Brotherly Love

There are good dogs and then there are great dogs. Dana falls into the "great dog" category. She was such a serious puppy. From the day we brought her home, 12 years ago, she took on the task of watching over our family, especially her brother/litter mate, Fox.

Fox was the clown and the one always getting into trouble. On walks in the woods or in the long hallways of the renovated factory building where I have my studio, Fox was always too far ahead, sticking his nose into everything, while Dana would keep pace with us slower humans, making sure we didn't get lost.

Not that she didn't have a fun-loving and mischievous side. It's hard to believe that the 60 and 70 pound dogs were once so small that they could play tag under and around the coffee table and play tag under the couch. I'm sure she played a major part in the chewing up the floor, the walls and baseboards in the mud room. I nailed plywood sheets over the chew holes in the walls, mainly to cover electrical outlets that may have been next on their list of things to destroy. After a little painting, it wasn't too bad a job. The effect was sort of shabby chic wainscoting.

We finally got around to replacing the floor, drywall and baseboards this past winter. It was just one of those things that we never seemed to get around to. After all, what's more important, spending time and money on replacing a linoleum floor or taking walks with and buying toys and treats for dogs?

She was always the first to spot trouble. Usually in the form of a squirrel or chipmunk. She was persist ant and usually managed to wear us down when it came to getting treats. She perfected the forlorn look and more often than not, I'd find her positioned right in the path past the cookie jar to my easy chair.

From her favorite resting spot in the living room, she could watch over all of us whether we were in the living room, family room or kitchen. We decided to get two dogs because my husband and I work full time and, although we spent all of our free time with the dogs, they were home alone for nine or ten hours at a time. Even as they grew and stopped playing "puppy games" they seemed to enjoy being together on car rides and long walks. The only time they were separated was the overnight Fox spent at the vet's, recovering from cancer surgery two or three years ago.

In late June Fox became ill. A trip to the vet and lots of test didn't determine the cause. We took care of him as best we could but it was soon obvious that we would have to let him go. As anyone who has been in this position knows, it isn't easy but as you also know, it is the right thing to do.

Once the decision was made, I took the first appointment I could get, even if it meant, my husband wouldn't be able to be there with us. I wasn't sure what to do with Dana. Should I take her with us, or leave her home. She made the decision for me. As I struggled to get the 70 pound Fox into the back of my SUV, Dana jumped in beside him. I guess she was going with us.

We sat together in the vehicle until the vet was ready for us. Being a really hot July day, I couldn't leave Dana in the car, so she came in with us. I held him and cried as he drifted away from us. Thankfully it was an easy transition for him. As I was ready to leave, Dana walked over to him and touched his ear.

There were many days of tears after that but I was so glad we had Dana to hug and love. She wasn't eating well, but that was to be expected. Still, a vet visit seemed like a good idea. Yes, she was depressed. Antidepressants might work. I decided to give her another week to see if we couldn't work it out and made a follow up appointment for the next week.

We were giving her Reiki treatments which seemed to calm her but did not bring her spirits up. I took her everywhere with me, including work. She ate less and less. Changing food didn't work very well. Feeding her "people food" didn't either. Finally, the day before her follow up appointment she stopped eating all together.

A frantic call got us an evening appointment. We stayed home from work and cuddled most of the day. Around 5 o'clock Dana left my side and walked across the room to lie down. I saw her start to shake and ran to hold her. A second later, she was gone.

I'm sure there is some medical reason she died. But I know the real reason was her need to continue to be with and take care of her little brother. I respect her decision and love her all the more for it.

Momisims!

Why? Because I said so.

I'm counting to ten.

If everyone jumped off of a cliff would you do it too?

You weren't born in a barn? Shut the door!

Do any of these phrases sound familiar? Do you find yourself saying them? If so, it happened. You became your mother!

Scary thought, made even scarier, if like me, you don't have any children and you find your self saying them to the dog!

I have a great mom. She is actually at the top of the list of people I admire. She 's not famous. She didn't invent anything or break any records. She simply raised three daughters and she did it very well. To me, that is a huge accomplishment.

