WOW! These are the greatest ideas:) If you're going for inexpensive, I love TennesseeKathy's idea of wildflower seeds in the envelope. I've seen where you can print these out for free all over the internet:) I also love Superiorgirls idea of cinnamon ornaments,and as matter of fact I made some last night!!! This is a recipe I used years ago,and the ornaments really last,they don't rot or mildew in the heat and humidity here. I will give the recipe. I made 48 2" hearts and 2 3" stars,only the stars kinda came out like starfish:). They will smell nice for years! And they dried out overnight. A little hint....use more cinnamon to sprinkle if it's too sticky,the cornstarch makes them too white, and really knead the dough til it cools.You have to use it within 30 minutes. Now,what I always make at Christmas time is soup in a jar. All year I collect baskets at yard sales,and if I'm lucky to find wide mouth mason jars, I buy those,too,but they're cheap enough:) And like someone else mentioned, I buy the bakery bags at the dollar store,you get 8 bags for $1. I make something called I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas Soup mix I found on the internet,and make the rice bags like Sunshine mentioned:) Those are so great! I make a square one with 4 compartments,and I make a long rectangular one with 4 compartments. I use mine all the time! I found these on the internet for a get-well package. You could use leftover turkey at holiday time to make the soup,but I always add a can of chicken so all the ingredients are there. Recipe for this in the link. I print out the recipe on nice paper,and attach with raffia. Cut out a nice circle of fabric if you want for the jar lid. If I make the rice buddy, I use the same fabric for the jar. NON-EDIBLE!!! Cinnamon Applsesauce Ornaments 3/4 cup applesauce 1 packet unflavored gelatin 1 jar cinnamon(1.9oz) I buy the cinnamon at the dollar store at 2/$1 and its over 2oz in a jar,so I use half a jar,then use more to sprinkle on when I roll them out. 1/4 cup cornstarch 3 tablespoons ground cloves Combine applesauce and gelatin in small saucepan and let stand for 3 minutes. heat over medium heat constantly stirring just til simmering. combine cinnamon,cornstarch and cloves in separate bowl. Stir in applesauce mixture. Turn onto counter and knead a f ew turns. Divide dough in half and wrap each half in plastic wrap. use within 30 minutes. Roll dough between sheets of plastic wrap to a scant 1/4" thickness. Cut ornaments using 2 inch cookie cutters. Use a straw to cut holes for hanging. dry on wire rack overnight. Reroll scraps and repeat cutting. These are great! Also THESE ARE NON-EDIBLE!! and here's the link for the soup mix,everyone loves this soup! we add fresh celery and carrots,and everyone starts asking before Christmas if we're making it again! Crispix Puppy Chow 12 oz. box Crispix cereal 1/2 cup butter 1 cup peanut butter 12 oz. pkg. chocolate chips 2 to 3 cups powdered sugar In medium microwave-safe bowl, combine butter, peanut butter and chocolate chips and microwave on high for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring once during cooking, until mixture is melted and smooth. Place the cereal in another large bowl and pour the melted mixture over the cereal. Stir until the cereal is thoroughly coated. Pour the powdered sugar into a large plastic food bag. Pour the coated cereal into the powdered sugar and shake until it is well covered with the sugar. Pour the cereal onto wax paper to cool and dry. Store in tightly covered containers at room temperature This recipe is fast and easy and everyone loves it. I add a little more roasted peanuts. Put them in a nice little bakery bag and it's a great gift! Something else I make is a milk bath sachet. I found where to print up beautiful envelopes and I bought a stack of vellum paper at a yard sale to print them on for a dime:) I'll probably never use all the paper I bought! I make soap to go with it and a candle. Here is the link! http://www.allfreecrafts.com/homemade-gifts/oatmeal-milk-bath.shtml Hope everyone finds these recipes and ideas helpful! Here is a link that might be useful: Christmas Soup in a jar

sarah, of course you may. we would be honored. frost thrives on undivided attention! :) what am i saying? she absolutely demands it. when she was a kitten/ young adult, her stripes were much less visible. she has the ticking on her fur like any other tabby pattern. but, with the color/ varying shades of creme, white, ivory, tan her fur just shimmered in the light. her full and formal name is sunspot's cyclone's crystal (he was a big boy and she just crystal-sized compared to her papa, nicknamed snowman. crystal of frost was too long to fit with all the other stuff) rescued pets are beautiful too! a link to aspca for sending in your story..and there is a blurb at the very end that i think chicka would be partial to, as well. Here is a link that might be useful: hopeful tails contest

Wonderful pictures! Here are my contributions. This is our 16-year old Siphon, whom I found at about 10 days of age crossing a big street in Japan all by himself. The other cat is Rosie, also a rescue from our days in Japan. When Siphon gets to feeling frisky, he flops down on his side and kicks his elbow.

IZZY being funny OZZY JAZZY the Cockatiel and FUNKY the parakeet ROMEO (he's in doggy heaven now) OZZY I (he's in doggy heaven too) IZZY smokin his cigar IZZY & OZZY II OZZY hanging around The parrots are attacking the house! Santa OZZY Sun Bunny IZZY ROMEO the Raindeer