This Week I . . . . .

Good afternoon dear friends & readers

This week I did a real mixture of things & tried to "be a little kinder to myself"

I enjoyed the garden, rather than just working in it all the time ...

The weather was lovely so I ate my lunch out on the deck & read my new magazine with much excitement  :-)

I had popped into my local Paper Plus Bookstore & come across this quite by accident . . .  
some very tempting projects inside ...

I rather "enjoyed" my new paper serviettes also  :-)

This week I picked a bunch of fresh lace-cap hydrangeas for my dining table

Now I understand why they are called lace-cap

I went to "Sunday Lunch" at  Villagrad Winery with my son & his fiance ...

As they have booked the venue for their November wedding next year 

This week I finished an order for my friend Lois

Lois's daughter has a christmas stocking identical to this from when she was a child (she is now 39) ... 
& wanted them made for her children now (fortunately I could still get the daisy braiding from Spotlight)

Lois also came to me with these 2 "muffin/scone holders" that had been her late Mums.  She asked me to "do something with them so that she could use them as a table mat" ... they came up beautifully with a good long soak in Napisan

This one I just attached to a lovely piece of white linen - it was enough with the lace on it already

This one I attached to a piece of cream cotton & added a flat lace trim

Lois was so pleased with them & promised she will use them now

This week I also began some christmas decorating - just keeping it quite simple this year

A stack of suitcases & a couple of Santas on my spindle-leg table

Rustic Santa (beady little eyes just poking out the top of his beard) this is an old pattern from Woodcutters Daughter 
(he is one of my favourites of all the Santas I have made)

This teddy was one of my sons & each year, I give him a hat, some boots & something to hold onto to ... 
he is sitting under the tree at present but he may end up elsewhere ...

This week I also began some christmas baking - this is my "gingernut bites" recipe that I make every year.
 I came across these dotty paper cups from the $2 shop - 
 I thought they were perfect for presenting the baking in 

re-using the gorgeous labels given to me by Wendy from Charlottes Web

I have popped the recipe for these at the bottom of this post for those of you that may like to give them a go - 
they are very yummy & I usually make several batches  :-)

My dear old friend Joyce popped in yesterday with these delicious home-made treats - after a week of trying to eat healthily, my willpower is fast flying out the window  !!!!!

This week I sat at the table one rainy day & made these little felt mice in stockings  - last christmas Michelle from here very kindly gave me one which I just adored.
Do go check out Michelles blog as she does the most amazing christmas decorating in her home.

This week I appreciated all the growth in the garden from the recent rains we have had 
(rain in December is always so precious & welcome)

New raised garden just been built

So the above photo was taken end Oct/ early Nov ...
The photo below taken today - you can just about see the veges growing as you watch !!!

Also another "before & after shot"

Remember the suitcase planting I showed you ??... my herb planter ??

I promise NOT to rave on (again) about gardening by the moon !!!!!

Thanks so much to you all for popping by - your visits are so appreciated
I hope the lead-up to Christmas is going okay for you all out there?
Remember to try to "be a little kinder" to yourselves.
much love/hugs/friendship,
Julie x0x0x

Gingernut Bites Recipe:-

90 grams butter
2 tablespoons golden syrup
1/2 cup condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
250 gram packet gingernut biscuits
1 cup sultanas
coconut

Melt butter in a saucepan, add golden syrup & condensed milk.
Stir in essence, crushed biscuits & sultanas over medium heat until well combined.
Cool to room temp (this is important)
Roll heaped teaspoons of mixture into balls & toss in coconut,
Refrigerate until firm.
Enjoy  :-)

I use my old blender to crush small amounts of gingernuts at a time though I have put them in 3 plastic bags & put them under the wheel of my car before & driven/reversed over them a few times!!! But do be careful no-one walks up the driveway at this point as you may have some serious explaining to do !!!!!

xoxoxoxox