Christmas giving on my mind!

That's only 10 DAYS Folks.......Woahh I can hear the screams coming from almost every corner of the globe..... A pep talk to all the 'hand-made gift creators' ...... steady does it, you can do it.

(Gotta go... steady does it...I can do this)

Ha, did that get your attention??? I knew it would.

The big expense of getting the kids back to school is almost done with, they are back to school next week. All you parents can rejoice as you survived another summer, yeah another summer of them moaning and groaning about being bored is over...

Now that you're all cheered up, guess what as of August 25th you have exactly 120 days left until Christmas eve. Yup, in my mind once the kids are out of the house again regularly it is time to start thinking and planning that Christmas giving list.

As I'm a firm believer in handing out hand-made gifts to my children and granddaughters I need to have a firm plan in place so that there is enough time to get everything accomplished. (not that I don't usually bite off more then I can chew each year which makes me scramble without enough sleep the last couple of weeks anyway...but then 'ces la vie')

I hate shopping in the malls and the thought of spending hours and hours there is enough to want to pull out my hair by the handfuls. Being of a very 'green' mind and making the best of the lousy economy, saving some environmental footprints by eliminating a bunch of trips to the mall also makes me very happy. Usually there, at the malls, I always just walk around frantically trying to find just the right gifts for all, on my shopping list.

I truly believe it's time to bring back the old fashioned spirit of Christmas. In our frantic world it is so vital that families re-bond. Spending more time together even if just trying to squeeze out a few hours each weekend, (of which there are 17 until Christmas) might just be a fun way to create some super duper gifts for all. This will also forge some fabulous memories for the whole family to hord. Things made together do not have to be expensive. The efforts put into handi-work will give the 'gift-getter' a warm and fuzzy feeling that you have actually taken it upon yourself and spent the time to create.

Putting together a list is really easy. I make a chart with every name of my to 'buy-for' on the top of every column. My children and grandchildren are at the start of this list then come the seconday people and so forth. The best part.... brainstorming.... Into each column I first fill in the regular every year things such as PJ's, housecoat, slippers, knitted sweater, knitted hat-scarf-mittens set, books etc. then each of them gets their big gift, last year they each got a quilt. This year each of my three children is going to be getting a hand- embroidered tablecloth with twelve matching serviettes as their big gift.... My son-in-law is causing me a bit of a problem as I haven't figured something just right and special out for him yet.

This is when you should sit down with the kids and decide what type of gifts you can make. Gift ideas are available all over the internet or magazines. You can set up a list of handy-work gifts that follow a theme. Some that are made for personel use or home decor or ones that fit into a food basket.

The 'to-do' list options are just endless...intricate or simple all will be appreciated and loved.

Once my list is made then I go through the items one by one and determine what I need to finish up that particular item. All year long when ever I hit the fabric stores I'm always on the look out for specialty fabrics which I then buy and stash for the big Christmas sewing frenzy.

For example my youngest little granddaughter who is 4 is totally into animals, it doesn't matter if its cat, dog, bird, mouse or caterpillar they're all her friends, she loves them all and they love her too. (Well I'm not too sure of the caterpillar but.... you get my drift) I found a piece of fabric that has just about every animal possible on it, this will make a perfect nighty and housecoat for her....

So I go down my list and make up my 'need to buy list' which includes all the fabric notions etc.

This way only one trip to the fabric store will do it (as that is one of the most dangerous places for me to go to....there are just sooo many heavenly new projects there just begging me to bring them home)

This year I’m also planning on a “bakers dozen” basket for my family and friends. The baskets will be filled with delicacies I can make in my kitchen. Here is what I'm planning on adding to my treasure baskets.

Watch for hubs in the next few weeks for the recipes and how to’s too. I'll add the links as they are published.

There is still plenty of time to make these. I grow most of my own herbs and vegetables but you can get them all at the local roadside veggie marts too.

1. Rhubarb-Raisin-Walnut Dessert Sauce
2. Green Cherry Tomato Pickles
3. Homemade Antipasto
4. Homemade Honey Mustard
5. Homemade Elderberry Liqueurs
6. Homemade Bruschetta Spice Mix
   
7. Homemade Herbal Bread mixes - Portioned For Bread-machine (just add water)
   
8. Homemade ‘House Blend’ Lemonbalm-Fennel Tea Mix
9. Easy to make Piccalilli sauce
   
10. Homemade Basil/Garlic Infused Vinegar & Oil
11. Homemade Amaretto Almond Biscotti
12. Homemade Dog Biscuits/Kitty Treats
    
13. Handmade Cook Book Of Family Heirloom Recipe

Three or four months ago a local ‘Gift basket shop’ was advertising their going out of business sale. I’m a wicker addict and just couldn’t leave without buying enough of them for my whole Christmas list. These fantastically gorgeous baskets that were regularly out of my price range were available for a couple of bucks each. That’s when the idea popped in my head that I would buy these little beauties and fill them with homemade gifts for everyone for Christmas. I’m still exited about the whole process. Since then I’ve been hunting for pretty little bottles (for my oil, vinegar and liquor), fancy jars (tea mix) and cookie tins too. All the other items will be perfect in canning jars.

The rhubarb is in the freezer just waiting for me to make up the Rhubarb-Raisin-Walnut Dessert Sauce. Quite a few of the herbs that I’ll be needing are already dried and just waiting to be mixed and packaged. I just finished picking the elderberries.

Not that I want to wish the rest of the summer and the fall away but I know this year the gift prepping, giving and receiving is going to be sooooo much fun....

Remember the count down is on and there are 120 days until Christmas

Ralwus and Dohn121 in the comments capsules gave me a fabulous idea. And as its still early enough I have enough time to get these items made too. Here is a list of basket items that will be more suitable for the guys on my giving list.

Now I haven't made Brandy cherries yet but with Ralwus's recipe I will try. I used to make 'Kapow Peaches and Pears' a few years ago. I will dig up the recipes and share them.

1. Brandy Cherries (a la ralwus)
2. 'Kapow Peaches' (peaches spiked in vodka)
3. 'Kapow Pears Ice cream Sauce' (pears in bourbon)
4. A bottle of Homemade Red Wine (I brew a batch of red and white wine at the local wine shop every year)
5. A bottle of Homemade White Wine
   
6. A bottle of Mom-made Elderberry Liqueurs (already in the works)
   
7. Homemade Herbal Meat Rub (herbs already dried just waiting to be mixed)
   
8. Homemade BBQ sauce (my dads recipe)
   
9. Homemade Piccalilli sauce (recipe to follow)
10. Homemade Salsa
    
11. Homemade Aftershave
12. Homemade Dog Biscuits/Kitty Treats
    
13. Handmade Cook Book Of Family Heirloom Recipe

As of August the 25th there are 120 days or 17 weekends until Christmas

As of September 15th there are 101 days or 14 weekends until Christmas

As of September 22nd there are 94 days or 13 weekends until Christmas

As of September 29th there are 87 days or 12 weekends until Christmas

As of October 24th there are 62 days or 8 weekends until Christmas

As of December 14th there are only 10 DAYS  1 weekend until Christmas eve