Merry Christmas Everyone :-)

Hello dear friends & readers,

 

I hope everyone is managing to survive the leadup to Christmas okay??

This past week has gone by in a blur. . .

I have managed to do some christmas baking for some friends

 

Gingernut bites mixture cooling on the stove

 

I like to make little treats at this time of year

& package them up for friends/customers

 

It has been a battle trying to keep things real simple

(& I am not sure if I am actually achieving this!!!)

but I keep plodding on  . . .

 

Lavendar heart from wool blanketting

Lots of the gifts are wrapped under the tree (waiting)

I always try to gift wrap things real quick

cos otherwise I am tempted to Open the chocolate treats

& "taste test" them!!!!!(when I am home alone...)

 

One of my stepsons is coming to stay for a fortnight

so I had to clean the sleepout for him as he likes to stay out here

it was a "bit of a mess"

& took me an entire day to sort out

 

somewhere there is carpet in here I seem to recall??!!

 

Somewhere under all that is a sofa bed!!!!

It is all done now & ready for Jareds arrival

He lives down in Wellington so has a long trip ahead of him to get to us

 

There hasnt been much (any) crafting going on

but the garden is certainly in full swing now

 

 

 

 

Lots of things are in full bloom

& I was delighted to see a little visitor on my swan plant today

Welcome little monarch butterfly  -  please stay :-)

I took my camera down to the pond - things are dry here now
the lavendars have flopped over the pathway
they love the dry weather

Some lillies are coming into bloom by the pond

 

 

The daylillies are flowering away

 

 

& the penstemons all coming out in the rose garden

 

 

 

This little daisy flowers away down the far end of the section

beside an old wringer washing machine

planted with busy lizzies

I didnt plant any of these white daisies,

 they self seeded all by themselves :-)

 

 

 

& the native iris beside them came from Donnas (I think??)

 

 

 

I have to admit that although things are flowering away at present

I am tired of watering (already)

& although the photos all look lovely . . .

there is some serious weeding needs doing here!!! :-(

 

 

beautiful hollyhocks

planted last year - waited patiently - I adore them

although the leaves have rusted, I love the rich velvety colour

 

This will be my last post before christmas

so I wanted to wish you all a wonderful festive season

& may 2013 bring all your hopes, dreams & wishes true!!!

 

 

Mr Fat Fluffy has had a stressful lead-up to christmas

as I am sure you can imagine
(it is quite stressful deciding which patch of floor to chill out on you know)

 

 

Busy, busy, busy - superivising that Mum, she sure is energy draining

 

I wanted to thank you all for taking the time to read my ponderings

your comments always mean the world to me

thankyou so much for stopping by

& have a wonderful christmas

 

 

& I hope Santa brings you lots of goodies.

Take care of yourselves

you are all very special

Love/hugs/friendship,  Julie Xox