tradition

For quite a few years I had seen on 

http://local-kiwi-alien.blogspot.com/

A sailing boat all lit up for Christmas. 

Apparently it’s tradition amongst the island Greeks to do this. 

Since half my family comes from a Greek island I had always wanted to do the same. Unfortunately there are not many sailboats for sale in the shops. 

I looked and couldn’t find anything. Then I’d forget all about it until the next time L posted the picture 

This year I jumped onto Temu and found one I liked and which didn’t cost the same as a real sail boat 

I spent about 15 minutes gluing the lights on 

I hope it passes muster 

Better Late than never I say. 

Thank you L for the inspiration 

Reveal

I can finally share the crafts I’ve been making 

You have already seen these ones 

Then there are these ones 



And three picture frames 







I had fun making them all. Each one tweaked to match their new owners 

I was very happy that they all loved them. 

They now have a little piece of me to always make them smile. Even if I’m no longer here 

Yesterday was our memorial and our final goodbye 

It was sad but also there was laughter 

We all have funny stories and we shared them with each other  

It was lovely and full of love 




On Friday we are having our annual get together for Christmas. Anne and family would normally be there. 

We had so pleased that her family are still going to come over. 

We will share our love and stories together 

For the catch up I have made some Christmas crack 

My American born friend, Shirley taught me how to do it years ago. 

It’s easy to make and very yummy. 

It’s also funny as in Australia we have named a body part as crack, so it will bring us lots of laughs 

Whatever you do. Always laugh. It’s very good for your soul 

Keeping busy

Today I decided to make some shortbread 

I’ve never made it before and chose a simple recipe 

It doesn’t look as nice as the pretty ones you buy. But it does taste nice 

I may have had a few that broke while I was putting it away lol 

I got a bit bored making little girls. So I changed to boys. 

It’s the same pattern except the legs are one colour and there is no skirt 



I’ve found a pattern for the trauma teddies.

I’ll try making a few of those as well. 

I’ll just keep adding to the pile and when I have enough 

I’ll donate them to the local fire brigade. 

Tomorrow we have the memorial for our friend anne

Saying goodbye is never easy 

Friday funday

Another fun packed day at grandmas the day started with 

Pancakes for breakfast 

Last week Ana asked what I was making. I showed her the picture on the pattern. She said that she needed two dolls. A pink one and a purple one 



I presented her the two dolls today. They were a hit 



I’m getting better. Changing the needles down a size was the key 



After that we painted our nails 

With sparkles on hour fingers 



Light blue and dark blue on our toes. With the mandatory sparkles on top 



Ana asked if she could take some Christmas to her house. So off we went to grandmas craft room and decided what was needed 



We had a talk about how the glue gun is really hot. So only big people can use them. 

Ana picked what she wanted. What colours they were and where they should go. 

Grandma glued them. 

We discussed everything and ended up with this 

It will be hung on her bedroom door 

Between crafting and watching paw patrol, snacks were eaten and shared with Trixie. 

It’s a good thing Trixie is like a vacuum cleaner as most ended up on the floor 

Ana and daddy have now gone home. Grandma has had a long soak in the bath. And she might just have a little something to drink   

Strictly for medical purposes 

Sadness

I’ve been MIA because the friend that we visited in hospital died early Sunday morning 

Even when you know it’s coming. It is still heartbreaking 

So many have been touched by that horrible disease cancer. It doesn’t discriminate 

Here we are at our favourite bar in Melbourne called madam Brussels. 

Right to left is Clare, me, Anne who passed and Dianne 

We have so many memories to cherish. I will miss her laugh 

Trials

One doll finished and quick a few mistakes were made. 

But that’s how I learn so I’m not stressed. 

I changed the hair from the pattern. I think it looks good. Ana will like it no matter 

What it looks like 

The skirt is supposed to have a flower embroidered on it. 

And it did. Until I realised I had placed the flower on the back instead of the front. 

I definitely need to go smaller needles. I’ve made that mistake before 

But on the plus side. She’s not the size of a toddler, yes I have made two dolls like that 

A lesson in reading the pattern properly 

I stared the dark brown for her hair too early. And her whole face is brown. 

Another no matter she’s fine for us moment



So a very successful trial. 

I’ve learnt lots 

She was still fun to make 

And now I can keep practicing until I make one that is fit to donate 

Today I have a lunch date with my Aussie friend I made on my tour of

Scotland and Ireland. 