Mother's Day has been celebrated in various ways since Greek and Roman times. In the U.S., Mother's Day became a National holiday in 1914 due o the efforts of many women, including Julie Ward Howe, pacifist, suffragist, and author to the lyrics to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic and Anna Jarvis.

Anna was inspired by her own mother, an Appalachian homemaker who organized "Mother's Work Day" to raise the awareness of poor health conditions in her community.

So to woman like Julie Ward Howe, Anna Jarvis and my own mom. Happy Mother's Day! And Thanks.

Featured gift basket, A Moment In Time, a perfect gift for Mother's Day or any day.

Love

Marie

Holiday Gift For Seniors

It's often difficult to choose a gift for an older person, especially if they are living in an assisted living community or small apartment. The last thing they need, or want, is more stuff. At Laurel Mountain Basket Company we recommend choosing gifts that are practical and totally consumable.
A pretty package of tea with a small box of cookies and chocolates will bring a smile and lift anyone's spirits. A couple of bars of hand made soap tied up in a pretty bow is a nice touch. A box of all occasion cards or note cards with a book of postage stamps would be appreciated by anyone, especially if they have a difficult time getting out.
Several small denomination gift cards to the local supermarket or prepaid phone cards are thoughtful gifts that help stretch a tight budget.
Most of all, it really is the thought that counts. This holiday season remember that little things can make a big difference.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING - EASY AS 1-2-3

At Laurel Mountain Basket Company, we make your Holiday Shopping as easy as one-two-three.

One - make your list (check it twice)

Two - set your budget. We have great Holiday Gift Baskets to fit every budget.

Three - pick up the phone and call!

It really is that easy. All of our gift baskets are hand made in our Easthampton, Massachuetts studio with quality products, many from local vendors. We use maple syrup that comes from sugar houses in Easthampton and Northampton, past and herb mixes from Colrain, Salsa from Williamsburg and chocolate covered cranberry candies from Cape Cod.

Ordering is easy too. You can call us at 413-527-1243 and speak with one of our design experts. We will custom design a basket for you or you can check out and order your Christmas gift baskets on line.

Kosher, gluten free or other special diet? Our design experts can assist you in creating a beautiful gift basket that suits your needs.

Let us take the stress out of your Holiday shopping.

Best wishes for a very Happy Holiday!
Marie

Art Guild Joins Winter Festival

The Annual Arts & Crafts Winter Festival at Eastworks keeps growing. This year we are joined by The Easthampton Arts Appreciation Guild.

Artists from the Easthampton Arts Appreciation Guild invite you to experience their creations done in watercolor, acrylic, and pastel. This truly eclectic collection includes landscapes, waterscapes, landmarks, and more. The works reflect the artists' experiences extending across the country and the world. While this group is diverse, it has some important things in common; the love of art and the desire to share it with you.

Guild Members

Hazel Adolphson
Linda LaBorde
Elizabeth Chase
Dennis Dymek
Terry Faivre
Sylvia Favaloro
Joanne O'Leary
Mary Ann Phoenix
Marjorie Tauer

Winter Festival 2009

When Laurel Mountain Basket Company was a part time business/hobby, I spent every weekend between Halloween and Christmas participating in local craft fairs.

Craft fairs were not only great places to display and sell my Christmas gift baskets, they were great places to buy unique Christmas gifts for my friends and family.

The first year I applied to every show in the area. The second year I was a bit more selective and ruled out those where many of the "crafters" made crocheted toilet tissue covers and clothespin reindeer. I sold a lot of gift baskets at these fairs but it was a lot of work. By the third year, I was attending only my two favorites.

When I opened my retail space in an old converted factory building I stopped doing fairs altogether. I got together with some of the others in the building, we contacted some friends and started our own show. It was so much fun that we decided to do it every year.

I may be a little biased but I think The Annual Winter Arts & Crafts Festival at the Marketplace at Eastworks is one of the best arts & crafts shows in Western Massachusetts. We have some of the finest artisans and crafters in the Pioneer Valley, many of whom have been with us since the first one. Clients and the community at large look forward to the event because they know they will find one-of-a-kind handcrafted gifts, reasonably priced. There is something for everyone.

