The ideas for using these globally designed and sold products that have been around for decades are infinite. And probably no product is so practical and useful as well as beautiful. (And modestly priced too!) Baskets are handmade works of art that are functional. Imagine serving drinks on that glorious one-of-a-kind painting you have hanging on wall. Not! But with baskets you can literally put your most unique artwork into daily usage and daily view.

Baskets come in many sizes, shapes and materials such as willow, rattan, bamboo, rope, palm leaf, wire and rags. And many are adorned with metal garnishes, dried coco flowers, gugo vine handles and more.

It's that variety of qualities that make baskets so easy to organize AND decorate with simultaneously.

And you don't have to take a basket as it comes. Dress up any of your baskets by gluing on your own garnishments. For example, craft stores sell all types of trinkets you can glue on your baskets. Be creative. Try personalizing your baskets with anything from buttons to plastic candy canes to miniature toy figures or mini cloth stockings. You could also buy miniature toys and figurines from typical large discount retailers or smaller dollar stores. (What fun to do by yourself or with your children). And when you're done, you can still put that basket to work in an organizational function in your home---only it will have twice value to you (the purchase price plus priceless sentimental value).

(c) 2004 Karen Fritscher-Porter

Locking up his office on Christmas Eve, Scrooge heads for his rooms, which once belonged to Jacob Marley, his partner, who died seven years ago. Arriving at his door, doorknocker is suddenly, transformed into his dead partner's face, staring at him. The vision passes, and Scrooge bolts door from inside. Sitting down in front of dying embers on hearth, Ebenezer Scrooge is subjected to second phenomena, ringing of all bells in house. Someone or something is trying to get in touch with his frozen soul. It turns out it is Jacob Marley who has been tying to contact him. Marley's ghost dragging his chains explain his present condition to Scrooge; since he himself lived on same basic principle as does Scrooge, explains what afterlife is like for one who has never done a good deed to his fellow man. There is one way out of this misery for Scrooge says Marley, and that is to mend one's ways and cleanse one's conscience. To amplify message, his old partner explains to Scrooge that three spirits will visit shortly after midnight. Having delivered his message and his warning, Marley goes away, dragging his chains behind him. Strangely, Scrooge manages to fall asleep, but is awakened when clock strikes midnight. Soon after Ghost of Christmas Past, an apparition with a child's face visits him long, white hair, and a full-grown body. It makes Scrooge an offer he can't refuse: to go on a sentimental journey to his own past.

Riding through time and space effortlessly, they arrive in time to see small boy Ebenezer, a lonesome child with books for his only friends. Lost love, lost comradeship, and lost chances for happiness are shown in rapid succession, and then exhausted Scrooge is dropped off at home, where he dozes off. Next follows Ghost of Christmas Present shows Ebenezer merrymaking of ordinary people. They spy on Bob Cratchit, who makes most of his meager resources in bosom of his little family, carrying his son Tim, who is weak of health, and lighting meager meal with his inner warmth and generosity, demonstrated when he proposes a toast to his mean employer, though not appreciated by his wife. The last ghost, Christmas of Future, arrives, to show him emptiness of a non-spiritual life. A peek into future shows thieves plundering his belongings. He even gets a glimpse of himself, lying dead, and retreats in horror. The final blow is dealt to his now weakened soul when he learns that Tim Cratchit has died. The vision of himself dead, his own neglected grave, all this prompts Ebenezer to beg for mercy. Waking as from a nightmare, he finds that only one night has pasted and it is now Christmas morning, Scrooge thanks Jacob Marley's ghost for this second chance, and he really changes. He gets a huge turkey for Cratchit family, makes large contributions to poor, and turns up at his nephew's a changed man, filled with merry spirit of Christmas.

The spirits of Christmas had served their purpose, and Jacob Marley had done his good deed. For rest of his life, Ebenezer Scrooge was a good generous man, living spirit of Christmas.

Chick here for more books by Charles Dickens

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