It's Saturday. Glorious Saturday that we've waited for all week. My husband is preparing the pie crust for pumpkin pies that I will later make the filling for; we'll freeze some and eat some later today. Our dogs, prime source of entertainment and cheap therapy, gleefully tear up a paper towel tube. Thanksgiving is coming and aside from the pies we'll start decorating for the holidays this weekend, beginning to paste together construction paper crafts to make our home more festive.

     To our little family, being connected means more than sharing the covers on these cold nights, it means enthusiastically participating in every part of our life together. He makes the crust, I make the filling. I wash the clothes, and he entertains me with funny stories while I put them away. Family projects can make all the days of the year that much more special. Let everyone help out and add their own special flair.

     The holidays can be a stressful time, and some days the best way to connect with our loved ones is to give them a little pick-me-up. Even more when the world has a troubled economy it is important for us to learn how to make our homes comfortable without spending a fortune. So here are some things that you can do to make your home feel more connected, without breaking the piggy bank.

*Five Dollar Placemats: Go to a five-and-dime store, or better still, raid your own cupboards, and make your own holiday placemats! Fall leaves can be pressed between plastic sticky paper or clear book covers to make placemats. Have a large family? Put everyone's name into a jar, then take turns drawing names then making a placemat for your "person".

*Silly Stunts: Family feeling a bit blue? Do something silly. I like writing with your feet. Have everyone (Mom and Dad too!) write each other encouraging messages with their feet! Cheap and, better yet, a great laugh!

*Make a "pep-talk" jar: Get a jar or vase and put it in a high traffic area, like the hallway or living room. Everyone in the family write happy memories, encouraging words, or "I love you"s on slips of paper. Fold them up and put them in the jar. When you're in need of a pick-me-up, get a slip of paper from the vase.

*Bonfire time: Easy to do and inexpensive, fall is a wonderful time for a bonfire. People have been making fires and gathering around them since early times. Don't have enough space? Many campsites can still be visited in the cooler months, bundle up and take the family for a good old campfire. Make s'mores, sing cheesy songs and enjoy what will surely be a new fall tradition.

*Be an ambitious cook: Scared of from-scratch pudding? Curious about quiche? Have the whole family try to cook something that none of you has made before. Researching "colonial recipes" or "intermediate recipes" can be a great place to start. Who knows, you might come up with a new favorite recipe!

No matter the season, for whatever reason, connecting to family can be easy and fun!