marinate venison or moose steaks in Italian salad dressing for several hours, then BBQ Crockpot Venison 4 venison chop/steaks 1 onion, sliced 2 tsp italian seasoning 1 tsp garlic powder 1 28oz tin tomatoes Place venison in crockpot and sprinkle with herbs. Add onion and cover with tomatoes. Cover and cook on low 6-8 hours. Serve over rice. dh makes his own sausage using ground venison and ground pork or beef last year I had quite a bit of venison made into ground then you can use is any way that use would use ground beef lasagne, chili, spaghetti, meatballs, hamburger helper etc etc Venison Jerky 1 1/2 lbs. Venison 1/2 tsp. Season Salt 1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder 1 tsp. Onion Powder 1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce 1/2 cup Soy Sauce 1/2 tsp. Black Pepper 1 tsp. Liquid Smoke (if desired) 1 tsp. Ac'cent Cut venison with the grain about 1/8 inch thick. Mix all other ingredients, and blend thoroughly. Marinade venison in mixture for 8 hrs. Cover oven rack with foil and layer strips side by side on foil. Leave oven door ajar. Cook on lowest setting for 8 hrs. Turn oven off, leaving door ajar dry for an additional 8 hrs. «:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« Richiele Marie [email protected] (Missi) I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Special Lady The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty - seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel." "No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. "You have to laugh and find humor every day." "You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!" "There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change." "Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. «:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« Richiele Marie [email protected] (Missi) I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

Finally, The Truth on National TV Billy Graham's daughter was being interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" And Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said "I believe that God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman that He is give us His blessing and His protection even if we demand that He leave us alone?" I know there's been a lot of emails going around in regards to 9/11/01, but this really makes you think. If you don't have time, at least skim through it, but the bottom line is something to think about.... In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. Let's see, I think it started when Madeline Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body was found recently) complained she didn't want any prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then, someone said you better not read the Bible in school... the Bible that says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said, OK. Then, Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide) And we said, an expert should know what he's talking about so we said OK. Then, someone said teachers and principals better not discipline our children when they misbehave. And the school administrators said no faculty member in this school better touch a student when they misbehave because we don't want any bad publicity, and we surely don't want to be sued(There's big difference between disciplining and touching, beating, smacking, humiliating, kicking, etc.) And we said, OK. Then someone said, let's let our daughters have abortions if they want, and they won't even have to tell their parents. And we said, OK. Then some wise school board member said, since boys will be boys and they're going to do it anyway, let's give our sons all the condoms they want, so they can have all the fun they desire, and we won't have to tell their parents they got them at school. And we said, OK. Then some of our top elected officials said it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as we do our jobs. And agreeing with them, we said it doesn't matter to me what anyone, including the President, does in private as long as I have a job and the economy is good. And then someone said let's print magazines with pictures of nude women and call it wholesome, down-to-earth appreciation for the beauty of the female body. And we said, OK. And then someone else took that appreciation a step further and published pictures of nude children and then stepped further still by making them available on the internet. And we said OK, they're entitled to their free speech. And then the entertainment industry said, let's make TV shows and movies that promote profanity, violence, and illicit sex. And let's record music that encourages rape, drugs, murder, suicide, and satanic themes. And we said it's just entertainment, it has no adverse effect, and nobody takes it seriously anyway, so go right ahead. Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW." "Dear God, Why didn't you save the little girl killed in her classroom? " Sincerely, Concerned Student... AND THE REPLY "Dear Concerned Student, I am not allowed in schools". Sincerely, God. Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided they do not have to believe, think, say, or do anything the Bible says. Funny how someone can say "I believe in God" but still follow Satan who, by the way, also "believes" in God. Funny how we are quick to judge but not to be judged. Funny how you can send a thousand 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how the lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but the public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Funny how someone can be so fired up for Christ on Sunday, but be an invisible Christian the rest of the week. Are you laughing? Funny how when you go to forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it to them. Funny how I can be more worried about what other people think of me than what God thinks of me. Are you thinking? Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it....no one will know that you did. But, if you discard this thought process, then don't sit back and complain about what a bad shape the world is in! Give us liberty or give us death. «:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« Richiele Marie [email protected] (Missi) I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

This could be very important information to have someday, I hope that you never need it, but just in case. WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOSE YOUR PURSE OR WALLET We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed us in your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney) have firsthand knowledge, because my wallet was stolen last month and within a week the thieves) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know. As everyone always advises, cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one). **But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do this) - Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me and application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost 2 weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks. The numbers are: Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742 Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289 Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271 We pass along jokes; we pass along just about everything. Do think about passing this information along. It could really help someone. «:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« Richiele Marie [email protected] (Missi) I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

A large group of Taliban soldiers are moving down a road when they hear a voice call from behind a sand dune, "One American Marine is better than ten Taliban". The Taliban commander quickly sends 10 of his best soldiers over the dune whereupon a gun-battle breaks out and continues for a few minutes, then silence. The voice then calls out "One American Marine is better than one hundred Taliban". Furious, the Taliban commander sends his next best 100 troops over the dune and instantly a huge gunfight commences. After 10 minutes of battle, again silence. The voice calls out again "One American Marine is better than one thousand Taliban". The enraged Taliban Commander musters one thousand fighters and sends then across the dune. Cannon, rocket and machine gun fire rings out as a huge battle is fought. Then silence. Eventually one wounded Taliban fighter crawls back over the dune and with his dying words tells his commander, "Don't send any more men, it's a trap, There's actually two of them." «:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«^i^MISSI ^i^«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« Richiele Marie [email protected] (Missi) I disbelieved in reincarnation in my last life, too. »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«

ARE YOU WATCHING LESS TV? If you're reading this online, there's a chance you're not watching as much TV as you used to. According to a new survey by researchers at UCLA, Internet usage is cutting down on the number of hours people spend watching TV. The study also concluded that time spent online is not cutting into personal relationships. In fact, the researchers reported that Internet users actually interacted with friends for slightly longer periods of time than people who don't go on line. Users and nonusers spent roughly the same amount of time on typical household activities such as meals and recreation, but nonusers reported spending an average of 10 hours per week watching TV while users reported spending fewer hours watching. People who had more experience online watched less TV than Internet newcomers. The newcomers reported watching 9.4 hours per week, while the old hands said they watched 6.7 hours per week. Internet users also reported spending less time listening to the radio, using the phone and reading traditional media such as books, newspapers and magazines. (Thanks to UPI Hollywood Reporter Pat Nason)

I really loved this...What an eyeopener Thanks so much MKlaas Sharon When friends meet, hearts warm...proverb

Congratulations Bill! Hope you enjoy it. Mary ----- Original Message ----- From: "Billy Covey" <[email protected]> Hi folks: I finally broke down and bought myself a new computer last on u-bid. It will take a couple of weeks but the price was more than right and I'm getting more than tired of this rascal that gets stuck in the mud and is so slow molasses passes it. I even had to order a seat belt for the new one it is so fast. Since I was going first class, I even boutht the rhinestone seat belt. It won't be long now before I can decide to send an e-mail and my machine will be so fast it will send the message before I write. Wish me luck. Bill Covey

Hi folks: I finally broke down and bought myself a new computer last on u-bid. It will take a couple of weeks but the price was more than right and I'm getting more than tired of this rascal that gets stuck in the mud and is so slow molasses passes it. I even had to order a seat belt for the new one it is so fast. Since I was going first class, I even boutht the rhinestone seat belt. It won't be long now before I can decide to send an e-mail and my machine will be so fast it will send the message before I write. Wish me luck. Bill Covey Fort Smith Little Theatre Site: www.fslt.20fr.com Author of: Watson Is Where It Wuz Personal Site: www.billcovey.itgo.com Personal Site: www.billcovey.50megs.com

Did you know that the space program is busy proving that what has been called "myth" in the Bible is true? Mr. Harold Hill, President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore Maryland and a consultant in the space program, relates the following development: "I think one of the most amazing things that God has for us today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland. They were checking the position of the sun, moon, and planets out in space where they would be 100 years and 1000 years from now. We have to know this so we won't send a satellite, up and have it bump into something later on during its orbits. We have to layout the orbits in terms of the life of the satellite, and where the planets will be so the whole thing will not bog down. They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the centuries and it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red signal, which meant that there was something wrong either with the information fed into it or with the results as compared to the standards. They called in the service department to check it out and they said "what's wrong?" Well they found there is a day missing in space in elapsed time. They scratched their heads and tore their hair. There was no answer. Finally, a Christian man on the team said, "You know, one time I was in Sunday School and they talked about the sun standing still." While they didn't believe him, they didn't have an answer either, so they said, "Show us". He got a Bible and went back to the book of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for anyone with "common sense." There they found the Lord saying to Joshua, "Fear them not, I have delivered them into thy hand~ there shall not a man of them stand before thee." Joshua was concerned because he was surrounded by the enemy and if darkness fell they would overpower them. So Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still! That's right -"The sun stood still and the moon stayed-~-and hasted not to go down about a whole day!" The astronauts and scientists said, "There is the missing day!" They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and found it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing back in Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes - not a whole day. They read the Bible and there it was "about (approximately) a day". These little words in the Bible are important, but they were still in trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes you'll still be in trouble 1,000 years from now. Forty minutes had to be found because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits. As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere In the Bible where it said the sun went BACKW ARDS. The scientists told him he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read these words in 2 Kings: Hezekiah, on his death-bed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a sign as proof. Isaiah said "Do you want the sun to go ahead 10 degrees?" Hezekiah said, "It is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10 degrees--but let the shadow return backward 10 degrees." Isaiah spoke to the Lord and the Lord brought the shadow ten degrees BACKW ARD! Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes! Twenty three hours and 20 minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the missing day in the universe! Isn't it amazing? Our God is rubbing their noses in His Truth! References: Joshua 10:8 and 12,13 2 Kings 20:9-11

