My sister Janet and I agree that "the neighborhood gift" sometimes causes ambivalent feelings. On the one hand, it IS fun to give and to receive and on the other hand, it usually takes a lot of time, some money and quite a bit of effort to make it happen - especially if you're making several dozen. I do like to give our neighbors something to let them now we're thinking about them and to wish them a Merry Christmas. We usually give a little something to our Home and Visiting Teaching families and our close friends in the neighborhood. But here is one of the problems - what if you give something to someone and not to someone else and they find out that they were left out....there is the potential for hurt feelings. Or another issue - you give a small inexpensive gift/treat to your neighbor and he/she gives you a more elaborate gift. Or yet another - Do you try and give something to everyone who gives you something? What if they came to your door on Christmas Eve to give you something and you don't have anything for them? And finally - do you ever re- gift??? How do you deal with this neighborhood gift "problem?"
Some things to consider:
- When your husband is the Bishop of the ward, people give you A LOT of stuff, mostly food and treats. I think it might be better to give the Bishop some sort or non-food item or take it over to the church so that all the staff can share while they are doing T. settlement. They're usually starving over there anyway. Unfortunately, we ended up throwing some treats out.
- Do you like home-baked treats? Some people I know (who will remain anonymous) feel anxious about eating some home prepared food and they throw it away.
- What do you do for your child's teachers or leaders? Anything?
I'm always looking for something to do for "the gift." I've stolen/shared some great ideas from my sisters over the years and we've even made the gifts together to get them done and ready to give. I love advance preparation! This year I bought a case of inexpensive Santa cookie jars from Tai Pan and I made my sister Ann's cinnamon oatmeal pancake mix to put inside the jar. Mixes are so expensive to buy and this pancake mix is to die for! Plus it uses food storage items you will probably already have on hand. In case you're not on my list this year for a neighborhood gift, you'll have to go ahead and make the mix yourself....and please don't be offended that I didn't give you one. (hahahaha!)
Here you go: (oh, and please have a Merry Christmas)
Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancake Mix
4 c. quick oats
2 c. flour
2 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. dry milk
1/2 c. sugar
1 T. cinnamon
2 t. salt
3 T. baking powder
1/2 t. cream of tartar
Mix together and put in an airtight container for no more than 6 months (as if it would last that long.) This mix will do about 4 batches of pancakes. When you're ready to make them, add 2 cups of the mix to 2 eggs, 3 T. oil and 1 c. water, mix and cook on a griddle.
This MUST HAVE syrup goes with them:
Almond buttermilk syrup
2 cubes butter
2 c. sugar
1 c. buttermilk
Boil 1 minute and then add 1 t. soda and 1 t. almond concentrate (a must) ENJOY!
10 comments:
I personally believe that giving a card saying you made a donation is a little like giving out coupons or peanuts at Halloween - better not to give at all than to make someone feel like they got the shaft (although it is a nice gesture). I don't know who would possibly not like eating others' home-baked goods?
I personally believe that U.S. Americans, like . . . such as, shouldn't worry so much about the neighborhood gift. Maybe everyone could make a pact with each other not to give each other a gift at all. Think of all the time and money this would save.
Vonnie,
I was just sitting at my computer mulling over the multi-faceted complexities of "the neighborhood treat" and lamenting the fact that I have not even considered what I will do this year when I discovered your comment on my blog which thus lead me here! (There have been years when my plate count was up to 40 - insane - yes, that is the word for it. That is what happens when your husband is stake president - much like a bishop.) My husband was released last Feb. and I am running out of treat creating steam. I think last Christmas I ended up just doing my close neighbors on either side and across the street. I have noticed the past five years many of my neighbors have resorted to the short-cut approach (a boxed muffin mix, "You're getting Muffin for Christmas!" or a 2 liter bottle of 7-Up etc.) I much prefer the homemade touch myself which brings us back to all the ins and outs you covered in your post. So it seems we are back to square 1. Thank you for your comment on my blog and I look forward to keeping in touch.
Sally
P.S. By the way, I really like the name Vonnie. And...don't tell anyone but just before reading your post I had just guiltily put a 3 day old neighbor treat in my garbage can - yikes!)
hi, nice blog here..
I like to read every posting you wrote...
You pose good questions Von, all of which I have pondered over the years to a great extent. On the whole, I enjoy receiving the neighbor gifts, but to forget about the giving/worrying part, I would forgo the getting aspect. Those Tai Pan jars are darling (and I say so because I was with you when they were purchased) but still more expense and trouble that I care to bother with. The teachers/leaders/kids friends is a whole other can of worms. I have done leaders/teachers in the past, but each boys now has two Sunday school teacher, and three priesthood leaders. Where does it end? It's tiring. But I do think they should be remembered somehow- as should your paper boy! People! Tip your hard-working, early rising paper boy/girl/man/woman!!!
Claire - shoot! I was hoping I'd get some backing for the "we gave in your name" idea.
VFR - will you please circulate a petition to get this movement started?
Sally - Hi! I feel your pain, only you've had it much, much worse in the sheer volumne you've had to deal with. As fas as throwing stuff out--I won't tell if you won't tell on me...
Niar - Welcome!
Lee - We'll be sure to tip the paper person! I hope you and your sons receive lots of tips this year.
I love the little Santa jars. Very cleaver. This is a" grass is always greener" moment. Because our ward is so lame...we don't even have home teachers, nor does T. home teach....and we live on a tiny street, we don't give ANYTHING to anyone nohow (and no one gives to us). I long for the olden days. This feels unnatural. And yet...very freeing. Believe me when I say Christmas is much simplier and less comercial at this stage in my life. And lonely.
I love the Missy's comment and agree that the promotion of their donation is a little weird. And my strategy on the neighborhood gift is to give back to those who give to me...so far so good.
A few years ago two of my neighbors started a great tradition. They sent around a letter suggesting that anyone that wanted to could participate in collecting items to donate to a local charity, rather then do neighbor gifts. Everyone would bring donations to a certain house by the 6th, and then get together for a treat and socializing while they wrapped the things. I love that idea. Neighbor gifts cause me way too much stress.
P.S. Did you see the Seinfeld where George was too cheap to get anybody at the office anything, so he gave out notes that said a donation had been made in their name to "The Human Fund" only no such charity existed, and he totally got busted? Good one.
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