'Twas the month before Christmas

'Twas the month before Christmas
And all through the house
The storage was low
Hardly crumbs for a mouse.

The shelves were about empty,
Oh, what a plight!
The wolf’s at the door,
And no money in sight.

All the children were nestled
To keep warm in their bed,
Hoping that before long
They'd surely be fed.

The prophet had counseled
“Each one be prepared,”
We had procrastinated the day,
Why hadn’t we cared?

ALAS! “Twas only a dream,”
But that didn’t matter
I jumped from my bed
Making an awful loud clatter.

Away to the basement
I flew like a flash,
Stumbling over boxes and bottles,
Along with some trash.

As I surveyed my storage,
With eyes all aglow
The security of filled bottles
All straight in a row

Filled my heart with a warmth
And my eyes with a tear
To think I had food
to last us a year.

This feeling of warmth
And security too,
Is what we as your friends
Wish for you.

So put gifts of storage
Under each Christmas tree
For those on your list,
Is our warmest plea,

Give honey, give sugar,
Give flour or wheat.
Give milk, give salt,
Give something to eat.

And you’ll hear them exclaim,
When Christmas is here,
“Thank-you so much,
It will be a good year.”

Author unknown (If you know, tell me :-) )
Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas!

from my friend Liz Richards

Interesting Stuff

25 clever ideas to make life easier . Via: amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com (Above: hull strawberries easily using a straw). . . Via:apartmenttherapy.com Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes. . . Via: unplggd.com Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls). . . Via:athomewithrealfood.blogspot.com Stop cut apples browning in your child's lunch box by securing with a rubber band. . . Via:marthastewart.com Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bed linen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match. . . Via: realsimple.com Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music. . . Via:savvyhousekeeping.com Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags. . . Via:iheartnaptime.net Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily – who knew?! . . Via: realsimple.com Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys. . . Via: flickr.com Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor. . . Via:instructables.com Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose. . . Via: realsimple.com Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid. . . Via: stephmodo.com For those who can't stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet. . . Via:sprwmn.blogspot.com Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door . . Via: realsimple.com A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel! . . Via:familyfun.go.com A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant. . . Via: unplggd.com Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels. . . Via: kiboomu.com Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat. Definitely doing this! . . Via: squawkfox.com Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff. . . Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius! . . Via: 9gag.com Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks! . . Via: wilton.com Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe. . . Via: realsimple.com Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief. . . Via:lifehacker.com.au Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering. . . Via: re-nest.com Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.

Thanks, Elaine L!