~*~ Each year my friend has a tree trimming party. Each of the guests are asked to bring pot luck and she makes dessert. After dinner they all get to work together. It's a fun evening and it gets the job done in a fun way. (One person does lights.) P.S. For the first couple years people each brought a decoration, but her tree was soon overloaded with gift ornaments and she put her foot down, so now it's just a party. ~*~ Christmas Tree Skirt This is such a simple idea and looks quite effective. Now, if I can only explain it, so you can understand..... My sister showed me this idea. It is 4 pillow panels ~ something christmasy ~ the one I made, is of Christmas deer on a hunter green background. Imagine you are standing, looking at these panels on a table. The two closest panels are facing you and the two farthest away are facing away from you. Take a small bowl and place it in the middle (where the 4 corners meet). Mark and cut the circle out carefully. Sew the center seam of the two facing you together and then, the middle seams of both sides ~ leaving the farthest center seam unsewn. Make a duplicate tree skirt out of matching broadcloth and layer the two tree skirt with fiberfill. Carefully pin the sides, and sew shut with bias tape ~leaving a extra 5 inches of bias tape at both outer sides of the circle in the middle (that will be what you tie the tree skirt shut with....). Then I pinned it well and handsewed part of each pillow panel ~ actually quilted them. My sister sewed on ribbons and bells to further decorate it.... Hope you understand these instructions...... It might help to try and draw it. I never used a pattern ~ this is just what I did.... Hope someone might be able to use it. ~*~ Christmas Parties 1. Cookie Exchange...this is where all of the guests bake 5 dozen cookies each, bring a big bowl, and everyone takes a cookie until they are all gone. Then, you end up with dozens of different varieties, after baking just one batch! 2. Gingerbread House Decorating party....this is one for kids. I attended with my 2 year old son. The mom made all of these gingerbread houses (had them assembled) and then put them on the table with frosting and candy to decorate. Loads of fun! Fake Snow ~*~ 2 cups Ivory snow 1/2 cup water mixer straws scissors washable markers 1. Pour the ivory snow into a bowl. Add water and mix until becomes doughy. 2. Form three different sized balls from the snow mixture. Dry hands work best. 3. Cut the straws into 3 inch sections 4. Push one end of the straw halfway into the biggest ball. Press down the medium ball on the other end of straw until the balls touch. Do the same thing for the head with the smallest ball. 5. When the snowman is dry, he turns bright white. 6. Decorate the snowman with markers. 7. Use your new FROSty the Soapman to clean up the tub! ~*~ Take a 5 gallon bucket, put a bowl in top, let it freeze. Take out of the bucket and take out bowl and place a candle in there for a luminary. Place on the front steps, nothing to catch on fire and the light shines through the ice for an added effect. You can make these on a smaller scale for parties. ~*~ Gifts for Teacher: How about some little baskets with bath products? I saw in a crafting magazine recently, some ladies did up some real cute Bath Stuff baskets for their daughter's teachers. They used mostly recycled containers (empty glass spice jars, baby food jars, etc) and "spruced up" thrift store baskets. Came out really cute. They did some bath salts, layered bath oil, etc. They also included recipe cards for the products. You could probably do this project cheap! * I have been a teacher for 27 years and one of the best gifts I ever got from a student was a small basket filled with red and black pens, paper clips, colored chalk, a chalk holder, etc. By Christmas all of the suppllies that I had purchased for school needed to be replaced and these came in real handy. The student's mom had placed all the goodies in a basket and tied it with a large bow. * Another gift that I really appreciated was a tin of homemade cookies and goodies. School did not get out that year until Dec. 22. I hadn't had time to bake anything for my company and the goodies from my students really helped. * I love to receive those flavored coffees and cocoa mixes. We teacher often are out on recess duty and we feel we have a treat when we have something to warm us up. Don't forget a muffin or cookie! * Paint a clay pot and fill with pencils, post it note, paperclips, or any type of desk supplies . Paint the sides of the pot black and paint stick people, apple, 1 2 3 and A B C with white. Paint the rim with a bright yellow and paint marking to represent a rule. ~*~ Easy Christmas Tree Skirts Here is a no-sew version of a skirt for miniature or table top Christmas trees. Materials That You Need Doily, table topper or round table cloth (You can purchase these from stores like Target, Wal-Mart, etc.) Hot Glue Gun Fray-check (can be bought at sewing stores) Any types of trim that you want to add. (Pretty buttons, sequins, etc.) Velcro (Self-adhesive type) Here's How you do it! Find the center of doily (or whatever you have decided to use.) Using a ruler, draw a straight line from the center to the outside edge. Cut on this line. At the center of the skirt, cut a circle big enough to fit around the trunk of your tree. Following the directions on the bottle of Fray-Check, place it on the cut edges of the skirt. Place the Velcro at the top of the circular area and all along the open line of the skirt. Hot glue any trims that you have purchased. I would place the trim around the opening. ~*~ Peppermint Wreaths What you will need: Bag of peppermint discs Small aluminum pie tins Cookie sheet Ribbon How to concoct it: 1. Arrange peppermint discs in pie tins, in the shape of a circle, making sure the discs are touching each other. Place on cookie sheet. 2. Place the cookie sheet in a preheated oven at 250 degrees for 3 to 5 minutes or until the peppermint discs melt together. 3. Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let the peppermint wreaths cool for 15 minutes. 4. Use a spatula to carefully remove the cooled peppermint wreaths from the pie tins. 5. Use ribbon to tie a bow around the top of the peppermint wreaths. ~*~ 10 Creative Uses for "Happy Meal" toys: Here are some ideas for things to do with all those Happy Meal toys you have! 1. Use floral wire or a hot glue gun to attach them to a wreath. Add a colorful bow. Or, attach them to wreath using ribbon and tie a pair of scissors to the wreath. Let children cut off the toy of their choice to keep. 2. Use gold thread and glue gun to turn them into ornaments. Hang them on small Christmas trees or use them as package toppers. 3. Use them as decorations under a mini Christmas tree. 4. Make a streamer ball to use at a kid's party. Take the end of a streamer roll and wrap it around a toy; continue to roll streamers into a large ball, embedding toys as you go and taping streamer ends together. At the party, have kids sit in a circle. Each child unwraps the ball until they find a toy, then passes the ball to the next child. 5. Organize a Happy Meal toy swap in your school or neighborhood. Combine with a cookie exchange if you wish. 6. Bag several toys up in small Ziploc bags or use them to fill mini stockings. Donate to a Children's Hospital or homeless shelter. 7. Let the kids make picture frames by gluing smaller toys onto a wood or acrylic frame. Personalize with permanent markers if desired. Makes a nice gift for teachers or grandparents, especially if the kids put their picture in it! 8. Attach toys to a pine garland and place around your front door. Or arrange garland on table around a larger centerpiece. 9. Use them to decorate a cake. 10. Glue a toy to a plastic plate and add home-made cookies for a quick gift. Or make placecards by gluing a toy to the bottom of a plastic cup (use cup upside down). Cut an index card and write guests name with a gold marker. Glue card to side of cup. ~*~ Candy Cane Twists 1 1/2 Cups Powdered Sugar 1 1/4 Cups Butter -- softened 1 Egg 1 Teaspoon Peppermint Extract 1 Teaspoon Vanilla 2 3/4 Cups All Purpose Flour 1/4 Teaspoon Salt 1/3 Cup Finely Crushed Red And White Peppermint Candy Or Candy Canes 1/4 Teaspoon Red Food Coloring Heat oven to 350. In large mixer bowl combine powdered sugar, butter, egg, peppermint extract and vanilla. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy (2 to 3 minutes). Reduce speed to low; add flour and salt. Beat until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes). Divide dough in half. Stir candy into half of dough. Beat food coloring into remaining half of dough. For each candy cane, roll 1 teaspoonful of each dough to 4 inch rope. Place 2 ropes side by side; twist gently and roll dough together. (For best results complete cookies one at a time to prevent drying out.) Place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Curve one end to form handle of cane. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until set. Let stand 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet. *Tip: If dough is dry, stir in 1 teaspoon milk. If dough is too soft, refrigerate 1 hour or stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons flour. Description: "red dough twisted with peppermint flavored dough make melt in your mouth cookie canes" ~*~ Recipe for Christmas Joy 1/2 cup Hugs 4 tsp Kisses 4 cups Love 1 cup Special Holiday Cheer 1/2 cup Peace on Earth 3 tsp Christmas Spirits 2 cups Goodwill Toward Man 1 Sprig of Mistletoe 1 medium-size bag of Christmas Snowflakes (the regular kind won't do!) Mix hugs, kisses, smiles and love until consistent. Blend in holiday cheer, peace on earth, Christmas spirits and good will toward men. Use the mixture to fill a large, warm heart, where it can be stored for a lifetime, (it never goes bad!). Serve as desired under mistletoe, sprinkled liberally with special Christmas Snowflakes. It is especially good when accompanied by Christmas Carols and family get-togethers. Serve to one and all. ~Author Unknown~

