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Holiday greenery makes pretty, practical gifts and decorations PAGE 13 - PLAINDEALER • WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 17.1980 With the holidays (and gift- giving) approaching, now is the time to plan wisely with one eye on your budget. Here are two ideas that make good economic "cents." A small plmit (one you have tenderly nurtured from your own collection) becomes a warm and personal gift in a dec­ orative planter. Or, paper-white narcissus bulbs planted in two parts potting soil and one part perlite around mid-November make lovely blooming gifts at Christmas time. Plant in a cool, sunny win-, dow and water thoroughly once. Lessen watering during the first week or two until growth is strong, then keep soil moist. (No dark spell is necessary.) Say you care These are nice ways to say you care while easing the ex­ pense of holiday gift-giving. A ribbon or bow will be all the gift-wrapping you'll need! Another idea yields long- lasting enjoyment. A small fir or spruce tree, decorated for the holidays in a pretty planter, can be enjoyed briefly indoors and then outdoors for a low-budget addition to your home landscap­ ing. Tips for planting A successful planting de­ pends on several factors: DOrder early from a nursery. Ask for a small tree (18" to 24") as these are more hardy and may be hard to find during the holi­ days. 2) Dig the hole for planting before the ground freezes, mix­ ing two parts soil to one part peat moss. Keep this loose soil mix in the garage or someplace TIRED OF TURKEY? WHY NOT VARY HOLIDAY MENU? Are you tired of turkey? We begin to look forward to the big bird somewhere around October when the fall harvest of pump­ kins, squashes and cranberries titillates our taste buds as we an­ ticipate Thanksgiving. We shoot our bolt on that last Thursday in November with a table that should rightly be called a groaning board. Then, with Christmas shop­ ping, decorating, parties and all the other preparations for the season, we give little thought to a Christmas feast that could be a shade different. Not only is it traditional to present the turkey with all its trimmings, it's easier. But, really, a crown roast of pork or lamb, stuffed in the center with its own ground meat, nuts and cranberries and decorated with spiced apples on each point, is not difficult to fix A German sauerbraten mari­ nated in ginger snaps, an Em glish standing roast of beef ac­ companied by Yorkshire pud­ ding, a French breast of veal stuffed with ground pork, riec and olives may require a little more time, but each is well worth the effort. COST-SAVING IDEAS ... a tree that can be replanted out* doors and a "home-grown" plant make lovely decorations or gifts for the holidays. Ceramic planters are by Rubbermaid. ~ T 'ft PANTS PLACE Christmas sale! For those whose families would go into shock without the traditional turkey and trim­ mings, throw them a curve on appetizer or dessert. Try an elegant, light cream of watercress soup (canned chic­ ken broth, watercress put through a food processor and a dash of nutmeg), a molded pate of beef, pork and liver, or a quiche made with Edam cheese and sliced tomatoes. And, for that last sweet course, dispense with the pie and turn your pumpkin into a cinnamon-perfumed brandied flan (custaid) or stack miniature cream puffs^into a pyramid held together and drizzled with caramel symp. V A where it won't freeze. 3) Arrange to pick up the tree just before th,e holidays and water well during the five to seven days it is indoors. Place away from heating vents or fireplace; now is a good time to reduce the thermostat too. Tip: the less time the tree is indoors the more chance it has of surviving outdoors. Also, let the tree adjust to cooler tempera­ tures in a garage or other area for about a week before planting outdoors. 4) Water well when you do plant the tree. If you can see the original soil line on the trunk, plant to this same level. (The hole should be twice as wide and twice as deep as the root bail.) 5) In the spring when the ground thaws, keep the little tree watered and it should grow into a lasting remembrance of Christmas past. P.S. Each Christmas, deco­ rate the tree outdoors with bright bows to give your home a happy Corfcroy I Levis Basic Jsans S Cords $17°° Men's holiday look! Give yourself a holiday face Woman's Fall (Winter by Dittos, wrongly & H.I.S. Holiday times are wonder­ ful--seeing family and friends, entertaining and being enter­ tained, giving and receiving. But, there will be at least one time during the holidays when you'll look in the mirror and see that you've been neglecting yourself and need a fast trick to give yourself sparkle. Try a mask for a quick pick- me-up before an evening out. The MUDD Two-Step Beauty Treatment consists of two prod­ ucts--a natural clay mask and a super moisturizing mask. If you're like most of us, your skin may well be a combination type--oily in the middle and dry in other areas. If this is your type, give yourself a T-zone fa­ cial, applying the clay mask down the center of your face, beginning with the forehead and ending with the chin. At the same time, apply the moisturizing mask on dry or normal areas. Rinse off after 15 minutes. Each mask, if used as full, masks, should be left on for IS minutes, but if you're using them together, you would leave them on for only IS minutes. No matter how pressured or rushed for time you are, stretch out for total relaxation while the mask works. Just a few minutes of really complete relaxation make a world of difference. The rewards of this facial and relaxation regime will be strik­ ingly evident when you return to your mirror. You'll find your skin toned and glowing from the 'Twos Christmas told the merriest tale; A Christmas gambol oft could cheer The poor man's heart through half the year. --Sir Walter Scott natural stimulation of the clay and deep-pore clean, smootn and silken from the two masks. Make up with a light hand, dress prettily, and you're ready for the holiday whirl again. Extra good cheer news, the M U D D T w o - S t e p B e a u t y Treatment is readily available at drugstores, supermarkets and mass distributors, and together they cost a mere 350 per facial! Selected "Red Taf" MercMst 25%™ 40% OFF Fall I Winter Tops by Lev's, Lee Wrangler & H.I.S. 10% t.20% OFF LOCATED 2913W.RTE. 120 McHENRY 385-6788 s Beautiful Holiday Fashion For Her. * Coordinates * Dresses * Sweaters * Lingerie * Handbags And More! Misses 8 to 20 Juniors 7 to 15 Half Sizes 12% to 24 V6 $!<-* Gift Certificates * Free Gift Wrapping * Visa & Master Charge Accepted The Fashion Shoppa 1007 North Front St., McHonry Phono 385-7747 Christmas Hours: DAILY 9 to 8:30 SAT. 9-5 SUNDAY 10 to 3