Susan, Hope your recovery is coming along well.Thanks for the offer of the make up package. There is no need for you to make up for her neglect.Will post her review, this will me my very first (and hopefully last)negative review to give someone.I really don't want to do it,but other swappers should know what they are dealing with.Thanks again! April/dirt_under_my_nails

So....I had all these great ideas, only to find out that I am only going to be able to fit so much in the box....with some creative packing I am hoping to get quite a bit of it in there, but we'll see....still making stuff. Here's what I have done so far: Painted wood tray, 2 bracelets, 4 pairs of earrings, 3 pairs of crochet embellished socks, 3 small doilies.... And part way through construction are: 2 mini shadow boxes, 4 tassel pairs, 3 wall plaquettes.... And still have all the supplies for some other things that I was hoping to make, but I will have too see how much room I have left in the box! I would upgrade the box to a bigger size, but the postage would be exhorbitant due to how much it weighs already! Netta

And then there are the cinnamon dough ornaments. We made these at a Sernior Center a couple of times. Easy to do and nice results. Just make sure you have a variety of cookie cutters and ribbon and some paints Preferably white for a frosting look Ingredients: 3/4 - 1 cup (cheap) applesauce One 4.12oz bottle ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon of white glue (the school kind) Tools needed: Rolling pin or a glass Cookie cutters Straw or toothpick Wire rack Method: Combine the applesauce, cinnamon and glue to form a stiff dough. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut with a cookie cutter. Make a hole for a ribbon with a straw. Place on a wire rack and let dry for several days, turning occasionally. A Waxed paper lined box can be used to tote home and they keep (dried out) for years and smell good every year.

Well, my microwave occasionally needs to be beat on to start, but when it does, it's 1200 watts of pure zappin' power, baby!! Of course, people first, then food then ambiance....but in my experience all 3 go hand in hand. People who are good cooks, serve it well....and people who aren't good cooks? Well let's not even go there....this is a cooking forum!! ;-) I remember being invited to dinner at someone's house who were obviously trying to put on the dog, with no though to guests comfort. There were what appeared to be "wedding gift" candle sticks with lit scented candles, on a miserably hot night, with no airconditioning and the windows closed, because we don't want the candles to drip on the tablecloth. And the food was awful! I have eaten a hot dog cooked on a stick over an open fire, sitting on a log, with my front baking and my backside freezing, where the host said "let me grab you another beer, it's cold when you get away from the fire"...that was better than a fancy dinner where the hostess was worried about the candles dripping. One time about this time of the year, I invited a guy I was dating over for dinner. The evening was lovely and warm, and it seemed like it would be the last night eating on the deck. The deck and table covered with leaves, had not been swept....so I dumped the leaves off the chairs and table, grabbed a picnic table cloth, put tea lights into a couple of jelly jars, poured the wine, plated the pork chops and baked potatoes and we had a wonderful dinner amid the crunchy leaves. It's all about the host or hostess being willing to go the extra mile. Not thinking "it's too much trouble...I am busy.." I can't imagine making a lovely beef stew and home made bread and serving it from anything but real dishes. You may be on the way to a show or a game and not have time to wash the dishes until the next day....but to me a stack of dirty plates in the kitchen is a small price for a nicely served meal.