Let's see who gets their first card received? Please post when you get the Christmas card(s)!!


    Take care everyone!!

  • last month

    It took me a minute to get ready, but cards will go out on Monday!


    Happy holidays.



  • last month

    I hope everyone is doing well. It's staying cold here and will be getting even colder. I think the forecast for tonight is a Wind Chill of 17 degrees!

  • last month

    afternoon ladies, i mailed out my cards today.


    i receieved annie and jeanne card today. thank u for the card and goodies. i knew to open Annie’s card carefully!! i wonder why??


    hows everyone doing?

  • last month

    I just checked mail and also received a card from Jeanne and Annie today. I will try to post pictures tomorrow. Thank you for the goodies.

    The last two nights have been really cold here also. I saw the water in one of the birdbaths was frozen this morning.

    I picked more peppers and some fresh marjoram before the freeze. I dried the marjoram in the oven.

    I think the forecast is for a warm up after today.

  • last month

    Wind Chill of 17 degrees.....my goodness, are in you in the North Pole? I have never been in that kind of ???????????, even during my snow skiiing days. .I keep looking for the best place to live in America, and elsewhere.....weather is huge to me.............I do like the state of North Carolina but maybe not now. Maybe I should stay happy in my shorts and tank top during the month of December, here in Southern California. The term WIND CHILL is sending chills up and down my spine..............bbbbbuuuuurrrrrrrr

  • last month

    I received Ruth's card last night. Thank you for the pretty card and coleus!



  • last month

    Mail arrived yesterday from Ruth and Jeanne. Thank you for the lovely cards and tuck ins. WOW, that was was quick delivery from the USPO.

  • last month

    I've received my cards from Ruth and Annie. Thank you both for the tuck-ins and yes, we need to open Annie's card with care. Always brings a smile.

  • 29 days ago

    Annie's card arrived, filled with cheer! Lol. Thank you for the fun task of opening without making my living room a party! 🥳

  • 29 days ago

    My beautiful cards from Annie and Jeanne.

  • 27 days ago

    Thank you Nicole! That was one of the best surprises I've received in a long time. I opened it when I got home late last night and giggled. I'll share more soon, but I don't want to ruin any surprises!


    Jeanne- thank you so much for the pretty card and seeds. I will be starting those in the spring! Happy holidays!


    Mandy

  • 27 days ago

    How is everyone doing? Gifts wrapped? What's on the menu for everyone?


    I usually go over one of my aunt's house for brunch. I don't know the theme yet. Usually we make breakfast burritos, bagels, crepes, so we shall see.


    hope everyone is doing well!! Take care you all!!

  • 27 days ago

    Nicole, I received your card today. Love the snowy picture. Thank you so much.

    As for "ready" for Christmas, this week has thrown everything at me so I was having a rough time fitting in shopping for gifts and making sure they could be delivered in time. I think all gifts will make it to the person by Christmas. I do have some here that will need wrapping but with me that's more fun than shopping.

    Hope everyone has a great Christmas!

  • 27 days ago

    Ruth ~ just checking if you got something from me yesterday?

  • 27 days ago

    Nicole, I did. Thank you very much. I didn't open it when it came because I was thinking it was something I had ordered and I was only expecting cards from the FOTESS swap. It was a very nice surprise.

    We went to a pot luck luncheon today. Food was awesome and lots. I took corn pudding and a buttermilk pie.

    Just got my tree decorated yesterday. Still working on other decorations. Most of the presents are wrapped.

    Because of some work schedules this year, I'll cook on Christmas Eve. There will be plenty left for Christmas Day. Normal Turkey, dressing and the works. Maybe a ham also. Tomorrow I'm going to start cooking as much as I can ahead of time.

  • 25 days ago

    Thank you Mandy for the beautiful card and ornament. Did you make it?
    I’m hoping to get some cookies made today after some shopping. Still have some presents that need wrapping.

  • 25 days ago

    Nicole,.....LOL....I came home last night to a package on my front door step.

    LOVE IT!!

    Thank you very much!!

  • 25 days ago
    last modified: 25 days ago

    Morning Everyone!! i think everyone received their goody from santa’s amazon helper!! also hope u all got my Christmas card!! have a wonderful Sunday!! Let us know whats new or happening in your neck of the woods! Any easy to go recipes for Christmas?

  • 25 days ago

    Mail delivery on Sunday....impressive USPS!!

    Mandy and Nicole, your cards arrived....Thank you very much!! Mandy, darling Christmas Tree ornament.


    Christmas cards from Ruth, Jeanne, Mandy and Nicole.......


    Marry Christmas!!



  • 25 days ago

    A beautiful card from Nicole

  • 25 days ago

    Mandy, I received your card and the sweet tuck-ins. Thank you. I have received from all 4 so thank you to everyone. Nicole sent a little gift, too. Thank you for that as well. You had a great idea.

    Things have been very busy here. It seems I started early enough but working right down to the wire getting Christmas things done. I'll be like Santa this year - ready to "settle down for a long winter's nap"!

  • 22 days ago

    Merry Christmas Jeanne, Ruth, Mandy and Nicole..........

    Enjoy tidings of comfort and joy with your families and friends!!

    Be safe.............

  • 22 days ago

    Merry Christmas everyone! I didn't make the ornaments, I just added a date to some of them.


    Wishing you all the best holiday!


    Mandy


  • 21 days ago

    Merry Christmas everyone 🎅🏻

    Be safe 🎄🎄

  • 21 days ago

    Have a wonderful Chridtmas everyone!!



  • 20 days ago
    last modified: 20 days ago

    I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas. We had a very pretty day here - sunny and warm - and I sure hope those who had storms in their area, made it through okay. A quiet Christmas here with just church and then a nice brunch but I will get together with part of the family today.

    Thanks for being our hostess, Nicole. I think I am hostess for January. I'll start to think of some ideas and post once we get to January.

  • 14 days ago

    Happy New Years 2026........


    Thanks Nicole for hosting December.....nice and simple!!

  • 14 days ago

    I just posted the January FOTESS activity. Hope some will want to join in on the fun.

    https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6525603/january-2026-plan-it-love-it-do-it-fotess