okra, not pickled orka...sigh, sorry.

Wednesday, my dear aunt many years ago would preserve treats from her garden. My absolute favorite was the bread and butter pickles she would make. I love receiving homemade gifts! Good luck ~ I'm sure they'll be delicious!

I'm 80% finished, thanks to the great shops in Portland, OR. We really shopped till we dropped. I'm still picking up things for the kids here in Seaside, OR at a shop my kids love called Ter Hars. They have everything 30# off right now so we're in that store daily.

Very tempting here since we're just a few steps away from the shops. I love the tax free shopping here in Oregon. We're off the the Wine Haus to stock up on Pinot Noir & Muellar Thargau, then off to the aquarium and the beach. It feels good to be this far ahead before Thanksgiving.

We even have all of our photos picked out for our digital photo Christmas card. We choose 16 pictures of the highlights of our year and send them to family and friends. Can't wait to go up to Shaver Lake to get our 14' Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. We're hosting the dinner for 10 this year. I'll have one day to food shop after we return home from the Oregon Coast. ***kim*** ((l))

Speaking of shopping, and speaking to grandparents here... Do you go hog-wild with your grandchildren at Christmas, or are you sensible and buy one $50 gift for each of them, like my best friend does? I have one grandchild, and you can probably guess which camp I fall into!!! :-] I've already spent $400 (those American Girl doll things are atrocious!) ....... and am sitting on my hands until December 25th! :p

How far along am I?

I've thought about it!

bonniebroad, I think the presents for grandchildren situation does have a lot to do with how many grandchildren one has. If I only had one I would spoil that little one silly. I have several so it is a little more difficult. But during the year I treat them to a few days away, or a nice dinner out or money to help them get that new computer equipment that they absolutely have to have.

I have found spreading treats out over the year is more fun for all of us.

But again if I only had one grandchild - oh boy what a spoiled little darling that would be! LOL.

Since I'm so far along in my shopping, this year I decided to make all of my wrapping paper.

I bought brown postal shipping paper and I made a star shape sponge. Dipped sponge in gold paint and stamped the entire 75 yards. My ribbon is sheer gold.

For my second roll, I bought a pink flamingo stamp and a palm tree stamp. I used pink paint for the flamingo and green for the palm tree. My ribbon is sheer pink.

uggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg!

Very nice GoTravel! Now I'm really depressed :-D

GoTravel, I did that one year and had a lot of fun with it! Hope to find the time again some day :-)

Scarlett, thanks to you I can cross another gift off my list--I found pig ears today for my step-mother's dog :@)

GoTravel, I love your wrapping paper idea, especially the pink flamingo! (I saw, in a Christmas Store last night, my first faux palm trees all decorated for Christmas!!! Do you do that in Florida? :-) )

LoveItaly, I sort of overdo it all year!! :S My DH just shakes his head, and say I need nine more to spread the goodies over! :-)

Did not even start,,,help! We are going to be in NYC for 4 days and I thought I would shop there for NYC items...like Yankee stuff for nieces and nephews. I like the idea of giving to charities for people that have everything(if you know what I mean). I like to shop on line at LLbean and Amazon;-),

ok, bonniebroad, I'm with you. I over do it..way over do it! And, I'm so glad they are girls. The girls are 5 and 6 and just 2 weekends ago we went to Disney on Ice-Finding Nemo. I told them it was one of their Christmas presents, but that's a no-brainer.
Just yesterday, they called to tell me what they wanted for Christmas. But, the most special thing was when the 5 year old told me she couldn't wait until we made cookies again!
The weekend after Thanksgiving we are going for the 7th time for our video with the REAL Santa!
I have most of my shopping done, but will still be shopping up until Christmas..and I too, bake and give jams and jellies and other homemade food gifts.

iceeu2, oh boy I am jealous!!! How about 7 grandsons!!!!!!!

Wouldn't trade in a one of them of course, they are all fantastic.

But there is a baby due next July, and guess what I am wishing for??

Actually I am just wishing for a healthy happy baby - but think you understand how terrific it would be to shop for a girl.

Love...you will be nuts if the baby is a girl! And...you will be a whole lot lighter in the old pocketbook!

Oh iceuu2, don't you know it! I am almost shaking with excitment. But must calm down because boys seem to "reign" in the family. And whatever this new little angel is will be so welcomed and loved.

But a little girl???? Oh, I found myself late yesterday afternoon looking at "girl stuff".

I am so tired of buying figurines, computer stuff, you know - all the guy stuff.

Well next July will tell. And you are right, if it is a little girl - oh sigh, I will be in BIG trouble. Take care.

Started today, and the shops were mobbed. I hope to finish this weekand after, relax and write my cards.

I want a grandbaby for Christmas LOL

OK, I bought some gifts today!! 3 books for my son .. sigh. Tomorrow is the big day, off to the stores first thing in the morning.

Pup is set, LOL dcespedes, he will get Pigs Ears and a new Frisbee ((&))
I want a trip to Paris or India..lol, not asking for much.

GoTravel, I will try harder to be like you, this year I am hopeless.

On the decorating themes, I saw wreathes decorated with white seashells..sorta Floridy..I am doing twig wreaths with red berries wrapped around them on our double doors .. the house is white stucco, it will look good.
If only shopping was as easy as decorating..

Have only purchased two gifts. Uuuuggghh. But, I just called my sister and suggested we take our four boys to have a picture made for our parents. I know Mom and Dad will love that!

I'll be in Chicago for three days in December and hope to shop the "one for you, two for me" way!!

sunbabe, the photo of the grandchildren sound great for your parents. Good idea.

And Scarlett, get that shopping done and in the mail for heavens sakes or the poor kid will be receiving it for Easter instead of Christmas, LOL \:D/

Christmas shopping? You gotta be kidding. I've got almost 'til next year to think about that. :)