Join us this year on Saturday December 4th and Sunday December 5th from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. both days. We are located in Easthampton, MA, just minutes North of Springfield. For directions check the Eastworks website at www.eastworks.com

Artists and crafters, we still have openings in some of our categories. If you would like more information, contact me at info@laurelmtbasket.com

Holiday Rush

It was the first week in October and I was pricing floor tiles in one of the big box stores. I overheard the manager explaining to his crew that they would be getting their Christmas Holiday merchandise in by the end of the week. They were to start making room for it so that it could be out on display as soon as it arrived.

Now, in addition to being on line, Laurel Mountain Basket Company has a retail gift shop located in Easthampton, MA. I know I have to start planning for the Holiday Season early. We need to start creating our new designs in July and August so that we can order our supplies for an October delivery. But, I am NOT going to put our Holiday designs out on display in our store before Halloween!

I love all of the Holidays and I want to enjoy each of them to the max. I celebrate Take Your Dog To Work Day! So I think it is a shame to rush over any of them.

Celebrate Halloween! Make a huge bowl of pop corn, turn down the lights and cuddle on the sofa with your family while you watch scary movies together.

Thanksgiving is one of my favorites. Roasted turkey and pumpkin pie are the best. And in our family there is always a birthday cake. I was born on Thanksgiving day so it is a really special holiday to me.

I absolutely love Christmas!!!! Only my friend Jeannie out does me with Christmas decorating. I do think she starts decorating around now because every nook and cranny in her beautiful home is filled with the Christmas spirit. And then, she bakes enough cookies and sweet breads to feed the town.

So, my advice to you is that you savor each day because each one is a holiday. Don't rush over Mad Hatter Day, Cookie Monster Day or Cat Herders Day. Enjoy each one to the fullest.

What Makes a Good Boss?

"The first thing the secretary types is the boss." Donald Trump

Friday, October 16th is Boss's Day. In 1952, Patricia Haroski while working as a secretary, registered National Boss's Day with the US Chamber of Commerce. It was a day that gave employees the opportunity to recognize and thank their bosses. Ten years later October 16th was officially proclaimed National Boss's Day.

Those of us who have worked outside of the home have had experience working with a boss. I encountered my first boss at the age of 11 when I worked a summer job picking cucumbers. Yes, it was legal for children to work on farms for pay in Massachusetts in the 1960's. Since then, I have held a number of jobs and have had a number of bosses.

I guess I have been lucky because, although there were one or two that I will be happy never to have to work for again, most of the bosses I have had were what I consider "good" bosses. One or two I'd even consider "exceptional".

While researching Boss's Day, I found the general criteria for considering someone a good boss, is that they are kind and fair. I agree that both kindness and fairness are excellent qualities to have in a boss but found the best bosses I had were good communicators and good listeners too. They were also generous with their time. They encouraged me to grow and were willing to teach me the skills I'd need to do so.

I am self employed at this time so I don't have a traditional "boss" to celebrate with on October 16th. But I will say thank you to all of my bosses. Each one is very special to me.

May be you will share with me the qualities you believe make someone a "good" boss. I'd love to hear from you.

(Simple Elegance Gift Basket shown above)

It's a Dog's Life

"Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” (Roger Caras)

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. As we have in the past, Laurel Mountain Basket Company's Studio will be a collection station for donations. In addition to dog (and cat) food, gently used toys, bedding, collars, leashes, and towels, area shelters are in need of office supplies and cleaning supplies such as laundry detergent, bleach and paper towels.

According to the ASPCA, 29 % of dogs are left at shelters because of family living situations and 40% are left because of incompatibility with the family lifestyle or the dog did not meet the family's expectations.

I am amazed at the amount of money people are paying for dogs these day. A friend told me they were looking to purchase a particular breed of dog and they were prepared to spend $2000. A "for sale" posting on a local bulletin board offered mixed breed puppies for $300 each and yet many of these dogs end up at shelters because the owners were not prepared to take on the responsibilities associated with owning a dog.

