Giving the gift of your time

I don't have to say how tough our economy is and that people are losing their jobs, homes, etc. This is the season to be more creative with gifts from our hearts, given with love. What is the best gift you could give anyone? I would say something from your heart or your time.

Each year I give my dad (because I think he has everything) a Christmas card with coupons inside good for:

Breakfast at Topaz Lodge after a morning of fishing (with me of course).

A hike up the hill behind his house.

Homemade cherry dessert, his all-time favorite.

A bicycle ride to the fire station and back.

A motorcycle ride around Lake Tahoe when it warms up.

A homemade dinner of his choice when Mom is going to be gone some evening.

I even got Jenee doing this for Valentine's Day last year. Her coupons to me included:

5 hugs and 2 kisses.

Help me make my bed 5 times.

Unload the dishwasher 5 times.

Feed the dogs the whole week.

Bring me a cup of hot tea in the evening " she knows how to make it well.

Vacuum the entire house.

I think she spelled entire, "entre," but you get the idea.

Our time is the most valuable gift we can give and everyone enjoys something yummy made from scratch or something we can do to help someone out. Before I go grocery shopping, I call my neighbor to ask if they need anything and she reciprocates. All of our time is precious " why not try it out this year?

Kori attends dog show in Las Vegas

Recently Kori Nishiguchi, who is 10 years old and lives in Johnson Lane, went to Las Vegas with her grandparents to show her puppy Misty in a United Kennel Club show. Misty is a 12-week-old standard poodle. Kori showed her in showmanship and Misty did well. Although she didn't win a ribbon, she got valuable exposure to the show ring.

Kori did so well handling Misty that another lady at the show let Kori show her little Yorkshire terrier. Her dog got enough points that weekend to be finished and now that Yorkie can retired from the show ring and go on to be breed and maybe produce championship puppies.

Kori's mother Danielle is proud of Kori and loves to encourage her to show dogs because Kori dreams of being a veterinarian when she grows up. We could use more female veterinarians, I think. Go girl!

n Lisa Welch is a Johnson Lane resident and can be reached at 267-9350.