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Gathered Up:  A Simple Christmas  |
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Marybeth
True Blue Farmgirl
6418 Posts
Mary Beth
Stanwood
Wa 98292
USA
6418 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 24 2006 : 10:07:49 PM
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Reading all these comments about Christmas traditions reminds me of my mother-in-law. She was a wonderful woman and loved the holidays. She always gave the best gifts. One thing she did was take a shoe box and fill it full of all kinds of things for the children depending on age. Similar to the stocking idea. there would be stickers, hair clips, pencils, erasers, sharpeners tiny dolls , the list goes on. And to top it off they had a wonderful storage box to use.
Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance! |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 05:07:37 AM
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It really warmed my heart to read about your Christmases and your ideas. I'm at a place in my life where I can afford just about anything I want, so the things that mean the most to me are the things lovingly made by hand. I like to think that as the person was crafting these items, that they thought good thoughts about me, and about how I would enjoy their gift. Handmade gifts are the best.
I've also decided to simplify more this Christmas. When the grandkids were little, I gave them lots of stuff. Then I realized that I was essentially burying them in their little apartment! And not all the stuff got played with. This year I'm going even more toward Legos and old fashioned gifts such as board games and books. They give a lot of return for the money and the space. Of course I'll do the traditional boring Grandma gifts like pajamas, jeans, and socks. But sometimes less is really more, and individual gifts are much more appreciated.
I have to tell you one that my grandsons really liked recently. The farmers are right in the throes of harvest around here, and the corn came out of the field in back of the house. The boys and I walked the field recently, coming up with choice cobs. We brought them back and hubby sawed them into discs about 3/4 inch high. You'll need 26 circles. Some got a red dot of magic marker some got black; my older grandson helped me, and we carefully drew crowns on one side of each. Voila, a game of checkers! One of my tabletops has a checkers board cut on it, and we play on that. Both boys are delighted, especially the seven year old; he's all about board games. I already had the table, so the price was free.
Thanks so much for all your great ideas! I hope to use quite a few of them, and I hope to get even more!  I'll be checking back on this thread occasionally as the holidays draw near. You're really getting me in the holiday spirit; thanks! |
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Mari-dahlia
True Blue Farmgirl
269 Posts
Marianne
Hoosick Falls
New York
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 05:52:25 AM
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My husband doesn't understand the big deal over the gift thing at Christmas. WE give gifts to pretty much everyone. My neighbors get someting I made, usually a basket with homemade items with little things I may have done all year.
When I was pennyless and raising two kids alone, I wrapped everything, socks, underwear, etc... I did not buy these things and give them to them just because they needed them, I saved all of the normal necessities until Christmas. I also wrapped paper, cardboard, colored paper, crayons and anything else I saved all year.
The kids made all of the ornaments for the tree, mostly from natural things we found outside and they also made a small village to go with the tree. The houses and buildings either made out of sticks and stuff combined with garage sale items and hand-me-downs. We made garland from the pinetrees in the yard to decorate the rest of the house.
I have never really thought about it until now, how great that time was compared to now. Now, I decorate alone and can buy everything even the garland. I still make the neighbors gifts. "Isn't it the thought that counts", nothing says thought more than a homemade gift.
My sister still has the dollhouse my brother and I made her when we were 10 and 12. We used hand saws and got reminent pieces of tile and wallpaper from tile and paper stores. We went in the store and told them what we were doing and people just gave us stuff.
Marianne |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 07:48:19 AM
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That is really sweet Marianne. I still remember my grandma would give us underwear each Christmas wrapped in cracker boxes and the like. I am a single mother myself right now and I refuse this year to spend wildly or go into debt for Christmas. I think handmade gifts are really special and show some thought was put into it.
