christmas lights

we didn't actually get around to putting up the Christmas Tree this year even though I really wanted to, something to do with too much study, and other lame excuses. I had purchased some new decorations from Grok that will now have to wait till next year. I also didn't around to the last minute shop at Westfield, Parramatta, something to do with being too tired Thursday PM. We did however, make the trek to Maple St, Lugarno with A, D and their girls, for Christmas lights. It was a trip well worth it; spectacular lights complete with lots of people, its own radio station playing Christmas carols dispersed with commentary to divert your attention from the queue of traffic km's long, that is following signposted directions and closely mangaged by the SES.


Champagne glass


a bit too much champagne


elves at work


Thomas the Tank Engine with Santa

welcome slow joe

Joe

We have a temporary addition to our household, a gorgeous blue fawn greyhound boy. This is our first time at fostering and everything has gone incredibly smoothly. I was a little anxious as to how Macc would take to having to share us with another greyhound, but as you can see from the photo you couldn't wipe the smile off his face.


I couldn't be happier!

My other concern was with Jasmine the cat, but Joe was not really interested in her, and his gentle calm manner quickly reassured her so she was happy to walk up to him and rub noses.

So far we know that Joe is two years old, very pretty, perhaps a little too skinny (but he is a greyhound), is an excellent passenger in the car, quiet, doesn't pull on the lead (Macc please take note), is cat friendly, and very affectionate.


I like Macc's bed

a good weekend

my weekend started at noon on Friday. The week before Christmas we get an early mark to attend the work Christmas Party or just get in some last minute shopping. In my case it was to get home for a K-Mart delivery. As luck would have it, even though we were the first to book in for the Friday afternoon timeslot (1pm - 7pm), the delivery guy didn't get to us until 7pm. I was really glad I hadn't booked the La Premiere seats for Lemony Snicket's. It could have been worse however, the guy still had more deliveries to get done. It was quite good he didn't get to our place actually, I was able to catch up with my statistics study, the only study managed this weekend. What was not so good was I didn't get around to getting anything for B for our wedding anniversary. And before terrible thoughts are cast my way, the plan was to get down to the shops once the delivery guy had been, but the shops were shut by the time he got here and there was the small issue of me being carless on Saturday, which thwarted my attempts to make up for Friday. Enough said on that though, except sorry B.

Last night A, Maggie, B and I went to the Carols in the Domain. We caught up with Annali (Hi Annali, she told me she reads this. It's so comforting to know that there is an audience, I think we're up to 4) and her friends. Carols was Fantastic, I liked this one even better than last year's. We had great seats as usual, in the VIP area, just metres from the stage. I caught up with the next sister down (NSD), she was with the littlest sister, their partners and friends mingling with the masses. The NSD came down to see us, B and A visited them in their spot when they went in search of Pavlova (which was very yummy, by the way). B got some great photos....


Carols 2004


so close we could see Guy Sebastions nasal hairs.


We love the Wiggles including Henry the Octopus


Carols Finale

We did the candle thing this time around (thanx A), although A and I were a hazard to ourselves with the whole flame and wax thing.

Today, we had the family (and that includes A) over for lunch, again another good day. The NSD made the cutest cupcakes, I was going to get a photo of the sole remaining one, but B has informed me that he has just eaten it. They were iced pink or white with a frangipani made from marshmallow on the top. Very clever.

All this fun has to stop however, even though my weekend has another day. Tomorrow I must get back to the books. I will take time out though to enjoy the latest addition to our garden...

our first waterlily

12 Days to Christmas

With 12 days to Christmas, I have finished the '12 Days of Christmas' wall hanging I started last year but gave up on when I realised it was not going to be finished in time for Christmas 2003.


12 Days of Christmas....

Inspired by Loobylu's Month of Softies and wanting to participate, I remembered this wall hanging and got to work. With added incentive and the assistance of Ann from Patch last Saturday, it got finished. And thanx to the Gum tree out back shedding a few branches I had something to hang it from.

35 today!!!!

Well L turned 35 today! And this is what I got her!


Francis Francis birthday present!!

She has only been after one since like, forever!!!!

We have just gotten back from dinner with A. An over indulgence of a seafood platter at Caminetto, and I now have the hiccups (5th time today) and I am well and truly OVER IT!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

I finished the fish!

Tapestry Trout From UK

This morning I finished the tapestry trout that I had purchased in kit form from Wye Needlecraft in Bakewell, England earlier this year! It was quite a relief, I don't like to put a project away until it is finished, otherwise I fear from past experience it may never get done. As it has been quite hot and today also humid, it was getting a little uncomfortable to be working with wool. I have some ideas about how it will be finished off, but that can wait until the autumn.

