Call Me Crazy, but I LOVE gifting for the Holidays

I know. Really, I do. There are many downsides to the commercialization of the winter holiday season. We all know that they are-too focused on material things, leading to too much stuff in the world for the environment, and too hard on folks who can’t afford food much less gifts.

I’m always resistant to make too much of holiday gifts on the blog and social media for those reasons, and because it tends to cause so many non-Christians to feel left out.

And, but. The end of the year is a time I like to reflect about how much friends and family mean to me, and how I think of ways to show how much I care.

So, I’m throwing out some ideas for those of you who also love to wrap up, or send things to those you love, in hopes it adds to joy rather than causes stress. I decided a long time ago–growing up in a house that was full of tension and tears every holiday season–that I would only do what felt fun and loving. Here are some thoughts about how I think of giving during the last month of the year.

First and foremost: I give to people I don’t know. We are all surrounded by folks who can barely put food on the table. I find that inexcusable in this land of plenty, but there we are. Every year I give what I can afford to the local Food Pantry. Every bit counts, so if you can, join me, even if it’s just five dollars. I literally stopped writing this to make my donation this year.

I give to the land. This year I’m continuing a substantial contribution to
Wisconsin Green Fire, an environmental organization that “supports our conservation legacy by promoting science-based management of natural resources.” They get the credit, in my opinion, for providing the research that finally updated Wisconsin’s wolf management plan from one of wild ass speculation (and negative views about wolves), to one based on regulations designed to keep a healthy wolf population in the state, decrease wolf-human conflicts, and honor the indigenous legacy of respect for their wolf brothers. Full disclosure: I’m one of Green Fire’s Ambassadors, proud to be included with others like Russ Feingold, Patty Loew, Tia Nelson, and Kathleen Falk.

I give to my family. I especially love providing some financial suppport for the adventures of my three, beloved nieces (Wendy P, Annie P, and Emily E), and my three grand nephews.

Jim and I make a lot of food for family and friends. Jim makes his famous holiday cookies, which people try to find ways to ask about without being too obvious. Yes, they are that good, and yes, they will be in the gift bags! I’ve already made one batch of homemade ketchup (catsup?). It’s easy to make until you put it in these way-fun bottles, thus turning your kitchen into a scene from a horror movie. There will be more, scones always, and maybe some pumpkin or banana bread?

Gifts cards, home made food, and plain old money go to people who make a huge difference in my life, from my Pilates coach, to our farm sitter, my acupuncture guru, to our favorite servers at local restaurants. One of the later always gets a $100 tip because they deserve it and aren’t paid enough and it makes me crazy happy to be able to do it.

Yup, I buy stuff. Lots of books, especially from independent book stores like Arcadia Books in Spring Green, WI. I just finished a food/family relationship novel, Bread and Butter by Michelle Wilgen, which I adored. I’ll be sending that to some friends for sure because they’ll love it as much as I did.

A interesting book for people SUPER into their dog’s health is Beyond Dog Massage, by Jim Masterson. Subtitled “A Breakthrough Method for Relieving Soreness and Achieving Connection,” I was skeptical at first. I see so many books/podcasts/seminars advertising “Break Through” and “Revolutionary” that one becomes inured. But I found the book interesting and compelling. The method, originally developed with horses, is “an interactive method of animal bodywork that follows and uses the animal’s responses to your touch to find and release tension . . .” Following the author’s methods is not for a dabbler. A person could spend a looong time just working on the early stages, and I’d argue would want to get a vet’s go ahead before doing too much more, but my experience with massage and acupressure leads me to at least find this something to consider. It’s beautifully produced book, with lots of photographs and figures of the musculature and skeletal system of the dog. So, if you’re looking for a gift for someone who is all in, go for it.

If this isn’t the right dog-related gift book, dive into the resources of “the Amazon of Dog Books,” Dogwise. From new books on Agility Training, to classics like “Mine,” on resource guarding, Dogwise has it all. You pretty much can’t miss going there if you’re interested in a dog-related book.

My favorite non-dog book is Healing Visions, by photographer Meg Boscov and her literary husband Randall Brown. The book includes 50 of Meg’s astoundingly beautiful photographs, paired with the work of 50 writers asked to write 100 words–no more, no less–that fit with the image. The book has won so many awards I can’t even list them here, but here’s what Kirkus Reviews has to say (KR is a HUGE deal in publishing): “…a feast for the eyes and a set of beguiling ruminations on its rich variety. Sublime botanical visuals elicit haunting meditations on the evanescence of beauty.”

[Note: I added this in on the 10th, can’t believe I didn’t put it in first time!]

More fun stuff: Love jigsaw puzzles? It’s not the week between Christmas and New Year’s at our house if there’s not a jigsaw puzzle out on the table. Here’s one that looks fabulous: 299 dogs (and a cat)! No two pieces are the same, and all but one are in the shapes of a dog. (Except, of course, the cat.) There is also a follow up puzzle, 299 cats (and a dog). Of course there is.

And then, there’s the universally popular theme of dogs pooping. (We are such a weird species.) Last year I sent a friend of jigsaw puzzle of dogs pooping, maybe this year I should send the calendar, “Dogs Pooping in Beautiful Places“? But the absolute winner, in this category, suitable only for the dog obsessed (or someone you dislike), is this:

A toothpaste dispenser that provides toothpaste out of a dog’s, uh, butt.

Having no ability to fall any lower in the humor department, and with my sincere apologies, I think I’d better stop here.

MEANWHILE, back on the farm: Help! I’m obsessed with getting my novel’s manuscript in shape to, at least, be read by other agents in my literary agency. (If they like it, next step is to prepare a proposal to send out to publishers.) But, here’s what is scattered through the text: “I got back to [farm name] just in time to …..”.

I need a farm name! Here’s what there is to know: The protagonist lives on a 40 acre farm in southern Wisconsin, somewhere between Madison and Milwaukee. As regular readers know, it felt challenging enough to try writing fiction, and a mystery no less, after writing non-fiction for so many years. So, I stuck with a background that I know well–a farm, a border collie, and some sheep. But what is the name of the farm?

Some helpful descriptors include that the farm is bounded on the west by tentatively called Clearwater Creek (I listed “Clear Creek” on Facebook, but found out there is such a place in Wisconsin!), has a somewhat dilapidated, old farm house that our heroine meant to fix up but never did, raises Katahdin sheep, has a Great Pry LGD (livestock guarding dog), has some lovely old oaks, lots of wild berries, and is full of typical Wisconsin bird life, including some way cool owls.

I put this out last week on Facebook, and got over 500 ideas. Holy moly. But I couldn’t leave you, my village, out of this, so I’d love it if you jumped in and added your own ideas.

The photo below is not Clearwater Creek, it’s Black Earth Creek, but it’s close to what a gazillion creeks in Wisconsin look like in winter.

So, jump in! (Not into the creek, please.) I’d love some ideas. [Note about the novel: At some point I’ll write a post about the process of getting a book published–it’s a long, winding road–but IF the book is taken by a publisher, say by March of next year?, it’ll still be a year before it comes out. So, I don’t mean to tease you; it’ll be a long time before the book actually comes out.

I hope you jump in with two things: Your ideas for great dog-related gifts (or other categories), and your possible names for the farm in my hopefully-to-be-published novel. I can’t wait to hear what you have to say . . .