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[Lisa Perry <lkvp AT floydva.net>]

It's that time of year again and the holidays are fast approaching.  
Don't blink.

Every year our family makes homemade items we send to relatives for 
Christmas (substitute your holiday that you celebrate here). It 
originally started out necessity.  Way back when, we spent $35 on baking 
supplies and turned it into 15 gifts. Then it became something that 
people looked forward to receiving (they've said as much--unless they're 
lying) and now it feels strange if we don't bake, we tried it one year.  
It has become part of our celebration and tradition.  We bake one loaf 
of pumpkin bread and one of cranberry bread (truth is the cranberry 
bread doesn't always get made--it's a 50/50 shot) and an assortment of 
cookies or bars per gift box.  Over the years we've branched out and 
experimented by adding an additional homemade item and have tried making 
hand-dipped beeswax candles (from a kit), packed bulbs in flower pots, 
ornaments, and decorated picture frames, to name a few.  Making 
something helps me find meaning in the holiday, it feels less 
commercial.  Depending on the recipient, we may include a book or 
journal, boxes of tea or food items, locally handcrafted soaps, etc. 

One year we sent a Chinese food kit to our siblings and that was a big 
hit.  I'd do that again except I like to make something.  My husband 
feels differently.  He's been wanting to give it up, make things easy 
and give gift cards.  I have to admit it sounds a bit tempting to give a 
gift card, but between our two families we still send 12 gifts to 
recipients in 10 states--so we couldn't pick just one card--we'd have to 
figure out which store was near them and the more I think about it, it 
feels like a cop out.  My husband says people like gift cards, they can 
pick out what they want.  He went on.  He said people make their own 
bread and cookies, they might not miss ours.  Ouch.  You think?

So I need some new ideas.  And I need whatever it may be to be 
reasonably lightweight.  The last couple years we spent as much on 
shipping as we did on the cost of the gift.  I thought this year I'd 
make jam from our own blueberries and raspberries  I picked however, 
that's another heavy item (and glass jar) to mail.  So I scratched that 
idea. 

By the way, I recently read Hundred Dollar Holiday (subtitled The Case 
for a more Joyful Christmas) by Bill McKibben and was inspired by the 
book. 

What does this list full of inspiring and creative homesteaders do for 
gifts for the holidays?  What do you make--or do you make some or all of 
your gift?  Please share some of your tried and true or your favorite 
holiday gifts.  Only 42 shopping days until Christmas.  Sorry, had to do 
it.  Thanks much.