Hoops and fire rings

Hula hoops have been around since the days of ancient Greece, when they were used for exercise, to 3000 years ago in Egypt where hoops of grapevine were rolled. They were rediscovered in the 1950's and became an icon of that era. Modern children and adults still find hula hooping a great form of exercise and just plain fun. We have a hoop for each family member and a couple extras for guests. They're put to use constantly and bridge all ages... my daughter started hooping at 4, and her grandmother even gets into the action! Hula hoops are a fabulous activity for any outdoor party/gathering, whether you make them with a group or just have a bunch ready for action. Here's a link to make your own. Make several in various circumferences.

the tree's name is holly

and it's about half the size we usually get, but Holly is a stunner, and completely filled with handmade goodness...

Simple gifts: Plants

This is the second in my series of Simple Gifts for the holidays. It's a quickie but goody! Paper whites are a beautiful flower bulb that you can force to bloom for the holidays. Force sounds so harsh... it just means that you give them a gentle nudge to open early... by giving them the light of a window sill and the warmth of inside. You can do this in any climate, but it's particularly nice where the winters are frosty and you're aching for fresh flowers. I always start mine the week of Thanksgiving. They take 4-6 weeks to bloom. I give them as gifts around the holidays, and by that time they are either just blossoming or about to. Find all of the supplies at your local garden store. Each gift will cost about a $ 1, but be worth so much more!