Hubby is down at the farm doing some maintenance on the tractor 

If he takes too long he’ll stay the night and drive home early tomorrow 

Which means I’ll have a whole uninterrupted evening to 

Continue the classes on doll making 

Boud has informed me that if you wish to see the finish Izzy dolls 

She has made you need to check out the blog post dated 

November 27. The link to her blog is in the previous post 

So why not give it a go. 

Even if you mess it up. They’re still kinda cute 

Another Friday

It’s getting closer and closer to Christmas. 

Ana was very excited to see all the new decorations 

It was too hot to spend much time outside so we watched paw patrol episodes. 

One after another after another lol 

We did walk to the shed twice. She wanted to see grandpa. Unfortunately both times he was gone getting parts 

The apricots are ripening and Ana wanted to try one

I broke one in half and shared it with her   

She loved them. After that. Every time we went past we got a snack. 

Here she is enjoying her half of the apricot. She only got half every time. Don’t want her to get a tummy upset 



The new secretary, or is it the CEO. 

Either way she was very comfortable 




Once it cooled down we watered all the pot plants. Ana loves to help.  She noticed when plants had grown or had flowers. She got very excited and yell grandma come quick. So I could see it too 




https://fieldfen.blogspot.com/?m=1

Boud from field and fen blog. Link above 

Showed us her comfort dolls knitting. 

I remember making a few with our knitting group and decided to make  some. 

I googled for the pattern, I couldn’t read the one Boud posted. Bad eyes 

And I found so many variations 

Little girl dolls 



Koalas and many More 




I started this one today. I thought I’d make some for my girls. While I’m practicing and making mistakes 

Ana asked me to tell her what I was making. 

I showed her the picture and she decided she needed two dolls. A pink one and a purple one. 

She then told me I had to make some for her girls

Melody and Brianna. I love how she always thinks of them 

https://intheloopknitting.com/izzy-knitting-patterns.php

Here is the link to the page I found. 

They are fee patterns and you can save them in Ravelry 

Now everyone has left. Including hubby, I have no idea where, I’ve had a relaxing soak in the bath. I’m in my pjs. 

I’ll find something to watch on the telly 

And I’ll keep making dolls 

If you decide to try any of the patterns please share. I’d love to see how they all turn out 

No plans

Today has been a day of no plans. Yet somehow I’ve been very productive 

First thing this morning I went into the kitchen to take my morning meds. 

I then decided to dry the dishes in the sink and put them away. Mostly they were plastic containers that don’t go into the dishwasher 

I opened the plastics cupboard and it was a mess. I sat down to clean and organise it. 

It’s so much better now and there is more room 

I then went outside to sort the tubs. Which need to go back into the shed and which I still need out 

Once I did that I opened the shed door and thought. This could do with organising too. 

While organising I found my fence ornaments. 

They are now on the fence looking festive 

After all that I decided I needed to have a wee rest, before taking the tubs back into the shed 

While enjoying my coffee I finished off the last gingerbread man. 



They’re so alike I decided to embroider each one with the letters of the girls names 



Anastasia, Brianna and Melody 

In between I folded washing and did another load as well as normal daily housekeeping jobs

And now it’s almost four and I need to organise dinner 

And that’s how my days fly by 

People ask me if I get bored every day at home 

Honestly I don’t have time to get bored 

Strange day

This

 morning we woke to sunshine and gentle breezes 

Hubby got out and mowed as much of the lawns as he could 

We then headed off to visit a friend in hospital. They’re very  strict about visiting hours

He said he could finish once we got back

No he couldn’t. It’s been raining steadily from about two o’clock 

You can’t see it in the pictures but it’s raining 

You can  see the puddles and wet cement 

On the plus side it’s very green out there 

With the hot and muggy weather it’s been like a hot house outside. Everything is growing well. Including the lawns and weeds 

Inside we have the aircon on low just to keep it at a nice temperature. Looking out while being in a cool environment, feels like it’s winter. 

I can pretend I’m in the northern hemisphere. 

Until I step outside 

Final touches

I needed help with the last bits. Garlands, being long, need a second pair of hands to attach 

I had fun with the mantle. Being much lower than the top of the doors. No steps 

The television is looking festive 



Gone is the garlands going all round the door Fram. 

