Creating

This year I’m making gifts for friends. 

Quite a few are crafty so they appreciate the time and effort it takes to create a one of a kind gift 

This one has been delivered   It’s for my beautiful friend who ,enables, I mean helps me with the decorations every year 

I made the box from picture frames and I even made the ribbon bow 



I made a few of these last year. I knew they weren’t for me. But it wasn’t until this year that I thought ohh I know who would like these 

Do you do that? Make something you know isn’t for you but at the time you think well I’ll figure out who I’m

Making these for eventually lol 



Yesterday’s effort 

For a couple who we don’t catch up

With as much as we would like too 
But we always have lots of laughs with when we do 

I started crocheting this dress. Hopefully it will fit Ana. if not will be passed on to someone I know who has little granddaughters 



I’m slowing down so that I can have the energy needed to survive the next few weeks 

Thankfully I’m pretty much done and ready now for the hectic madness to begin 

What about you? Are you ready?

Play date

My beautiful middle granddaughter Brianna. I’ve not had much one on one time with her because once she came along her mum became a stay at home mum 

And anytime she needed a baby sitter I’d have both the girls 

She’s off to school next year, pretty sure she was born last week!

So the opportunities to spend some quality time together will be limited. 

Today her mummy brought her over to spend some time with grandma 

We made muffins. I measured she added and stirred 

Them we played zoo



Trixie got lots of cuddles 



And then Brianna opened a cafe and was serving all her customers 

We went outside and checked on the vegetables we had planted all those weeks ago. Brianna was very surprised at how much they had grown 

It was lovely just chatting and interacting with her. 

She is her mother’s mini me. So it kinda felt like I had my little girl back again. 

Precious time I’ll Cherish 



Yesterday my glasses broke. Wonder son had to take me to the optometrist and they ordered a new frame. I only got them in January so it was. Warranty job. I didn’t have to pay a cent. 

The nice technician taped them up so I could at least see and today I got the call to come in 



I got my new frames and I no long look like Harry Potter 

All in all. A wonderful day 

Secrets

You probably think I spend a fortune on Christmas decorations. 

I don’t    

I shop the after  Christmas sales. When things are practically bring thrown out because they don’t want to pack it and store it for another year. 

These two lights came with lights. But they never worked   In fact they were so bad they had been cut off by the store owner. I can remember how much they originally cost. But I do know I got them at over 80% off 

Around $20 each 

I’ve had them for about four years and they kinda just sit here. But today  decided to spruce them up 

Don’t know if you can see but they now have lights 







The thin green garland was $3 

The lights were $7 but they came with batteries 

And the rest of the greenery was leftovers from another project 

The pick with the berries were $6 but two came in a packet 

So only $3 per lamp 

The red and gold bows can off a decoration that I no longer like. It too was home made. 

More recycling 

So for $13.00 each I have two “new” decorations 

I love a bargain. Don’t you?

Lovely weather

Today it stopped raining and the sun came out.  So  we finished cleaning out back and I put up the last of the decorations 

I turned those gold wreaths into, what I like to think, are snow men 

Don’t know I’ve I’ve succeeded. But here they are 

Still they’re sparkly  so that’s ok 



You can see the blue sky in the background.  Free vitamin D 



Hubby put the lights up for me. I didn’t have to go up and down the steps 



A pic of the garland after I fattened it up a bit. 

You can see in the background we hadn’t cleaned when I took this picture. All winter stuff kinda gets dumped under the back porch. 




I really needed to get those dahlia bulbs in some dirt. They had started to grow 

So the two big round pots were purchased this morning and hubby filled them for me. 

Bulbs now safely planted 





I’ve now decided I need to rest 

Hubby is mowing with the ride on mower while he can

If we keep on top of it all. It’s much easier to deal with  

Now let’s hope the weather starts to cooperate and allows us to maintain it all

We will see 

Progress pictures

We have had rain 

Lots and lots of rain 

Which is lovely for the veggies. Not so much for doing lots out in the garden 

I have been going out and pulling weeds when I see them but the ground is just too wet now 

Thankfully most of my food is grown in raised beds and containers so they’re ok from flooding 

Everything is growing well and looking lush 





The corn particularly seems to have just gone gang busters. 






I was worried the seeds I’d sown would have drowned. But checking today I can see babies 



The flowers are still looking great 





Hubby has netted the apricot tree. It’s full of fruit and now we might actually get some 



The ground is really wet. Big puddles everywhere 



We have sandy soil which means it will drain away quickly. Once it stops raining 



These are my gardenia and Daphne plants. They just were not handling all the bad weather. I thought they were sheltered but obviously not. So they are now under the front porch and will be looked after and nurtured back. Hopefully 

Right now they just need to dry out a bit 



Wonderful hubby weeded the orchard. Put down carboard and mulched working  in  the the rain. He said it made it all easier. I’m not convinced. But he was happy to do it and it looks awesome 



With all the rain these trees should have nice deep roots for the coming hot summer.  It will come regardless of how wet it is now  



The silver lining is the ground will be soaked and should take weeks and weeks of hot weather to totally dry out. 

Our tank is full to brimming and the little dam has been topped up 

Over at the farm there’s a flood warning. We don’t mind. There isn’t anything there right now. So all it means is the dams will be really really full. 

It is nice to see it all looking so green. I should be harvesting again soon 

Lots of little jobs

The to do list was extensive today. 

I just started at the top and worked my way down. Taking many rests and not putting any 

Pressure on myself. First off was a trip to the postoffice to send off Christmas cards to 

Friends and family overseas. I’m probably a tad late. But they’ll get there eventually 

With all the rain we have had the foxgloves are not looking very well at all 

I cut down all the spent flower spikes 

And laid them all over the ground so their seeds could fall and hopefully self sow

I’ll give it a week or so. Depending on weather and when I clear the cuttings I’ll clear the bottom leaves 

As well. Give them a good clean up 

Yellow gladioli. My first yellow ones. Pretty 

The buddlea is starting to open its flowers. I think it’s waiting on warmer weather 

Like is all 

I’ve made these for the two older granddaughters 

One each for their bedroom doors. 

I’ve started on the outside. 

Wonderson took all the blow up decorations to the shed and used the air to fill them 

I got a tad confused putting up the Santa.  I got the sleigh facing the wrong way at first time 

And the reindeer would of been behind it. 

Talk about putting the cart before the horse lol 

All sorted now 

Some greenery over the door 

More blow up decorations with greenery 

I’ve use it to anchor it all down. The wind was blowing these all over the place 

Much better now 

I’ve started on the entrance area. 

I’m going to look and see what else I can add to it 

It’s look a little undernourished. I’m sure I have lots I can add 

I finished off the bowl cosies 

Making them like an assembly line really makes them quick and easy to make 

I hope the people who are getting these like them 

 

Update on the Ouchie finger. 

It’s looking much better. 

I’m sure in a few days it will be as good as new 

Tomorrow is Ana day. So no decorating 

It will be all about playing with her