Next week is the begin of Hanukkah the Jewish holiday. I photographed some moon flowers that my friend grew in her yard. She was so delighted and I had a few blown up to 8x10 and I am going to frame them for her holiday. Oh she will be surprised.
Every year I like to buy canned and some boxed goods and give to the local food bank. Some local charities collect money after you shop and I always drop;change in that bucket. Every penny helps my Mother used to say. I like to help folks over the holidays that can't do things for themselves.
My wish list is for world peace and that our troops come home. Another is for family & friends to find good will and happiness where ever their journey takes them.
It might be nice to have one of those gardeners carts that you pull around and can sit on to work in the garden. Most of all my favorite thing about Xmas celebrations is the feast of good food, dark chocolates , homemade goodies.
Now to get organized and get kicking!!!!
I'm not shopping alot this year. I am making pj's for the granddaughters and a quilt for my older daughter and a maternity dress for the younger one. So my sewing maching will be humming!
I usually bake alot, but this year since we won't be having Christmas here at my house, I'm going to hold back alot! I sure don't need it and hubby either. I will make my nut rolls though, they have been the family tradition since I was at home with my family growing up! I will pass on making baklava, sigh**.
I told hubby this year, I'd like to go to a state park and spend christmas eve and day..something different! But we will probably stay home and go to older daughters. Guess I'm just needing a little vacation! LOL
My own little family has no traditions for Christmas and since my sibling and I have no celebration at Christmas there are no traditions for me to remember. My wish is for the recession to be over and the employment rate down! because they have jobs not because they are no longer eligible for unemployment comp.
Christmas Eve at a state park sounds great to me. A nice cozy room with a fireplace, hot chocolate, soft music and your best friend/husband by your side. What could be better??
With the kids all so far away, it's usually me and my husband for Christmas. In the past we have gone away somewhere warm for the holiday, but no travel this year. I send the kids and grandkids gift cards. One year when I sent "real" presents, it cost more to send it than the gifts cost! The grandkids love having a "Credit Card" to use to buy whatever they want.
My wish (sounds selfish next to some of yours) is that one Chritmas I can have all my kids with me again.
One of the things I've done for the last several years is to buy moose calendars from Anchorage Daily News for my sisters and myself. They run a contest for the best moose pictures every year and the top 12 go into the calendar. This is in memory of my living in AK and the trip we took when both my sisters came up to visit one summer. We all camped in a one room miner's cabin on the Nenana River, and toured Denali National Park together, as well as visiting all the other scenery in easy driving distance from Anchorage. We were blessed to see an awful lot of wildlife during that time, as well as clear views of Denali Peak. My sisters were totally shocked at how remote it is--no fast food joints for many many miles in any direction. During the winter, the population of the town at the entrance to the park is around 50. As I recall, it's about 250 mi. to the nearest city of any size, that might have an actual fast food place. That would be Anchorage or Fairbanks.
My Christmas wish is a gift card to anyplace local that has a major garden center, so I can spend the winter putting in a new rock garden. It will require lots of landscaping block and lots of decorative rock, not to mention desert flowers and seeds. Other than that, a gift card to Borders or Barnes & Noble, so I can buy another southwestern landscaping or gardening book, for ideas about what to plant.
I think I'm also giving homemade gifts using the abundant crop of lavender I had this year. I'm not usually into crafts, but I may actually do that this year. I may also give some other dried herbs I grew this year, rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano.
It would be good if all of us that have any means would remember to support food banks this holiday season. I spent quite a bit of time off and on as a single mom going to food banks to survive, so I'm always mindful of their value. My church just sponsored a food drive for the local one that I used to go to back when.
Just wishing everyone on the Green Thumb good health and happiness this season. For me and mine we will celebrate here at our home on Christmas eve day. That way, since there are others to consider, they can have their evening and Christmas day with them. We`ve been doing this almost 25 years now. I`m not needing any gifts, just an occasional visit during the year is nice. Or a phone call. A nice flower is always needed!!
They are having coat drives in our area and I forgot to mention that there is a great need for warm slightly used coats everywhere. Good clothing is always needed too. Our area is in a terrible state and we have lots of food banks here and at churches too. Now that is a good cause, and you won't get scammed.
Kay, It's real hard for us to get everyone together for any holiday these days. Understand having all the kids together. We had the inlaws in town from Ohio, along with a brother-in-law from Ohio, our daughter and future husband, our two sons, and my brother-in-law and wife. We couldn't get everyone together on Thrs. so we had Thanksgiving on Thrs and Friday. Worked out well. Twenty people across two days, in-laws in town for six days, we are tired and ready for a break!
Cheers!!
We celebrate both Christmas and Hanukkah and I love all the special foods. I have already given to the Salvation Army and donated new jewelry, clothing and pet treats to NAMI who hold a special shopping day for their members. I will be giving to our food pantry and also to our soup kitchen and the Toys for Tots campaign. I love to give a big Tonka Truck, a football and a doll for the little ones every year!
I find the few bargains I purchase on line. I have been doing all of my shopping on line for several years, and it works out fine as I am unable to go to crowded stores with my epilepsy.
I am giving my mom special slippers as she has foot problems, a colorful winter top, candy, and two fleece throws. One for her chair and one for her bed. She has been throwing "hints" about her afghans being too heavy on her legs. Only Santa knows what I am giving hubby! As for myself, I look forward to the little things in my sock and beads and vintage jewelry always make me happy.
My Holiday wishes are for Peace everywhere and for our economy to recover so that children can once again have a home where Santa can come bearing gifts.
May your holidays be filled with peace, and your families wrapped in the warmth of love and joy.
