Day 5 - Homemade Gifts Can Be Wonderful

Reducing my carbon footprint isn't all about giving up things.  There is so much to be gained as well. Here's an example:  The cute little banjo in these photos was given to our grandson last night by the banjo player in Gordon's Jazz band, Gary Peterson.  Thank you Gary!  Here is how it happened:

The twins visited Santa Claus at our local bank the beginning of December and had a chance to make their Christmas wish.  This is the first year they have really gotten into Santa Claus so it was kind of special.  Julian did as one might expect and asked in great detail for the Jake and the Neverland Pirates hideout that he had seen at Costco with the barrel that twirled to part the palm trees and send up the lookout tower and the car that the characters could ride in and the cannon that shoots arrows etc. (and yes, we did buy that huge plastic toy for him).

Dre asked for a banjo.  Well, I looked for banjos and they were Expensive, so I thought - well, we'll just make one.  Ha, Ha.  Gordon came up with a tambourine and we were going to give it a go, but first he asked Gary for advice and Gary, bless his heart said - I can make one in an hour - and so became Santa's helper.  Clearly he spent more than an hour and this little banjo looks and sounds pretty.

It was so fun watching Andres last night with his new banjo, playing along as the band played (we were at their monthly gig at the Eagle's club ) .  He watched Gary play and then tried to do the same things, bobbing his head to the music all the time.

This homemade gift will become a family heirloom.

So Day 4 resolution is to try and remember that not everything needs to be purchased in a store.