~*~ Another ornament idea, trash to treasure style, is to convert all the unwanted McDonald Happy Meal toys into ornaments by spraying them with Glitter spray, adding a sprig of holly and a ribbon hot glued to it to hang. Makes a great present topper, I use my as name tags by using a paint pen to put the child's name and date on the ornament when I am done. ~*~ Fish Bowl Snowman 1 lg. fish bowl 1 sm. fish bowl Black buttons Baby toboggan Ribbon (to match the hat) Popped popcorn (enough to fill the bowls) Instructions 1. Fill each fish bowl with popcorn. 2. Stack the fish bowls with the openings together and glue. 3. Glue buttons on for eyes, mouth, and buttons down the front. 4. I got a small plastic carrot to use for the nose. 5. Put on the hat and tie the ribbon around his neck. 6. Place some holly in the hat if you like. ~*~ Snowman Pin 1 peanut in the shell black fine line marker black felt white glue scrap fabric pin back clip hot glue gun white paint/ paint brush Paint peanut with white paint, let dry. With felt, make stovepipe style hat and glue with white glue. Attach to top of peanut. Cut fabric scrap into small strip and tie on peanut as a scarf, trim as necessary. Use black marker to add face, buttons, etc., attach pin back clip to back. ~*~ Angel idea for cola cans Remove tab from cans. Paint side and bottom of cola cans white or whatever color you like. After paint is dry, bend can in half. Paint face on top of can using the opening for the mouth. Add spanish moss for hair and raffia for wings. Add halo. These are absolutely adorable and very inexpensive to make. ~*~ Yesterday I made an ornament (well, I made a few:o) I took a large clear glass ornament, cut a piece of heavy-weight laminating film into a circle, a little smaller than the largest part of the ornament.(Yes, I found clear acetate paper at Hobby Lobby, BUT it was $8 for a pack of 2!!!, so I got this:o), I pealed the backing off..rolled it up and poped it into the ball. Using a pair of tweasers (I found them in the bead section:O) I straightened it up. I held a tube of superglue with my tweasers and swirted it around the edge of the film. Let dry. ****IT TAKES THINGS MUCH LONGER TO DRY INSIDE THE BALL!!!!*** Then I cut a small circle out of some clear plastic (it went to the packaging to my ornaments:O) and super glued my ornament to it. BECAUSE I had to go and get winnie the pooh, and I started with tigger, who was only standing on one foot:o) anyway, I put some glue on the underside of the plastic circle with my tigger on it,and held him by the nose with the tweasers as I set him down on the middle of the ball. Let dry. I took my snow paint and put a coat on the clear piece where tigger was standing. Let dry. That took forever to dry:o) Then I painted snow on the outside of the ornament, very thick on the bottom, and getting lighter as I went towards the top of the ornament. Let dry. I also added some clear glitter to the inside of the ball and shook it all around. I found these mini snowflake ornaments. I tied one's string to the metal top, letting it hang down from the top, center of the ball. Then I put the lid on. When I find some ribbon I like I'll put that on the top too:o) ~*~ Fill a ball 1/2 way with water, add a small carrot (they make these..or make some with polymer clay) 9 or so black beads (eyes, mouth, and buttons) a tiny black hat (I'm in Texas and use a small cowboy hat), put a CORK on it. I am here to testify that super glue doesn't work!! Neather does Modge podge. And wax doesn't work eather..plus it looks messy! LOL Find some corks..cut them to fit, and seal the ball with that, then simply put on your ball "lid" decorate with a tag that says, Florida snowman! OR You can poor hot glue into the ball, dropping a few beads, here and there, then a hat and carrot on top..it will make it NON spillable:o).....but I like the water better:o) ~*~ I have an idea for you regarding for a church craft...for several years I did a fund raiser at our church and what I did was used plain glass ornaments that I purchased for under $2.00 a dozen at Walmart. Then I embellished them with some holly (cut up a pick usually about .33/ea) Write the name of your church or group on the glass ball with fabric Scribbles fine tip paint and sprinkle it with glitter. It really presents itself well and we sold tons of them for $5.00 ea. ~*~ Glitter and Sugar Ornaments (makes about 4) 1/2 sugar 1 teaspoon glitter (any color but clear) 1 teaspoon water cookie cutters w/ backs bowl measuring cup yarn or string (for hanging) spray sealer straw (cut into 4 pieces) 1. Pour 1/2 cup sugar into a bowl. Add 1 teaspoon glitter and mix well. Add 1 teaspoon water and mix until the sugar is evenly moist. 2. Press the sugar into the cookie cutter, and insert a piece of the straw to form a hole to hang it with. Then tap the ornament gently onto a plate. Let dry overnight. 3. The next day use spray sealer and coat them well. 4. When they are completely dry add yarn or string and hang. ~*~ Clothespin Angels Spray paint your clothespins gold, purchase some toole (cheep fishnet stuff) and spray it with glitter cut int 12-18" squares. Push the ball part of the clothes pin into a styrofoam ball, I painted mine first , but you could leave white. Place 2 squares of the toole over the head of the angel tie a ribbon around the neck, under the ball, add a halo, Viola - Angel which you can sit on a tree branch by slipping her little legs over the limb. They look real nice on the tree. Kind of fairy looking.........add to them or keep them simple. Also, If you want them to stand. Glue a heart shape wood piece to the bottom of their legs and they stand upright. ~*~ Kitchen Towel Christmas Gift I found a buy last year on some RED & WHITE checked ones and I did this:I baked a loaf of banana nut bread (or your favorite) and wrapped it in plastic wrap then tied the loaf up inside the kitchen towel. I usually make an "annual" angel ornament of some type each year and I tied ribbon around the bundle like a package, attached one of my ornaments and then gave them as gifts to "teacher, neighbor, pastor, mailman, lemonade mom in the neighborhood..." Everybody loved them.....I stole the idea from my Mom, she has done that for years, without the cutsie ornament on top. That was my addition. ~*~ Tree Skirt Find a plain tree skirt. Best if not fuzzy. Buy some Christmas stencils and craft paint. Help kids to sponge the stencils to create fun designs on your new family Christmas Tree skirt. ~*~ Reindeer Poop I found a really long reindeer poem, so I made up a new beginning and made the poem shorter. This year as Santa made his Christmas rounds, Guess what was all over the neighbors grounds? Every time Santa made a stop Those little reindeer would leave a "plop". I cleaned them up, but to toss them seemed a waste, So I saved them, thinking you might like a taste! I heard Santa exclaim as he rose in the sky, "Well, they're not potty trained, but at least they can fly!" ~*~ Spaghetti Wreath Ornament Glue Spaghetti Alcohol Green Food Coloring Hole Punch Red Construction Paper Ribbon Wax Paper Hot Glue Gun 1. Break the spaghetti into smaller pieces (about 2-3 inch pieces) 2. In a plastic bag add a little alcohol and green food coloring, mix. Next add the spaghetti and mix it in the bag until all the spaghetti turns green. 3. Dry the spaghetti over night. 4. On wax paper draw a glue circle the size of the wreath ornament you want to make. Then start adding the spaghetti pieces. Add glue as needed. 5. When the wreath is the size you want add a few red circle (use the hole punch and the red paper to make these). 6. Let dry. This could take a few days. When it is fully dry hot glue a ribbon on the back to hang. * You can use a sealer on this before you add the ribbon. ~*~ Cookie Cutter Star Frame Ornament Designed by Annabelle Keller These easy-to-make ornaments are a wonderful holiday project the entire family can enjoy. Personalized with your own special photographs, these fabulous ornaments embellish your tree with a sparkle of memories. So fast and simple, even the kids can join in the fun! SUPPLIES STYROFOAM brand plastic foam: (1) ½" x 12" x 36" sheet Acrylic paint - Brilliant Silver 4mm silver beads ½" silver sequin pins 6" length silver chenille stem Photo (sized to fit frame opening) Sliver or light blue card stock (to cover back of frame) Thick white craft glue Cookie cutters: 3 ¾" - 4" star 1 ½" round General tools and supplies: scissors waxed paper pencil round toothpick paint brush INSTRUCTIONS Using star cookie cutter, cut ornament shape from sheet of STYROFOAM. Using round cookie cutter, cut picture opening. Rub a scrap piece of foam against edges of cut-out to smooth finish. Paint frame and let dry on wax paper.Place beads on pins, dip in glue and push into foam. (See photo.) Using toothpick, make a hole in the top point of star. Twist ends of chenille stem together to form hanger and glue into hole. Trace round cutter on photo and cut out ¼" outside traced line. Glue photo behind opening of star. Trace star on card stock and cut out 1/8" inside traced line. Glue to back of frame. ~*~ Things to do 3-4 Days before Christmas shop for last-minute food items make or buy ice for festive drinks boil ham and refrigerate On Christmas Eve prepare as much as the festive meal as possible defrost frozen foods, allowing 24 hours for large turkey or goose set the table ,if possible hang stockings put out note and lunch for Santa ~*~ Holiday Tips 1. To freshen soiled holiday candles and artificial holiday florals, wipe with rubbing alcohol. 2. To re-use gift wrap, turn paper wrong side up, spray lightly with starch, and press with a warm iron. 3. Save pretty bows from packages in plastic bags. Blow the bag up before tying it shut to keep the bows from being crushed. 4. Butter the outside cut on cheese to keep it from drying out in the refrigerator.

