Out and About

 Good morning friends. This post is photo heavy.....so be prepared! The silly season is ramping up and amongst it all there are always lovely moments. Yesterday Dear Daughter and Granddaughter no.2 got stuck into our Christmas shopping. Our family find this time of year difficult as everything about it brings sharply into focus how we miss my Husband. He adored Christmas!

He was the relentless searcher of hard to find presents for the kids, the best gift wrapper, the best ham carver and maker of toasted ham sandwiches on Christmas eve with glasses of bubbles and the best chuckler over Christmas Vacation movie....another Ridgway tradition along with singing Paul Kellys...Making Gravy.

So we try and do our best to carry on. When we saw this more than life size Grinch yesterday it made us all giggle. He wasn't up for a chat with Dear Daughter lol!

Chocolate milkshakes helped us refuel!

This past weekend I went to Miss E's drum recital. I loved it. She did so well and it was great seeing how all the children had grown in ability and confidence over the last year. I know I am completely biased but she looks so at home behind her kit!

Sunday Stitchers Christmas party is always a fun highlight of the year....great fun, people and food. 

Helen was busy on paparazzi duties...

Our Christmas gift this year was to fill a Christmas box with items that spelt out the word S.A.N.T.A.

Lynda was my gifter......

Can you guess what was what?

S....SASHIKO 

A.....APPLE gorgeous hand carved from Tasmania 

N....NEEDLES 

T......THREAD

A.....ART ADDRESS BOOK

So spoilt!

We exchanged our usual Bon Bons they are always fun. I received mine from Alison. 

Lots of lovely little gifts too from the girls. I think my bag was heavier leaving than when I came lol!

A really lovely day.

Art broke up too this week with a lunch time get together. 

I am way.....down the back lol!

We had Secret Santa. I received a lovely leather pencil roll....perfect for my 'out and about' kit.

I've had lovely mail.....beautiful handmade cards and a sweet ornament. It's already on my Handmade Decorations tree. Thank you Ann and Karen. You are both so clever xx

I  feel almost frivolous writing this post in view of recent events in my country. I sometimes don't recognise my home anymore. It is a feeling of helplessness to do anything to assist. I want to send out into the universe love and light and my deepest condolences to all those families who are suffering and hearts are broken from the evil that came to Bondi Beach in Sydney and to those selfless citizens and first responders who risked their lives for others and in some tragic instances lost their own. Sorry to end on a sad note but these people deserve not to be forgotten. 

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

Mixed December Bag

 It's a showery old day here this morning in my little corner of the world. I'll take that after the early ramp up of Summer storms of late.

Yesterday was a little emotional as I oversaw the last day of my Father's in laws house clear out. Wandering through my late husbands childhood home....one where I had spent so much time in as well, since I was sixteen years old, bare and empty is hard to put into words. So many memories. We even had a little gathering here for our engagement. Found these treasures so please excuse my indulgence. 

It's a difficult process as you cannot absorb another's lifetime into yours even when you keep treasures and memories. My in laws on their wedding day.

This is my husband as a child....such a cutie.

I was cheered up by their wonderful neighbour and dear friend with one of her delicious Christmas puddings to share with my family.

This week I also gathered with my stitching friends for a Christmas lunch. It was lovely....Beer battered fish and chips and salad for me....any chance I get lol! We have been dear friends and gotten together on a fortnightly basis for nearly 40 years. So much shared and celebrated between us.

Each other's company is now our Christmas gift to each other but some sneak a little treat in just the same......sweet gingerbread from Leanne.

Gorgeous white Christmas bird from Bev. Anyone would think she knows me well lol!

This beautiful ceramic coaster with my initial from Jackie.

And we all have a lotto entry from Moira...fingers are crossed lol!

How very cute is this Frosty Christmas trim from Lorel. Lots of beautiful cards were also exchanged. 

I have added a little more Christmas here and there....so I'm proud of myself.

My Handmade Decorations tree has become two now. They are so special and I enjoyed remembering where and whom they all are from.

Such lovely treasures from lovely stitchy friends! I also added a little Christmas to my living room coffee table.

I am still deciding on my dining room table as I still have to box up some items from the FILs that are languishing there.

Whilst at lunch my friend Lorel whipped out this treasure that was her Grandmothers to see if I could use it for my slow stitching....of course I hated it and definitely couldn't use it....sigh*

I mean seriously how gorgeous is it! Thankfully there is some damage so I can cut it with good cconscience. WE definitely have a date in the future. 

My stitching has been working on my Treasures quilt....very nearly there. So nothing really to show. 

Righto....coffee and maybe a little gingerbread man awaits.

Be good to one another.

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx 

And Just Like That it's December

 December has certainly snuck up on me this year. Last year my December Frosty didn't see the light of day....so it was only fair to give him an outing.

My seasonal decorating has been quite small.

I really enjoyed making little ornaments featuring the lovely Tilda range.

I have made them my Christmas feature along with the others I showed on a previous post as well as my slow stitched Angel.

I have added a couple of my favourite Heartwood Creek Santa's to add to the festive feeling.

I am planning on putting up my Handmade Decorations tree shortly.

I was recently at my friend Sandra's home for lunch and she had these sweet twinkly little arrangements....so pretty!

Don't you love the professionalism of the phone in the mirror in the first pic lol....oh dear!

We also had gorgeous Gerry for company too. He is such an adorable boy.

Thankfully it's been a little cooler this past week so I got some more stitching done on the last prompts for Roxy's Journal of Stitchery. They were random stitching and filling in the gaps. I am seriously addicted to seed stitch!

Still a bit more to do and then backing and quilting decisions to make. Next year's project has been announced and it's six booklets inspired by six of your favourite books....RIGHT up my alley much! Really looking forward to it. It will be so hard to decide....so many candidates. They can be fiction, children's, art books....sheesh! Watch this space!

Art wise....all my Galahs have made an appearance now and I can get to the fence and details. 

Some little glimmers.....

My lemon Clivia has decided to grace me with some blooms....she's a bit of a Diva and does not flower every year....no clue why?

Two of my Grandies....siblings....both received academic awards at school. Very proud of them both!

And a 'just because ' gift from my Daughter....the final book in a trilogy I have loved....saving it to read over the Christmas break!

Hope you've all been well and thank you for all your lovely comments. Appreciate them all.

I'll leave you with this absolutely silly meme but as I am sure that my marbles have been misplaced...it made me giggle and I will take that when it comes.

Take care,

Namaste and Blessings Michelle xxx