GIFT SUPPLEMENT

The Gifted Giver

By Amanda Bader

Have you ever noticed that good gift giving is a gift in and of itself? There are those people who seem to have an innate talent for selecting just the right thing for just the right person. Sometimes it’s something you didn’t even know you wanted (An asparagus peeler? A trouser press? A carousel horse?), then someone gives it to you and you suddenly can’t imagine life without it. Of course people with this knack are the ones that cause the rest of us terrible anxiety at this time of year. So, for those of us who are not particularly gifted at giving gifts, we thought we’d offer 12 suggestions to get you into the swing. Of course if any one of these is something you’d like yourself, try leaving the list in a strategic location … you might get lucky.

A Schvitz’ll Do You Good!
As if the everyday stresses in our lives weren’t enough, once we hit Thanksgiving (or does it hit us?), the volume seems to go up and stress multiplies exponentially. What better way to ease out of a hectic holiday season than with some health-oriented pampering at one of the area’s excellent spas? Day spa gift packages generally include a selection of services, often a Swedish or reflexology massage, a skin treatment, such as a European facial, Dead Sea mud treatment or an herbal wrap, teamed with classes such as yoga or tai chi. Day visitors are often welcome to use the spa facilities, too, such as steam room, sauna, pool and exercise equipment and access to the grounds for hiking or cross country skiing. Some spas also offer gourmet meals. Of course this type of professional relaxation comes at a price, local spas offer packages ranging from $120 to $295 depending on how much time and how many treatments are selected. Try the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa (Kerhonkson, 626-8888), Copperhood Spa (Shandaken, 688-2460; www.copperhood.com) or the Emerson Inn and Spa (Mt. Tremper, 688-7900; www.the-emerson.com). Of course if you want to give health and relaxation but can’t swing a big-ticket gift, try New Paltz-based Avid Press’s Mini Spa—an assemblage of special spa soap, incense and holder, and bubble bath to set the mood. It’s perfect for a little pampering and only $24 at Linger Gift Shop in High Falls (687-7907).

Well, It Ain’t Dumb
The gift of health is a wonderful present, and one fun approach to getting healthy (or even healthier) is to use Smart Bells, revolutionary weights from Thinkfit (Accord, (800) 485-0967; www.thinkfit.com). Smart Bells oval-shape and unique curves look more like a sculpture than a weight. The design facilitates an efficient low-impact workout that promotes strength and flexibility at the same time by combining principles of yoga, tai chi and dance with weight lifting for an efficient, whole body workout. They are available in 6-pound ($65) and 15-pound ($70) weights (or a set of two for $127); an instructional video is included with each purchase. The workout has been embraced by people of all abilities and fitness levels, and Thinkfit is giving Smart Bells classes in the area (call for details). Wrap your gift in the new Smart Bells carry bag ($46), which makes it easy to take the workout wherever you go.

40 Winks? Make that 45.
Perhaps you’re looking for a gift for someone who longs for a good sound sleep? Try giving them a buckwheat pillow, reputed to be the best support for a great sleep. These pillows, filled with dried buckwheat hulls (which are actually a fruit related to rhubarb), have been used in the far East for centuries and are now becoming popular here as people become more attuned to their bodies. The hulls conform to the head and neck to provide a consistent support that is said to ease pain in the upper and lower back, neck and jaw, and even to stop snoring. High quality pillows are hypoallergenic and contain organic buckwheat hulls; some of them even have a hint of lavender or chamomile for a mild and soothing scent. Prices range from about $25 to $50, depending on the size and covering. Find buckwheat pillows online at L-oma Buckwheat Pillows, www.l-oma.com; (207) 384-2099; or Many Moons Alternatives www.catalog.com/organic/buckwheat/buckwheat.html; (800) 916-4444; or Enhuis Buckweat Pillows, www.buckwheatpillows.net; (877) 269-8596).

