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Copy school photos, put in album. Or try enlarging memorable family picture for yule
By Mary Beth Breckenridge
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Oct 31, 2009
Get the wrapping paper ready.
A number of you came through after I asked for holiday gift ideas for people who are hard to buy for. I wish I could publish all the suggestions, but space prohibits that. So here are my favorites:
• For kids, Coventry Township resident Susan Wolak suggested a dress-up box. Shop thrift stores for costumes and dollar stores for extras such as firefighter helmets, pirate swords, jewelry and fairy wands. Put them in a sturdy container such as a plastic toy box on wheels, and decorate it with the child's name using paint, peel-and-stick letters or rubber alphabet letters glued in place.
• Wolak also suggested making a Christmas tree skirt or ornaments from kids' drawings. Have the children make drawings of holiday images such as snowmen and reindeer, and then trace the pictures onto white fabric and color them with permanent markers to match the originals. Use that fabric to make a tree skirt, or make ornaments by sewing around the shapes and stuffing them with fiberfill.
My input: You could easily shrink or enlarge the original artwork on a copier or computer, if necessary.
• Another great keepsake idea came from Barbara Simons Werner of Silver Lake. For grandparents, she suggested copying the grandchildren's school photos and pictures of their activities and arranging them in an album, marked with the dates and names of the events. Make a section for each child, if you like.
• Or how about enlarging and framing a picture of the recipient's childhood home or some other significant spot? Virginia Brearley of Kent delighted her children and grandchildren by giving them framed copies of a photo of a barn on the farm that's been in their family for more than 160 years.
• Kimberly Lockhart of Akron has a stationer make note cards for people on her list. She chooses an appropriate design and has the cards imprinted with the recipient's name in a font and ink color that coordinate with the picture she's chosen.
• Food is always a favorite. Lisa Bee of Tallmadge and Elizabeth Maruschak of Painesville suggested stocking a freezer with home-cooked meals — a particularly thoughtful gift for older recipients or people who just don't enjoy cooking.
Or take Cuyhoga Falls resident Ann Lyman's suggestion and deliver a complete meal once a month on a prearranged date. Lyman gave this gift to her married children and included some of their childhood favorites. A twist on the idea is to deliver a favorite treat each month, such as cookies or banana bread, instead of a whole meal.
• Maruschak also suggested giving the gift of a work day. Let the recipient make a list of odd jobs that need to be done, and have family members pitch in to help.
Gee, I wouldn't mind putting that last idea in my letter to Santa.
Many thanks to all the contributors, who included Diane Orender, Margo Erme, Sandy Boughman, Linda Berthold, Sue Kitzmiller, Peggy Guttieri, Lynette Collins, Debbie Swisshelm, Alexandra Robbins and someone from Wooster who identified herself only as Connie.
Events, programs
• Apple cider making and tasting, 1 to 3 p.m. today, Cleveland Botanical Garden's Hershey Children's Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Admission: $7.50; children ages 3-12, $3; members and younger children, free. Information: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Warm Up Akron meeting, 3 p.m. Tuesday, Danbury of Cuyahoga Falls, 1695 Queens Gate Circle. Members knit or crochet squares that are used to make afghans for needy people in the Akron area. Information: 330-699-3252 or http://www.geocities.com/warmupakron.
• Spotlight on Green Roofs, 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 3500 Lorain Ave., Cleveland. Informational session on vegetative roofs, sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District. Free, but advance registration is required at http://www.neogreenbuilding.org.
• Ikebana exhibit, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Nov. 7 and noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 8, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Special exhibit in honor of the 50th anniversary of Cleveland Chapter 20 of Ikebana International, showcasing flower arrangements by the Ikenobo, Ohara and Sogetsu schools of Ikebana. Free with garden admission ($7.50; children ages 3-12, $3; members and younger children, free). Information: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Nature Tales Story Time, 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Eleanor Squire Library, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Children 6 and younger with an adult will enjoy songs, stories and a craft. Free with garden admission ($7.50; children ages 3-12, $3; members and younger children, free). Information: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Investibles and Antiques, 7 p.m. Thursday, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Nordonia Hills branch, 9458 Olde Eight Road, Northfield. Antiques expert and columnist Ken Yenke will talk about keys to antique collecting and how to determine and maximize the value of collections. Free, but advance registration is requested. Information: 330-467-8595.