I can't imaging living without a dog. I've had at least one dog as a companion for the last 50 years, so I know what a huge responsibility they are.

Owning a dog is a long term commitment since a dog may life 15 years and they need daily care.

Owning a dog is expensive. In addition to the bare essentials of food and medical care, dogs need training and in most areas, they need to be licensed. Other costs can include grooming, day care, dog walking, kenneling or in home care when the owner will be away for an extended period of time.

If you are considering adding a dog to your household, please consider adopting from a shelter and please give a little thought to the type of dog (large, small, short hair, low energy) and choose one that will best suit your family structure.

P.S. At Laurel Mountain Basket Company we donate a portion from the sale of all of our pet gifts and gift baskets to area shelters. Looking for a special gift for a special dog, how about a personalized pet treat tin!

Thanks

Marie

Fun for the Young & Young at Heart

A friend and her husband recently took their daughter and a friend to see the latest "must see" tween age girl movie. She said the amount of money that they spent, for parking, tickets, popcorn and a drink, would have paid for a nice dinner for two at an upscale restaurant.
Spending time doing something that is fun with the kids doesn't have to break the bank.
A Home Movie Night can be lots of fun. Rent a video (or borrow one from your local library) and snuggle on the sofa with a huge bowl of popcorn. I still remember how much fun it was watching Wizard of Oz on TV with my folks and kid sisters and that was 30/40 years ago! Creating cherished memories for your kids (and for yourself) is really very easy.
Create a Game Night: My favorite is board game is Monopoly. Got beaten badly by my nephew the last time we played, but it was really fun! Choose a couple of age appropriate games and settle down for an evening of heavy competition! Have an ample supply of cookies and coca or chips and dips on hand and you are ready for hours of fun. You may be pleasantly surprised when your child whoops you good at "Chutes and Ladders" or "Crazy Eights"
Night at the Movies Gift Basket (shown) designed by Laurel Mountain Basket Company Easthampton, Ma.

It's Personal

Gift baskets are a great gift idea. That's why you will find them in discount stores, large department and grocery stores and pharmacy chains across the country. Especially during the Holidays. Some of the gift baskets are actually pretty nice, but to me, they lack imagination. Getting a gift basket filled with coffee mugs, flavored coffee and cookies, all sporting the logo of a major national coffee chain, tells me little thought went into buying that gift.
At a gift basket company like Laurel Mountain Basket Company you will find gift baskets with personality. Gift baskets designed especially for events like birthdays or bereavements, or for individuals with a passion like golf or fishing. A gift basket can be so much more than the sum of its parts. It can be a gift as unique as the person giving it and the person receiving it.

Seasons Greetings!

I know, it's August, but in our world it's time to start planning for the Holiday Season. It's actually lots of fun. Catalogs from all of our suppliers are arriving daily and we get to go SHOPPING! Shopping is my favorite sport.
This year we are putting together a new line of New England gift baskets but will continue to feature locally made treats like pancake mix and maple syrup from the Pioneer Valley, chocolates and cranberry candies from Cape Cod, jams and jellies and even salsa from the Berkshire hills. We will be bringing back some of your old favorites like Little House of Thyme and adding some new ones we know you will love like Appalachian Naturals.
We love the shea butter soaps and beeswax candles handmade by local craftspeople and will be featuring these items in many of our Bath and Body Gift Baskets like our Holiday SPA Gift Basket shown here.
We will be posting our new designs on our blog so check back with us regularly. If you have any design favorites, let us know.
Enjoy the rest of your summer,
Marie

Dog Days

At Laurel Mountain Basket Company, we love pets. So when I recently read an article about summertime safety tips for pets, I thought I would pass the information along.
1. Never leave your pets in the car. When the temperature outside starts climbing above 70 degrees, the temperature inside the car can reach 100 degrees in a matter of minutes.
2. Make sure your pets have access to plenty of water at all times. To keep the water cool, add several ice cubes. Remember that they will need to pee more, so be sure to increase the number of times you take them outside.
3. If your pets spend lots of time with the family in outdoor activities, be careful that they don't over do it. A leisurely bike ride for you can be a stressful run for your dog.
4. Not all dogs are great swimmers. When boating make sure your pet is wearing a properly fitting life preserver at all times.
5. Pets can have allergic reactions to insect bites and bee stings. Be alert. If you think your pet has been stung or bitten, call your vet. Swelling from the poisons in bites or stings can cause breathing problems that can be fatal.
Your pets rely on you to take care of them. Be a responsible pet companion.