~*~ Start a wish book: Using a medium-sized notebook, make a divider for each person in the family. Each person's section includes a page for clothing sizes, items needed, and items, wanted. Decorate the book with fabric, wrapping paper, or contact paper. When Christmas (or birthday) gift suggestions are needed, one glance at the book, and you can select the perfect gift. Compare notes so that you all won't buy the same gift. Keep the notebook in a location accessible to all family members and use it year after year. Make year dividers at the end of the notebook to keep last years pages. You'll enjoy looking back in the years to come. ~*~ Christmas Story Time Read a favorite Christmas story together as a family after dinner or before going to bed on Christmas Eve ~*~ Ornament Keepsake Give each family member an ornament every year. Gives them something to use year after year. ~*~ Christmas Elves Each week in December, have each person draw the name of a different family member. Do secret acts of kindness for the person during the week. ~*~ Family Christmas Book On separate pieces of paper, have each person record a favorite memory about each of the other family members. The written memory should be about something that occurred during the past year, and might be a shared experience, a kindness done, a good attribute noticed, or an amusing anecdote. Collect all the papers and preserve them in your family Christmas Book to savor for years to come. ~*~ A Squeeze and A Kiss If you can't give your sweetie a squeeze and a kiss in person, send this! 1 squeeze-it container of kool-aid 1 Hershey Kiss Hang a note around the container that reads "Here's a squeeze and a kiss" but use a Hershey kiss instead of the word. ~*~ I'm making a heirloom wreath for my son. You cover a straw wreath with any strips of material and embroidery the family names on each strip. One side for dad's family one for mom's. ~*~ I put our Christmas ornaments in separate Ziploc bags. In each bag, along with the ornament, is a little note that tells who the ornament belongs to (kids can take theirs with them when they're grown), who gave it to them, and any other special information, like if someone made it or if it was a particular ornament they wanted to buy that year. I think it makes each ornament even more special to remember those details! ~*~ Take plain Christmas balls, clear or colored, and paint designs on. I used acrylic craft paint and small brushes, but you could easily use paint pens to make it easier. I wish I had thought of paint pens when I was making them myself. You can add names and dates on the bottom or back side. Paint with gold, silver, red, green, white... Paint easy motifs like trees, stockings, candles, stars, sleds, etc. My favorite was a heart with a leaf added as if it were an apple. ~*~ House Bells for Christmas Material: Big huge red plastic bows 2 liter plastic bottles (empty and cleaned) Gold cord (or anything that you like)and length is what you decide Gold spray paint jumbo jingle bells wash and clean the bottle, Do not throw away the cap!!. starting at the top look down about 2 inches from where it quits sloping. Cut around the bottle at this point. You will now have the top away from the bottom. Cut another inch round from the same bottle (not the top but the bottom part) Cut a small round piece to fit up in the neck of the bottle (this piece can be up to you as the size, I made mine to where it would not go past the neck of the bottle. Melt a hole in the top of the lid of the bottle with a hot nail or icepick (it will smell awful but worth it). Spray paint the top of the bottle with Gold paint. ASSEMBLY: Put your jingle bell on one end of the cord and tie it securley (remember the winds will be blowing this so make sure they are tightly tied) :-) bring the cord thru the middle of the plastic disk and up thru the lid of the bottle (you might want to take off the lid for this) after lid is on bottle pull cord snug so it will pull the round disk up snug agains the top of the bottle (not to hard or it will bend inside of it). tie a knot in the cord on the top of the lid that way it will keep the bell and disk in place. Bring the cord up to where you want to cut it off. Attache the plastic bow to the bell about at the lid. I did these to hang on my Porch and everyone stopped to see them. They were impressive. That year my house was the talk of the town :-) I live in Tx and I wanted snow that year for christmas so I made it. I covered my mail box and brick fence and some other things with it. I call my in-laws and told them it snowed at my place and to come see it. Well they knew I had done something but not what :-) I saw the mailcarrier deliver the mail and she had to feel of it every day because she was mystified with it. People walking by had to feel of it because it was such a sight with us being the only one with snow VBG.I should have added this were for the outside :-) You could use them inside also but I made them for the outside. Also continue cutting the bottle with as many rings as you can get inch wide or smaller. These can be melted in the oven to make ornaments of different shapes. You have no control over the plastic and no two are ever alike. You can melt them and they will have spaces in them where you can hange tiny bells or what ever you want. It will be according to what the space is like. ~*~ Christmas Tealights Draw a equilateral triangle 10cm each side lightly in pencil, draw another on top to make 6 pointed star. Do another star but 8cms then another 6.5cms. Draw a circle in the middle of each star exactly the same size as a tealight. Draw around each stars points turning them into holly leaf shapes ( or snowflake arms). Paint then cut around the leaves leaving the centre intact. Glue all three together smallest on top. Decorate the sides of the metal cup that the tealight sits in using non flammable glitter, tinsel, berries or whatever you fancy, simply place on your flower. Do not leave unattended when lit for obvious reasons. ~*~ Christmas Table Topper What you'll need: Rayon or polyester velvet 1 1/4 yards square or to fit your table 2-3 large rubber stamps (4-6 inches long) iron thread to match velvet 1. Using of different but complementary designs, decide on the approximate position of each stamp. Make a sketch on paper to use as a pattern, or mark the places on the back of the fabric with chalk. Keep the layout random. 2. Clamp one of the stamps to your workbench. This will prevent the block from shifting, which can cause a double image. 3. Position the velvet over the rubber stamp, nap side down, where you want the image. 4. With a hot, dry iron, firmly press down on the back of the velvet over the rubber stamp. Hold for 5 seconds. Avoiding using the areas with stream vents, which will leave bumps where the holes don't crush the pile. 5. Repeat this process and finish your pattern with all the rubber stamps until you have completed your design. 6. To finish the tablecloth, roll the edges of the velvet to the wrong side and blind-fold-stitch in place. ~*~ Gift for a friend who loves chocolate Paper Mache' box Lots of chocolate You can by the boxes at most crafts store fairly cheap. Decorate anyway that you would like...I'll probably decorate with chocolates (decoupaged) and then fill with her favorite chocolates. She's orginally from England, we have a British store here so I will get some Chocolates from there (just a little piece of Home) And attach : CHOCOLATE LOVERS BOX...OPEN IN CASE OF CRAVING I think that she would really like something like this. ~*~ Christmas Tips 1. Fill your car with Christmas scent. 2. Call a childhood friend whom you haven't talked to in a long while. 3. Take out an old photo album and look through it with your family. 4. Wear red to bed. 5. Brew something wonderful - spiced tea or mulled cider with cloves-to drink while you wrap presents. 6. Send a video "greeting card" to a friend or relative - they're fun to make and a refreshing pleasure to receive. 7. Give a gift of time or money to charity. 8. Answer the phone "Merry Christmas." 9. Christmas Stockings - parents get sentimental about trinkets that their children leave behind as they grow up (old scout pins, charms from necklaces and bracelets, favorite shells and pebbles, and other memory-making little toys and baubles are hard to part with. Instead of tossing these items, use them to dress up Christmas stockings. Stitch, pin, or tie these treasures to the top, edge, body of the stocking and you'll have a family keepsake to cherish and one they can treasure and pass on to their children. 10. Bring out that favorite glass punch bowl you save for only special occasions. Fill it with cloved oranges, holly leaves, lady apples and cinnamon sticks for a refreshing sent. Or fill with glass ornaments and frilly fancy tree garland with pine boughs. 11. Have an old sled in the shed/attic - if not hunt one down at a garage sale. Then decorate it with garlands of balsam or holly (the entire length of the sled), add a strand of white lights placed on top of the boughs. Add a broad christmas ribbon at the top. Pine cones can also be added. This sled adds a festive touch to any room when placed in a corner or leaned against a wall (make sure you plug in the lights). 12.Want to dressup a fireplace mantel, side table or piano for the holidays, photocopy a selection of your favorite hymns or carols from books you can find at the public library (the more elaborately designed the pages, the better). Place them in small gold (fancy edged) frames. Place about four side by side with some greenery and pine cones set in front of them. Add some nice gold ball ornaments in the greenery as well. 13. Tired of finding a way to display your Christmas Cards - make a beautiful display case by simply hinging together two to four louvered wooden shutters (you can paint a festive color if desired). Then just slip the cards in the slots. The rack can stand in any room, or buy small shutters to set on a table. 14. Have a sunny window. Place an assortment of vinegar, wine and perfume bottles filled with green and red colored water (use food coloring). This gives a festive stained-glass effect. ~*~ Choose a friend or neighbor and you leave the following on their door step (for the next 12 days)....ring the bell and RUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On the 12th day, if you want you can be waiting at the door, when they answer the door bell. FIRST DAY: On this night you give a "christmas greenery picture, with a bird on it. Roses are Red A pear is green A partridge from friends Who cannot be seen. Place your stocking Outside every night And your friends will Appear from out of sight We'll have to be tricky Don't watch for us running If you catch us too early We might just stop coming!!!! SECOND DAY: give 2 foil wrapped chocolate Santa's Two turtle doves would Have brightened your day Instead we bring Santa's 'Cause the birds flew away THIRD DAY: give 3 foil wrapped chocolate ornament balls (or chocolate eggs if possible) As the story tells it Three Hens you should get But France is all sold out So warm this "starter set" FOURTH DAY: Give 4 small candy canes The clerk where we went shopping Must have really been insane We asked for "calling birds" What we got were candy canes FIFTH DAY: Give 5 butterscotch lifesavers On the fifth night of Christmas (As everybody sings) Your true friends will send you Five golden rings SIXTH DAY: Give 6 pack of root beer A sixth night of birds Would not have brought you cheer So for merriment and laughter What could possibly top beer? SEVENTH DAY: Give Hershey Kisses Seven swans a swimming All swam away, So please accept these kisses To close out your good day. EIGHTH DAY: Give qt carton of chocolate milk & a straw Because of the way Inflation has hit, Eight maids were unwilling to do their bit. It's up to you-- We wish you well. Scarf with this straw But do not tell!!! NINTH DAY: Give 9 foil wrapped chocolate coins We cannot find them anywhere, We know that isn't funny. You'll have to make your own fun do And spend this on your honey. TENTH DAY: Give small stocking with small small hard tack candy, sm. candy cane,cherry lifesavers. The ten lords-a-leapin' Were really leaping fast. In fact, when I arrived there, They'd all passed but the last. I tried to catch up anyway, The result was rather shocking. Nine got away, but that's okay I caught the tenth one's stocking. The count down's coming fast, you know Just two more nights to go But if perchance you'll not be home Please check the box below We'd hate to miss the moment So if you've plans to leave Please indicate and let us know You'll be gone on Christmas Eve. ___ We'll be home 'till ________ p.m., waiting with bated breath!!!! ___ We won't be home at all but we'll have bated breath!!! ___ We won't be home or have bated breath!!!! ELEVENTH DAY: Give New Year's eve horn Eleven pipers piping Are really hard to find, And so we bring this pipe to you So you can blow your mind. Eleven nights are down, There's just one more to go Tomorrow evening, if you're nice Our faces we will show. TWELFTH DAY: Give a plate of goodies We told you that your Christmas friends Would show themselves to you. Born in the month, December, That much is surely true. We came of Christmas spirit One evening Born to bring the season's cheer Then vanish out of sight. The thing to now remember, If you've had lots of fun When next December rolls around YOU make the nightly runs. Make sure you pick your family With tender, loving care "Cause it's fun to get to know them, And such special friendship share.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Spring" ~*~ Ideas for Gift Wrapping Simply Perfect: Colored handmade paper can be machine or handgun (use bright threads) into pouches to fit any size gift. Close with ribbons, bows, or raffia. Complete with candy cane, pine cones or another small token. Pretty Natural: Glue a random pattern of dried leaves to textured or plain brown paper. Tie with braided raffia. On top: loose strands of raffia tied in a bow. Finish with an exotic dried fruit or faux berries. Shimmering Stars: cover with dark purple paper with glassine and wrap your box. Tie a lush satin ribbon in a bow, then slide through silver rickrack. Mount a metallic star on wire and attach it to the ribbon. Classic Elegance: Wrap a store-bought white-and-gold paper and glossy gold cord, then all pleated paper instead of bows: Fold rectangles of paper accordion style, open into fan shapes, then glue onto wrapped gift. Also crimp thin strips of paper and tack on as streamers. Small glass balls on wire steams twined around the cord provide the final flourish. Magic and Mystery: Gather a large rectangle of stiff fabric around the box. Tie with a contrasting silk ribbon. Just for fun, tuck two feathers under the ribbon. A Touch of Glamour: Try an unusual combo: Wrap the gift box with red foil paper and a wide orange taffeta ribbon. Add swirls of chiffon ribbon and, on top, a red rose bow. For a dramatic contrast, glue on a dried leaf. ~~*~~*~~*~~ ~*~ Recipe for Snow You get ivory now and whip it in your mixer with a little water in it to make snow. I did a massive amount and had so much fun doing it. I wondered if I was going to have soap bubles if it rained. Well I was suprised to find out that it kinda turns to rubber after the sun and elements hit it. In fact I had to use a putty knife to take it off of what I had put it on :-) Then I was able to wash the residue off :-) I decided the next time I would use a cardboard backing so I could just lift it off the objects. After I whipped the snow I "iced" (with the snow) what I wanted to have it. Your imagnation can have a ball with it. The only thing I wish I had done differently is put some sparkle in it so it would look like real snow in the sunlight. ~~*~~*~~*~~ ~*~ Christmas Basket Instructions Here is a neat Christmas Basket idea: Recipe Basket: Hand-write you favorite dessert recipe on a note card. Collect all the non-perishable ingredients to your recipe and place them in a basket. Add the already made dessert wrapped and tied with a bow. For extras put a wooden spoon or timer in with the ingredients. They can taste the dessert then have the recipe and dessert to make it. ~*~ I saw a picture in a craft book yesterday of a painted candle that was really cute. It was a white candle and it had the Christmas light bulbs painted around it. They were connected with a black line so they looked like a string of Christmas lights in lots of pretty colors. I bet it would look good when it began to burn down and the light shows through the various bulb colors. ~*~ I make my own angel candles. I take craft paint and either paint the whole candle gold or just highlight the hair and wings in gold. I do not do anything to the candle before or after painting and they stay nice forever. ~*~ I learned how to do this a few years ago and it has really come in handy when I need a small gift box and I don't have one. Separate the front from the back from an old greeting card. Take a ruler and put it from one corner to the other (diagonally) and using a pencil lightly draw a line (you will be making an X when finished). Repeat for the other corner. Do this for both pieces. Take the front of the card and fold almost up to the point where the lines cross (do this to make 4 folds). Now cut on the long ends up to the fold (making 4 cuts). you should have four tabs when finished. On one end fold the tabs in and tape then fold in remaining flap over tabs and tape in place (you can use glue but tape is quicker). Repeat with back of card except when folding bring up to where the lines meet ( since it will be the bottom of the box it needs to be a little smaller). After cutting you can erase lines. ~*~ Kissing Ball Steal a kiss from your Santa beneath the mistletoe. This kissing ball is made on a base of a potato, and will last for a surprisingly long time. Materials: large potato 18" strong but flexible wire florist's picks with wires cedar 1 1/2 yards ribbon mistletoe Choose a firm, large potato. Push a strong but flexible wire from top to bottom and back to top of potato. Twist the ends of the wire into a loop. Gather sprigs of cedar into a cluster, and wire together with a florist's pick. Push the picks into the potato to form a full ball, covering the potato completely. Trim sprigs that are uneven, so the ball shape is maintained. Add a long loop of ribbon for hanging. Make a bow from the ribbon and attach with a florist's pick. Finish the design with a sprig of mistletoe wired to a florist's pick and pushed into place. ~*~ Wood Light Bulb Garland Materials: 8 1-5/8" high wood eggs (50 cents each) 8 1" high wood spools (16 cents each) paints: hunter green or brown, christmas green, christmas red, copenhagen (bright) blue, bright yellow ($1.50 each) 2 meter or yards 2 ply jute gloss or satin water based varnish flat brush glue Directions: 1. Paint all the spools hunter green (or brown as desired). Paint two eggs red, two bright green, two blue and the last two yellow. 2. Glue the fat end of each egg to the top of each spool. 3. Varnish all of these new light bulbs. Let dry. 4. Starting about 6" in from each end of the jute string, evenly space the light bulbs along the string. Lay this out on the table to get the right spacing. To fasten bulbs to string, pinch a bit of the string and glue the fold into the open end of the spool. 5. Hang up anywhere you can't normally plug in a string of lights. Most people don't know its wood until you point it out. You could also do these in red & pink for valentine's day, or pastels for Easter, or colors of whatever holiday is coming up!. ~*~ Candy Wreath Materials needed: green covered wire coat hanger (like those colored ones with plastic coating on them) assorted hard candies with cellophane wrappers (that you twist to open) needle and thread Simply take the coat hanger and bend and work the hanger part until it is in a fairly round shape. Leave the 'hook' part alone...this is what you'll be hanging it by. With your needle and thread, sew one end of a candy wrapper to the round part of the hanger...keep adding candies and going around the hanger till you have a single layer of candies. Push them back a bit, and add another layer. Keep sewing candies on the hanger until you have many layers sewn around the hanger and you can't see the green part of the hanger. To remove a candy, just cut off the end of the wrapper and slip the candy from the open end. ~*~ Stick Tree Materials: 8" long stick with no branches 5" x 8" piece of stiff Christmas print or plaid fabric Pinking shears Instructions: 1.Using the pinking shears, cut five pieces from the fabric: 7" x 3/4"; 6" x 3/4"; 5" x 3/4"; 4" x 3/4" and 3" x 3/4" 2.Tie the 3" piece of fabric around the stick near to the top. Make sure that the free ends are roughly equal in length. 3.Tie the 4" piece of fabric around the stick about 1 1/2" below the first piece. Continue tying the pieces to the stick, 1 1/2" apart, from smallest to largest. Make sure that the knots you tie are all on the same side of the stick. 4.Pull the ends of the fabric straight out from the stick so that they form "branches". If your fabric is not stiff enough, the "branches" will sag. 5.You can glue a piece of gold cord to the top of the tree to hang it or plant the stick into your favorite plant pot to dress it up for Christmas. Take thin brown cardboard and cut gingerbread men or teddy bear shapes out. Get together scraps of ribbon, lace, felt, buttons, yarn or cloth. You can use virtually anything to decorate these. White craft of school glue works well to apply the scraps. Cut out shapes such as shirts, pants or skirts and decorate to your liking! Kids love creating their own little outfits for the bears. ~*~ I saw the sleds at a store and thought I could make that. So, since I don't have written instructions I will do my best. Popsicle Sleds: 1. Glue 5 sticks together to form the sled frame. The top of the sticks should form a shape like this ^. 2. Cut a piece of cardboard or trim a stick to form the handles. You will need to round one or both sides of this piece. You glue this across the top of the frame. 3. Wait until this dries and then glue to sticks to the bottom for runners. 4. Let it dry and paint. You can add yarn or cord for a hanger. Also you can paint names across the handle part. Hope that helps. ~*~ Clay Pot Christmas Tree Have you seen the stacked flower pots painted to look like a Christmas tree? You paint the pots (3-6 graduated sizes) green, then sponge paint the rims with white, turn them upside down and glue together. Then, rip gingham into strips, tie into bow and hot glue on for decorations or I guess you could decorate it with whatever; this particular idea was in last years Woman's Day. I've also seen 3 pots done much the same way, only painted white and decorated to look like snowmen. ~*~ Holiday Flower Pot Candles Spray paint 2 1/2 inch flower pots dark green. Use a small sea sponge w/lots of texture to lightly sponge gold paint on rims. Then sponge silver paint on the bottom of the pot. The green should show through, the sponging just gives interesting texture. (Substitute other colors if you like.) Tie two ribbons around the rim of the pot to match the colors sponged on. Attach jingle bells or other small ornaments as desired before curling the ribbon. Put a votive candle in the pot. ~*~ HERSHEY KISSES TREE Using a 12" styrofoam cone (green if possible) as the tree, I push in the cap from a shaving cream can into the bottom to make a base for the tree. I buy Hershey Kisses in the Christmas colored wrappers. I use almost all green, about 15 reds and one silver. I use the round toothpicks (the flat ones break too easily) and cut them in half. I insert one end of the toothpick in the green kiss and starting at the bottom of the cone, insert the other end of the toothpick in the cone. I work my way around the base until I get back to the first kiss. Then I move up a row and keep working my way all the way around the cone until I am at the top. They won't fit side by side exactly, which is why I like to use a green cone...the empty spaces don't show as much as when you use a white cone. Every once in a while I throw in a red kiss, which are supposed to be the ornaments and one silver one for the very top of the cone which is the star. The little tags look like tinsel. Hints: 1) Don't use kisses with almonds. It is almost impossible to get the toothpick in through the nuts. 2) Try and find the kisses in a bulk candy store. This way, when the sales person isn't looking you can pick out all the green ones. Saves you money so you don't have to buy bags and bags of kisses just to get the green ones. 3) Send a small container of extra kisses wherever the tree is going. My dh's co-workers can demolish a tree in one or two days, and since he likes it to last a little longer then that he puts out a small bowl of loose kisses for them to eat first. 4) When cutting the round toothpicks, they have a tendency to fly all over the place. Protect your eyes. 5) Wouldn't recommend this for kids.....I would worry they would eat the candy without taking out the toothpick. 6) Works with any size cone. They make 8" and 6" cones too. 7) Someone asked if you could do this with a round styrofoam ball, but I don't think it would work. The kisses have a tendency to fall out of the cone easily. Especially if you've used the same cone two years in a row. (the holes get big). I would imagine as soon as you hung the ball the kisses in the bottom would fall out. My dh takes his tree to work in a plastic bag. This way if any of the kisses fall out on the way, he doesn't lose them. 8) If you're going to eat the kisses while making the tree, make sure you put enough reds and one silver one aside so you don't run out! ~*~ You could photocopy sheet music (reduce it if necessary) onto cardstock and cut it out in the shape of something Christmassy (we did Hark the Herald Angels Sing-angel; Jingle Bells-bell; 12 Days of Christmas-partridge; etc. using cookie cutters for patterns). Again punch a hole in it; cover with thinned glue and sprinkle with the iridescent glitter. We did this to both sides of the cardstock. Then add a ribbon and any other decoration you might like. I try to do quick, easy, fairly unbreakable things myself with my kids because we live thousands of miles from our family. ~*~ I've made the Santa Can and filled it with Caramel Popcorn. Caramel Popcorn 6 quart popcorn in roaster (popped) Boil 5 minutes: 2 cups brown sugar 1 cup butter 1/2 cup white corn syrup Add: 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt Pour over popcorn and mix. Bake 250' for 40 minutes. Stir every 10 minutes. May add nuts to popcorn before baking. ~*~ Unique Gift Idea- Cookies in a Dustpan! Purchase new dust pans from the dollar store Bake cookies, or bar cookies Arrange the cookies on the dust pan and wrap with pretty colored cellophane. Tie with a bow, and add a tag with this poem: "I was baking some cookies When they dropped on the floor, so I scooped them right up And rushed them to your door!" ~*~ Christmas Tea Bag and Poem I saw this this weekend at a craft shop. There was a little bag made of Christmas fabric, just big enough to fit a tea bag in. It was wrapped with a pretty ribbon and this poem was attached: On Christmas Day at half past three, Brew yourself a cup of tea. I'll think of you, You think of me While sitting 'round the Christmas Tree. Really cute idea,isn't it. Should be a good seller at a craft fair.