• Interior Lighting, noon Friday, Ohio Design Centre, 23533 Mercantile Road, Beachwood (off Chagrin Boulevard, west of Interstate 271). Interior designer Dawn Cook and lighting consultant Bob Halper will present lighting principles and new concepts for illuminating the home. $10, including petite lunch. Space is limited. Reservations: 216-831-1245. Information: http://www.ohiodesigncentre.com.
• Home for the Holidays: Gingerbread House Family Workshop, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 7, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Adult and child will decorate a pre-constructed gingerbread house. Recommended for ages 6 to 12. Member and child, $40; nonmember and child, $50. Registration: 216-721-1600, ext. 100, or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Renewable Energy Workshop, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 12, Fisher Auditorium, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. Updates on wind, solar, bioenergy and biofuel production and use; practical ways to use less energy and save money; and tour of OARDC's biomass processing and research facilities. $25 ($10 for students), including lunch. Registration due Thursday. Information and link to a brochure and registration form in the Events section at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu.
• Three Women in the Woods: Words & Images, through Dec. 16, John F. Seiberling Gallery, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association headquarters, 1403 W. Hines Hill Road, Boston Township. Exhibit of art, photos and poetry reflecting nature and created by area residents Barbara Krans Jenkins, Jane Rogers and Jill Sell. Free. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and by appointment. Information: 330-467-3533.
Mail notices of classes, programs and events two weeks in advance to: Home and Garden News, Features Department, Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron OH 44309-0640. Please include name and phone number. All events must be open to the public.
Get the wrapping paper ready.
A number of you came through after I asked for holiday gift ideas for people who are hard to buy for. I wish I could publish all the suggestions, but space prohibits that. So here are my favorites:
• For kids, Coventry Township resident Susan Wolak suggested a dress-up box. Shop thrift stores for costumes and dollar stores for extras such as firefighter helmets, pirate swords, jewelry and fairy wands. Put them in a sturdy container such as a plastic toy box on wheels, and decorate it with the child's name using paint, peel-and-stick letters or rubber alphabet letters glued in place.
• Wolak also suggested making a Christmas tree skirt or ornaments from kids' drawings. Have the children make drawings of holiday images such as snowmen and reindeer, and then trace the pictures onto white fabric and color them with permanent markers to match the originals. Use that fabric to make a tree skirt, or make ornaments by sewing around the shapes and stuffing them with fiberfill.
My input: You could easily shrink or enlarge the original artwork on a copier or computer, if necessary.
• Another great keepsake idea came from Barbara Simons Werner of Silver Lake. For grandparents, she suggested copying the grandchildren's school photos and pictures of their activities and arranging them in an album, marked with the dates and names of the events. Make a section for each child, if you like.
• Or how about enlarging and framing a picture of the recipient's childhood home or some other significant spot? Virginia Brearley of Kent delighted her children and grandchildren by giving them framed copies of a photo of a barn on the farm that's been in their family for more than 160 years.
• Kimberly Lockhart of Akron has a stationer make note cards for people on her list. She chooses an appropriate design and has the cards imprinted with the recipient's name in a font and ink color that coordinate with the picture she's chosen.
• Food is always a favorite. Lisa Bee of Tallmadge and Elizabeth Maruschak of Painesville suggested stocking a freezer with home-cooked meals — a particularly thoughtful gift for older recipients or people who just don't enjoy cooking.
Or take Cuyhoga Falls resident Ann Lyman's suggestion and deliver a complete meal once a month on a prearranged date. Lyman gave this gift to her married children and included some of their childhood favorites. A twist on the idea is to deliver a favorite treat each month, such as cookies or banana bread, instead of a whole meal.