I hope to finish another project tomorrow; a 12 Days of Christmas wall hanging I started last year but didn't get finished in time for Christmas. I had completed the applique and stitching of it but didn't get the backing done. I lost interest in it when Christmas day came round, however my interest in it has been renewed with loobylu's 'a month of softies' challenge which this month is themed Holiday Hang-ups.

not quite a partridge in a pear tree....

and a partridge in a pear treeeeeee, (well nearly!!)

Today, on the way to Meroo to visit Alistair's open garden, we had to do a double back flip when we saw it!!!

It was lovely, just standing there minding its own business when we drove by, we broke as if we were a 747 jet landing, screamed back, another 'u' turn all whilst getting the old digi cam out and started clicking away like Japanese tourist's!!! After a couple of minutes, (we think it got jack of it, or it wanted to start charging us a fee...) it hoped off the fence and started heading for the shade. WOW!

After another hour or so, we finally made it to Berry. This was just as well, as the famous Berry Markets were on (damn, I thought, all the money saved from L not being on eBay is BOUND to be spent here)!! And your right, "she did it again" (sounds a bit like a Kylie song doesn't it??!!??) After a couple of Noddy books, some Bromeliad's and with L buying a pair of Chenille SHORTS (see below), we left a lot poorer.


Shorts...

We then had some lunch and headed for Fair View, Meroo....


Meroo

It was such a lovely garden, and whilst L hates Canna's, she just had to have one. We are now going to plant out the kids playground in them after seeing Alistair's inspiration with his planting, especially as though they don't really need to much attention as our gardener here is TERRIBLE!!! (not me of course, the one that gets paid to mow weeds!

B

the week and weekend that was

Monday
... work
Tuesday
... work, although with a difference, had to attend a function (Green Globe Awards) at Parliament House in the evening so left work at lunch time and got a few other work related things done on the way there which included dropping off my presentation for Wednesday to the organisers at Five Dock, and visiting GROK and Oxfam to collect items for an educational display for Christmas.

I really love Grok and am planning a trip back to collect some things for Christmas presents. They sell a lot of things that you can get from Indigo Arts only they are in Australia. I particularly like the Recycled Plastic Bag Chickens and the Telephone Wire Baskets.


Plastic Bag Chicks

Wednesday
... spent the day in the City as I gave a presentation regarding the study tour to the Excellence in the Environment Awards

Thursday
... work

Friday
... flex spent at home catching up on uni work, then into the 'warehouse sale' once B got home from work, where we knocked over most of the Christmas shopping, and also bumped into the two sisters. Once the shopping was completed the 'next sister down', B and I went for dinner at the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel.

Saturday
... B and I had our photos taken, viewed a couple of open homes, and more progress was made on the gingham rose quilt.

Sunday,
... spent gardening, studying, shopping and had a visit from B's mum.

meandering the moonlight market

is a great way to welcome in the weekend. It was decided that we needed to get out and 'do something' so Friday I caught the train to the city and met up with B after work. The weather was a bit threatening but we weren't going to let that put us off. We were off to The Rocks Moonlight Market. We had a lovely time mixing with the masses, perusing the stalls, and listening to the live band.

We had dinner at Caminetto Italian Restaurant and also managed a couple of shops which were in the building adjacent The Rocks Market and included Rockit (a store that sells fantastic vintage clothing and other stuff). We first visited Rockit when it was situated in Katoomba, and were not sure where it had gone once it closed up there, so it was really great to find it this evening.

Saturday, B went to uni and I went to patchworking, where progress was made on the gingham rose quilt all be it a bit slow.

Sunday, was lunch at Nan's for Christine's and my birthday. It wasn't really either of our birthday's but it had been decided to hold them both at this time due to us having our birthday's so close to Christmas.

dinner with friends

last night we had dinner with A&B in Parramatta at Punjab House. It is always good catching up with friends and last night was no exception.

We had great food,
......the banquet was ordered, which is a real feast consisting of an entree and all you can eat curries; so B was happy he got his butter chicken, I got my lamb sagwaal (lamb and spinach) and by general consensus we also ended up with Rogan Josh, naan, naan and more pappadums.

wine,
......A&B brought really nice wine, which I feel terrible about as we forgot to thank them for it. I am making a mental note to remember to bring the wine next time.

and conversation.
......there was much to discuss, including A & B's recent trip to fiji, and my favourite catching up with the goings on of B's (not my B's) family (are you following this?). B has a really interesting family, so much is always going on.

Well, we ate, drank and conversed till 3 of us (those with the regular hours) started to get the yawns, B (not my B) being the only one not yawning.