Fire Starters DIY gift idea...

I just ran across an idea for a simple, cheap (recycling), practical gift, that I am definitely going to make for someone for Christmas. Shhhhhh...

These fire starters are easy to light with a match...don't unwrap, just light one end of the wrapper. Then place in your fireplace and toss a little kindling on top. Before you know it, you've got a nice warm fire going.

And these are so easy to make, that it would make a great gift for kids to make and give too.

My interpretation follows:

Materials:

empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes

dryer lint

newspaper

'wrapping paper' such as paper grocery bags or craft paper

raffia, jute, or 100% cotton yarn

Directions:

Start storing empty toilet paper tubes (and paper towel tubes cut to a similar length) in your laundry room. When you clean your lint filter, stuff the lint into the tubes. The lint can be augmented with some loosely crumpled newspaper.

They are usable at this point. But since I'm making them for gifts, I thought I'd dress them up a little bit.

'Wrap' the tubes in paper, leaving the ends long enough to twist, and tie with raffia, jute, or 100% cotton yarn.

I'm using craft paper, because I have lots of it, but you could use paper grocery bags, or the Sunday comics, or even Christmas wrap (but just remember they'll be using these after Christmas is over).

Ta-da!

Put the finished fire starters in a bucket or a basket to sit near the recipient's fireplace. Add a bow and a gift tag, and you're done!

Happy accidents...

On Saturday, my friend Drew and I headed out to a craft show in Goliad. It was a mere two and half hour drive. A simple hop, skip, and a jump down the road when you have pleasant company.

One problem. Once we got there, we figured out that the craft show is next weekend. Oh well. There were lots of cool places to explore. I found some great treasures that I've been pining for for ages (I'll show them to you in another post).

Then we happened on Tia's on the Square!

Look at this...

...oh, I love this place! The layers of exposed paint on the ceiling above that fabulous chandelier. Love!

And their displays!

So fun. So sparkly. So gorgeous!

And I absolutely adore these...

I don't even know how to describe these stunning snowflakes. The detail. The sparkle. The romance!

I'm really trying to get by with what I have...and I have a lot of Christmas ornaments, so I didnt' let myself have one. And now I can't stand it. I think I have to go back.

I'm kind of glad we missed the craft show. We had fun just roaming around town.

Today I am thankful for happy accidents.

Tradition...

I heard a discussion on NPR the other day about Thanksgiving being unique as holidays go. It is not about having to find the perfect gift, or sending cards, or hiding eggs, or shooting off fireworks. It is solely a day of tradition. A day when the focus is on the table...the loved ones around it and the food on it...and hopefully we appreciate and are thankful for both. A day when almost everyone in the country is having turkey, and all the side dishes are from recipes that have been passed down for generations.

I hadn't thought of it in exactly that way before.

Tomorrow we are going to Kasey's, and as long as I'm not having to cook, we could have hot dogs and I wouldn't care. My sister asked me what I was taking, and I told her I was taking the cans of cranberry jelly. She said my mother would be appalled...and she would...and I don't care. I am ceding the family tradition of controlling the kitchen.

One year I did take the time to put some of our family's favorite holiday recipes into a small cookbook for my kids, so Kasey has them if she chooses to use them. I'm happy to turn over the reigns...at least for this year. Though I confess I did buy a small turkey to roast in a day or so...I do love me some turkey sandwiches and soup and casseroles don't you know.

Also, Friday is the National Day of Listening. While you have loved ones together, spend an hour interviewing someone important to you, and if possible record it. That sounds like an awesome idea to me.

Today I am giving thanks for my family...for time to spend together...for hugs...and for traditions.

What's on your kitchen windowsill...

I recently found another blog that I really like...Humble Stars & Posies. Recently Sonja (said blogger) had a random musing and asked the question, "What's on your kitchen windowsill?"

That really struck a chord with me, because my kitchen windowsill is one of my favorite spots. So I thought I would follow Sonja's lead...show you my windowsill and pass the question on.

I recently put away some summery items that had long languished on the sill, and put out the antique blue mason jars (and luckily I dusted a bit when I did that!)


The left side of the sill is the home of a little stone elephant...a gift from a very special friend. When she gave him to me, she said that elephants are good luck, and they should face east. So this is the home he claimed as his own where he can see the rising sun, and I can see him daily and think of my sweet friend. The donkey reminds me of her as well, good Democrat that she is, and he leans to the left. :) And of course my watch and wedding rings land there at dinner prep time. The right side of the sill temporarily has an autumn scents reed diffuser on it...part of a birthday present.


This little rock lives here behind the faucet, just under the sill. Probably one of the kids brought it in to me while visiting...not really sure...perhaps it would be happier living in the great outdoors again. :)

Today I am very thankful for my kitchen window...what's inside it and what's outside it.

Well, that's my windowsill. So what's on yours?

Saturday...

Diego's team lost the championship game today, but it was a good game just the same. And it was football weather...chilly and damp, but thankfully no rain while we were sitting in the stands.

It was a nice drive to the game and back with Carey. A sweet time spent with family. And once back home a day that was so relaxing that I took a nap.

For these things, I am deeply thankful.

List maker, list maker, make me a list...

Can't help it...this photo makes me think of Great-Grandpa Bunny Bunny.

Today I am thankful for chiropractors (mine in particular), for whoever thought up selling rotisserie chickens in the grocery store, for sons who carry in groceries, for the forethought to change out of work clothes before starting dinner, for pomegranates so ripe and juicy that they polka dot a plain white t-shirt, and for husbands who clean up the kitchen!

Home, home on the range...

This is not a perfect view. It has fences. And power lines. And brush crowds in where clear spaces and grass should be.

But I can look past them all. They go completely unnoticed. It's all about focusing on what is right with my world, instead of what intrudes. The sunshine and shadow on the hills. The fading horizon line. The sky.

Today I am thankful for the view from my front porch. And for the peace it brings me.