Creating Gifts And Gift Buying For Christmas, This Year! And What We Have Done In Other Years!

My husband does not want us to decorate over the top or our house would look like the one in the picture above! We have an artificial Christmas tree and a few lights, and one or two other things. Not enough lights for my taste since the tree lights are almost never on!

And there are never enough decorations! The only reason we have a tree is that I use the grandchildren card, "Now, what would the grandchildren think if when they come to visit their grandparents, we have no tree or decorations?"

So, there was snow all over the place this morning, and pictures that friends living by me had splashed all over Facebook! I got no photos but I really did enjoy the view out the windows! And all of their photos. Then by noon, all the snow was gone.

My husband gives gift cards for birthdays and Christmas. I don't mind that he gives gift cards to the kids as I know as a teen I preferred that to granny panties, that I would get from my older relatives. But I like to have something personal as a gift also, even if it is something I make.

Because I heard from his ex-wife that he bought her tires one year, I told him he can only buy me jewelry. Well, I have enough jewelry. My daughter already has two diamonds from my old wedding rings. So, it won't be jewelry this year. I am thinking that I will let him know what I want this year!

I have made purses, dolls, and books in previous years. I was learning to embroider when my mother-in-law got sick. I thought that would be a fun gift. I have given Tupperware as I have a friend selling Tupperware. Last year I collected Publishers Clearinghouse gifts and doled them out.

Thankfully, I didn't spend much on Publishers Clearinghouse this year!

I am thinking about personal books for this year but do I have it in me to do that? I wrote one for a fundraiser with stories and culture. Maybe that one could be adapted for my children and grandchildren. They haven't all heard all the stories I know.

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Since there was snow on the ground today, I will tell you about Zhigog.

Nanaboozhoo was walking in the woods, looking for berries when he jumped as a small, slow critter came walking out of the brush. He quickly tapped the little black critter on the top of the head, and then on the back behind his tail and that little critter now had a white stripe down his back and an odor, like no other.

My mother, told this story when she wanted us to make noise in the woods when we were picking berries. My auntie, her older sister, said, "Your mother is afraid of Makwa and she thinks that by telling you kids that story you will make noise and keep Makwa away!"

Then my auntie said, "Makwa was probably picking right next to you, as there are so many berries this year! Your mother would fight Makwa if there was an attempt to take her berries!"

Who was Zhigog and who was Makwa? Names in the Ojibwe language for what two critters?

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Then I might add my favorite stories about the children and grandchildren too! Or, I could add stories that I have written here on Medium and Vocal that have included them.

So, it will be a book for everyone and maybe a gift card or Tupperware, as it seems to me that I still have Tupperware to give away! Since we have a large family there are lots of people to include. I better get started now!