Happy Reminiscences

An email, this morning, reminded me of this Christmas being 'bitter sweet', as the author put it. She was referring to the absence of my dear Mother who passed away in October aged 90. I hadn't given it much thought up to now, being so busy, but yes it will be (bitter sweet).

Mum with her trusty note-pad and Small; one of her many, many pussy-cats over the years.

I am beginning to remember Mum in flashes now as she used to be. which is wonderful. I very rarely see her now as she was in the Nursing Home. I often hear her voice saying something as I say it, her little quips and one liners. Haha a chip off the old block eh?
My sister gave me boxes of Mum's photos to go through and as I did I was amazed at how joyful, not sad, it made me. I found myself laughing out loud as I was taken back to those happy times with Mum and Dad. It is  a pleasure to see Mum's infectious smile again and look at her with life, and naughtiness, in her eyes. In some of these pictures I can even hear her laughing, a sound not heard for a long time.
So this Sunday will be sad with the loss of a generation from our Christmas table but what is really lovely is that there are newbies to sit in the empty seats to make their own places of importance in our family, as indeed they have already.

So I thank my Mum and my Dad for all the wonderful happy memories given to us of Christmas' past.
And I thank my four beautiful grandchildren for the promise they give of so many wonderful Christmases to come. AND I am sure that Mum and Dad will be watching from somewhere with beaming smiles.
Merry Christmas everyone! xxx

So much fun!

Today my daughter and I made our first Gingerbread House.
It was great fun. We had a couple of anxious moments but it worked out just fine and the finished product is very cute.

Stage 1

The mixture started off very soft but after being in the fridge for a while it was fine and much easier to work with. We used silicone molds which were fabulous. We rolled the dough and laid it in the molds and then packed it full to the top of each one to make sure the walls would be thick enough. It worked extremely well. After cooking it was left to cool in the molds.

April working on Stage 2

- We had lollies and sticky icing from one end of the joint to the other! Haha there was much licking of fingers (and then washing of same!) and eating of rejected lollies - Well really, you just can't put one back in the pack if it's too small or broken - can you?

Finished!

Da Dah! Complete with little Freckles and Musk Sticks Mushrooms. Sour sticks on the windows. *Marshmallow ropes around the roofline and on the corners of the house (*a wondrous find in the supermarket) A pile of Jersey Caramels in the yard for hay bales. Licorice logs beside the house and with Jaffas along the path and White Choc discs for roof shingles. There are assorted marshmallow bits and pieces around the house including the Santa on the left.

The Cooks Extraordinaire!

We look very pleased with ourselves don't we! Haha. It was great fun but I think we will both be suffering from our excessive sugar intake today. Ughhh!! April's off to training tonight - good on her - I'm NOT!

Favourite Christmas Decorations

Have to start with the Christmas Tree of course. 

 

 

We got this huge tree for our other house which had very high ceilings but it fits in the new house thank goodness. The new LED lights are WAY brighter than I thought they would be and when they flash, it appears from the other room, as though the nutty professor is busy in his laboratory!! 

The tree is covered in long tinsel which HAS TO BE placed on individually. This is the kind of Christmas fanaticism which has, apparently, wounded my children for life and I suspect secretly labelled me 'Gestapo Christmas Mum!' Haha tough, it looks so good when it's done properly.

Applique Snowmen Wallhanging

I made this wall hanging a few years back and just love it. 

All the little mittens hang over buttons sewn on the quilt.

Another wallhanging which is a Spotlight Panel - easy peasy

On the right is my tin Santa. I really splurged when I bought him but just couldn't resist!

His Toy Sack comes off his back as do some of the gifts inside. He is quite large at about 30cm

Debbie Mumm Wallhanging

I bought this wallhanging from the Debbie Mumm Store. 

It was made by her to photograph for the pattern and signed by her on the back.

It is approx 60cm square.

Two gorgeous Snowmen

Snowman on the left was given to me by my SIL and the fellow on the right was made for me by Melody from The House on the Side of the Hill. They are both a little rustic and I love them.

Softie Santa and friends

This is another decoration that I splurged on, can't remember where or when.

Cute little Santa tea-light holder

Tea-light Christmas Houses

These two little houses look so quaint with the candles burning inside. 

They weren't expensive and are definite favourites.

So there it is. I hope you have enjoyed seeing the things that give me some Christmas joy.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Lovely Photos for Tuesday Treasures

My very clever daughter just sent me these photos she took yesterday of her kids.
I just had to share them as I think they are just beautiful photos, and kids of course!
The oldest is 16, middle is 9 and bubba is 16 months.

Gorgeous Kids

My Big Brother

Tickle time with Big Sister ... someone's not impressed

Just lounging around - very comfy big sister.

Ah, feelin' the lurve!

Please take a look at more wonderful Tuesday Treasures with Melody at
The House on the Side of the Hill