Christmas.

This Christmas tree is supplied to Trafalgar Square in London each year as a gift from the people of Norway for all the help and friendship the people of Britain gave to Norway in World war II

Picture by Keith Knight the wireless waffler and photographer

I adore Christmas. I love the religious aspect as well as the "commercial" aspect.  Like most of you, I am strapped for funds this year and have decided to make my gifts. I have already decided that my gift to everyone this year is a brand new, home made Christmas stocking. I have a stash of various fabrics and am designing each stocking to fit the personality of the person it's for. For instance, my sister, Jo, is a cow-girl at heart, so her stocking is made with "fake" leather in the shape of a cowgirl boot. My sister, Ronda, is fond of all things Victorian, so her stocking will be in the shape of a woman's Victorian boot.

Love the embryo elephant recollection Babs - it's brought a big smile to my face!

Barbara - think it is great what you do at Christmas.

Just a bit of a tip about Christmas I picked up from one of my sister's friends - she decides on chosing a theme for Christmas presents- one year she just bought CD's for everyone so she thought of what CD each person would like and bought them. I tried it one year and it was really easy - just visited one of the internet sites and chose the various CD's and there was less wrapping too!  Last year I decided to buy jewellery boxes for most of the ladies as I found some really beautiful ones which were reasonable. It is easier to focus the mind on one theme.

I did my thing for Christmas just an bit ago, bought an pattern for 40 per cent off..three different yards of thick fleece for pajama bottoms, 40 per cent off an dthe eleastic and I'll make three PJ sets after I sew the bottoms, Everything came to $26 or about the price of one set normally. I'll hit the stores after Chirstmas sales if I can...and get some for 50 per cent off then. Bottoms are easy sewing, quick, and I can get long sleeved shirts for the tops.

I got an post from my friend yesterday,,said to beware of Wal-mart cashiers offering "cash back" in credit card transactions...seems this gal automatically issues an $40 cash back the lady didnt' want and she caught it, they wanted her to take the money and she said NO..why pay for the interest charges on it...so they cancelled it entirely out and re-rang it up and slipped in an $20 cash back, So they got to ring it all in again. My friend said she was sent this information, went and looked at her latest card and sure enough, an $20 cash back appeared that she never picked the money up on. The scam is they have an friend behind them that picks up the money and then when the person comes back, they pull the till and it reads normal, its their word against her's that she didn't get $20. Manager comes over, refuses to give her the money...beware people, times are getting "tight" for retailers, whom generally charge to much to begin with.

How much is to much...they start with the wholsale price, double it, then add 20 per cent for any sales they have on the merchadise...if it falls below 70 per cent  mark-down, they give it to an charity and take 100 per cent of the selling price.... thier losing money is from CEO's with big money demands, not the public sector. If they don't make 100 per cent profit "Plus" then they raise prices though. Which means people can't afford to buy the merchandise. But the big bankers showed them what to do..go to the Government and cry cry cry..you can get an blank check eventually. then take it out of country and get people to work for nothing, in third world areas... an expect your consumer to have a job...from being laid off and  buy your merchandise. Ha!...Idiots! It helps to squash ALL competion also, then you really feel as an consumer your up againstt an wall with no where to go. It's then things start to get really dicey out in the world...as people try to survive. Much the same applies to health care these days also.

Then you could give fair value at an fair price, an modest selction..live comfortably and still be in business ...and have the "goodwill" felt feelings  of your community also.

Stephanie, I love your themed Christmas idea.  That really simplifies things and everyone still receives a special gift chosen just for them.

I say, Rick, you are a Renaissance man, aren't you?