Creative Kids Gift Baskets

As Easter approaches, it is a great time to remind everyone about the variety of gift baskets available online. Although gift baskets make a great present all year long, there is something special about receiving an Easter basket that makes a child's face light up.

Creative Kids Gift Baskets are full of fun activities including a coloring book, 24 piece Crayola crayon set, an activity book, numerous snacks, and toys.

This gift basket makes a great Easter gift as well as provides hours of fun for any child.

You can find a large number of Easter gift baskets online for easy shipping right to your door or wherever you want the basket delivered. You can also include a personalized message along with the package.

Take a look at all of the gift baskets available, and you will see what a wonder array of choices you have. Which ever Easter basket you decide to send to your favorite children this season, you will be delighted when you hear the profound thank you's you will recieve.

Have a Happy Easter holiday!

Here are a couple of Easter Baskets for Kids you might want to check out:

My First Easter Basket - Baby Gund
Little People Exclusive Easter Basket
Elmo with Bunny Ears Easter Basket

Spring Arrives in Full Force

I am pleasantly surprised at how green our lawn is this early in the year. When the snow melted, the grass was already green over three-quarters of our yard. The recent rains contributed to a thick growth of green grass that spreads like a soft comfy carpet over our lawn.

As I write this post, it is 5:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning, the birds have awakened and are singing their morning song, and I, with a cup of coffee at hand, am doing what I love - writing and enjoying the quiet early morning atmosphere.

This Sunday, midway between Mother's Day and Memorial Day weekend, spend time, if you will, appreciating the beautiful Spring weather with it's accompanying promise of new beginnings, fresh starts, and warm and glorious sunny days ahead. I know I will!


Note: The picture above is not from our yard. I just enjoy the colors of this beautiful flower and its leaves.

I'm Dreaming of a White Valentine's Day

Oops! It's no dream. After several days of melting snow and increasingly visible grass, we now wake up to a white Valentine's Day. In fact, it is currently snowing as I write this post. By the looks of the sky, we may be in for quite a snowfall.

I hope everyone out there has a great Valentine's Day. I have already emailed my sibs and kids to wish them a happy day, and Dad and I have exchanged our Valentine's Day greetings. Now we can all go out and make snow angels, or not!

The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

-The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

How appropriate it is that we honor the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. the day before President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration as the first black president of the United States.

As wonderful as the milestone is, it is sad that it has taken us this long to reach this particular goal. Although we have a long ways to go to eradicate racial prejudice from this country, we have taken a very big step in that direction.

Somewhere, somehow, Dr. King is looking down upon us with a smile and a nod of understanding.

Michigan in the Chill Zone

As of this post, from iGoogle, the current temperature in mid-Michigan is 26 deg F at 6:00 a.m. Since it is supposed to reach 40 today, I eagerly await the heat wave.

Have a great Thanksgiving, and may your favorite meal satisfy, your favorite team win, and your favorite store have all the bargains you can ever hope to find.

Only in America can we find such a fabulous day as we celebrate our heritage, and our love for turkey and stuffing. :>)

What is your favorite aspect of Thanksgiving Day? How will you spend the day?

Calendars of the Bizarre, Funny, and Crazy Continue

Another great yearly calendar site is found at BrownieLocks. She and the three bears have developed a fun and crazy site. Now that 2009 is up and running, you have no excuse to miss an important holiday.

Since my birthday is January 23, I thought I would share with you what special events "we" can enjoy around that time.

January 22:

Women's Healthy Weight Day
Answer Your Cats Questions Day

January 23:

National Handwriting Day
National Pie Day - so that's why I like pie!
Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day - popular here in Michigan

January 24:

National Compliment Day
Belly Laugh Day

January 26: (My mother's birthday)

National Peanut Brittle Day - Mom loved making peanut brittle!
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

Click here for the rest of January's monthly, weekly, and daily lists.

Check out BrownieLocks.com for your special dates and enjoy a fabulous and fun 2009.

Know What Holiday This Is? Find Out Here!

For those who like to celebrate even the most obscure holiday, this handy website will keep you from missing out on your favorite date. At Holidays For Every Day, you can find a monthly and daily list of the most important (to you) dates.

For example, today is:

17- World Peace Day
17- Homemade Bread Day
17- Take a Hike Day (Not sure if that is you taking a hike, or you telling someone else to take a hike)
17- National Farm Joke Day
17- The Little Mermaid Day 1989

Tomorrow:

18- Calvin & Hobbes Birthdays 1985
18- Mother Goose Parade
18- William Tell Day
18- Mickey Mouse's Birthday (1928)
18- Superman Death Anniversary 1992
18- Teddy Bear Birthday 1902

Wednesday:

19- National Carbonated Beverage with Caffeine Day (Glad to see this day!)
19- Play Monopoly Day (My sister and daughters would love to honor this date)
19- Pop Tarts Birthday 1965 (My girls loved these!)
19- Little Red-Haired Girl's Birthday (Peanuts Character 1961)
19- Gettysburg Address Delivered (1863)

See how much fun you could have with all these celebrations! In these stressful times, celebrating the unique, quaint, and obscure should have a place on your calendar with those dates that are considerably more prominent.

Of course, this all leads up to the biggest dates of the year, New Years Eve and New Years Day. And,

27- National Fruitcake Day

28- National Quilter's Day
28- No Interruptions Day
28- Eat Vegetarian Day
28- Card Playing Day
28- National Chocolate Day

29- Opposite Day
29- Bowling Ball invented (1862)

30- Let's Make a Deal Day First aired 1964

31- Make Up Your Mind Day
31- New Years eve
31- You're All Done Day

Just sayin'...

What is your favorite holiday to celebrate? Do you have an obscure or unusual anniversary date you would like to share?

Veteran's Day Remembrance

From a late-1940s postcard by the now-defunct ArtVue Post Card Co. of New York, N.Y. Submitted by Wystan Stevens to the Ann Arbor District Library.

Many, many years ago, my parents volunteered my musical services to the VA Hospital in Ann Arbor, MI. I believe I was in junior high school at the time. I remember going from room to room to visit some of the Vets who were patients there, and then playing the accordion for others who were able to join us in a commons room.

After this many years the memories are vague, but I do remember the feeling of satisfaction seeing the smiles and hearing the positive comments from those who were at the hospital. The visit was in the late 1950's, so the patients probably served in WWII or the Korean War.

If there is a VA hospital near you, please take the time to visit those who have served our country, were wounded, and now must stay for varying amounts of time in the hospital. They welcome visitors and would appreciate the company.