~ letting go gently ~

We're saying goodbye to 2011 quietly tonight.

The Doc is working from home and we're having a few friends over for casual dinner and drinks.

Some chatting, some slip'n'sliding, some silly pictionary and scattergories games. 

Lots of bubbles and laughs.

We'll remember a happy, busy year:

• When we moved back into our house and loved it so.
• When we adopted two kittens and loved them so.
• When Lily spread her wings at a new school and blossomed.  
• And Gracie had her own space at school and revelled in it.
• When Jack continued his love affair with trucks and cars and maxi-taxis.
• An amazing conference, a fabulous adult getaway with old friends, time at the shack, the fabulous Wednesday dinners, new friends, blogging, raspberries, Tuesday play days, family traditions (new and old), soccer games, a quilt in progress, lots of photos,  ballet concerts, priceless art works, precious moments....

We'll go gently into 2012 too.

Counting our blessings, looking forward to new challenges and enjoying the little things that make every day special.

Wishing the same to you.

Happy 2012!

♥

~ 'tis the night before Christmas ~

All is not silent.

Jack had decided to give his dummies to Santa...but apparently NOW he is not so sure...could be a long night!

The carols are on and the music is washing over me.

The dishwasher and oven are still on too (the pavlova is just about done - cracked and crooked but that's how we like it).

I love Christmas Eve.  

We're wrapping and chatting and sipping on wine.  Looking forward to tomorrow.

I hope your Christmas day is full of joy and the people and things that are important to you.

♥

~ the man of the moment ~

Happy (wordless) Christmas!

Joining in the wordless experience at  faith, hope and a whole lotta love and my little drummer boys.

♥

~ the unexpected bonuses of blogging ~

This week I've made a recycled Christmas card garland

 packaged up lots of reindeer noses

and made a felt ornament for a friend.

I blame blogging.

I've been blogging for about 6 months.

I started because I wanted to write, to remember and record, to connect.

All good.  All safe.  All ticked off.

But I've also found friends, a latent desire to craft and the cooking bug all over again.

I've spent hours admiring beautiful photos, been inspired by words, thoughts and deeds and discovered pinterest.

I've laughed and cried, been made to think, to ponder, to wonder... and won a couple of awesome prizes.

78 posts down and I'm loving it.

 ♥

~ fa la la la la, la la la laaaa ~

{tonight by the fire}

It was freezing here today...we lit the fire, did some sewing, cranked up the carols and decorated the tree.

Much excitement.

Lots of "oohing" and "ahhhing" and "remember this...?"

Lots of decorations round the bottom and not much at the top.

Lots of enthusiasm and (regrettably) not so much style

Much love though.

And some new decorations that I made today - they turned out ok - wonky stitches and all.

  {another pinterest inspiration}

How are your Christmas preparations going?

 ♥

~ my creative space - advent calendar ~

I only just got this finished and on the wall last night.

The squeals of joy made the late night scramble all worthwhile.

 

 

Totally inspired by others I've seen but don't have the links for.

I used Kikki-K stickers and other bits I had lying around.  So happy with how its turned out.

Planning to find lots of little treats and surprise activities inside (but may well resort to chocolates).

Joining up for the first time with loads of  clever people here.

 ♥

~ work in progress ~

It's been a month since I started the quilt project.

I'm really happy with how things are going.

 

The downsides are the rough callouses on the tips of my fingers from pushing the needle through (soft I tell you) and the missed reading time (the pile of books next to my bed is growing tall).  I've also misplaced 2 needles that I hope no-one sits on.

I am refusing to calculate how many hexagons I'll need (and what on earth I do round the edges and on the back) for fear of depressing myself. 

(I am well versed in denial.)

My September project (the whole first ever gym membership thing) is going well too - the special deal elapsed and I've signed on for a whole 12 months.  I'm aiming for feeling healthy and some gentle toning.  Hopefully achievable.
 

♥