Yes, If you shop for Christmas on the eve of the big day, you have only 39 days left. (I call that pushing the envelope!)
These are stressful economic times, and the holidays can really pour on the pressure. Be sure to be good to yourself, and don’t let the little details bug you.
Little kids are usually happy with any new toy or a few new clothes, and they are the really important ones. Can’t let the tykes down, that’s for sure. For them, books are nice if theya re old enough. Children’s books become treasured memories. But have you considered doing simple things for the older ones on your list? Most folks just like being remembered and thought of.
For those that a card just isn’t enough, you can always give gifts from your kitchen. Small loaves of sweet bread are always well received, as are homemade cookies and home canned items (relishes, pickles, jams and jellies are good). Don’t cook? Try haunting the thrift and dollar stores for ideas. You can get full bouquets of flowers for pennies per flower.
Perhaps you have a photograph that would have particular meaning for someone on your list. An inexpensive picture frame for their desk or mantle, embellished with small silk flowers, beads, little items or mementos is a unique gift, and would be most likely cherished by the recipient.
Being an author, I naturally think about books for the adults as well as the kids. Don’t give books that aren’t suited to the individual. Dad probably wouldn’t appreciate a book on marriage, and Mom might not be interested in auto mechanics guides. But a book they can enjoy will last them a long time.
Flower baskets are always welcome. Artificial flowers (as mentioned above) can be arranged in wicker baskets and display a theme for very little money. Cut the stems to length, and arrange by sticking into a florist’s foam block which you have affixed to the bottom of the basket using wire or hot glue. Soem fake greenery for filler and you have a nice gift.
You need also to remember that presentation is extremely important. If you can’t wrap for beans, or the item is too oddly shaped for wrapping paper, there are fancy bags that the dollar stores carry which you can line with tissue and add some bows and ribbons. Tissue paper can be quite elegant!
Tins of cookies and fudge can be done rather elegantly as well. Who doesn’t like cookies and candies for Christmas? Or any time of year, for that matter! And the beauty is that you can make food items in big batches and in advance of the big day that many around the world celebrate.
Remember, it is not the cost in dollars that counts, but how much thought you put into a gift. If you have a diabetic that you need to give a gift, take the time to make something sugarless, and less anything else they should not have. Or if you are crafty, make them something personal.
Spouse difficult to shop for? Try printing out ‘coupons’ that offer your ‘services’ or ‘favors’ upon redemption. This can be anything from a night on the town to doing the dishes or laundry if you don’t normally do those things. Washing the car, waking the dog, or any chore that your spouse normally does might be a great way to express appreciation for all they do. You might even spice up your love or sex life with the right themes.
Use your imagination, and get crackin’. It’s only 39 days away!
New Anthology just out!
Forever Friends
edited and compiled by Shelagh Watkins
It contains my short story “Jason’s Best Friend” and my poem “Fine Feathered Friends” and other fine tales of love and friendship.
ISBN: 978-1-4092-3290-2
Copyright: © 2008 Mandinam Press
Language: English
Country: United Kingdom
Available now online: http://www.lulu.com/content/2816139
Short stories and poetry for every taste, everyone is sure to enjoy.
I seek the warmth of the sun these days and wish to hide frome all the political upheaval going on this past year or two. However, the news travelks far and wide. There is nowhere to hide.
I will return as time allows, if I should find something newsworthy on my end.
I cannot believe how long it has been! I have been busy doing other things which means there has not been much writing going on at my house.
Healthcare reform information has me puzzled. The more I listen to the rhetoric, the more confused I become. The tax payers will bear the burden of this no matter what. I think it boils down to how much it will cost, and who will be controlling it. Another czar, perhaps. And how will the decisions be made on who gets what care?
I have long thought that frivolous lawsuits against doctors have raised their malpractice insurance to astronomical rates. Even those who are caring and careful practitioners are impacted whether or not they have suits against them. Perhaps a ‘cap’ on some of their costs could be helpful in keeping costs down.
Attorneys are the ones who make the money in lawsuits. Maybe another ‘cap’ could be imposed on their percentages. They might be less willing to persue minor things and only take the provable and most devastating cases.
Insurance companies have not been helpful in keeping costs down. Have you checked into what a ‘cobra’ policy would cost you if you lost your job? It is horrendous! When I became disabled, my policy would have cost me $500.00 a month! I was unable to work and had no money coming in. Needless to say, I could not afford it. Fortunately my general health was and is good.