How Do You Wrap a Water Buffalo?
The ideal gift for someone who has everything? A water buffalo. Or maybe a llama. Can’t picture it? Here’s how it works: Heifer Project International puts the Chinese proverb “Give a man a fish and he eats dinner, teach a man to fish and he can feed himself forever” into practice. Donations to the Project are used to provide healthy and productive animals to people and to train the recipients to care for the animals so they reap the most possible benefit from them. Llamas and sheep give wool, heifers and goats give milk. Each animal that is given produces young that is, in turn, given to another family in need or sold at market, creating a ripple effect of benefit. Pigs, rabbits, chicks, bees and yes, water buffalo and llamas, are all among the animals provided by gifts to the Heifer Project. Gifts range from as little as $10 for a share of an animal to $5,000 for “The Ark.” Heifer will send a card explaining the gift. Contact Heifer International at (800) 422-0755 or www.heifer.org.
Another charitable gift that will continue to give is through the Seva Foundation (www.seva.org), which helps to build sustainable communities by providing training and assistance to communities so they can better themselves. Target projects in South and Central America, Mexico and Asia include providing materials and training for the construction of infrastructure for water and solar power, critical education in such areas as midwifery, nutrition and prenatal care, and support in the fight against preventable blindness around the world.

That One Fits Just Right
There are few things more personal than a custom-made gift, though sometimes it’s tough to get the necessary measurements. If you want to give a present made especially for the recipient but are concerned about giving something that might not fit, think of having a photographic portrait done. It’s the quintessential custom-made gift and it will always be the right size. Don’t think it needs to be a formal sitting, either; a good portrait is dynamic and captures the essence of the subject. Photo shoots can include one or several people, houses, beloved furniture and even animals. There are many talented photographers in the Hudson Valley who can help you create a unique and exciting gift. Prices start at as low as $125, and will range depending on location and how complicated the shoot is.

Deck The Walls
While we’re on the subject of artwork…some of the most lasting and unique gifts are artwork. The Hudson Valley is home to the creative energy of a large community of artists who create an astounding range of work. You can find paintings and drawings, both representational and abstract; interesting sculpture, large and small, for display outdoors or in; beautifully creative pottery pieces; and handmade textiles for hanging or draping. There’s such a wide range of offerings it’s possible to find a gift of artwork that’s right for almost anyone. And, during the holidays, many of the galleries offer smaller, less expensive works expressly for giving as gifts. It’s a wonderful time to buy works by well-known artists whose creations might otherwise be unaffordable, and these small works are little gems that add something really special when hung in the right space.
Of course if you’re afraid you won’t pick the right work, head to Restoration Hardware ((800) 763-1005; www.restorationhardware.com) for an Album Cover Frame (two for $26) and let your friend finally get Pink Floyd on the wall.

Play It Again…and Again…
Sometimes a gift that helps the recipient be heard is what’s needed. For the person on your list who has (or aspires to) musical tendencies, try Harmony to Go!—portable tunes from Spike & Co. This “Nail-O-Phone” is a series of giant tuned nails (actually they’re construction spikes—dressed up all fancy in chrome) with a foam support and mallets all in their own traveling pouch. There are four different Harmony to Go! tunes offered, ranging in price from $34 to $54 depending on the number of spikes, clear tones that will provide entertainment long after the holiday season is over. Go to www.spikeco.com or Bop to Tottom (Kingston, 338-3100) for a clever sack of portable music.

Just A Cuppa
It used to be that a cup of tea was simple: grab a teabag, boil some water, and that was it. Not any more…tea has become connoisseur territory. This is actually great news for those searching for an interesting gift: try a selection of teas and accessories. What tea drinker wouldn’t be up for tasting such exotics as Buckingham Palace Garden Party black tea, Rooibos red tea from Africa, or even the fruity infusion called Lady Hannah tea, made with whole dried raspberries and strawberries. Combine these with filter paper sacks for making teabags, infusers, mugs and a teapot, and you’re feeding a tea gourmet’s fancy. For a selection of over 400 teas and a wide choice of accessories, try Jean Turmo (Woodstock, 679 7491) where they’ll help you put together a tea gift basket for $15 or $150 (or anywhere in between). Or, surf to Leaves (www.leaves.com ) or Tea Luxe (www.tealuxe.com) on the Web for gift ideas.

