Joan 11/16 212a
I am getting too practical. I hate to buy stuff that clutters up the
house. Also hate to buy all of the electric gadgets. So the last
few years I have been buying my niece, DIL, Daughter, etc. MEAT. We
have an old style butcher shop by us that makes their own sausages,
stuffed pork chops and filet mignon. So I have been buying them
things like that. My DIL likes wild rice and my eldest daughter lives
in an Amish area in Illinois and there is a grocery that sells grains by
the pound. Have also bought old fashioned oats, barley oats & groats.
Buy in smaller packages and they can all be stored in the freezer.
Barley, yellow & brown lentils. I really enjoy shopping there.
Blessings, Indiana Joan
Darlene 11/16 808a
I'm with you Kath. I like your idea, but my bunch doesn't cook much.
When my son Roy is home he does cook some and is a very good cook. We
all have too much "stuff" and my kids have way more $$$ than I do. Some
one is always asking me when someones birthday or ann is so this year it
is nice calenders with birthdays marked or with a list of dates.
I hope it will work for them. I can have it on the calender and still
forget.
Carol 11/16 921a
Although meat is quite an unusual gift Joan, I bet it is much
appreciated. Guess wrapping it up and putting it under the tree is out
of the question though. Hahahaha.
Shirley 11/16 921a
THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME JOAN.I DID BUY MOSTLY FRIVILOUS GIFTS
THOUGH.CANLES AND CD'S.I AM BUYING THE SON IN LAW'S FANCY NUTS AND I DID
BUY MY OLDEST SON A ICED TEA POT.MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE ARE GETTING
GIFT CERTIFICATES TO THE CRACKER BARREL FROM ME TO EAT OUT ON AS THEY
TRAVEL ABOUT 6 MONTHS OUT OF THE YEAR.
Carol 11/16 924a
Love your idea of a nice calendar with special dates on them Darlene.
What a thoughtful gift !! Another inexpensive but thoughtful gift for
those who cook is a nice recipe box with some of your favorite recipes
inside.
BarbaraN 11/16 930a
Last year we shopped and shopped,then wrapped and wrapped---then stood
in LONG lines to mail and pay postage. This year we are only shopping
for the little Greatgrands and sending money to the rest of the family.
They can shop after Christmas.
Carol 11/16 1010a
Great plan Barbara. If we had to mail gifts to out of town family, we'd
give money or gift certificates too. So much easier, and loved ones are
always happy with their gifts since they are the ones who get to pick it
out. Haha.
Kath 11/16 1055a
What a great idea (Darlene), for the calendars...I could sure use one of those
with all my family too...I am sure I'm the World's Most Famous
FORGETTER..ask my family Haha...
Hilda 11/16 1110a
Gee (Joan), you can buy Christmas Gifts for me any time. LOL That does sound
better than the other things that most of the time they don't even need
or will ever use. I used to buy my late husbands mother little things
that I thought she would use, but she never did. She has a special drawer
that she puts all her gifts in and very few she ever uses. So then
several years ago Annette and I started giving her gift certificates for
the health store that she buys from and from the grocery store that she
uses. I'll get her $50 ones and then Annette gets $50 so that holds her
over for a while. Those she will use. And sometimes we will make it for
more than the $50.
Kath 11/16 1152a
Sounds good to me Joan, our Christmas shopping has changed so much over the years..I loved all the homemade gifts that are just a Memory now, People don't take time to make a MEMORY, and they are cheating themselves when we think about it ?? Because in creating a special gift for someone you love that they will treasure is a "special" time for you too...
Right now i am looking at a beautiful set of hand-made FIREPLACE TOOLS, that hang by my fireplace, that a very special friend made us many Christmases ago...and the little Roll a Hoop, that he also made on his Magic Forge...Kids to-day would not know how to operate it..
Haha, It isn't battery operated...eh ???
( grin )
Holidays always recall fond memories of love that went into selecting and making these gifts by special people,
I'm sure the lovely quilts, and many things you make on your looms and the clicking knitting needles have gladden many hearts and kept many a toe warm thru the years, I know I love mine that you sent along.. Some people take a tranquilizer when they can't calm down or go to sleep NOT me...I put on a pair of Joan's hand-made socks, Works everytime..(grin )
Keep clicking those needles and hammering on that iron, you two it makes many others Happy too.
Kath 11/16 1208p
I know right where that market is...Haha,
wish he was out here too.. I'd sure shop there.. Good eatin' anytime...
Judy 11/16 152p
Joan, That sounds like a great gift. We always take my youngest
daughter,Jackie, to the grocery store after Christmas and let her get
stuff. She asks for that every year. Says it's the only time they get to
buy what they want,not just what they need. LOL. The granddaughters have
a fun time then. I guess that's kind of like your idea. =-) HUGS,Judy
Carol 11/16 952p
Oh how nice that your brother and sister in law travel 6 months out of
the year. Do they travel for work or for pleasure? Where are some of
the places that they travel to?