Sarah |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 08:02:56 AM
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These suggestions are so wonderful!!!! We don't have children yet, but we do have a niece and nephew, and we like to spoil them, though our niece is just now turning 2, and our nephew is only 4 mos. old. I am an only child, and my mother always went out of her way for my christmases. I know we didn't have much money. She had a terrible childhood (and some sister envy), so she made sure I never wanted for much. I tend to be the same way for everyone around me (except my childhood was grand), but this year (and for the past few), I've just been overwhelmed with the commercialism, and the senseless debt of the holidays. This year, in particular, we've spent a great deal of money remodelling our back to bedrooms (which have been in a "transitional gutted" state for several years) and my husband just isn't making very much money, so I mentioned last week that we should only buy for family (and make the gifts personal, even handmade if possible) and then spend the money that we would have spent on more "stuff" for each other, to get our art collection that we've been picking up over the years framed for our new rooms. My husband really liked that idea, because we've been in a constant state of limbo for so long, it feels like a goal, and a deadline. I hope that doesn't sound too selfish. I usually shop for the people in my office, but I think this year, I'll give homemade prailines. I find that I pressure myself to be so perfect around Christmas--find the perfect gift, make the perfect meal--as if folks are going to like me less, and it's exhausting, and really straps us for cash. Wow! Writing this just makes me admit that my "christmas pressure" is a result of insecurity ... Anyway, I'm going to read through these again, to make some mental notes about how to make this holiday better in so many ways!!!
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
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summerbreeze
True Blue Farmgirl
277 Posts
Laura
WA
USA
277 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 10:44:09 AM
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Jonni,
Framing is so expensive. My husband took a class at the local community art school. It was a two day class. We were able to find all the supplies on ebay for about $250, the class her took was $50. He has been able to do the most beautiful custom framing. It is a really simple process once you know how. For about $20-$25 he is able to do the most beautiful work that would have cost hundreds if taken to a frame store. My husband is not a crafty person. He is a great protographer and we were looking for a less expensive way to frame his stuff.
Laura
You only live once,if you do it right once is enough. |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Oct 25 2006 : 11:16:29 AM
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Laura--
That sounds like such a great idea....it must be so great to have a guy that can do that stuff, even if he isn't handy! My hubby, I love him dearly, but I know his limitations--the handy part is one of them, but the other part is the execution. Even if it's something he really wants done, and CAN do it, he won't do it himself, and would rather pay someone to do it. I could probably frame, I think, so maybe I'll look into the classes. I know our local hobby lobby is lousy with frames and the stuff you need--thanks for the suggestion. I may just head over there this evening and get a jump on it!
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Oct 29 2006 : 09:38:11 AM
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I think a simple Christmas is the only way to go. It really speaks more to the spirit of the season to be thoughtful about the material aspects of the holiday. For gifts, we exchange gifts only with people we know intimately (family and close friends). I have a list of each of their interests/hobbies and am on the lookout throughout the year at thrift stores and yard sales for items that fit. I'm also a big fan of home made gifts. I put a lot of thought into what I'm giving each person, and try to avoid trinket gifts and stuff they won't use or will toss out in a year.
From the home decorating standpoint, we keep it simple as well. We do lots of candles, and I have some treasured decorations (like wall plaques and our nutcracker collection) that we've collected over the years. My husband and I are both really into nutcrackers, so we've made it a tradition to purchase a new one every year. I also decorate with hand made holiday items like pine swags and pinecone crafts. Our one splurge item is vintage and vintage-style glass ornaments (the German hand-blown figure types). We lucked out when we got married and got a nice set as a wedding gift. We don't have many for our tree, but we look forward to building up our collection over the years and adding to our tree-- much more meaningful to us than buying a pre-packaged ornament set at the store!
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
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Woodswoman
True Blue Farmgirl
512 Posts
Jennifer
Altamont
NY
USA
512 Posts |
Posted - Nov 20 2006 : 3:43:25 PM
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Hello-
At the school where I teach, we teach as a "team" of teachers-5 of us. In the past we have done gifts, but this year we decided to NOT do gifts for each other, and instead are donating the money to the Breast Cancer Society in the name of one of the teachers wives who was treated for breast cancer this past year (she is doing quite well now).
Jennifer |
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Gathered Up: A Simple Christmas |
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A Simple Christmas