It was fall in the woods behind Grandma's house. It wasn't really Grandma's -- she died in '98 -- but the new owner didn't mind. My childhood was there; the tractor, Mom's old garden, the swing, and my own private spot. It was perfect for reading or sunning, and the stream was great for skinnydipping. With a nod to the landowner I headed up the path. It wasn't until I was standing at the edge of the clearing that I realized that it was occupied. I didn't know the skinnydipper until he looked up at me. I stopped dead. "Hi," he said. "I didn't know you came here." "I've been coming here since we were kids, Carl." My stomach clenched. I wanted to leave. No, I wanted him to leave. Instead I began stripping. He wasn't going to spoil my swim. After Grandma died Mom and Aunt Jen, Carl's mother, fought over the inheritance. I tried to stay out of it, but then Mom asked me to tend Grandma's yard for her. Not to be outdone, Jen asked Carl to help. We were friendly enough, and agreed to split the yard down the middle. Everything went well until the weekend before the sale. Going to rake the first fall leaves brought a shock. The leaves from Carl's side were in a big pile -- on my side. I never spoke to Carl again. It wasn't hard -- we rarely met before: I made sure that we never met again. And now here he was -- skinnydipping in my stream. "How have you been?" he asked politely as I undressed. I forced myself to be at ease. At the shore, the water swirling at my feet looked cold, and my skin went hard in anticipation. To my surprise, though, it was still warm from the hot summer. "OK," I answered, wading out. The stream was ten feet wide, with high banks and a sandy bottom. "How's the kids?" "Just fine. I would have brought them, but they wanted to go shopping with their mother." He was too comfortable, I thought. I wanted to make him remember my pain -- and I wanted to just be friends again. "It's been a long time since the yard." I regretted it immediately. "I'm really sorry about that," he said. Yeah, right, I thought. "Yeah." He paused. "That was the first time I ever yelled at Mom, the day she did that." My heart stopped. "Your mother did that?" I spun to look at him. His gray eyes registered surprise. "You didn't know?" "Carl! I ... I'm sorry! I thought ... I thought you did it!" "No!" A smile brightened his face. "I was sick that weekend, and asked Mom to rake for me. I drove past the place on the way to the doctor, and was livid at her for what she did. I chewed her out royal for it. I tried to tell you, but you wouldn't return my calls. After a while, I stopped trying." "I'm so sorry! All this time, I thought ..." "No, that wasn't me. It was Mom." We stood there a while, silent. Underwater, leaves and twigs brushed my legs, and overhead the trees let in bright afternoon light. Birds sang, and a breeze sent a chill up my back. "Well, I have to be going," he said, getting out. "Take care, and give a call. Maybe we'll have dinner." He stepped up the bank and headed for the path, pausing to gather his clothes. "Sure!" I called. "Maybe we'll even come up here for some 'dipping." He again smiled. "Great! I'll bring the family. It's about time the kids got to know my cousin." The branched swished as he disappeared into the gloom of the forest. I stood there in the water, thinking of years gone by. As I watched, a leaf drifted down and lighted silently in the water just upstream from me. As it floated by, I plucked it out and studied it. For no real reason, I stepped to the bank and carefully set it on the ground. Then I plunged into the water, laughing, savoring the day.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Spring" I make lots of gift baskets (tea sets, bath sets, gardening sets, etc...all include crocheted items, of course!). I have a little hint for gift basket makers...instead of buying the expensive shrink wrap in the craft stores, I buy the cheapest shrink film window insulating kit I can find. (They're always on sale in the fall.) I usually buy a patio door sized kit...it's really big and does alot of baskets! Just wrap the filled basket in the shrink film and heat it with your hair dryer. I've been very happy with the results. Another nice touch is to line the basket with a handmade doily. A teacher can't live by apples alone...she needs "hugs" too! Merry Christmas!! Fill a box, bag or mug with Hershey's Kisses Hope a merry "HO-HO-HO" fills your heart the whole year though Merry Christmas! Give with a box of Hostess Ho-Ho's...decorate the box or put in a Christmas type bag. Christmas is coming and so are the deer, Listen closely and bells you will hear. Along with them comes a special treat, Reindeer droppings for you to eat!! Merry Christmas!! Color and cut out a deer head (picture) and attach to a box of Whoppers or Milk Duds. Hoping you have a "ball" this Holiday Season! Merry Christmas!! Give with popcorn balls, or cheese ball and crackers. "Whisking" you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Give a whisk filled with treats. "By gum, you're great neighbors!" Have a Merry Christmas! Give a sack, jar or mug filled with gumdrops or gum. "You make friendship bloom all year round" Merry Christmas!! Give a poinsettia plant or other type of flowering plant. We're "ROOT"ing for you to have a won"DEER"ful New Year! Give a 2 liter bottle of Rootbeer with a deer head attached (picture) Have a Hot and Spicy Christmas! Merry Christmas!! Give salsa and tortilla chips. Here's some zesty salsa to spice up your holidays!! Merry Christmas!! Give salsa and tortilla chips. Give any kind of popcorn treat, microwave popcorn or you can give a 2 liter bottle of soda pop or a 6-pack of pop Baked with Love for you! Give cake in a jar, or other baked treat. "Dip" into a wonderful Holiday Season and a Healthy New year! Give veggies and dip mix or dip mix and crackers or pretzels. Or caramel dip and apples. Have an "udderly" moovalous Christmas!! Give anything with a cow or make a cow pie using an Oreo cookie crust filled with chocolate or vanilla pudding spread cool whip on top...make irregular black spots on top using crushed Oreo's Hope your Christmas is "tree"mendous!! Give tree pasta or fill tree shaped container with goodies or put goodies on a tree tray. Or can give a small Christmas tree. A friend always knows when you need a little "hug". Fill a bag, jar or mug with Hershey Hugs Kisses and Hugs!! Whether stirring up cakes, cookies, soups or souffles; You'll find this spoon useful in so many ways. But whatever it's use, whatever you do, It says"Merry Christmas from us to you. Give a wooden spoon with some sort of mix (muffins, cake etc....) "Season's" Greetings. Hope this will "spice" up your Christmas!! Give season salt in a salt shaker, jar or any type of spice Hope your Christmas is sweet. Merry Christmas!! Give a jar of candy or bag or sack of homemade candy. We tray-sure" your friendship! Happy Holidays! Give a Christmas tray with goodies. Have "ewe" self a Merry little Christmas!! Make a lamb out of frozen dinner rolls...or give anything to do with sheep or lambs. Have a "berry" nice Holiday Season. Give a jar of jam, Strawberry Cheesecake mix, or flavored berry syrups and pancake or waffle mix. May your Holidays "bubble over" with fun! Merry Christmas!!! Give bubble bath or bath crystals with any bath accessory. "S-breading some holiday cheer, from us, to you, this time of year." Merry Christmas!! Give a loaf of bread. Hoping your Christmas is Heavenly!!! Give anything that has to do with an angel...or you can give an angel food cake mix with toppings, or angel hair pasta. If friends were flowers, we'd pick you! Happy Holidays!! Give any type of blooming plant, a bouquet of flowers, or a flower arrangement... Just "popped" over to wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! Give any type of popcorn....(microwave, tin) or bottles of soda pop. Have a "whopper" of a Christmas!!! Give with a box of whoppers... Hope your Christmas is "Scent" sational!! Merry Christmas!! Give a bag of potpourri or a scented candle. Hope you have a "grate" Christmas!! Give with a Grater, cheese and nacho chips. Merry Christmousse! Give with a box of chocolate mousse mix. Wishing you a scrumptious Christmas!!! Give with any kind of treat. May your Christmas be Merry and "Sprite" Give with 2 liter bottle of Sprite. Decorate top of bottle with holly leaves and berries made out of felt. We couldn't re"strain" ourselves from wishing you a Merry Christmas!!! Fill a strainer with goodies. Friends like you are worth a "MINT!" Merry Christmas!! Fill a jar or mug with peppermints. Merry Christmas from our house to yours! Make a sack look like a house...then fill it with goodies. Have a holly "jolly" Christmas!!! Fill a jar or mug with jolly ranchers Wishing you a "Souper" Holiday Season! Merry Christmas give soup packet with crackers in mug or soup bowl You're getting 'muffin' for Christmas!! Give with muffins or muffin mix. Full of Christmas Love! Give decorated bag full of goodies. Have a "pasta-tively" Happy Holiday! Give Christmas shaped pasta in a jar or bag. Or give any type of pasta along with a pasta spoon. Have a "beary" sweet Christmas!! Give a bear shaped bottle of honey... or a mug filled with gummy bears Lovin' from my oven. Bake a cake in a jar...can include recipe if you want to. Ho-Ho "Ho"memade Bread!!! Give with a loaf of homemade bread. May your Christmas be festive and fruitful! Merry Christmas!!! Give a fruit basket or jar of dried fruit. Hoping you have a holiday "jam-packed" with fun!!! Give a jar of jam. It's that "Nutty" time of year again, so please don't lose your cool. Relax and munch this little treat, and have a Happy yule!! Give with a Nutragious Candy Bar, or any type of treat with nuts in it. May your days be happy, and your heart be light, your Christmas Merry, and the New year Bright!! Give with a candle. Best Wishes for a bright and beautiful Holiday Season. Give with a candle. May your Christmas be "sprinkled" with laughter and love, Merry Christmas! Give with cookie sprinkles, cookie cutters and a recipe for sugar cookies. Here's a little "dough" for Christmas! Merry Christmas!! Give a roll of cookie dough or a tub of cookie dough and cookie cutters Ho-ho hoping your Christmas is Merry!! Give with any type of Santa. Wishing you joy beyond "measure" Merry Christmas!! Fill a measuring cup with Christmas treats or goodies. Can also include a measuring tape or ruler. Have a "M"erry and "M"ost wonderful Holiday Season!! Fill a jar or bag up with M&M's Just a little Christmas cheer from us, to you, this time of year. Merry Christmas!! Give with a bottle of sparkling cider or sparkling grape juice or other bottled spirits. Warm wishes for the Holidays. Give hot chocolate mix in a mug or hot Wassail mix. Wishing you a warm and wonderful Christmas!! Give with hot chocolate mix, wassail mix or russian tea mix and a mug. Remember Santa "chex" his list twice to see who's been naughty or nice. So be good for goodness sake! Merry Christmas!! Give with a bag of Chex mix. Here's a "squeeze" and a "kiss" with Christmas Cheer, to remind you your're loved all through the year! Give with a bottle of "squeeze-it" juice and a Hershey kiss on the tag Have a "COOL YULE"!! Give ice cream and topping Nibble, nibble like a mouse, We hope you'll nibble at this house! Merry Christmas!! Give a gingerbread house. ~~*~~*~~ ~*~ Last year for Christmas gifts I made cookie/candy jars from clay pots/saucers. To do this you need a 6" pot, 6" saucer and one 2" wooden knob. If you are using this for WRAPPED candies/cookies then you don't need to worry about plugging the hole or making them food safe. All you do is paint the pot/saucer and then finish with whatever technique you want. Paint the knob, invert the saucer, glue the knob in the center and you have your lid. In place of the saucer for the lid you can use a wooden circle instead. I painted one a navy blue stippled it with butterceam and then decoupaged little fabric gingerbread men and fabric cookies on the jar. I also decoupaged a fabric "Merry Christmas" on the rim of the jar and wrote "Cookies" on the side of the pot. Another one I painted with a buttercram/hunter green combo and used apple rub-ons for decor. To make them completely food safe is a much more involved procedure. First you have to plug the hole with a special kind of clay and have it fired in a kiln. Then you have to use a special ceramic glaze on the inside of the pot and have it fired again. If you take your project to a local ceramic shop they can help you with all this. ~*~ Couple 'o crafts for the kids Reindeer Plastic (brown) spoon. Add antlers fashioned from pipe cleaners. Give small ears cut from brown felt. Glue moveable eyes. No mouth, give him a red nose (med. pom pom) add bow and jingle bell. Frosty made from dowel: Wooden dowel: 3/4 diameter, 2 3/8 inches long. paint dowel white, fix a face on top half, add black hat, use felt or material to cut a scarf to wrap around his neck. ~*~ Here's something we started last year, and it really worked great! I took a bunch of jingle bells and tied a red bow on each and used gold thread (I think it was x-stiching thread) to tie on a loop for hanging. I put them all around the tree but mostly on the bottom...I could hear the kids touching the tree from the other end of the apartment) I made mine really simple..but you can get into it. Buy medium sized bells and glue on a few sprigs of leaves and berrys....you can even paint the bells a different color..the list goes on) Oh, I also took a long piece of red velvet (feeling) ribbon, and glued on large sized bells about 2 inches apart all down it. I made a red bow at the top. It was hung on the closet door...so I could hear when kids decided to peek) ~*~ Candy Wreaths I have seen lots of variations of these over the years. I first got this idea from Carol Duval on the Home Show (what a great show). I take a coat hanger and have my husband bend it for me to the size I need. I make them small to large. Depends on who they are for and stuff like that. I do not take the hanger and bend it and then wrap the top hook, I am just not pleased with that look. I then go to the Brach's display and buy all of the candy with the wrappers that are tied at the ends. I mix them up and buy them all. I start out with about 3 pounds. Then I buy 2 of the big mixed colors of curling ribbon. I sit down and then cut them to lengths of about 6 - 8 inches. You will have to see what works best for you. I mix all the colors and cut them into one bag. Then I start tying the ribbons onto the ends of the wrappers. When I have tied a full bag, then I start tying them onto the coat hanger. I mix it all up. I tie the coat hanger full. I put as much on there as I can get. Then I tie a ribbon on the top with a card attached on how to get the candy off. You do not need to attach scissors, the wrappers will stay tied and you can take the candy out. It still looks pretty when it is empty. You can do this for lots of the holidays and you can also do a diabetic wreath. I have never sold them, but I may this year. In the new Lillian Vernon catalog, they have something like this, not as pretty as mine for $35. When my husband was in construction, the guys he worked with asked for these for Christmas every year. So they are for anybody. >> My nine year old daughter loves to makes these for everyone. Takes a while to do but she loves it. Wind Chimes: One year my brother made us all (there are 8 kids in my family with 12 neices and nephews and about 15 great nieces and nephews), wind chimes forChristmas. He used copper plumbing pipe. He just cut it into different lengths and it sounded so nice. I'm sure the hardware store would even cut if for you. ~*~ Gift for a Man I took a handkerchief (the white ones that come three or four to a package) rolled them and stuck a candy cane in them and then tied with ribbon! ~*~ Gift Idea I took poinsetta's for the holidays, but you can use any flower... I bought some cheap, silk/fake flowers, a package of 99 cent ball point bens, some small terra cotta pots, some moss, floral tape and either floral foam or clay. I took a flower with a leaf or two and attached it to the top of the pen using the floral tape. I used the floral tape all the way down the pen. I used clay, placing a small ball in the bottom of the terra cotta pot, placed the pen in the clay and covered with the moss. I prefer the clay to the styro foam as it gives the pot some weight. I use a couple flowers at the top of the pen instead of just one, it looks nicer and forchristmas, I took the time to paint the pots.They cost about $1.00 each to make. I saw directions (far better than I could give,) on the net a couple of days ago along with a picture but have not been able to find them :( Also, at a recent craft fair I saw where someone used a larger pot, and put 7 or 8 pens to the pot and created "bouquets" ~*~ Don't forget the pets-stocking and gift Ideas We have a spoiled rotten Dachshund named Cindy and I have gotten her something for Christmas and her birthday since we've had her, almost 3 yrs. now. Yes, my 'baby' has her own stocking and it hangs on the stand with our, and Santa Dog brings her stuff too, it's wrapped under the tree or in her stocking. Dog: biscuits, chewies, toys, new sweater, leash, collar, tags, frame for her photo,shampoo, brush,nail clippers,pillow to sleep on,blanket,doggie chocolates,pigs ears,bowls,treats,big bones. cat: toys, treats, yarn ball, cat nip, new blanket for bed, new bowls, bells, balls, frame, bird: new bowls, birdie treats, mirror, new perch stand, ~*~ Gift Idea for Girls Buy the packs of plain terry cloth pony wraps at the dollar store. Remove the stem and plastic base from a coordinating small silk flower and hot glue it to the pony wrap. Daisys and small roses work great. Sometimes you need to put a dab of glue on the flower insides first to keep it together. Also, hot glue or jewel glue for fabric two or three rhinestones to a terry pony. Stretch it wide between your fingers when gluing on to insure the stretch stays. Little girls like wearing these as bracelets, too. You can also use some of those glittered miniature Christmas or holiday ornaments that come in multi packs, to hot glue on the pony. I found some great mini glittered angels and all the girls loved their guardian angel hair accessories. And, if anyone still has real (LOL) polyester ribbon, you can wrap it around a metal knitting needle and put it in a 250 oven for 10-20 minutes, to get some permenent spiraled ribbons to attach under the jewel or ornaments. For rarely used Holiday bows, curl lengths of metallic, plain and pearlized curling ribbons and tie tightly together in the middle. Glue to the pony. Top with an glued on ornament or a bead. Last year I got a pack of small back plastic spider rings. painted them gold with acylic paint and glittered them with gold glitter nail polish. I gave my nieces some for their fingers, and cut off the ring part and added to orange black and gold curling ribbon bows for their hair. for the week before Halloween. (Would also look cute as a pin with a pin back. - maybe) ~*~ Stocking Stuffers I started a new thing last year and it is what I call stocking stuffers.I think it is a cute idea... I buy baby socks...and these were Christmas designs at the dollar store, 2/1.00 so i actually got four for that price...i filled them with hugs and kisses and other little candies and threaded curling ribbon thru the top to tie closed and passed them out to whoever came along...anyone...i passed them out to people i never met...just to see a smile.. they are adorable...i put them on top of gifts also... ~*~ A cute and inexpensive stocking stuffer would be bean bags in circle or square shape. Or for a gift---a great idea would be to do bean bags in different colors,shapes and textures. This would be nice for a toddler! Do you have a color printer? You can cut the bags 8.5 x 11(the same size as the paper you feed through your printer), iron them so they are flat and choose some graphics with Christmas designs. I put on design on - then I copy it and flip it horizontally so that the two will go back to back. Print them on the paper. Cut them out and stuff them just like you were talking about. I love to recycle brown bags this way. You can also print them in coloring book format if you have that capability and paint them. They look really cute. I love them because they are very easy, inexpensive, and they are helping the ecology. ~*~ I like to recycle things and turn them into crafts. Last Christmas I gave my mom and dad a gift: from a round straw wreath .I hot glued acorn caps (that I found around my house from oak trees) on the wreath. Then I hot-glued wild dried grass/plants, placed an birds nest and such. It turned out to be really pretty. ~*~ Santa Baby Food Jar Just a thought about those baby food jars...... Every teacher should be given baby food jars year round by every recycling parent who doesn't want to do the following. The teacher can do this or the art teacher can but there should be tons of Santas in every home in the country.... Cut out eyes, noses and mouths for Santa to glue on the jars (LET THE CHILDREN GLUE one.....give them one made by parents or older children to take home forever but by all means let THEM do it TOOOOOO.....) and you can have white behind the black eyes for that matter....of course we're talking felt here, what else can a teacher not live without? Felt eyes, nose and mouth and a triangular shape to glue on the lid cover to make a stocking hat that ends with what? ALL AT ONCE NOW....COTTON BALL, just one. AGAIN, LET THEM GLUE THAT COTTON BALL ON and the hat glues around the rim. Fill that Santa up with not hard candy but M & M's. You'll be amazed how far a big bag of that candy will go if you don't eat them before giving the child EXACTLY enough to make it full. So give the child about 3 extra and say, you may eat 3 but put the rest in the container (and have something for the diabetic children or anyone who doesn't eat candy....greetings cut up in strips like Chinese cookie sayings that can be pulled out of the jar and read daily...or chores they will do for their PARENT....please don't say mom or dad automatically because someone may not have one or both so say parent...there are others who have this many step-parents, this many parents, and who knows what else for extended families.... If anyone throws a baby food jar away in this country, what a waste.....or a plastic coke bottle. Long live Santa! ~*~ Gift Ideas Buy a small wisk at a dollar store, some christmas colored hershey's kisses, and some sparkly ribbon. Cram a bunch of kisses into the wisk part of the wisk. Tie one end of the ribbon to the bottom of the wisk, weave, loosely(so you can still see the kisses) up the wisk, and tie a bow at the base of the handle. On a piece of paper (I use scrapbooking paper with a HoHoHo design on the back) write "We wisk you a merry Kissmass!" attach this to the top of the wisk with a little more of the ribbon. It costs about $2 to make if you can find the ribbon on sale. My sister also made these for her bus driver..only she used colored seran wrap to cover the wisk part and tied it at the base of the handle with ribbon. The kisses will find a way to fall out if you don't weave with ribbon or wrap with seran wrap or something. So far I have had the best responce from this gift..everyone likes it:o) ~*~ In years past, I have gone to the local 98 cent/dollar tree stores and purchased christmas plates/tins and filled them with cookies and other homemade goodies.

