ShellyGa, I ordered them via school from Original Works. I think you can also order them direct via originalworks.com if you have your own pics. If you need their 800 #, email me directly. Good luck. I love the ones I got this Christmas. Unfortunately the posts do not come with the flags. So I have been looking for them. I will save the flags now for Mother's Day since I can't find the posts/stakes. Think once this Xmas thing is over, the stores will start bringing them out. Pike might have them too. I haven't checked. Good luck. tc

I feel really bad, because last year I was given a link to a whole Web site on making liqueur, (maybe even by Readinglady, or someone from the Harvest forum), and I either filed it somewhere I can't find, or didn't bookmark it. Anyway, maybe you can find it by Googling. Meanwhile, here's the recipes I am using. They come out of one of my FAVORITE books, sadly no longer in print. It is called "The Herbal Pantry" by Emelie Tolley and Chris Mead, Clarkson Potter Publisher, New York 1992. It is a visual as well as culinary treat. It is LOADED with ideas for using herbs to make thing that would be great gifts, like herbal vinegars and mixes, and special cordials, jams, chutnies, etc. Apricot Thyme Liqueur 1 lb. dried apricots (I spent extra for unsulphered, organic for obvious reasons) 4 cups vodka (I used a 750 ml. bottle) 1/2 cup brandy (I used another 750 ml. bottle because that's what was needed to cover the apricots) 1 cup sugar 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup fresh lemon thyme (I used double that, but it may be a mistake. It was so late in the season and had been so cold when I harvested the thyme, it doesn't seem to have all that much taste left. Time will tell.) Combine fruit and booze and herbs in a large jar (I used a quart canning jar) with a tight fitting cover. Place in a cool dark place to steep for one month. I have it in the back of the fridge and it's going to be there for two months. Occasionally moosh the fruit around in the liquid using a wooden spoon or potato masher. When adequately steeped, strain the liquid from the fruit as much as possible. Boil the sugar and water together and add to the fruit mixture. Add sugar syrup slowly to taste, stop when it is sweet enough for you. Bottle and age for an additional 3 weeks. This weekend I hope to put up a jar of pear ginger and raspberry mint. The raspberry mint calls for 4 half pints of raspberries, which I have about half frozen right now so I'll add some more store bought frozen ones, and 3/4 cup tightly packed mint leaves, which I am no way going to use because I don't like mint all that much. I'll probably use 1/4 cup. Can also add 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa. Pear ginger calls for 8 very ripe pears (4 cups) and a 2 inch piec of ginger. Also calls for increasing the sugar to 2 cups water and 1 cup sugar. Which seems like a lot to me, but she says OK to add to taste. Using the pear recipe above, apple cinnamon brandy would be easy enough to figure out.

I was going to suggest too, things to do on the trip on the plane to keep them busy. Small items and things when used up can get rid of so they aren't over burden with too much. Yes, check the library for an up to date book of Germany and they can check out what there is to see. Journals are excellent to have, light ones though and make sure you have pens extra in case of losing one pen. Or run out of ink. Make sure you have a good camera for all of you to use and take pictures of. Maybe a scrapbook for them to make up about their trip when they come home? The library may even have language tapes to listen, can check on that too. Check out travel sites for good ideas to bring and see with you all. Rick Steves? has travelled with his kids and wife all over and so he should have good ideas. I know the one thing he suggested on tv was with kids is that they carry their back bag and only what they can carry is all they can have in it so that way you aren't loaded down with huge suitcases which you do not want in those countries. You want to bring and be very light, so rehearse way ahead and everyone pack all they want to bring on their trips, see if they can carry their backpacks with it all in? What can be illiminated? What is really necessary. Or bring stuff that can be dumped over there and left behind. There is nothing worse then too much stuff and being a hinder and ruining a great trip. Also make sure everyone has good comfortable walking shoes to walk lots. Check weather if you need to bring umbrellas or not or what? Less is better remember so check it all out ahead of time.

Here's an idea that may be good for the men in your lives (women too-- but I always find gifts for men to be the biggest challenge!) I bought my BIL an infrared thermometer gun-- it was part of a gift package for their high-temp pizza oven. Construction on their deckscape has been delayed so the pizza oven wasn't installed but my sister says he's been using it to check temps in their ac ducts.. a reviewer said he uses it to check car engine temps. It's just a versatile tool/toy .. Thermoworks has 15% off sitewide right now so I bought one for my other BIL for Christmas.