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 

Breakfast meet up

This morning I went and met my Christmas mad friend for coffee and a wander 

Around the shopping centre. 

Still buying bits and pieces for the grandchildrens Christmas presents 

Nothing extravagant. Just some stocking f

Then back home to finish making the latest batch of rhubarb liquor 

The next batch is now brewing. Both the lemons and the rhubarb come from the back yard. 

Lemon one will become lemoncello 

Three gingerbread men are finished. 

Only three more to make. 



As soon as I finish all six I’ll turn my attention to Christmas trees and decorations 

It’s getting to that time of year again 

I can’t wait to see the girls faces when they see it all. 

Surprise project

Last week. Talking to my Christmas mad friend, she told me her daughter had bought a 

Crochet project to make a gingerbread man for Christmas. 

She doesn’t know how to crochet but though she could work it out by the 

I instructions 

She opened it up and got overwhelmed by it all. She rang her mum and said your 

Going to have to do it. 

She laughed and said she has no idea how to make it. But she knew someone who did 

Enter me! 

I took the kit home and started. 

Not hard at all.  It even had a section where it shows you how to do all the stitches. With pictures 

That’s pretty much why she had thought it was too much. 

I did warn them I can’t crochet tight as my hands hurt, but they said it would be fine no matter 

How it worked out. 

So I began. And it was fun , but, due to me not knitting tight enough I ran out of brown yarn 

They have a second kit so they will give me the brown out of that. 

Meanwhile I decided I’d make one for me 

He’s more chocolate brown. 

He did work up quickly. 

And he’s very cute. 

Maybe I’ll make two more so all three girls will have one. 

I’ll just give them different coloured bows so they can tell them apart 

It’s still cloudy outside. And cool. But no rain. 

At least I don’t need to water today 

Sudden change

Sunday was nothing like Saturday. Woke up to gusty winds and rain. 

We could hear thunder but we didn’t get the storm. Just rain and a drop of temperature 

We went from 34 degrees cel. To 20. And even less toy

Last night I could have sworn I saw Little girl and her dog fly by in a house !

All of this is not ideal for chronic pain 

Apart from basic everyday chores I’m just going to rest. 

I have a little craft project that I’m working on. So that will be my day today 

You will get to see the project once I’m done 

Where ever you are. Do what you have to, to feel happy. 

Another glorious day

I woke up this morning to another beautiful day. 

I headed off to art and then into the supermarket for a few things I needed 

Got home and hung out load of clothes. 

By the time the second load was ready to take out the first load had dried. 

In the heat of midday, I came inside and made spaghetti for dinner. I also made an apple and rhubarb pie 



Dinner for one 



Hubby left early to the farm to drop off  few things and do some work around. 

He rang to say he was staying the night. 

This means we have plenty of leftovers for tomorrow and ample pie for our dessert 

I went out late in the afternoon to water out back. Tomorrow I’ll water out front, before it gets too hot 

A very relaxing evening, watching whatever I fancy. 

Not too bad really 

Sunny Friday

Today we went foraging for food. While grandma watered the vegetables 

Lots of strawberries ripe and sweet 

Finding ripe mulberries. 



Then out front. While grandma watered with the hose 

Ana watered with her special watering can 







As you can see Agatha was keeping a close watch on proceedings lol 



Then inside to an afternoon snack of even more fruit 

It was a busy and healthy day spent in glorious sunshine 

Remembrance Day 2024

LEST WE FORGET 

Today at home

Second post. I know highly irregular. 

I have fallen in love with the bearded irises. Unfortunately I’ve not been able to find them. So of course I did a facebook search and I found a page that helps people sell and buy them. 

I put out a post saying I’d love to buy some and a Lovely lady offered to sell me some. 

And she only lived 20 minutes from my home. 

We did a deal, she had three different colours. So I asked for two in each colour. Total price $30.00

This morning we headed off to find her home and purchase our new plants. 

When I arrived I received 9 of the rhizomes and a clump of another one. 

Not only extra plants but some information about growing them. This lovely lady has been growing them for many years. I was very happy to receive some of her wisdom 

This is the clump. Planted in the garden. Here it should receive the sunshine it requires 

The rest were  planted into my large pots. 

They needed weeding and topped up with compost 



All these pots needed topping up. 

The pink pelargonium were  cuttings I took from one of our neighbours 



The bulbs in the very large pots were bought from the reject shop 

I  hope they take off and I get some beautiful blooms 

Meanwhile I pulled out the scarf I was making. It was too wide for a traditional scarf. And not wide enough to make an infinite scarf. 

The infinite scarf is a better choice for the alpaca lady so it will stay on and not get caught anywhere causing harm 

I’ve now chained a longer strip and will add buttons so that it will do up. 

Sometimes these things take a bit of working out 

Hopefully this will be the last time I frog it. 

Three times is enough 

Tina Turner

Yesterday hubby and I headed to the city to see the stage show Tina Turner. 

There were two other couples as well as an aunt and niece team. 

Consensus was it was one of the best shows we have seen 

There are times where it’s a tad hard to watch,  domestic violence being part of the story, but overall it’s a story of overcoming obstacles and rising up to reclaim your life 

Made even more powerful as it’s a true story 

The actors were amazing and the whole show was powerful. 

Especially the ending. Music, lights and brilliant choreography 

It really feels like your at a Tina Turner concert 

I highly recommend it. If you have never been to a theatre production before, go now. You will be hooked. 

After the show we headed off to dinner and then home. 

We were back at our house by 7.30pm

A perfect day, without overdoing. 

The perks of having husbands who drive. 

TGI FRIDAY

After the big clean on Tuesday I was grumpy to wake up on Wednesday to see the whole veranda full of leaves again. We had strong winds from the north during the night

I was too busy inside to worry about it Wednesday and we still had a windy day 

I was out and about Thursday so I didn’t get to sweep until today 

As I was sweeping I looked at the rose garden and sighed. It really was a stupid idea to try and keep it clean 

Not when it looks like we have had a wedding out there 

I did finish the job knowing it will be just as bad again by tomorrow. 

While I was busy wasting my time Ana wanted to go and see the strawberries and hopefully find some to eat 

This is the potato patch. They’re starting to die back now. I had a sneak peak and I saw potatoes 

I was very excited 




In the asparagus bed we have lots of self seeded tomatoes 

We harvest the asparagus and  had left it to grow and die back. Before cleaning it up, feeding it and putting it to bed. Until next season 

We will have to wait to clean it up until the tomatoes stop fruiting now. 



After all that it was back inside to watch some bluey. Even princess Trixie was watching 



After lunch grandma was doing dishes. Ana wanted to help.  she is, using one of the scarves in her dress up basket cleaning.  She cleaned the floor, the cupboard doors and the refrigerator. She was very thorough. She moved the magnets, the ones she can reach, and cleaned the area before putting them back 



She then looked through grandma’s gardening magazine. 



After all that. She asked for cuddles. She does this when she’s tired. 

Ana fell asleep 

Trixie, while sitting on my legs, fell asleep 

And grandma fell asleep too!

Over all. It was a lovely day