Your items may include candles that make you sneeze because you're allergic to lavender; empty jars that can be filled with candy or potpourri; a perfume atomizer that was never used because your allergies prohibit you from wearing perfume; that ring holder that is meant to keep by your sink for someone who takes their rings off when they wash their hands (I don't!), or books that you just never really wanted to read.

Now, when spirit moves me to clean out drawers and closets, I'm on search for things to replenish my regifting shelf. Recently I've added a bread knife I bought at a trade show because salesman made me think I couldn't live without it, and a box of baking tubes. Once I got tubes home, I decided they would be way too much trouble to clean if I actually used them, so they stayed in box. They didn't pass practical test, but maybe someone who entertains will think it's worth effort to have heart-shaped bread!

With holidays coming up, this is a great time to start making rounds and setting up your own regifting center. Doesn't it seem crazy to go buy gifts when you have resources right there in your own home? It's never a good idea to increase your credit card balance for gift giving, but this year when we have need to be concerned about economy, it is perfect time to cut back and be more sensible. If you exchange gifts with a group of friends, suggest a white elephant gift, where everyone is regifting!

My very dearest friends and I have made an agreement not to buy each other gifts anymore. We realize that our friendship is more valuable than anything we could purchase, so we make time to have a special birthday lunch or Christmas brunch to catch up on our lives. Years from now we won't remember what someone bought us, but we will remember kindness they showed to us. Ralph Waldo Emerson had it right when he penned, "The greatest gift is a portion of thyself."

If there are any of you who share my aversion to combination of pecans and sweet, gooey filling, here's recipe. It comes straight from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook. My copy is Tenth Edition.

By way - it's not that I don't like pecans, but for me it's a texture issue. I can eat nuts by bushel as long as you don't throw them into something that doesn't require chewing!

Coconut-Oatmeal Pie:

3 eggs 1 cup corn syrup 2/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup margarine or butter, melted 1 tsp vanilla 3/4 cup coconut 1/2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats

For filling, in a mixing bowl beat eggs lightly with a rotary beater or a fork till combined. Stir in corn syrup, sugar, margarine or butter, and vanilla. Stir well. Stir in coconut and oats.

Place a pastry-lined 9-inch pie plate on oven rack. Pour filling into pastry-lined pie plate. Cover edge of pie with foil. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 25 minutes.

Remove foil; bake for 20 to 25 minutes more or till a knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool pie on a wire rack. Cover and chill to store. Makes 8 servings.

I might mention that if you actually like pecans or other nuts on your pie here are a couple of other variations.

Maple Pecan Pie: Prepare as above, except substitute maple syrup or maple-flavored syrup for corn syrup.

Peanut Pie: Prepare as above, except substitute coarsely chopped peanuts, macadamia nuts, or cashews for pecans.

Pecan Pie: Prepare as above, except substitute pecan halves. Believe it or not, they do rise to top of pie!