I’m dreaming of a GREEN Christmas. . .

Ido find all the wrapping paper at Christmas rather challenging, especially as I am working hard at reducing wastage in my life. Yes I do recycle as much wrapping paper that I can, plus ribbon and cards, but oh there always seems a mountain of paper and then there is all that plastic wrapping that seems to engulf some of the gifts you receive.

Not this Christmas. . . there is not going to be an excess of non essential items or paper!

I am seriously considering a potted tree this year, one I can decorate and then plant in the garden. Maybe a fruit tree! After my terrible calamity last festive season when my beautiful artificial Christmas tree fell to the floor in the middle of the night, smashing my most beautiful glass decorations, I have gone off a

Christmas tree.

All my gifts this year will have to be the size of a tea towel as that is what I am using instead of paper. There is actually a name for this sort of wrapping and it is furoshiki (Japanese word for wrapping in cloth). I have made gorgeous labels which will be attached with brown string! Please tell me that is not too tacky! I have spent the year buying rather snazzy tea towels and I am looking forward to the reaction from the people who will receive their small gift wrapped in one.

I walked down the road the other day, armed with my large green gloves and collected teasles that I plan to spray...no lilies

this year!

At my house, gifts are going to be non plastic and useful. I am going to make my gifts this year. I do not need stuff at my age and alot of my friends don’t either. Someone made me a cotton crocheted dishcloth this year and I reckon it is the best dishcloth I have ever used.

Another friend gave me a jar of dried lime slices, now they are just perfect to jazz up a boring old lemon drizzle cake !

I have also been given a framed piece of art this year which consists of 12 walnut halves filled with such objects as a tiny piece of paua, small coloured feathers, a small shell found on a local beach and even a piece of worn shell that looks like a rabbit. All the pieces collected by a friend and made into a wonderful display that I will treasure.

Homemade decorations are fun for all the family to get involved in. I still hang decorations made by my over 40 year old sons! Remember the clove studded oranges we used to make as children!

So with a bit of planning this year, a gathering of goodies from the garden and some time spent in the kitchen, you too could make your Christmas a lot greener.