Christmas party time!

Just a quick note to extend an invitation to the lovely Hoydenizens About Town and also to anyone else I should have contacted already but have by some hideous oversight missed. We’re hosting our usual Christmas party again this year When: Sat 12th Dec from 4pm till lateWhere: At our placeWhat: Open house – come early, come late, stay a little or a long while, whatever you can manage we’d love to see you! Santa will arrive a 5:30pm for the kids (don’t forget to tell me if your kids will be there at that time). If you need my … Continue reading Christmas party time!

The kids have begun singing Christmas songs

Which would be nice if they ever sang more than the one chorus of the one song over and over again. I need to put together a playlist of my favourite Christmas songs so I can switch it on whenever they start and attempt to expand their repertoire. This one will be on there for starters: White Wine in the Sun by Tim Minchin Click here if you can’t see the embedded video Continue reading The kids have begun singing Christmas songs

Pretty rocks and NaBloPoMo prize

*****UPDATE***** The school Christmas markets are done and as promised here are the options for one lucky NaBloPoMo prize winner to choose from. A) Moukaite jasper necklace with gold plated beads, bead caps and toggle clasp. Length 49.5cm. With matching earrings.Click on the photos for bigger images. B) Snowflake obsidian and riverstone necklace with silver plated bead caps and sterling silver toggle clasp. Length ~49cm. With matching earrings.Click on the photos for bigger images. C) Sodalite and riverstone necklace with pewter beads and sterling silver toggle clasp. Length 52 cm. With matching earrings.Click on the photos for bigger images. *****************On … Continue reading Pretty rocks and NaBloPoMo prize

Food and love (Part 1)

Some time ago Liz posted a piece titled Love You With Food, it ends with these lines: There is a legacy of love and food and cooking in my family. I’m so glad to be part of it and so glad it doesn’t end with me. I wish I could say the same thing about my family. It’s not that there was any lack of love, or indeed of good food, in my childhood – far from it! But somewhere along the way food became a problem instead of an uncomplicated celebration and the legacy I inherited could be better … Continue reading Food and love (Part 1)

Christmas Eve

I am in the very strange state of having nothing much on my to do list for today, all that needs to be done is a bit of tidying around the house, folding some laundry, buying some bread rolls and eggs…and taking myself off to the doctor 😦 I woke up this morning with the beginnings of a bout of cystitis and there’s no way I’m risking not getting some antibiotics for it now as we’re heading into the Christmas break. So, feeling a little sorry for myself but AWFULLY thankful that everything else is done and I can sit … Continue reading Christmas Eve

Gingerbread House – Aussie style

Here it is, a definitively Australian gingerbread house, inspired by Megan, baked by me and decorated by my kids – with a little help from me and my Mum (ok, I confess, the kids got bored and Mum and I finished the job, the lolly encrusted sides are totally Grandma’s fault). Give me a home among the gumtrees With lots of plum treesA sheep or two, a kangaroo A clothesline out the back Verandah out the front And an old rocking chair There’s an outdoor dunny and a water tank (though it’s a little on the small side). We’ve even … Continue reading Gingerbread House – Aussie style

Tom has it all worked out

This morning as Caitlin was rummaging through the presents under the tree (as you do when you are 10 years old) she asked me “Why are there no presents here for us from you and Dad?” Me: “Santa brings you presents. You can pick, do you want presents from Santa or presents from us?” Tom: “SANTA!” then with a sly grin “But presents from Santa are really from you and Dad.” Me: “I don’t know about that. Are you sure?” Tom: “Yeah, ’cause the real Santa wouldn’t come to our house.” Me: “Oh? Why not?” Tom: “Because we’re not nice!” Continue reading Tom has it all worked out

Construction Phase 1 complete

Tomorrow afternoon we will be making a Gingerbread House, but before that can happen the pre-fabrication of building materials must take place. So that’s what I’ve been doing tonight. Because sleep is so over-rated. I could have simply re-used the pattern from previous years but I was getting kind of bored with doing the same thing year after year. About a month ago Megan was musing on the question of how to do an Aussie gingerbread house and I got all inspired and stuff. So tonight I made a new pattern, this time of a house with a verandah out … Continue reading Construction Phase 1 complete