Little people going in and out would accidentally knock bits off. 

Much better, and easier. And the garland came with the decorations added. They even have lights! Just batteries required 




Sitting and admiring the handiwork now. 

We have a wedding to go to later today. I’ll soon have to try and make myself respectful. 

A much longer, and not as successful as it  used to be 

Best little helper

Ana and I spent a big part of today opening tubs and sorting decorations. 

We had fun setting it all up. Ana did come and go. She was watching paw patrol lol 

This was her favourite. All the decorations are wind up. So no batteries needed. We had to try each one, some more than once, to make sure they all worked 



The two nutcrackers are also wind up. So of course they were tested a few times as well. Quality control was very thorough lol 



My wonderful Christmas friend gave me that baubles Christmas tree. 

She also gave me a white one 

Her three little granddaughters had grown out of some dress ups. Ana scored a bag full. 







We had a fashion parade. Trying on all the new dresses. These are just a few. 

She loved twirling in front of und mirror 

Little girls are all the same. They love pretty frocks 

Christmas crafts

Christmas crafting begins. 

I’m going to try and make gifts for those that appreciate it. 

Some people think your being cheap by giving them something 

Hand made. So I don’t bother wasting my time making things for them 

He eventual recipients of these are definitely genuinely pleased to 

Receive home made gifts 

These still need a bow I think. Right on the front of the red ribbon 

And then they’re done. 

I’ll think of other gifts to make   

My craft room looks like a bomb has gone off. But it’s all ok 

It’s the look of creativity and busyness lol

Any ideas are gratefully accepted. 

Where am I?

You could be forgiven, if you thought I was in Far North Queensland. But I am not. I’m in Melbourne. Actually further south of melb   

The weather here has been steamy hot. I went outside to feed the all the fur babies, and my glasses fogged up! 

I had washing out for two days, under the back veranda. And they didn’t dry at all. Just got a musty smell 

I had to rewash them and hung them on clothes horses 

As it’s summer, apparently, I don’t have a fire going. 

So, I set up. Fan to blow through them all. 

It works a treat. They were almost dry in a few hours. 

And no nasty smells. 

You can see the condensation on the outside of the window. They’re all like that!

I cannot breath in such weather. The plan today is to stay inside and continue to crochet 

I need to rest because I need to shop tomorrow. 

Then have Ana Friday. And finally a wedding on Saturday 

Fingers crossed the humidity goes away by then

Three ginger bread men have gone to their new owners 

I only have one and a half to go 

It begins

Trees are done. Except for the stars on top. Hubby will have to do that 

It’s taken me three days to get to this. Way slower than I used to take 

My crazy Christmas friend came over to help with the archway it’s becoming a Christmas tradition 



As I find thing in the tubs I’ll keep adding to it 

I’m definitely going to take my time and go slow 

I can’t wait for the girls to see it all 

A taste of thing to come

Today’s weather is HOT HOT HOT

It was 30 degrees Celsius at nine o’clock 

Hubby got up early and did a heap of weeding 

The small garden out front. It was so full of weeds we couldn’t tell where the plants were 

And down the side of the house. I weeded the pots but trying to get the weeds on the stones 

Was really hard on my back. So he finished it off 



While he was slaving away. I headed off to art class 

If interested the link is on the side bar 

I finished two paintings 

The little shed we paint in was getting hotter and hotter as the hour progressed 

 By the time I left I was soaking wet! 

The rest of the day will be spent working on those gingerbread men. 

I still have three to go 

Crafting Friday

Ana told me a few weeks ago that she liked wind chimes. So of course grandma organised all the bits you need to make one 

Here she is, putting the bells on the pipe cleaner. 

I think that’s what they’re called 

We started with a dream catcher. Grandma turned it around so the big ring would be vertical 

I then reattached all the dangling pieces on to hang the correct way for our purposes 

Here she is after attaching all her jingle bells 
Very proud 



She has been asking to start Christmas for weeks. 

She even showed me where all the decorations were hiding  saying “ look grandma, I found them “

I. Put the wreath on the front door which made her happy 



But she said she wanted Christmas tree. I told her we needed to get grandpa to get them. So we compromised. 

Luckily this tree takes about two minutes to set up 



Once we had finished doing all that. It was time to paint the nails 



It important to match you nail polish with your outfit 

Then her daddy came to take her home. 

A lovely busy day