I can't believe it's been so long since I posted anything. Summer was gone in the blink of an eye, like it always seems to do.
  I'll try to do a catch-up post soon. If you were waiting on the strawberry barrel how-to, it was a total bust and killed all but 5 of the 20 or so plants I'd managed to save from the flood. Out of 100 plants and two years, I think we got one. That's one BERRY!
 Oh well, ya' live and ya' learn, and I've still got so very much to learn.


 Right now I want to turn thoughts to Christmas. Now don't groan and yell at me that  "IT'S TOO EARLY!"  I'm going to try and make it easier on you, or at least a whole lot cheaper and hopefully more enjoyable in the long run.

 My family has done semi-homemade Christmases for a few years now, and everyone seems to really enjoy it. Our only problem has been the kids. It's really hard to make crafts and what-not for kids that won't get you an awkward and grudging "Uh, thanks...." as they toss it forgotten into a pile of wrapping paper and move on quickly, looking for the next branded toy that was on their list.

 I am putting an end to it for our family. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say my kids, 6 and 2, just don't play with that stuff. For the fourth year in a row my daughter has asked for a very much coveted and popular branded toy, only to ignore it completely within a month.

 One year she had to have a computerized doll that did all sorts of creepy things, including recognizing it's name. She opened it, gave the appropriate excited reaction: then when we turned it on to program it's name, she was petrified of the fact it was talking to her. She never turned it on again and it went to GoodWill over a year later, completely unplayed with.

 Kids love crafts. Kids also love nature. Entirely too many people, kids and parents alike, have forgotten how to enjoy either one. One of the gifts my daughter got the most enjoyment out of wasn't a toy at all. It was a hummingbird feeder I rarely managed to remember to refill. She however, kept an eagle eye on it and reminded me. It was also pointed out every time we had a hummer visiting by any family member who was near the window. Every single time. The goldfinch feeder was a big hit too.  These gifts were probably similar in price to the Disney Princesses gifts she was so excited about receiving for Christmas last year, but ask her where those princesses are now.

  Though I have to say I personally get a lot of entertainment value out of the zsu zsu pets that were one of last years most requested items. Our goofy dog has claimed them all as her "puppies" and hoards them under our bed. If the kids try to play with them she snatches them up and carries them right back as if they were her unruly children. Though it loses the cuteness when one of them gets a drop of dog slobber on its circuitry and makes little squeally noises endlessly at 3:00 in the morning.
 It gets even more annoying when I throw the offending "puppy" outside so I can get some sleep, but instead have to listen to the dog whine incessantly as she stares out the french doors at her defenseless outcast baby.

 The kids and I are building a fairy house right now, and even my 2 year old can barely contain his excitement when we get out and work on this simple little popsicle stick structure that's hot glued together. Dad and the kids went on a nature walk to the creek and collected sticks, rocks, reeds and moss to decorate it with. It will sit in our garden in the spring, and a fairy will hopefully find it to her liking and move in for the summer. Or a toad. Whatever.

My point is, "Why are we wasting so much money on stuff the commercials have made them think they want?"  I've got a couple ideas for individual family members that I'll share to start you thinking. I'll toss a couple of my own creations and ideas from past years at you too, but I'm throwing down the gauntlet and challenging you all to make your Christmas a whole lot less commercial this year.

 My grandmother, Nana, has a doll shop where she makes, sells, and repairs dolls of all different sizes and types. That's great for my niece who is doll crazy. My daughter tries to like them, but she's just not that into dolls. Since my daughter is into crafts, I've asked her Nana to just get a small tote or plastic bin and start throwing bits and pieces left over from her shop into it. Maybe put a bag of googly eyes and some pipe cleaners in it along with material bits and lace or ric rac. Add a plastic bangle bracelet or old flip flops to customize that we already have, and she has endless hours of craft fun that she will actually use.

My mother's boyfriend is a tinker-er. He's always building or fixing something. Whenever you build something there is always pieces parts left over. I challenged them with taking all the little bits of 2x4's left over and dowel rods, and what not and spending an hour cutting them into various shapes like squares, rectangles and triangles. Sand the edges over the next few nights while you watch t.v. then paint with dollar store cans of spray paint in bright colors and you suddenly have a huge collection of almost free blocks that my son will go nuts over.....for hours on end!

 Those ideas were pretty specific and tailored to the person giving, but with a little thought anyone can make a meaningful gift from home. Some of the things I've made in the past have been eucalyptus swags, Christmas wreaths from stuff I bought on clearance the January before, and recipes in a jar. All went over very well. You don't have to be crafty either, just think outside the box.

 Did you happen on a bunch of sample size coffee packets on clearance? Make a coffee themed gift basket with a thrift store basket and a pretty mug. Melt some chocolate chips in the microwave and dip plastic spoons (or neat thrift store metal ones) in it and wrap with colored saran wrap and ribbon. Congratualtions, you now have a basket worthy of Starbucks for the price of just one of their fancy coffees. My Dad loved this one when I made it for him.

 Teens?
 What teen doesn't like popcorn? A quick internet search will yield tons of recipes for seasonings to shake on popcorn. Make a couple and put them into dollar or thrift store salt and pepper shakers (put saran wrap under the lid to keep fresh until used) and add a bag of kernels and classic stove top directions printed on fancy card stock, then throw it all in another thrift store basket and you've got a hit. I haven't used this one myself yet, but probably will this year since I found some cute striped old timey popcorn boxes on clearance. Toss in a $10 movie rental gift card and you've got a slumber party in the making. Add another $10 gift card to a pizza place that delivers and you're the "cool" relative.

 Got a chocolate lover or two on your list?
 You can dip all kinds of things in microwave melted chocolate and repackage in pretty cellophane and have a few gourmet treat baskets for chump change. These are great for gift exchanges. If you pay attention to detail and package them pretty, it will look like you went way over your alloted price that everyone agreed upon then way overshoots anyway. It's up to you on whether you share that you put together four more just like it for the in-laws and the kids teachers for under the $30 limit!

There are all kinds of ideas and instructables on this big ol' internet. Think of your intended recipient for a minute and the things they like, then put a few key words in a search engine and you should come up with a ton of ideas. .... "Golfer gift basket" gave me those....surely you can take some of their ideas of what to put in the basket and fill your own for the golfer in your life.

People love getting gifts that are personal and prove you were thinking of them. You can do that this year and save money in the process.

Best part...it's only October and you have plenty of time to start watching for sales on items that would be cute in personalized gift baskets or thinking of cool things you could make or put together. Oh wait.... you were busy growling at me about it being too soon.