• Maruschak also suggested giving the gift of a work day. Let the recipient make a list of odd jobs that need to be done, and have family members pitch in to help.
Gee, I wouldn't mind putting that last idea in my letter to Santa.
Many thanks to all the contributors, who included Diane Orender, Margo Erme, Sandy Boughman, Linda Berthold, Sue Kitzmiller, Peggy Guttieri, Lynette Collins, Debbie Swisshelm, Alexandra Robbins and someone from Wooster who identified herself only as Connie.
Events, programs
• Apple cider making and tasting, 1 to 3 p.m. today, Cleveland Botanical Garden's Hershey Children's Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Admission: $7.50; children ages 3-12, $3; members and younger children, free. Information: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Warm Up Akron meeting, 3 p.m. Tuesday, Danbury of Cuyahoga Falls, 1695 Queens Gate Circle. Members knit or crochet squares that are used to make afghans for needy people in the Akron area. Information: 330-699-3252 or http://www.geocities.com/warmupakron.
• Spotlight on Green Roofs, 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, 3500 Lorain Ave., Cleveland. Informational session on vegetative roofs, sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District. Free, but advance registration is required at http://www.neogreenbuilding.org.
• Ikebana exhibit, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Nov. 7 and noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 8, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Special exhibit in honor of the 50th anniversary of Cleveland Chapter 20 of Ikebana International, showcasing flower arrangements by the Ikenobo, Ohara and Sogetsu schools of Ikebana. Free with garden admission ($7.50; children ages 3-12, $3; members and younger children, free). Information: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Nature Tales Story Time, 11 a.m. to noon Thursday, Eleanor Squire Library, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Children 6 and younger with an adult will enjoy songs, stories and a craft. Free with garden admission ($7.50; children ages 3-12, $3; members and younger children, free). Information: 216-721-1600 or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Investibles and Antiques, 7 p.m. Thursday, Akron-Summit County Public Library, Nordonia Hills branch, 9458 Olde Eight Road, Northfield. Antiques expert and columnist Ken Yenke will talk about keys to antique collecting and how to determine and maximize the value of collections. Free, but advance registration is requested. Information: 330-467-8595.
• Interior Lighting, noon Friday, Ohio Design Centre, 23533 Mercantile Road, Beachwood (off Chagrin Boulevard, west of Interstate 271). Interior designer Dawn Cook and lighting consultant Bob Halper will present lighting principles and new concepts for illuminating the home. $10, including petite lunch. Space is limited. Reservations: 216-831-1245. Information: http://www.ohiodesigncentre.com.
• Home for the Holidays: Gingerbread House Family Workshop, 9:30 to 11 a.m. Nov. 7, Cleveland Botanical Garden, 11030 East Blvd. Adult and child will decorate a pre-constructed gingerbread house. Recommended for ages 6 to 12. Member and child, $40; nonmember and child, $50. Registration: 216-721-1600, ext. 100, or http://www.cbgarden.org.
• Renewable Energy Workshop, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 12, Fisher Auditorium, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster Township. Updates on wind, solar, bioenergy and biofuel production and use; practical ways to use less energy and save money; and tour of OARDC's biomass processing and research facilities. $25 ($10 for students), including lunch. Registration due Thursday. Information and link to a brochure and registration form in the Events section at http://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu.
• Three Women in the Woods: Words & Images, through Dec. 16, John F. Seiberling Gallery, Cuyahoga Valley National Park Association headquarters, 1403 W. Hines Hill Road, Boston Township. Exhibit of art, photos and poetry reflecting nature and created by area residents Barbara Krans Jenkins, Jane Rogers and Jill Sell. Free. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and by appointment. Information: 330-467-3533.
Mail notices of classes, programs and events two weeks in advance to: Home and Garden News, Features Department, Akron Beacon Journal, P.O. Box 640, Akron OH 44309-0640. Please include name and phone number. All events must be open to the public.
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