Lily's Letter

[Hollie]

No: HPFGUIDX 173407

I apologize in advance if this has been mentioned before.  I searched but didn't see it.  In the letter that Harry finds in Sirius's bedroom, Lily mentioned that Harry had "smashed a horrible vase Petunia sent me for Christmas..."  (DH, page 180, US edition) Haven't we been led to believe (unless I'm mistaken) that Petunia more or less disowned her sister?  I don't send gifts to people I don't like.  I know in the first book (don't have page number) that Vernon says they usually pretend Petunia doesn't have a sister.  But this can't be true for Petunia if she's been sending Christmas gifts less than a year before.  Any ideas?

Hollie