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started my christmas shopping! :D

By Guest Poet, in The Nesting Box

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Guest

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Some of you inspired me to create little hampers next year with some h/made goodies in. We went to the garden centre today and after buying our seed potatoes, (we got 'kestrel' potatoes in case anyone knows about these things ;)) we also bought some seeds; 3 carrot varieties, parsnips, sprouts, peas, sweet corn, chilli peppers and turnips (can't wait for our first proper crop)

 

Anyway, they had loads of sale items so, I got myself a book of slow cooker recipes for £4.99 (should have been £12.99) and 14 yankee samplers for 80p each (we all know they should be £1.60 each ;)) some orange and cinnamon scented drawer sachets for 50p each (should have been £2.25 each).

 

The candles and the sachets will go into the hampers along with anything else nice I see through the year, plus a few h/made goodies. If we get a decent fruit crop I can make some jam from our own fruit.

 

I can't believe I'm thinking that far ahead, I was always your typical, last minute rush shopper, perhaps you've had a positive influence on me ;)

 

p.s. I found 6 extra samplers in the bag when we got home, no idea how they got there! :whistle::liar:

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Lailapet Chicken Eggspert

Lailapet

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I for one am very impressed!!! I thinkhampers with home made and other goodies is a great idea for Christmas and as I will be going on two willow basket weaving weekends this year I could even make the hampers themselves... My mother gave away jars of honey walnuts and tomato chutney for Christmas. She would be thrilled (and extremely surprised) to receive something like that from me but with so long notice I can start doing what you're doing and take advantage of the sales and bargains along the way. The biggest problem for me is normally WHAT to get people but this is a very good idea. Thanks for the inspiration.

Laila

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Lailapet Chicken Eggspert

Lailapet

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Hmm, my baskets will definitely look as home made as they are! I really enjoy the activity, the smell of the willow and the beautiful surroundings where I go to do it but I doubt very much I'll ever be very good at making baskets... But they will serve the purpose. I'll post photos when I get that far :)

Laila

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jomaxsmith All Knowing Superchicken

jomaxsmith

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Sounds lovely - well done you!

 

Our new gardening club (of which I am the Chair!) is having a potato growing competition this year and our local garden centre has recommended Kestrel as a good one to grow. I believe it is similar to King Edwards but the markings are more purple than red.

 

On the Christmas front - I've bought 8 rolls of giftwrap in the sales that will more than last me through next Christmas and probably beyond!

 

Jo

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Guest

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Sounds lovely - well done you!

 

Our new gardening club (of which I am the Chair!) is having a potato growing competition this year and our local garden centre has recommended Kestrel as a good one to grow. I believe it is similar to King Edwards but the markings are more purple than red.

 

On the Christmas front - I've bought 8 rolls of giftwrap in the sales that will more than last me through next Christmas and probably beyond!

 

Jo

 

ta :D

 

it's our first time growing our own and the instructions said it was a good all rounder and quite disease resistent so we plumped for that one. Once we know what we're doing, we might experiment with different varieties.

 

It was either kestrel of another one called Elvira I think!? But that was more for salads and/or boiling.

 

We always try to buy pretty none specific wrapping paper which can double up for Christmas and/or birthdays but I haven't bought any in bulk. My mum bought me a shredder this year for christmas so I can use it to make the packing for the hampers next year, I'll use recycled paper! :lol:

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Cate in NZ Feathery Fanatic

Cate in NZ

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I'm impressed..............very organised, and a great way of getting thoughtful gifts appropriate to the recipient 8) ( rather than the last minute dash and "that'll do" type presents which I end end up getting rather more often than I like to admit too). It's also a great way of spreading the cost as well, which always helps with budgetting :D .

But don't go and do what I've been guilty of, either storing presents away in a great, tucked away spot and then not being able to remember precisely where you've hidden them, or forgetting exactly what you've got tucked away, and ending up with 3 presents for one person, and nothing at all for someone else :shock::oops::lol::lol::lol:

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Couperwife Golden Egg

Couperwife

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Poet, without wanting to state the obvious, ITS 13 JANUARY

 

can you please let us get January out of the way before talking about christmas. :shock::D:D:D

 

I love christmas shopping, but I have to draw the line somewhere, if I mentioned it now, kev would probably take my credit card away from me :shock:

 

the last birthday is October, no christmas shopping until ever one has a birthday present.

 

(unless, you really, really, really have to :D )

 

cathy

x

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Lesley Eggsistentialist

Lesley

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I've bought cards and candles ready for next Christmas, in Oxfam - they have a sale on at the moment.

 

Laila - scroll down to the Crafty Fingers section and tell us all about your baskets - it might inspire some of us to start making some ready for the hampers 8) .

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Cate in NZ Feathery Fanatic

Cate in NZ

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i'm putting them in the drawer under the bed, can someone remind me nearer the time? :D

 

Not a chance in this world that I'd remember :oops: ...............but there's plenty of more organised people on here than me :D .

Why not try posting a "Help" type topic next November, and see how many people can remind you :wink::lol::lol::lol::lol:

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Charlottechicken Eggcentric Egluowner

Charlottechicken

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Well done Poet, sounds like an excellent shopping trip :clap::D

 

I've started already too, well just after Christmas I bought 10 scarves for a total of £4 from the market. I can't knit so these will be a good base for my gift bags this year, and hopefully the homemade stuff won't be so obvious with a nice bought scarf in the bag too :oops::lol:

 

I am also looking for some cheap Yankee candle samplers, and am hoping to have a go at proper bottling of some pears from my tree this year. I am scrounging around for suitable jars. I hope to wrap them all up in homemade tote bags tied around with string and a nice brown paper label.

 

Thanks for the tip about the Oxfam sale Lesley, I will be off to the local one on Friday when I do my shopping.

 

Ooh all this planning is so exciting, much better than the draught proofing I am supposed to be doing :oops::lol:

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Guest

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DH is growing rhubarb, I like the sound of rhubarb schnaps- I just don't know where to start! :?

 

I'll have to do some googling, I s'pose I have to start them off soon?

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