cheap and non comercial x/mas article

[Andy Hamilton]

I wrote this article for the ecologist and hopefully my mum and sister won't have seen it or else it will spoil christmas_presents_and_decorations_without_shopping.html their gifts! It also has a short video clip.

[chilitony]

Every year i do quite alot of pickling: onions, beetroot, red cabbage & chillies which all my family and friends get for xmas

[Millymollymandy]

I never even noticed this posting before ! but it's a good 'un, as usual.

[Silver Ether]

I enjoyed that and sooo pleased to see I match ... we do the same...

[chilitony]

This jar of carrots, garlic & their own chillies i was given for xmas

[contadina]

For once I'm thankful for spam as I'd missed this too and it's a good reminder for all those making gifts this year to get cracking :-) As an interesting aside, there was a thought-provoking piece on the BBC today about the rise in storage facilities. Which concludes with a perceptive quote...

We've confused who we are with what we have

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14718478

[sarahkeast]

I have just started off some of my now rather renown homemade lemonade hooch, ready for Christmas presents for friends and colleagues... planning on making pj's for multitude of nieces out of left over fleece, just need ideas for my own teens.

[Marlene]

Clove-studded oranges and lemons tied around with pretty ribbons or yarns make lovely scented pomanders to hang in the closet, and gingerbread men,stars, moons, etc., tied with red or white ribbon (through a small hole in the top) are wonderful decorations for the tree or any garland. Smell and taste delicious and (with my recipe, anyway) still taste yummy after 2-3 weeks - children love to choose one or two to eat when they come visiting - another bonus. Marlene

[JuzaMum]

Hi Marlene

fancy sharing your recipe please?

JuzaMum

[Marlene]

Happy too, of course! At the moment have to get dinner - but will look it up this evening and post it then. It's the best I've ever found for rolled cookies, and I've make it with a friend's granddaughter every December (though she's getting a little old to want to do that much longer). I think this will be the last year; she's now a teen and has other, more interesting things to do I expect.

[Marlene]

The recipe wasn't where I thought it would be, so now have several cookbooks to look through, but will do. Checked two last night and will check more this evening. It's a loose recipe that I copied quite some time ago, but I know it isn't lost, so be patient and I'll get it posted a.s.a.p. Apologies for the delay...

[JuzaMum]

No worries - still a few weeks to go and I haven't even got the cake done yet

JuzaMum

[Marlene]

Great photo of the little one and the cucumber 'fish'. Thanks for understanding!