Yes, the time is at hand when you MUST think about this.
And here's a start in the right direction: a frugal grannie who argues for $50 spent -- and 4 presents for each person on her list. Yes, 4 -- and about the same size, so they (the recipients) don't argue:
*One food item -- but just for them
*One handmade item
*A small $2 present
*A 'time with me' certificate.
This is worth listening to, and adapting for your family... although I wouldn't have enough brown paper bags for wrapping. Colorado charges 10 cents for each bag -- so I stopped buying them years ago. Besides, I have plenty of thrift-shop and dollar store paper left.
P.S. I already asked the Brick what kind of goodie he would like: Chocolate chip cookies!
I would love to tell you we're leading an Exciting Life right now...but we're not. Doing the usual chores, including cleaning up the woodpile before it freezes to the ground -- and we have to chip it off. Moving potatoes to cold storage, and restacking cans of chili, hash and stew there, so I know what I've got. Plus a lot of tidy-up-put-away jobs, getting ready for winter. So far, things are looking good.
I have a number of reports to write, too. Our one play day will be Wednesday, to take advantage of some of the Veteran's Day specials. As you might remember, the Brick put in six years in the Navy. He finds getting discounts at Chili's and Great Clips for his military service amusing, but his Hollander heart doesn't mind. I don't, either.
Meanwhile:
(And we won't talk about the Michigan-Michigan State game that made Michigan's offense look like serial doofuses. Some of my cousins are still laughing.)
"Buried treasure" -- a classic from One Hundred Dollars A Month. I love the idea of thinking that the people before us (including Native Americans) may have left something on our land.
A tip from our cousin led me to Seeking Persephone, a Regency-era Jane Austen-type romance series. It was wonderful! Granted, it was set in 1805 -- and the costumes were more 1820s. And there could have been some more action. (Pride and Prejudice, if you've seen it, also has a lot of sitting around and talking.) If you enjoyed P&P, you'll love this. If you're a guy, I have to warn you, though -- the Brick, who holds a dim view of all things Austen-y, says you might have to turn in your "man card."
