Black Friday

It’s the biggest sales day of the year, the one day storeowners hope will send an avalanche of holiday profits their way.

Somewhere along the line, this kickoff day for the holiday gift buying season has been tagged with the ominous nickname of Black Friday.

Unfortunately, judging from the shape the economy is in, Black Friday’s avalanche of profits this year will be more like a dusting of snow. Very few of us will be spending money to buy gifts for Aunt Harriet or Uncle Jed.

Lucky for me, I don’t have an Aunt Harriet or Uncle Jed, but I do have a bunch of nieces, nephews, and other extended family that will still be looking for a gift from their favorite uncle and aunt.

Isn’t it funny how around birthdays and Christmas we magically become the favorite relative? To be honest, most of them I’ve never even heard of before. And when I tell The Wife that, her answer is always the same: “They were at our wedding.” Yeah, like I’m supposed to remember.

I’m a guy, and guys don’t remember things like names, faces, birthdays, or important dates. We instantly remember football scores, stats, and what player holds what record, but that’s all important stuff.

When it comes to remembering those other things, for some reason my mind just goes blank. That’s why our wedding date is engraved inside my wedding ring. I’m not going to tell you whose idea that was. For the last 10 years I’ve never once forgotten our anniversary.

In the past, our Christmas gift list has always been long. And from the stacks of Christmas card boxes that cover the kitchen table, I’m afraid this year it’s going to be even bigger than Santa’s.

There are so many, in fact, that we’ve had to come up with an alternative to the gift buying dilemma. If you have too many family members to buy gifts for and very little money, then I have the perfect solution. Just do what The Wife and I are going to do for everyone on our list: we’re going back to the basics and give homemade gifts.

For the adults on our list that have been nice all year, we have something really special. Each will receive something red, something white, and if they’re really nice, something full of bubbles.

Yep, the Wife and I have been working the elves overtime in the basement stomping grapes and bottling adult beverages. Don’t ask me if it’s good or not; we’ve not opened any yet. If it tastes yucky, then I guess it really is better to give than to receive.

For the little ones, I decided to make presents out of wood. I spent hours in the woodshop sawing, nailing, and gluing. After two weeks it was apparent that my attempt at making wagons, balls, and doll houses had failed miserably. They looked nothing like the plans.

That’s when we decided that all the kids on our list would get something else. After another week of sawing, gluing, and painting, we had a set of building blocks for everyone on our list. I even made a jumbo set of blocks for The Boy.

Not only did we make all of our gifts, but our gifts are renewable. I’m sure The Boy will use his to start a fire in our fireplace.

So, beginning this Black Friday, before you buy any gifts, think green. I know Santa would really appreciate it. Seems all the global warming has been devastating to his home at the North Pole.

Homemade Gifts

Submitted by dawn69 on Mon, 12/01/2008 - 8:20am.

Nothing exemplifies the Christmas spirit like thoughtful homemade gifts.

Last year my parents were overjoyed when they unwrapped the portraits I had done in charcoal of my children. I often give paintings, handmade ornaments (done with clay and copper wire), DVD's burnt with family photos, or confections. The children love helping me in the kitchen putting together baskets of divinity, pralines, truffles, and shortbread cookies. They enjoy making air fresheners out of oranges punctured with cloves to add to the baskets.

Our tree is full of homemade ornaments - no fancy decorators tree for us. The most fun I have with the kids is stringing popcorn and watching my son eat more than he strings. We have a picture of him when he was two years old sitting under the tree with a strand of popcorn in his mouth. Now, we enjoy watching the dog try to figure out how to get to the popcorn.

Ever year my grandfather gives us all bags of pecans from his grove, my cousin makes homemade Kahlua, an aunt makes homemade ornaments, my mother-in-law quilts stockings for everyone, and so forth. I do miss my grandmother, who used to knit for everyone. It's these homemade gifts, made with thoughtfulness and love, that we keep as keepsakes and remember long after the gift giver has passed from this world.

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Gifts

Submitted by Okie on Mon, 12/01/2008 - 9:59am.

I finished one crocheted afghan for my 97 year old grandma, and I'm working on one for my best friend. I could have bought them for what it costs me to make them, but that's just not the same. I'd like to be on Dawn's Christmas list! I tried to make divinity once, I made white rocks with nuts in them! I also love peanut butter fudge!

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Dawn69

Submitted by Tug13 on Mon, 12/01/2008 - 9:40am.

Are you for real? I've enjoyed your comments. You paint, cook, make homemade gifts. What a talented lady!

I make pecan brittle, peanut butter fudge, and chocolate fudge for Christmas gifts. Not many people do that anymore.

Tug

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Tug

Submitted by dawn69 on Mon, 12/01/2008 - 12:12pm.

Thank you. Yes, I've always been an artist - for as long as I can remember. We each have our own gifts - mine is in the arts and I enjoy sharing my gift with others. That is how it should be. Some have the gift of teaching, others the gift of healing, etc... - we are all better off when we share these gifts.

My mom makes peanut butter fudge too. It does seem that it is becoming a lost art, like making biscuits or knitting. My grandmother taught me to crochet when I was young and my grandfather taught me to always pursue knowledge. These are the gifts I remember from them and could not tell you one single material gift they ever gave me.

I'm sure your family will always remember that you made peanut butter fudge and these will be the gifts they remember forever.

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