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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate NEWS NOW Guest Opinion: Wealth gap: why it's widening, what we can do ... Kate Brown confirms she'll run for Oregon governor ... Police: White City man charged for shooting dog that bit him ... Guest Opinion: Wealth gap: why it's widening, what we can do ... Kate Brown confirms she'll run for Oregon governor ... Police: White City man charged for shooting dog that bit him ... Barry Lewis: Getting into the holiday shopping spirit Comment By Barry Lewis Wicked Local MailTribune.com By Barry Lewis Wicked Local Posted Dec. 12, 2014 at 2:25 PM By Barry Lewis Wicked Local Posted Dec. 12, 2014 at 2:25 PM » Social News How many cheese boards does one family really need? How many stuffed Santas can be squeezed into a single dwelling before zoning regulations are compromised. How many earrings can one woman with presumably just two earlobes wear in the course of a lifetime? And how can scented soap be considered an appropriate gift to give during the holidays? I mean, aren’t you kinda insinuating something when you say to that special someone in your life: “I love you so. I got you soap.” Look, I’m not trying to make things difficult. But chances are pretty good you’ll hit a few holiday craft fairs over the next two weeks. Trust me, you’ll be at one. So I’m just warning you that these are the kind of questions you’ll want to give some serious thought to as you make your way around the handmade jewelry, the hand-sewn leather bags, the handcrafted wreaths and the hand-designed Santa sweaters, snowmen stockings and seasonal slippers. Not to mention the soaps, stuffed Santas and sturdy-yet-stunning hand-carved cutting boards that can cost more than anything you put on the board. I’m just saying. Oh, you’ll get your money’s worth. The beautiful granite boards I was looking at even came with a knife. I was even leaning toward buying one until I asked how it would hold up if I actually cut cheese on the cutting board. It seemed silly to ask, but, “Would it scratch the board?” The answer was, “Yes.” “So, if I can’t cut on the granite cutting board, what would I use if for?” By this point, a few folks had gathered around me — potential cutting-board buyers who were also having second thoughts. The board designer leaned forward. I kept an eye on the knives. “You put the granite board in the refrigerator. For about 20 minutes. Then you take it out and put the already sliced cheese on it. It keeps the cheese nice and cold.” Good answer. Only ... “But if I want to cut up more cheese — or maybe even a pepperoni stick to put on the granite cheese board wouldn’t I then have to …” We all knew what was coming. It was inevitable. “You would need to buy one of these nice wooden cheese boards. Have your choice of maple, cherry or walnut wood. They also come with knives.” I decided buying the cutting boards would cut into my kitchen space, not to mention my holiday cash. So I checked out the homemade wreaths, door hangings, painted glass and slate, candles, quilts, ornaments, doll clothes, hair bows, wind chimes, purses and pillows. I admired the herbary, pottery and photography, dipped into the pasta and pesto, sipped a chardonnay and got a jolt of java. Did I buy? I can’t say. I’m not opposed to holiday craft fairs. The folks are nice and the products impressive. And it certainly beats an afternoon in the big box stores. If only they had the craft that’s on my holiday wish list: an 8-by-7-foot Finnish-style prefab cedar log sauna complete with 240-volt sauna heater, built-in controls, two benches and a window door. I’ll supply the stuffed Santa. Barry Lewis is executive editor of the Times Herald-Record. Contact him at [email protected] By Barry Lewis Wicked Local MailTribune.com By Barry Lewis Wicked Local Posted Dec. 12, 2014 at 2:25 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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