Today's tips are provided by Dave the Botanist! Thanks Dave! ~*~ Don't count on spring till you've heard the spring peepers three nights in a row ~*~ Spring moves north at 13 miles a day ~*~ If the temperature falls below 50 degrees F at sunset watch for frost in the morning ~*~ When splitting kindling, break it twice as small as you think you should ~*~ One inch of rain equals ten inches of snow ~*~ When spit freezes before it hits the ground it is at least 40 degrees F below zero ~*~ The rain is over when dry spots appear on the pavement ~*~ To estimate the temperature outdoors in degrees F., count the number of times a lone cricket chirps in 15 seconds and add 37 ~*~ You can check the fit of new pants without trying them on. With the top of the pants closed and the button snapped, the waist band should just wrap around your neck ~*~ Burned out auto fuse - In a pinch one wrap around the old fuse with cigarette foil gives you 20 amps while 2 wraps 35 amps ~*~ When in doubt, use semi-colons; the average reader won't understand its use and will give you credit for erudition. ~*~ A 10% brine solution will float a two once egg so the shell just breaks the surface of the liquid ~*~ Twenty five strokes per day is optimal for combing your hair ~*~ A spoon will ring when rapped on a cartoon of ice cream if your freezer temperature is zero F or older ~*~ Your thumb and index finger will surround enough spaghetti to feed four people. ~*~ It takes four turns of electric tape to waterproof a connection ~*~ If birds are out in the rain, the rain will continue for the rest of the day ~*~ To judge the quality of fireworks displays check the number of blues - The more blues the higher the quality ~*~ If flies bite it will rain ~*~ Twont snow till the brooks flow ~*~ You need three consecutive days below 20 F before you can ice skate ~*~ Count at least ten seconds before you shut off a movie camera ~*~ If you are checking out a used engine that doesn't run, if the carb throat is stained red-brown it was well cared for, if it is black poorly cared for ~*~ If the car following you at night does not have perfectly aligned headlights it is not a police car ~*~ Can't sleep - a good gulp of hot whiskey at bedtime - It's not scientific but it helps - From Sir Alexander Fleming - discoverer of penicillin) ~*~ In older cars - if the car idles OK but misses on acceleration 9 times out of 10 its the distributor cap ~*~ In bird watching - study the bird not the book - The bird will fly away - not the book ~*~ To get the "feel" of a book read the table of contents, then read the index and the 1st and last paragraph of each chapter ~*~ Snow squeaks when the temperature is below 20 F ~*~ Tighten a wheel bearing nut until there is no "slop" then back off 1/8 turn ~*~ The single best clue to a bird's identity is the shape of its bill ~*~ Never buy a hand tool that does not have the manufacturer's name permanently inscribed on it . Absence of a name indicates poor quality ~*~ When you can see your breath the temperature is below 45 degrees F ~*~ If you ask a negative question - you'll get a negative answer ~*~ Measure twice around the thumb, once around the wrist, twice round the wrist, once round the neck. Twice round the neck - once round the waist ~*~ If your engine knocks during acceleration it's probably the connecting rod. If the engine knocks during deceleration its probably the piston wrist pin. If you have piston slap the knock will be loudest when the engine is cold and idling. ~*~ The flavor of cheese is inversely proportional to the thickness of the slices ~*~ When you use an extension ladder, you should put the bottom of the ladder one foot away from the wall for every 4 feet of vertical height ~*~ If you add 18 degrees to temperature at 6 AM you'll have the high for the day ~*~ Testing for edibility of an unknown plant on an uninhabited island. Take a small amount in your mouth, chew and hold without swallowing for five minutes. If no ill effects swallow and wait eight hours. If no cramps, numbing, vomiting, diarrhea eat another handful and wait eight hours. If no problem - the plant is probably safe to eat ~*~ Sharp saws and chain saws produce large chips when they cut wood, fine dust means a dull blade

