Brr--Merry Christmas Freebies from Frozen Ohio

Okay, I'm a total wimp when it comes to the bitter cold spell we're having in Central Ohio. In order to stave off cabin fever, I'm already planning what to plant this spring.

I can't really justify the expense based on my poor track record growing vegetables. Of course, I feel better when I consider my garden as an educational opportunity for homeschooling.

Planning my garden used to mean poring over seed catalogs; now all I need to do is check out the web. Here are a few economical sources for plants and seeds. Maybe I can find out why my veggie plants fail. And yes, most mail order seed and plant companies will still send you a free print catalog--great for bathroom reading. (Of course, I am not responsible for the content of any of these sites. I count on your wisdom and discretion regarding revealing any personal or financial information on-line.)
Planning Your Dream Garden:
http://www.dutchbulbs.com/
http://www.burpee.com/
http://www.stokeseeds.com/
http://www.millernurseries.com/
http://www.parkseed.com
Freebee Mania:Do you and your kids have time on your hands over Christmas break? Try these sites for a variety of freebies, listed by categories, that your family might enjoy:
http://www.totallyfreestuff.com/
http://www.4free.net/
http://www.weeklyfreebie.com/
http://www.freeshop.com/
http://www.freemania.com/
http://www.nojunkfree.com/
http://www.freethings.com/
http://www.hotcoupons.com/
Here's one just for fun:
http://www.johnsonsmith.com/, Things You Never Knew Existed (Novelties and Gadgets--please preview before your kids, as some items may not be in good taste.)http://www.coolsavings.com/
http://www.shopathome.com/
http://www.catalogsavings.com/
http://www.2000freebies.com/
Have fun, and Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas Gift Giving

Here in Ohio, it is definitely "beginning to look a lot like Christmas," with plenty of snow, and temperatures way below normal. Where is that Global Warming we keep hearing about?

Wondering what to get that special someone who already has everything? Here's an idea. You can make a donation in their name to http://www.samaritanspurse.org , Franklin Graham's organization, and send a gift to a person in need. Your special person will receive a card, describing your gift. You get to pick from a gift catalog, and apparently you can specify any amount. A few options that caught my eye were Bibles, baby chicks, and medical care for mothers and unborn babies.

Now, let's all see how many times we can say "Merry Christmas" this week!

A Unit Study on Christmas

How about a unit study on Christmas, since many of us are taking off a week or two anyway? A site about colonial Christmas:http://www.history.org/almanack/life/xmas/customs.cfm

Here's something to keep kid's hands and minds busy over the Christmas holiday: order free (after shipping/handling cost) craft kits and supplies from http://www.makingfriends.com/free_samples.htm . Kids can make their own Christmas presents, such as a cross wind chime or a dad keychain with compass.