Where there's a will there's a way

Sister Jones shared this story with me and I thought you might enjoy it too.

Orderville was a community in south-central Utah where the Saints attempted to live the "United Order," having all things in common. It was active from 1875 to 1885. These efforts sometimes caused some interesting conflicts, as in the case of these mothers determined to provide Christmas treats for their children.

Howard Orson Spencer was chosen to be bishop and leader in the little community of Orderville, in southern Utah. One December evening some of the sisters of Orderville met to plan a Christmas treat for the children. The order had no luxuries and the necessities were strictly rationed. About the only sweets the people had was molasses, so, the sisters decided to make molasses candy and cookies for the youngsters. But on Christmas Eve, they came to Grandmother Spencer with news that the brother in charge of the molasses "won't let us have any. He says our allowance for the month is already used." Grandmother's lips tightened. "The children are going to have something for Christmas. I'll speak to my husband after dinner -- he'll give us permission."

When grandfather came in tired and hungry, grandmother hovered over him and after dinner urged him to rest by the fire. As he sat looking drowsily into the flames, she said in a low voice, "You do think the children should have some candy and cookies for Christmas, don't you Howard?" "Umm-hmm," was the sleepy response and grandmother went away smiling. She reported to the ladies that everything was all right, "My husband has given us permission." "Did he say we could have the molasses?" asked one doubting Thomas. "He didn't say "No" replied grandmother truthfully. "Now we won't wake up the brother in charge of the molasses. We'll just slip out and take what we need."

The man in charge of the molasses barrel was very conscious of his responsibility. On the lid of the barrel he had placed a section of heavy logging chain and a large boulder. Only a thin wooden partition at the head of the bed separated him from the barrel outside, and he was a light sleeper. Shivering from the cold the women crunched through the snow toward the barrel. It was beginning to snow again and the night was very dark. With infinite caution they removed the heavy chain without so much as one betraying clank. It took the combined efforts of all the women to lower the boulder noiselessly to the ground. There was a breathless pause as grandmother raised the lid and dipped into the barrel with a saucepan. She emptied its contents into a bucket and dipped again and again. "We have enough now," whispered one of the women, the women filed back to the warm kitchen to make the Christmas goodies. But, there was a dismayed gasp when they looked into the pail, "Oh dear, we haven't enough molasses. We'll have to get some more." "Oh no, Sister Spencer. it's so cold and dark. It's too risky." "Well just the same, we must unless we want the children to be disappointed."

There could only be one answer to such a statement and the little band of mothers went again to the molasses barrel. They returned safely and set to work. When morning came, every child in Orderville had two molasses cookies and one big slightly sticky lump of candy in his stocking. Santa Claus had not forgotten them. Grandfather insisted all his life that he could not remember ever having given the women permission to get the molasses. (Carter, Our Pioneer Heritage, 18:160-161)

Snowman Soup

If you are looking for quick Christmas gifts, stories, games and more be sure to check out Sugardoodle.net. It is filled with wonderful ideas. One of my favorites is Snowman Soup.

1 package of hot chocolate mix

3 Hershey's kisses

15 or so mini marshmallows

1 candy cane

Place in a snack sized Ziploc bag or brand new mug and attach a poem

******************

When the weather outside is frightful, snowman soup can be delightful.

May it warm your spirit and your soul. Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow!

Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

Mod Podge

Mod Podge is a product that is versatile and easy enough for children to use.  It is basically a white glue which dries clear.  Mod Podge comes in gloss or satin finish, and clear and tinted colors. It comes in smooth and textured finishes. There is also an outdoor Mod Podge, although I haven't been able to find it locally--you can buy it online. There are more and more kinds and finsihes of Mod Podge on the market all the time.  Mod Podged surfaces are cleanable with a damp cloth, but not dishwasher safe.  Spilled Mod Podge can be cleaned up with water, but wipe up spills before they dry.  You can use Mod Podge on almost anything you can think of to make personalized gifts.  Try Mod Podge on plastic, paper, fabric, cardboard, glass, wooden, painted surfaces--what ever you can imagine.  Mod Podge works both as a glue and a sealer--glue one surface to another, then seal the project with a top layer of Mod Podge.

Project 1: Wooden Box

Time to make (other than drying time) 5 minutes

I bought a $1 wooden box from a craft store and painted it with gold craft paint.

I used 3 coats of paint.



Next I took a piece of craft paper, and using my computer, I printed off some words directly onto the paper and cut it the size of the top of my box.

 

I Mod Podged it on for a simple, but fun seasonal treasure box. You could glue on jewels or other emblishments for a fancier box.



Project 2: Personalized Canister
Time to make (other than drying time) 10 minutes

I washed out a canister that held nuts and gathered scrapbook paper.

I cut a main piece to fit the canister and put a layer of Mod Podge on the wrong side of my paper.

 Wrap this piece around your canister and smooth with your fingers.

Cut more pieces for embellishment and glue them on top of your already glued down paper.

Cut a piece for the plastic lid and glue on.

Cut a ribbon for the edge of the lid and glue on.