Enjoy a fun filled summer with your pets.

Marie

It's Easy

Press one for English, enter your 99 digit number, if you know your party's extension, dial it now, listen carefully since our options have changed, all of our operators are busy helping other customers...... and then when you finally do get to talk to a person, they can't help you and have to transfer you to yet another person who can't help you. Sound familiar? This is what many companies consider "customer service".

You won't find that kind of service at Laurel Mountain Basket Company. When you call us, you will get one of two responses. Either a cheerful human will answer the phone and be ready and able to help you or you will get a short recorded message, informing you we are not in and asking you to leave a message. When you leave a message, you WILL get a response. A human, who is ready and able to help you, WILL return your call as soon as we return to the Studio.

We make ordering a gift basket from Laurel Mountain Basket Company so simple any one can do it. No time to shop? Shop 24/7 on our website which is designed to make choosing a gift and ordering it as easy as it can be. All of our gift baskets are individually created at the time of purchase, not sitting in a warehouse for days or weeks.

We also custom design gift baskets for our clients. Don't see exactly what you are looking for on line? We will create it for you. Our gift basket designers are professionals. They can answer all of your questions and help you make informed decisions. Whether you need a single gift for some one who is hard to buy for or 100 gifts for a corporate event, we can help. It's easy, just give us a call at Laurel Mountain Basket Company, "where gift giving won't make you a basket case!"

Happy shopping,

Marie

Happy Anniversary

August is a busy month for weddings and anniversaries. I love to read wedding announcements in the newspaper but I love reading the anniversary announcement even more. My husband and I have been married for 32 years, some times it seems like yesterday, and other times it seems live forever. Having been married that long, I am amazed at couples who have been married for 50, 60 and even 65 years!
Every anniversary is a milestone in the life of a couple and is usually marked with a special gift. There are traditions associated with giving wedding anniversary gifts, different types of gifts being considered appropriate for each year. Here is a listing for the first 10 years and then for the more significant milestones after that. The list was compiled taking into account the more traditional among us as well as the more modern. While putting the list together, I had fun imagining what I would actually buy to fit in each category. It was fun.
Anniversary /Traditional /Modern
First /paper /plastic
Second/ cotton/ cotton
Third/ leather/ glass
Fourth/ flowers/ silk
Fifth/ wood /wood
Sixth /candy /iron
Seventh/ wool/ brass
Eighth /bronze /pottery
Ninth/ pottery /willow
Tenth/ tin /aluminium
Twentieth/ china/ china
Twenty-fifth /silver/ silver
Thirtieth /pearl /pearl
Fortieth /ruby/ ruby
Forty-fifth/ sapphire /sapphire
Fiftieth/ gold/ gold
Fifty-fifth /emerald /emerald
Sixtieth/ diamond/ diamond
Wishing you all happy marriages from paper to diamonds.
Marie and everyone at Laurel Mountain Gift Basket Company

College Survival Kits

It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating high school graduations across the region and in only a few weeks, many of those graduates will be on their way to college.

For some, it will be their first time away from home. It can be a big adjustment for both students and parents. With cell phones and e-mail staying in touch today is easier than ever before. So parents, make it a point to contact your student regularly, at least for the first few weeks while they get adjusted.

Another great way to stay in touch is with care packages. At Laurel Mountain Basket Company we offer a full line of care packages especially designed for students, including our Off To College Kits. Sending a package filled with not so gourmet treats is a fun way to let your student know that you are thinking of them. For a limited time, to help offset the cost of higher education, we are offering FREE SHIPPING of our Off To College Kits to colleges and universities within the continental United States.
For more information, check out our website at http://www.laurelmtbasket.com/ or you can call us at 413-527-1243.

