View Single Post
  #9 (permalink)   Report Post  
George Shirley
 
Posts: n/a
Default Seeking Some Advice from the Experienced

Frogleg wrote:

> On Tue, 28 Oct 2003 10:06:56 -0800, Ranee Mueller
> > wrote:
>
>
>>"Anny Middon" > wrote:
>>
>>
>>>For the past several years I've made homemade goodies to give at
>>>Christmas. (This is in addition to the gifts I buy.) Last year it
>>>was salsas, the year before mini-loaves of sweet bread and jars of
>>>Christmas Conserve. Some years it's homemade candy or biscotti or
>>>muffins.
>>>
>>>How come more people don't do this? I love getting homemade gifts.

>>
>> I don't have an answer for you, but I agree. My husband and I make
>>most of the gifts we give at Christmas. He is very artistic, and I cook
>>or knit pretty well, so we pair our gifts and put together little
>>baskets and such. I've given up on knitting gifts for everyone, because
>>it gets so stressful, and I'm not going to do another up till 5:00 am
>>finishing and driving down to the ILs at 8:00 am again. So, I bake,
>>make preserves, knit for immediate family, and Rich does wood carvings,
>>paints ornaments (last year's were amazing with the inside of glass
>>globes painted with a woodland scene), etc. People seem to really like
>>them. I adore getting handmade presents, especially consumables, soaps,
>>food items, etc.

>
>
> I think the answer to "how come" is a combination of time available,
> skill and experience, and in some cases, lack of appreciation. It's a
> lot of work (and time) to bake, can, knit, embroider, carve, and wrap.
> Much easier to dial an 800# and send a catalogue item winging on its
> way. As some can't afford a great deal of money for presents, others
> genuinely can't afford the time. However, a hand-made gift is surely
> the most valuable one you can give or receive.


Only gifts we buy anymore are for the little grand and greatgrands.
Everyone else gets stuff we put up for that purpose. Dried herbs
attractively packaged are a big hit with friends and family as are
jellies, jams, hot sauces, etc. Still, we have friends who do exactly
what you say, get on the phone or the web and place an impersonal order
with the credit card. We still appreciate the gift but it just doesn't
have the same impact as something someone made just for us.

George