 After everything is glued down, paint a layer of glue on the entire project.

Here's the finished project, personalized, and ready to be filled with crayons, hair ribbons, food, or small toys.

Project 3: Luminary from a Glass Jar

Time to make (other than drying time) less than 10 minutes.
This project uses tissue paper and a glass canning jar.  Tear the tissue paper into pieces-
mine were about 2" x 1".

Glue onto jar, overlapping slightly.

Tie or Mod Podge ribbons and decorative items around top.


Add sand and a candle.  Enjoy!

Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

Pop Top Can Treats

This is a quick and easy idea for using a recycled tab top can.

You need a can with a tab top.  It can be large or small.

When you open the can, instead of using the tab on top, use a can opener on the bottom.

Peel off the label and wash the can well.

Use either a regular can opener,

or a smooth-edge can opener.  These are great tools.  They leave no sharp edges on your opened can.  These can openers can be purchased for under $20 at kitchen specialty stores or online.  They are well worth the price.

If you use a traditional opener, leave the lid partially attached.

Now fill your can  with candy, pretzels, homemade treats, hot cocoa--what ever you can think of.

Using a hot glue gun, glue the bottom of the can on.

Cover with scrapbook paper or fabric (using your glue gun), or contact paper.  You may have to piece the cover.

Make an "instruction" tag

and decorate the can anyway you wish.  Remember that the tab is the top of the can.

Carefully thread some ribbon through the tab and attach instructions. 
Your can is now ready for gifting

To open, just pop the tab

to find the surprise inside.

Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

Oatmeal Pancakes in a Jar

(recipe follows)

Mixes in a jar are an inexpensive and fun gift to give as a Christmas present.  A wide variety of mixes can be put in jars for giving: cookie mixes, cake, hot chocolate, almost anything you can imagine.  Assembly is simple; you need:

1 canning jar or other appropriate container

a scrap of fabric for the top (optional)

cotton batting to add dimension for lid (optional)

ribbon

tag with instructions

This is a jar full of oatmeal chocolate chip cookie mix.

Using a plate or bowl, trace a circle on the wrong side of the fabric. Cut out.

Use the lid to trace on the batting. Cut out.

Center on lid and screw on band.

Make a tag with instructions for using the mix.

Tie the tag on with a ribbon.

This is a recipe I recently got from my daughter.  It's really good- and uses food storage items.

Oatmeal Pancake Mix

3 1/2 cups dry oats (Quaker oats)

3 cups wheat flour

2 cups white flour

3 tablespoon sugar

3 tablespoon baking powder

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon baking soda

1/2 cup vegetable oil

Mix all ingredients until crumbly. Store in an air tight container in refrigerator for maxium freshness. When ready to make a batch of pancakes, mix 1 1/2 of mix, 1 egg, and 1 cup of buttermilk. (Instead of buttermilk you can take 1 tablespoon of lemon juice put it in bottom of a cup and pour 1 cup of milk on top of it and let set for 5 min, stir and add add to mix). Cook.



1 1/2 cup of mix will serve 3-4



Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

Bag Holder

It's hard to believe that Christmas is less than 2 months away with the wonderfully warm weather we've been having.  During the month of November I hope to post a few inexpensive, quick homemade things to work on that could be given away as Christmas gifts.  

This first idea involves very simple sewing and takes around 1/4 yard of fabric, and less than 15 minutes to complete.

If you are like me, you've got a stash of grocery bags lurking in a messy wad somewhere in a closet. 

 A simple bag will keep them organized and handy.

Begin by cutting a rectangular piece of fabric.  The bag works best if it is long and narrow, not short and wide.  My piece is about 24" by 12".  Next time I want it a little wider and would cut it 24" by 16" or so.

Zig zag the edges.

Sew into a tube shape, sewing the longest sides together.

Press the seam open

Top: fold under and stitch.

Bottom: fold under and stitch, forming a casing wide enough for your elastic, leaving an opening for threading the elastic in.

Pin a safety pin to the elastic and

Thread through the casing you have just stitched.

Adjust elastic until your opening is a couple of inches wide or so.

Stitch the elastic ends together

and pull elastic into casing.

Stitch opening closed.

Now your bag holder looks like this:

Now cut a piece of fabric for the handle.  Mine is 3" x 24".  The handle needs to be long enough to allow room for you to feed plastic bags into the top of your holder.

Stitch the handle, right sides together.

Now pin your safety pin onto the top of the handle, feed into the handle, and turn right side out.

 Measure your handle, cut to desired length, and zig zag the ends.

 Mark the place you want the handles to go on your bag.  I did this by folding the top into fourths

and placing pins in the spots 1/4 the distance from the seam.

Now pin your handles to the inside on the marked spot,

Stitch along the seam line, making sure to catch the end of the handle,

and again at the top for added strength.

Hang the bag on a hook and fill.

Ta-da! You can pull a bag from the bottom when needed.

Do you have an idea for a quick, easy, and/or inexpensive gift?  Contact a member of the stake RS--we'd love to blog about it!