Shirley Jean 11/17 1200a
Hey that’s some great ideas. I like to give & receive practical gifts at least part of the time. As we get older --we kind of have a housefull of gidgets & gadgets whatnots as the yrs go by. My older daughter wants us all to agree to draw names & make homemade gifts for each other. Some of us like that idea but I dont think it will go over with some of the family --so it probably wont happen. She was also trying to take the financial pressure off some with limited means. My younger daughter gets so stressed out with her large family & tight money situation every yr. The holidays have become so commercial any more. So much pressure about gifts. Gifts are fun if they dont stress your budget but we need to remember the real reason for the holiday. Shirley Jean
Mary Lynn 11/17 1204a
We haven't really been able to buy gifts for a while.. But Lonnie and I splurged for a good one for Marleena's first CHRISTmas.. We have thought about her each time we saw it advertised on tv.. Fishser Price Rock and Roll Dinosaur!! It is a learning an action fun toy.. We just had to buy it for her.. We mailed it today.. Cost a lot to mail it but we were
afraid if we just sent the money Rachel would buy her something practical like clothes.. I wanted her to have this toy!! I've always love to buy CHRISTmas toys.. I hated it when the grands got too big for toys.. Now I'm too poor to spoil Marleena like I did the grands.. 8^) But at least I was able to get one that I think she will love!! Rachel better send me a video of her playing with it.. (((Hugs)))
Shirley Jean 11/17 1204a
Hey People ==this is good !! We are exchangeing ideas for gifts some quite inexpensive & unusual. Its good to hear ideas from a lot of people. I LIKE it !
Shirley Jean
Sammy 11/17 157a
I know what you mean Kath about the hoop! My great grandson has one. He finally has mastered it. He loves it.
Bee 11/17 414a
I saw in the paper today a gift from the Christmas Tree shop. It was a case with an apron, bakeware, cooking utensils and all the necessary things to make a cake. It was only $3.00. If you grannies have younger girls say from 6 to 10 you could giver her that along with some of your own recipes and a $ 5.00 gift certificate from the local supermarket
where she can go and use certificate to buy ingredients . All for under $ 10.00
Darlene 11/17 714a
I tried many years ago to get my kids to draw names. Some wanted to and some didn't. I would never get out of debt if I bought for all of my kids, their spouses, grandkids & their spouses, and now great grandkids. Besides as far as I am concerned Christmas, the gift giving is for kids. I have one little great granddaughter. I got some cute little books for
her, but this child has a STORE full of toys, clothes etc. More than she can ever wear or play with! She was 1 yr old last month. Some of her gifts were things that she already had. She has 2 aunts & a grandmother who get this child EVERYTHING! For her birthday I gave her a little table and 2 chairs that her Mom & aunts played on when they came to visit us when they were little. She will never want for anything! But she is sure a sweetie!! Through the years Christmas has sure gotten out of hand! But if I had lots of money I probably would buy for everyone.
Glo 11/17 728a
Darlene, I love the idea of the calendar. I have a program on the computer that I can put pics of the kids and special events on a calendar. Hmmmm....guess what the kids are going to get this year in their stocking? Hahaha
Glo 11/17 730a
There is a great meat market not too far from me that sells gift certificates. I bet the kids would love something like that. That way they can pick out what they want. Thanks for the idea!
Susan 11/17 809a
My MIL used to give me a calendar with dates marked,a small day planner
with address ,phone #"s ,etc,and even some stationary with some of the
envelops already addressed (to hers)with stamps on them.....also a
subscription to Reader's Digest....she gave me other stuff but this was
something she did every year....I really liked it.
Shirley 11/17 939a
CAROL MY BROTHER AND HIS WIFE ARE VOLUNTEER MISSIONARIES (HOME MISSIONS)
COOKSON HILLS CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS.THEY ARE SUPPOSEDLY RETIRED BUT WORK
MORE THAN ALMOST ANYONE I KNOW.THEY CAN PICK AND CHOOSE THOUGH IF THEY
DON'T WANT TO THEY CAN SAY SO.NO TIME CLOCKS AND THEY DON'T GET YELLED
AT OR FIRED.THEY LOVE CHILDREN OF COURSE.BUDDY HAS HELPED BUILD CAMPS
AND SCHOOLS.ALSO HOUSES FOR MISSIONARIES IN MEXICO.SUE COOKS A LOT FOR
THE WORKERS AND TAUGHT HOME EC FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AT THE SCHOOL
SOMETIMES THEY HOUSE SIT SO THE PARENTS CAN HAVE A BREAK.MY BROTHER WAS
A PRINTER BY TRADE AND HAS SEMINARS SOMETIMES WHERE HE TEACHES HOW TO
RUN THE OLD NOW ANTIQUE PRINTERS.THEY HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE US AND
MEXICO AND UP INTO CANADA AND DURING THE TIME THEY AREN'T WORKING SIGHT
SEE A LOT.MY BROTHER HAS ALSO BEEN TO HATI_THE POOREST PEOPLE OF ALL
THERE,THEY ARE HOMEBASED IN COOKSON HILLS,OK.I'VE VISITED THERE
OFTEN.THEIR LIFESTYLE REMINDS ME OF THE GOOD OLD 50'S SO MUCH LOVE AND
CARING IN THE LITTLE COMMUNITY.IT IS LIKE A TINY VILLAGE BUT REALLY AN
ENORMOUS TEACHING SCHOOL.
Carol 11/17 911p
Sounds like a fun toy Mary Lynn. I'm so glad that you splurged and sent
it to her. Bet you and Lonnie enjoyed getting it for her as much as
she'll enjoy playing with it. Spoiling the little ones keeps us young,
doesn't it?
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