Posts by Hortensia

i like the idea of lots of presents, too, but i totally don't like the idea enforced by advertising that all of us must spend loads of money buying gifts for everyone we know.

and i think that gifts for adults should be consumable, a bottle of wine, candy, that sort of thing, a token of friendship, a little treat, but nothing grand.. so, i've made about four dozen jars of jam from wild grapes i picked in the fall, and i'm going to make lots of cranberry bread and pumpkin bread.

Hortensia

rebel8 - I read over your post about the pressures of gift-giving and I agree. I never enjoyed the competitive spirit at Christmas and I didn't enjoy the feeling that my presents to others weren't good enough or weren't right in some important way. I got rebellious -- we all have too much stuff anyway, we don't need more. Here, have some jam and some good sweet bread, and if that isn't enough, well, you're out of luck.

20

Christmas presents

by Hortensia in

jw
friends

i like a lot about christmas, lights, music, smells, food.

i like the idea of lots of presents, too, but i totally don't like the idea enforced by advertising that all of us must spend loads of money buying gifts for everyone we know.

and i think that gifts for adults should be consumable, a bottle of wine, candy, that sort of thing, a token of friendship, a little treat, but nothing grand.. so, i've made about four dozen jars of jam from wild grapes i picked in the fall, and i'm going to make lots of cranberry bread and pumpkin bread.

Hortensia

Great ideas and I love the simplicity in these ideas.

WTW - my decorating consists of a cast-iron pinecone with a candle inside. Very pretty.

As for See's, I have to say that I prefer chocolate with less sugar in it nowadays, but it was always fun to go pick out a bunch of different chocolates to fill the one-pound box. Especially the caramels and the dark chocolate raspberry. Yummm.

I totally agree with shopping at thrift stores, used book stores, estate sales. I'd never be unhappy with a used book or piece of vintage jewelry as a gift.

WTW - I had to laugh at your story about the lanterns. It reminded me that one year I gave all my friends headlights - those little flashlights with an elastic band you can put around your forehead so both hands are free. Christmas eve when we were all together there was a power outage that lasted most of the night. My friends wondered why I insisted on them opening their presents -- until they found out what they were. We wore them for the rest of the evening, very useful and fun.

14

elder emails me after nearly 6 months... myresponse

by losingit in

jw
friends

just letting you know that today's meeting is cancelled.. it's been a while since we have seen the girls - if we need to change something so they can attend and or make their bible study - please let me know.. hope we see you at the meeting soon.. bro brown".

my response.... "simon,.

please remove me from your email contact list.

Hortensia

Good for you.

9

I need to make some new friends now.

by quellycatface in

jw
friends

it gets harder to make friends as you get older and you're children more independent, i feel.. i know it sounds a bit sad but any ideas about how to make some new friends??.

i'm not averse to joining a club or starting a new hobby.

i just feel a bit out of practice.. nelly no mates xx.

Hortensia

I went to trade school when I left the org., I met a lot of people and made some lasting friendships there.

21

Peter O'Toole passes

by designs in

lawrence of arabia made him an international star, but his acting gifts showed in many of his films.

goodbye mr. chips, in which he starred with petula clark, is one of my favorites.. rip .

Hortensia

I loved The Lion in Winter -- Peter O'Toole and Katherine Hepburn, wonderful combo.

48

Finally decided to introduce myself here

by cookiemaster in

hey guys !

i've stopped believing the watchtower crap a few years ago.

i achieved this on my own, despite being raised as one.

Hortensia

Hello from California!

I'm glad to hear your story -- I love reading about people who wake up much earlier than I did. So smart and so wise.

20

Christmas presents

by Hortensia in

jw
friends

i like a lot about christmas, lights, music, smells, food.

i like the idea of lots of presents, too, but i totally don't like the idea enforced by advertising that all of us must spend loads of money buying gifts for everyone we know.

and i think that gifts for adults should be consumable, a bottle of wine, candy, that sort of thing, a token of friendship, a little treat, but nothing grand.. so, i've made about four dozen jars of jam from wild grapes i picked in the fall, and i'm going to make lots of cranberry bread and pumpkin bread.

Hortensia

ummmm, chocolate. When I lived in the big city, I always got a pound of See's candy for Christmas. Sort of a Californian tradition. Now I don't live anywhere near a See's store, which is probably better for me anyway.

20

Christmas presents

by Hortensia in

jw
friends

i like a lot about christmas, lights, music, smells, food.

i like the idea of lots of presents, too, but i totally don't like the idea enforced by advertising that all of us must spend loads of money buying gifts for everyone we know.

and i think that gifts for adults should be consumable, a bottle of wine, candy, that sort of thing, a token of friendship, a little treat, but nothing grand.. so, i've made about four dozen jars of jam from wild grapes i picked in the fall, and i'm going to make lots of cranberry bread and pumpkin bread.

Hortensia

I announced to all and sundry a few years ago that I wouldn't be doing Christmas any more, so don't buy me any presents! Now that I've got everyone trained, I can do what I want, which is a few little treats for those around me. So much easier, so much less expensive, and still something that people can't buy in a store.