marian miller

THANKS for taking the extra trouble to video what you did framing this shelter.  It was therapeutic to watch and listen to the natural sounds while you worked, and I learned some things about use of the hatchet for simple building. I also love that you used what you already have to cut costs. I have young box elder trees and even super-big crepe myrtle trunks here in W. TN that are also easy to work with, so might give this a try.  

One of the most-liked PRACTICAL gift ideas we have used are rechargeable headlamps for everyone.  My husband and I use these constantly for 1 checking livestock at night 2 repairing small items on a desk where you need extra light and hands free 3 engine repair 4 reading in bed 5 finding items in a dark closet 6 reading a map 7 putting chickens to bed.... We always take them on trips as emergency gear, a couple in the glove box.  The ones we have have LED bulbs, have a Hi/Lo/strobe setting, and recharge with a common phone USB cord. We have dropped them with no damage and they are water-resistant. These are counted as necessary to take along as our phones, and I'm not sure how we made it without them.  We almost never use common flashlights anymore.  So last Christmas, everyone on our list got a rechargeable headlamp with their other gifts and everyone was happy!

I don't personally sell gift items (yet) but the rechargeable headlamp (like the past Gear giveaway) makes the BEST Christmas present for men or women!  My husband and I use ours constantly, indoors and outdoors, and always take them on trips in case we need to read a map, look under the hood, change a tire, or just read without waking our partner. We gave everyone these as gifts last year - rechargeable with common phone cord!  And tough little LED lights that last! What's not to like?