:)

Some presents are ready and it is time to melt those credit cards.....

Lucky you! I AM BEAT TO A PULP, I think the only gifts that are ready for boxing and mailing are for a few stitching friends.

Cheryl

I've "made" some presents this year but not needlework. All spring/summer I took pictures of flowers and have ordered a bunch of calendars made with those pictures.

Mine are all purchased but not wrapped. However, the cards are addressed and sealed! I had to take time out to do all the promotional work for our live Nativity on the 8th and 9th. Plus I'm the church secretary, and have just realized that I still have 20 bulletins and 6 newsletters to do in the next five weeks. And then there's the baking and the decorating. Oh, and a small church group is coming here three times so I'll have to make food for them. It looks so bad when I write it all down.

Done all the shopping - I start in January!!! Still have the wrapping to do, though.

Pat

So - that clearly means no whining about what has to be done between now and the New Year, eh? Since you've asserted early braggin' rights.

Ellice - not even getting close to done - but having knocked off much for at least the mean SIL who has refused to pay us back the loan we'd get back "in a wekk" 15 months ago.

Clever girl. I'm finishing a couple of scarves - just need fringe added to them. Bought a bunch of earrings for the nieces & goddaughters, and some other fun stuff for a couple of friends. Want to finish putting together 1 baby sweater - didn't like the seaming so going to try again. And finish another one which is 80% done. And 1 pair of socks for knitting.

No needlework gifts for anyone this year - except us. And some "squishies" going out.

Am determined to finish sewing the faux fur & silk scarf/stoles that I started 3 years ago for the SILs and derelict niece. OK - she's not quite as derelict right now - but.....And I think I'm going to add one for the niece in Syracuse (the FL girl who thinks 1 pair of boots is sufficient).

But, I like the picture idea. I have a bunch of hockey pix, and garden pix, and a printer that lets me do artsy paper - so I have a stash of fancy artist's paper (different textures, etc) and am thinking of doing something with them for some other friends. Of course, there's always just ordering a book or the like thru iPhoto. For me, I'm going to early buy an updated set of the Adobe graphics suite - with my current education discount - so that I can do more stuff.

I don't really want to think about this. I figure that I'll do what's listed above, and just keep on working. If I can get the house all unpacked, etc before New Year's I'll be happy. Assuming the floor replecement which was just rescheduled from tomorrow to 2 weeks really happens.

ellice

Only things left to do between now and the New Year are the daily rush transcripts and the baby shower gift, and since one gift is already there, it's not critical that I finish the second before the shower.

I got the kids in Ohio done....while in Ohio for Thanksgiving. No carting and shipping that way. My mom, dad and brother. My SIL, books for my own kids, a cool cigar lighter for Dude and nothing else!

But at least this year we'll be in our own home!

Caryn

Yeah for Christmas in your own house! Especially given what the alternative was for you last year.

D> ellice wrote:

Ditto! Sorry I missed the original post Caryn

I got the only present that needed to go any distance back in early June and it just so happened that the oldest DSis was going to visit the DSis-recipient in July so she took it with her. Voila! No mailing, even! :) Good thing, since it was a suitcase!

Have only purchased a few small items for two of my kids, so far.

Joan

I got started the other day with DH and some neighbors. I have cards for a girl friend and some bits for other people.

Cheryl

Aaaack. We give a bunch of stuff to staffers at the CAPS/Verizon Arena. Been doing it for many years. All our regular bartenders/waiter in the club/ushers, etc. So, with the ushers it's become kind of a thing - people sort of rotate on/off our list - as we see them a lot or a little or have had long time knowing them. They're always so happy. Anyhow - at the high, I did 25 gift bags. Usually I find some kind of interesting container, ornament and then do candy - really good candy. A mix that I come up with of chocolates, etc. The favorite - the liquor filled chocolates. And for a handful - the private club bartenders, etc - I do some little gift as well. So, I'm a bit behind - but this got me going and yesterday I hit Home Goods and got some cute dishes, and decorative porcelain thingie (some angel type collectible) . It's a start. This year I'll have to give them out on the

Then, hmmm, I think next week will be the sewing binge for the stoles/scarves. I have a bunch of stuff for the nieces/nephews already wrapped for Chanukah. Just need a couple of things for them.

I'm thinking to bake a bunch of the Carnberry-nut loaves to go in the goodie baskets - the T-giving one came out really good, so, I was thinking I could buy a bunch of the foil disposable loaf pans and do that. Thoughts?

ellice

Thinking I'd love that recipe :) I've got a cranberry loaf I like, but a cranberry nut loaf sounds wonderful! I've done loafs in the pretty disposable 'pans' before, and my best advice is to use them as pan liners. They generally won't hold up to the weight if it's a thick dough and you're using the pretty decorative ones. The plain utilitarian ones with the stronger seams work great though! And either way, the gifts themselves were always appreciated! Heather

ellice wrote:

Then maybe you'd also like the recipe for Cranberry cake with hot butter sauce??? ;)

Joan

Thanks for the pan advice. I'd just bought a new Wilton Professional weight loaf pan, and it worked great - the bread just popped out. Also, did gingerbread muffins - in the new pumpkin muffin pan from Williams-Sonoma - the NordicWare platinum/pro weight. Same thing -the muffins lifted right out. So, I was trying to avoid buying a couple more pans, but I probably will and then just wrap the loaves. The Cranberry loaf was quite heavy - it's a pretty sticky kind of bread dough - if you can imagine. And definitely doesn't want to be overhandled.

The recipe was in this current Cook's Illustrated "Holiday Baking" issue. There are enough good recipes in it to be worthwhile. Next I'm going to try the Chocolate Sour Cream Bundt Cake - but I think I have to get my stand mixer from the storage unit. If you want me to post the Cranberry recipe - I'll do it later. Just got home, and need to go work on the soup for tonight.

This is so not my usual Weight Watchers week - darn it.

ellice

Isn't Cooks Illustrated great?? I have also bought one or two Le Creuset French/Dutch ovens. Man, you sure can tell the difference when cooking with quality equipment. It is such a shame that young brides cannot afford the good stuff! I remember all my failures, which I don't think would have happened with heavy, tightfitting lids etc. I am bequeathing the le Creuset to whichever kid enjoys cooking the best. Prolly ( for Sheena) DS.

Gill

They're wonderful pots for cooking, and they come in such pretty colors, but they are impossible for me to lift when they're full. They definitely aren't made for lightweights.

Lucille

"Lucille" ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

I have a huge casserole, had it at least 40 years. I still use it, make a huge stew and then put in small increments and into the freezer. Le Creuset is built to last, like Energiser Rabbits.

I have some Revere copper pans, lined with stainless steel, fabulous, also some of their stainless steel ones.

If a lid does not fit well you can always put foil across then put the lid on, that helps.

Where kitchen equipment is concerned it pays off in spades to buy the very best you can, especially where knives are concerned. They are prolly (lol) the most important after pans.