It Keeps On Giving
Sometimes there are too many varieties to pick just one to give, that’s when you need a gift of the month arrangement—these can be just a few months or a whole year’s worth of gifts. Gifts of the month can be homemade (pledge to make different cookies each month), alternative currency (such as a “get out of washing the dishes” certificate to be redeemed once a month), or even a gourmet beer of the month (www.realbeer.com/rbstore/so/allholiday01/). For the chef in your life, one of the most interesting gifts is Mushroom of the Month. Good quality and exotic mushrooms add a special flair to almost any dish, and a monthly supply will keep the kitchen hopping with new ideas. Visit Aux Delices (www.auxdelices.com/temp/gifts.htm; (888) 547-5471;) to arrange for a monthly shipment of 1.5 pounds of ready to cook fresh fungi ($146 for three months), or for someone who’s more responsive to projects, try FP’s Mushroom of the Month Club (www2. mailordercentral.com/fungi), which will ship a different mushroom “cultivation patch” each month for a year ($275). Varieties include Pink Oyster, Almond Portobello, Shiitake, Enokitake and eight other exotic grow-them-yourself mushrooms.

Uncork It, Please
While we’re giving multiples, consider a selection of New York State wines for your favorite oenophile. Hudson Valley wines are gaining in quality and popularity, and offer affordable value. Popular choices include Millbrook Vineyards Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (arguably the best in New York State), Clinton Vineyards Seyval Blanc, or Standing Stone Vineyards’ Gewurztraminer, and for a touch of the exotic, include Baldwin Vineyards Raspberry dessert wine, which is also wonderful for cooking. Ask your favorite liquor store to help you put together a selection, prices on good area wines start at about $10, so even a full case of wine might not break the bank. And if you’re lucky, you’ll be asked to share in your gift over dinner some night.

Assembly Always Required
So you’re not excited about giving a kid yet another computer game? Who can blame you. Fortunately there are several local toy stores that offer excellent gifts that will keep small (and large, for that matter) hands and minds busy long after the snow melts, with nary a mouse to click.
Try Zolo Play Sculpture and Bonz Building Bone-Anza, kits of multiple plastic pieces that look like some kind of fantastical body parts in various shapes and cool colors that can be put together any number of different ways to make lively looking creatures that only a child (or child at heart) could dream up. Kits start as low as $15 for 22 pieces, and go up from there.
Or try Tree Blocks, precision-cut sections of recycled tree branches, available with or without bark. Every block in every set is a different, naturally determined shape, encouraging the child’s imagination to figure out how to put them together, again and again. Sets start at $28 for 22 pieces.
Check out Kiddlydivy (Rhinebeck, 876-7959), Tinker Toys (Woodstock, 679-8870) and Duck Up A Tree (High Falls, 687-2290) for a wide selection of offbeat and creative toys.

Gotta Get a Goat
Of course there’s always clothing to be given, and since it’s winter we tend to think of warm stuff. And what could be warmer or more luxurious than cashmere? Not too much. Cashmere is one of nature’s great designs that man has adapted to his advantage; the threads are spun from the downy undercoat of the Tibetan Kashmir goat (which makes sense when you think that the goats have to stay warm in the worst winters in the world). So put some of this downy-soft wool next to someone’s skin this winter, give them a sweater, scarf or hat. It’s pricey but the return could well be worth it. As it has increased in popularity the price has come down, so sweaters can be found starting at $150 or so and scarves starting at about $60. Good quality cashmere sweaters can be found for women at Woodstock Design (Woodstock, 679-8776) and Winter Sun (Rhinebeck, 876-3555) and for men at Changes (in both Woodstock, 679-2076; and Rhinebeck 876-1345).