Summer Time In New England

It's summer time in New England and the Pioneer Valley is covered in lush green under a bright blue sky. Farm stands are filled with local produce. We've lived here all of our lives and every summer we enjoy shopping at the local farms. There's nothing tastier than fresh sweet corn on the cob or a veggie kabob on the grill. From acorn squash to zucchini you'll find it all in our little corner of the world.

We love living in New England. At Laurel Mountain Basket Company we spend a lot of time traveling around, constantly on the look out for new and different products to add to our gift baskets. We've recently discovered Bleu Cheese Chipoltle dip and Sundried Tomato Horseradish dip from Appalachian Naturals. Bleu cheese chipoltle and sundried tomato horseradish are not flavors usually associated with New England but these taste treats are made right here from ingredients grown on local farms.

Our Home Grown Gift Basket (photo above) is a new and different taste of New England. Summer time is the time for family gatherings and one of our New England style gift baskets makes a great hostess gift.

Have a sunny summer and remember to eat your veggies!
Marie

Bear Fest Easthampton 2009

Bear Fest Easthampton 2009 is in full swing. On June 13th the Easthampton City Arts unveiled 35 artist created fiberglass bears in and around downtown Easthampton, MA.

On Sunday, my husband, my 2 dogs and I took a walk to view many of the creations with names like Ted E. Bear, Ursa Major, Bumble Bear (shown in photo), and Bear Hugs. It took us hours to walk the short distance because we kept meeting friends and neighbors with their families enjoying the bears as well. All of the bears are beautifully painted, or otherwise artistically enhanced.

In honor of Bear Fest, Mt Tom Ice Cream created a special ice cream treat and Opa Opa, the local brewery created a special brew. At Laurel Mountain Basket Company, we are featuring our Bear-y Special Gift Basket.

Bear Fest 2009 will continue through out the summer with city wide events culminating in a week-long celebration of the arts including concerts, an ArtWalk, and a gala dinner and auction of the bears on October 15th.

For those of you in Western Massachusetts, take a stroll around downtown. I guarantee you will have a great time. Stop for an ice cream at Mt Tom's or a coffee and pastry at Sunrise. Try the Sunday buffet at Your Way Gourmet, and while you are in Eastworks (that's where Bumble Bear and Astronaut Bear are), stop by the Laurel Mountain studios and say hello.

Happy Father's Day

My Dad was a blue collar worker who didn't wear a lot of ties so thinking up a great Father's Day gift that wouldn't strain my baby sitting money budget was not an easy task. Slippers were a good choice but then Mom would have to chip in. So, poor Dad usually ended up with a bottle of Aqua Velva After Shave and a cake of Williams Shaving Soap.
No matter what you get Dad for Father's Day, you know he is going to love it. As Bill Cosby said, "Fatherhood is pretending that the present you love the most is soap-on-a-rope".
You can give Dad a gift he really will love and one that he may even share with you. A night at the movies is a fun gift basket filled with not so gourmet treats that a perfect for gathering the family together to watch the latest DVD or an old time favorite. Fix up a big bowl of micro wave pop corn (included) and munch away. While you're at it check out some of our other Father's Day gift basket designs.
Happy Father's Day!
Marie

Final Exam Survival Kit

It's that time of year again. School is about to end, Summer Vacation is about to begin. Many students are only weeks away from graduation. Weeks away form starting a new chapter in their lives. Some will be going on to college, some will by starting their careers. But before Summer Vacation, before graduation, before starting college or a career, they face Final Exams!
Show your favorite student that you are thinking of them and wish them good luck with a Final Exam Survival Kit from Laurel Mountain Basket Company. Our eco friendly boxes are filled with a generous assortment of "not so gourmet" snack items including popcorn, cookies, granola bars, candy bars, and more, all of the things late night study sessions are made of. A hand written note is included to let your student know that you are there for them.