There must be a solution somewhere, and I hope our elected officials are able to come up with something that is fair to all. Have you written your congressman with your thoughts and suggestions? That is a good idea if you have any suggestions that might be helpful. They cannot do what you want if you don’t tell them. And they are, after all, our employees!
ahads_constant_referenced_paper
Astronomy is not exactly my main interest, but here is a site that has great content for anyone interested in the stars and light.
http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=66837154&blogId=212645210
Ahad’s Constant is a great theory worthy of investigation.
His paper has a mathematical formula which calculates the
amount of light received from anywhere in the universe.
His theory is written up in the Journal of British Astonomers.
Valentine’s Day is over now, New Year’s too. President’s Day, to celebrate presidential birthdays has just passed,
Now we have saint Patrick’s Day and Easter to look forward to. And then we also have The Fourth of July (Independence Day), Labor Day, Memorial Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas. I may have forgotten a few, like the birthday of the Marine Corps, Jeremiah Johnson’s birthday, Groundhog Day etc.. Don’t forget your own birthday and that of loved ones!
I think in all fairness there should be an everyone’s day. Perhaps every day! We have Mother and Father’s Days and even a grandparent’s day. I think this is just a way for card makers everywhere to boost their sales.
It shouldn’t take a special day marked on the calendar for people to send each other cards or express affection for one another.
So if there is someone you admire or care about, you can always send a card, or email some special wishes! It only takes a moment on the internet and just might make someone’s day a little brighter!
Here in the Northwest region of the US, vast sections of freeway are shut down or at a standstill. Downtown Seattle is in the grips of snow and ice. Ten inches of snow and more which turned to ice. Metro drivers with articulated buses are jack knifed and stuck in the road; chains are not even working on the hills. The plows and deicers are all out, but not making much headway. The Seattle area is built on a series of hills which makes matters dangerous for anyone on the roads. The Puget Sound region is pretty much iced in. Tow trucks are in high demand, and the wait is a long one if you are in a collision. And don’t call for a taxi—you will only get a recorded message that says there are none available.
UPS and FEDEX drivers are delivering packages on foot!! I guess they are determined to see that any Christmas presents are delivered in time for the event.
The roads into Canada were pretty much shut down yesterday with the ice, and it just moved south. I think we can assume that it will be a white Christmas for sure, with more snow tomorrow plus off and on snow and freezing weather into next week.
One enterprising individual in Seattle used skis to get to work! Talk about dedicated employees. At least the kids are all enjoying being out of school with no return scheduled any time soon. It will continue through the night, and maybe for the next week.
Good thing I went to the store last week, and we have lots of dry wood for the stove. We also have plenty of chow for the animals. But getting the hay out to the cows and defrosting their water is a royal pain in the you-know-what.
We have been taking good care of the birds; crumbled muffins and bread don’t last long and little skirmishes break out here and there as they jockey for the choicest morsels. I have nailed fat and fat layered soup bones to the fence posts for the birds, and they really go to town on them. There is also a feeder full of seed and cracked corn. At least they won’t go hungry around here. As long as my stocks in the freezers hold out, that is.
It seems this weather is hitting the entire northern portion of the country in one form or another. Many in the New England area have already been hit with it, and some places are still without power. We haven’t lost our power yet. YET.
I hope everyone is snug and warm in front of their fires, and not stuck on the roads.
Well, here it is again. Somebody started this harvest festival and it is still going on. I would bet it was some mighty hunter who shot a poor unsuspecting gobbler, took it home and presented it to the wife. The dutiful wife then proceeded to dress it (in cute little pants, and a hat with a buckle no doubt) and cook it.
Today, it is a traditional North American Holiday in the U.S. whose origins are still somewhat of a mystery, depending on whose rendition you read.
I think it was the male faction that decreed a feast of enormous proportions be placed on the breadwinner’s table. Different areas serve different ‘traditional’ foods, all as a sort of harvest festival, being thankful for a bountiful harvest.
I think it is mostly promoted by the male of the species as a day on which it is customary to stuff oneself and then retire to the ‘tube’ to watch sports while the little woman (or women as the case may be ) clean up the mess that took them several days to make in the kitchen.
I hate the thought of all the cooking of special treats and trying to outdo the previous year’s food orgy.
However, I get a lot of satisfaction from being able to bring a glorious meal to the table. Once the cooking is done, I am ready to ‘pig out’ provided I haven’t done so much tasting that I have become full! And it is wonderful to bask in the glow of compliments on my accomplishment. It makes the several days of work woth it. I can then look forward to the next feast, while serving a variety of turkey delights to the groans of ‘not turkey AGAIN!’ for the next week.
It wouldn’t be so bad if people would just clean the platter of turkey while it was still hot.
So this Thanksgiving, enjoy your merry making and giving of thanks while you eat the damned turkey!!
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