hink creatively in these final days before Dec. 25 CHRISTMAS is one week away. How many shopping days is that? Doesn’t mat- ter. Because here at the Ecolnfo desk, we make our own fun. And while we can’t promise instruc- tions on ‘How to Assemble a Five-Minute Christmas Dinner with Food You’ve Already Got on Hand,’ we can offer suggestions on making the final Christmas preparation enjoyable, inexpensive and non-wasteful. There’s still time to send out Christmas cards, if you have the genuine urge to express some festive greetings. lf, however, you are already go- ing crazy with work, don’t feel guilty about postponing those cards, A heartfelt phone call or letter two months from now will mean a lot more than a frantic, illegible signature at the bottom of a mass-produced Hailmark greeting at Christmas. As it happens, you are speaking to someone who enjoys the ritual, so if you’re like me, here’s an easy, way to send out lots of greet- ings; without using up lots of Paper: Rather than buying cards, cut out -the fronts off the cards you got last year. Jazz up the edges with, pinking shears and, if you like, some sparkle. The backs can now be written on,. addressed. and stamped, postcard style. This way you save on cost, fuss and envelopes. : If. you decide to send out dif- ferent home-made or _ store- bought cards, remember to keep last year’s cards to make gift tags out of. Are you stili stuck for gift ideas? How about ... © A family membership at Maplewood Farm (aitach a bag of bird seed and some carrots to your gift announcement). @ Mini photo albums for young kids; Include spare photos of fam- ily and friends in the 47’x 6” albums that are sometimes given Peggy ¢ i hen hi ECO INFO out by photo stores as freebies. ® A home-made recipe book. Have everyone in your family pick out their favorite stand-by recipes and, if their age allows, copy them into an exercise book. The kids can help illustrate it, too, with their own drawings or cut- outs from a magazine. © A gift of books from your private coliection. Wrap up a well-enjoyed novel or two for a friend with compatible literary tastes, and enclose a home-made bookmark. Speaking of home-made Xx Stationery Sets # Journals % Cedar & Maple Pens / Pencils x Pressed Flower Card Kits te Gifi-packaged Seeds # Handmade Paper Sets % Calendars / Appointment Books % Earrings / Pins made from used paper OPEN 10:30-6, Sun. 1-5 9 Lansdale (close to Quay) 988-9932 Trend Whitaker bookmarks, I am absolutely com- pelled to tell you the story about my cousin, who one Christmas decided to make bookmark gifts out of the photo strips that you get from the three-minute photo machines in the malls. After spending most of the afternoon in one of these machines, making photo strips for about 25 friends and relatives, she had either gone completely stir- crazy or had been exposed to too many photo developing fumes, because on the Jast strip she decided to ‘‘flash’’ the camera with a good shot of her (sizable) upper torso. She immediately regretted it, of course, but one can’t reverse these sudden decisions so she spent the next five minutes huddied desper- ately over the photo return slot in case someone came by, and saw the photos as they dropped out of the machine. She then flocked the evidence away in a briefcase with other in- criminating items that her mother had been instructed to destroy immediately in case of my cous- in’s untimely death (she thinks ahead). All went well, until my cousin See Xmas page 24 Give A Timeless Gift ESTATE JEWELLERY Ruby & Diamond Ring Appr. $16,000 TLM $8,000 B Diamond & w/goid Bracelet Appr. $4,000 TLM $2,000 Diamond Pendant T.D.W. 1.i5cr Appr. $10, L70TLM $5,000 § ‘You can afford a beautiful piece of Estare Jewellery from The Lien’s Mark for ‘four Loved One. much more, all ar fabulous prices. Shop “The Lion’s Mark” and # compare. Hf e's from The Lion's Mark, at will be a Merry Christmas!" Mon-Sat 10-6 pm & by appointment 1730 Marine Dr., W.Van. 926-7710 Our Green Planet i \ SS tg B/ Recipes for acleaner, healthier environment Neg wh a — Santa Sack Why not start a new famry tradition ? Insteas of purchasing wrapping paper year after year, awe every- one @ Santa Sack! Scrap materials like old cioching, ved mens, and pillowcases Can be stitched toaetner co create che reusable bag. You Canuse cidbuttons or a simple draw string to open and close the sack. Decorate the bag with pictures made =e ,- initials, names fabric pamt (available at most ¢: vm craft stores). ° ( Sess . LIES Tip Use hot arr-popped popcom whe ee delicate items nstead of Styrotoam chips and shredded tssue. Notice to Holiday — Travellers Bowen island Effective: Christmas Day and New Year’s Day only. On Christmas Day and New Year's Day, the first sailings to and from Bowen Island have been ca:.celled. The cancelled sailings are as follows: Lv. Horseshoe Bay 6:05 am ~ 7:00 am Lv. Bowen island §:45 am 6:35 am 7:35 am Over the busy holiday season, allow extra travel time to the terminals, and look for traffic controllers to help you get where you're going. From all of us at BC Ferries, have a very happy holiday. BC FERRIES Schedules subject te change without notice. Personalze with | WHO'S THE FASTEST? G== | WESTERN] |MONEY | UNION! (TRANSFER The fastest way to send money.” Lost your wallet? Bank card not working? Unexpected car repairs? Medical emergency? 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