Sorting Out The Muddle In My Head

Greetings lovely friends & readers

When I don't post for awhile, yet keep taking photos to share with you,  I get overwhelmed & don't know where to start.   The words & the photos all become a muddle in my head & go round & round.   I sit at the computer to blog, yet walk away many times.    Today I will attempt to sort out the muddle in my head, post some photos & actually put words to them  😳

On my table today - a vase of gorgeous Seafoam roses & a Ginger Snap candle - the most wonderful fragrance!

🤍

Immediately after the Garden Ramble, I began my Christmas Decorating.  What started off simply enough ended up taking me 2 weeks until I was happy with it all.  

I'd had several people wanting to come & enjoy it & I wanted it to be Just Right.  Since completing it I've had 8 different groups - by groups I mean ranging from 2 ladies to 6 which was the largest "group".  It's lovely to share it with people & see the pleasure it brings but I would not want to be doing this all the time.  In amongst all this I hosted the craft group ladies for our final get-together for the year.

 

One rainy day way back in July I sat at my table & dry brushed peat pots & some strawberry baskets that I'd purchased off Temu.  I had "a plan" for these.  My supervisor got tired of overseeing my work & had a bit of a nap.  

I wanted to make up some strawberry themed gift baskets for the craft ladies .... & the peat pots were for us to decoupage at our Christmas get together.

I decoupaged strawberry paper serviettes onto 2 sides of the baskets then lined them with strawberry tissue paper.  To fill them I purchased a small notepad & washi tape (strawberry themed) then I added mini strawberry candles.  I purchased these crochet strawberries from a ladies craft stall, sewed bells to the bottom then added a hanging thread & the Merry Christmas tag. I wanted them to be for the tree 🎄I also found an old bottle of strawberry oil & fragranced each one.  Some strawberry choccy treats completed the gift baskets.

I like to set my table festively for our get togethers.  Lots of christmas treats to eat - this was our morning tea - I've completely forgotten to photograph our lunch as well as any pics of the ladies & our finished projects.  I was having a total brain fog this day (Only this day Julie - we thought you had one most days ??!!)

No sooner had I waved Goodbye to the ladies & begun clearing the table than a certain ginger fairy plonked herself asleep right on the table!!!  She'd spent most of the day at the door, with a sour face, yet refusing to come inside. 

I've been lucky enough to receive some lovely gifts of the baking variety from the ladies that visit my Christmas decor - just wonderful.  Peanut Brittle, marshmallow truffles, fruit mince tarts & shortbread, all homemade  🤤

Last week my friend Dee came - from this wonderful website - & presented me with these 3 delightful handmade elfs .... "felt poppets" they were called.   Dee also gifted me the pattern & a kitset in case I'd like to make more.  I just adore them.

I've been baking for several weeks now - mainly my Fudge cake & Gingernut bites that I like to make each year.  I packaged some up for some of the visitors & they messaged & asked for the recipes - always a compliment.

During the year I keep an eye on the tins in the Op-shops & buy them when they are cheap reasonably priced.  I've filled this one for my rural delivery mail lady to give her tomorrow.

Because I had several bags of potpourri left after the Garden Ramble I put an advert on my Instagram page & took some photos of it attractively displayed around my home.  I find that this is the best time of year to sell it because folk think it is "christmassy" - even tho' I enjoy it all year round.

Would you believe, from that simple advert, I've bagged & posted over 50 bags all over New Zealand.  I ran out of orange slices twice & had to dehydrate some more.  It has been lovely to hear of the Joy it brings to people that have received it. 🧡

Last weekend we had good rain & I could hear the garden lapping it all up.  I sat on the floor & finished off the Grandson's Advent calendars as I needed to deliver them on Sunday, ready to commence on Monday morning. 

I had Sid for a weekend while his parents attended a concert & the following day he fell at school & fractured his arm.  He has taken it all in his stride & was pleased on Friday, to change to a lighter weight cast which he has drawn on already.  He only has one more week of school & then it will be full time Granny duties.

Thank you as always dear friends, for your welcome visits here today,

I will be back in a few days to share more of the muddle in my head - this time some Christmas sewing projects.

Sending much love & friendship out to you all - I hope you are navigating the festive season okay,