----- Original Message ----- From: "Spring" SIGNS YOU'RE A LOUSY COOK - You're family automatically heads for the table every time they hear a fire siren. - Your kids know what "peas porridge in a pot nine days old" tastes like. - Your son goes outside to make mud pies, the rest of the family grabs forks and follows him. - Your kids' favorite drink is Alka-Seltzer. - You have to buy 25 pounds of dog food twice a week for your toy poodle. - Your kids got even with the neighborhood bully by inviting him over for dinner. - Your kids got suspended from school for trying to smuggle toxic waste in their lunch bags. - Your husband refers to the smoke detector as the over timer. - No matter what you do to it, the gravy still turns bright purple. - You burned the house down trying to make jelly.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Spring" 10 Ways to Save on Your Gas Bill ~*~ Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable in the winter. For each degree you raise your thermostat setting, your fuel bill climbs 3%. So dress accordingly-consider slipping into a sweater before you crank up the temperature. ~*~ Clean or replace filters on furnaces once a month or as needed. A simple task like this and those in #3 could improve your systems' energy efficiency by 10%. ~*~ Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed; make sure they're not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes. ~*~ Bleed trapped air from hot-water radiators once or twice a season; if in doubt about how to perform this task, call a professional. ~*~ Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators. ~*~ Use kitchen, bath, and other ventilating fans wisely; in just 1 hour, these fans can pull out a houseful of warmed air. Turn fans off as soon as they have done the job. Try to keep the humidity level between 30% and 60%. ~*~ During the heating season, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow sunlight to enter your home and closed at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows. During the cooling season, keep the window coverings closed during the day to prevent solar gain. ~*~ Close an unoccupied room that is isolated from the rest of the house, such as in a corner, and turn down the thermostat or turn off the heating for that room or zone. Some programmable thermostats now come with temperature zoning options However, do not turn the heating off if it adversely affects the rest of your system. For example, if you heat your house with a heat pump, do not close the vents-closing the vents could harm the heat pump. ~*~ Consider installing double-pane windows with protective coating that reflects heat back into your home during winter. If such a retrofit is not in your budget, cover your windows with clear plastic film. At a typical cost of $4 to $6 per window, the film creates an insulating air pocket between the plastic and the window, reducing heat loss through windows by between 25% and 50%. ~*~ Caulk and weather strip around exterior seams, cracks and openings. Pay extra attention around windows and at points where various exterior materials like wood, brick and vinyl siding meet. And on the inside, caulking and weather-stripping around windows and door frames will cut down on drafts.

