Dressing up for the neighbors

Well, dressing up a gift for the neighbors.
  
One of my neighbors had a birthday this last week.  I wanted to gift her with something but not something that would just sit around the house and need dusting.  Both she and her husband have health issues so I didn’t want to make or bake something that would be hazardous to their health, either.  Not saying I’m a bad cook or anything like that but I couldn’t remember what things they need to stay away from – sugar, salt, fat, dairy, red meat – you get the picture.  After thinking about it for a bit I hit on a gift idea – simmering potpourri.  I did a search on Pinterest looking for a recipe or ideas that used things I had on hand and came across one that called for orange rind, apple peel, cloves and cinnamon sticks.
I just happened to have cloves and cinnamon sticks in my cupboard.  I don’t always have apples and oranges sitting around but we had just picked up our order of apples and oranges from a local member of FFA (Future Farmers of America) who was selling them as a fund raiser (this is done yearly).  How about that, everything I needed. 
Now to package everything up nicely.  I have a package of lunch-sized brown paper bags that I thought would work – okay, not the whole package of bags, just one.  I didn’t want it to be naked, so I dressed it up with a bit with burlap, lace, and buttons, then added a sprig of evergreen (it was fake but it looked nice) and a bow.  I added one of my snowflakes to it but in such a way as it can be taken off and put on their tree.
Instead of sending just orange rind and apple peels I put in a whole orange and a whole apple; dropped in a palm-full of cloves and several sticks of cinnamon.  I printed out the directions and put it in the bag also. 
Wandas knotty thoughts tatting on gift bag
I thought it came out nicely.  It smelled good just sitting in the bag.
My neighbor really liked the gift and the bag it came it.  I know they’ll like how it will make their house smell because I made some up for me, too.  Can I say I helped dress up their house for the holidays, too?

“Remember, the greatest gift is not found in the store but in the hearts of true friends.”

6 thoughts on “Dressing up for the neighbors”

  1. What a truly thoughtful gift! I love potpourri simmers, too! (Who doesn't?) I recently came across a recipe that, in addition to the usual spices, calls for a handful of pine needles. I think I'll have to go out and collect some.

    The decorated bag is really pretty, too. That's the sort of thing they can save and re-use.

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