>>>How about making a popcorn chain to put up on the tree?<<<
Most people save their decorations from year to year, so that's probably not much of an expense. I'm all for having living trees. I'm not sure if I can move the big pot with the pine tree into the house after 5 years outside, but I'll try.
Since I lost all my Christmas decorations in the divorce (he doesn't even put up a tree!), I have replaced them bit by bit, and I have several more personal trinkets for the tree. For example, I have the first two pairs of eyeglasses my daughter wore at age 2 and 4. They hang with a cute ribbon along with one of her pacifiers, the little Chinese slipper she wore on arrival in Holland, the Tamoguchi she had at age 8, a couple of duplo blocks and legos, key chains that seem to multiply all year, and some doo-dads with no name that we brought back from Taiwan. This year my tree will have the addition of my Obama button!
I'll make several gifts of food this year. I bought Christmas bags and boxes similar to what Chinese food is delivered, and I'll make cookies and brownies for neighbors and friends. I have my mother's fruit cake receipe and a dozen little loaf pans...I might give it a try. How much can go wrong??
We're going to USA for Thanksgiving! It will be Liann's first, and for me it will be the first in 37 years! I had a Delta voucher to use before the end of the year, and my boss said 'yes' to a week off. Liann has only read about "black Friday" and wants to experience it up close and personal. I wonder if Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks will have enough coffee to get me through the day!
kathleen | 