'Twas a place to sit and ponder with your head bowed down low; Knowing that you wouldn't be there, if you didn't have to go. Ours was a three-holer, with a size for every one. You left there feeling better, after your usual job was done. You had to make these frequent trips, whether snow, rain, sleet, or fog; To the little house where you usually found the Sears-Roebuck catalog. Oft times in dead of winter, the seat was covered with snow. 'Twas then with much reluctance, to the little house you'd go. With a swish you'd clear the seat, bend low, with dreadful fear; You'd blink your eyes and grit your teeth as you settled on your rear. I recall the day that Granddad, who stayed with us one summer, Made a trip out to the shanty which proved to be a hummer. 'Twas the same day that my Dad finished painting the kitchen green. He'd just cleaned up the mess he'd made with rags and gasoline. He tossed the rags in the shanty hole and went on his usual way; Not knowing that by doing so he would eventually rue the day. Now Granddad had an urgent call, I never will forget! This trip he made to the little house lingers in my memory yet. He sat down on the shanty seat, with both feet on the floor. Then filled his pipe with tobacco and struck a match on the outhouse door. After the tobacco began to glow, he slowly raised his rear: Tossed the flaming match in the open hole, with no sign of fear. The blast that followed, I am sure was heard for miles around; And there was poor ol' Granddad just sitting on the ground. The smoldering pipe was still in his mouth, his suspenders he held tight; The celebrated three-holer was blown clear out of sight. When we asked him what had happened, his answer I'll never forget. He thought it must be something that he had recently et! Next day we had a new one, which my Dad had built with ease. With a sign upon the entrance door that read: No Smoking, Please! Now that's the end of the story, with memories of long ago, Of the little house, behind the house where we went cause we had to go. ~author unknown