FIRST CROP OF SPUDS AND CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS UP

Our first crop of lovvvely potatoes, so delicious and I managed to get a  few jars of homemade strawberry conserve out of a kilo of strawberries, yum, the grandchildren will love strawberry sundaes after Christmas dinner.

The only thing to do now is wrap the presents.  I do so love Christmas Time.

VINTAGE FIND

I have been looking for vintage tea towels for so long but not wanting to pay to much for them. I have finally found my first at only $3 and I love it too much to use. Maybe when I find more I might be able to use them.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Today I started thinking about decorating the house for Christmas and thought I would go right over the top this year, so I pulled all the decorations I have out of the shed only to find I really need more. Next week I am going to trail the op shops for hidden Christmas treasures, although I did manage to get a Cristmas Angel yesterday for 99cents and while on holidays, a huge packet of Christmas crackers for $1.

While in the Christmas mood I decided to make mince pies but first make the mince meat.  Oh well while I'm at it may as well make bread, biscuits and cakes to fill the freezer.  Soooooo enjoy baking.
 Also cooked a chicken at the same time while the oven was hot.
A quick easy way to cook a chicken is 10mins in the microwave, then another 10mins, then 10-15mins in a hot oven to brown.

AN EMBROIDERY AND WREATH

I love embroidery, This one I did for the front porch of our home

I made this flower wreath for our bedroom,I just love pastels

Pretty cottage and vignettes

I just love thatched cottages and cottage gardens like the one in the photo. They conjure up many childhood  memories.
I changed around some displays around home today and picked a little vase of Cecile Brunner rose buds, they are so tiny and sweet.

My favourite tea set is so unusual and cute

BOOK

Signed the contract for my book today, it's off to the publisher

UFO's

I had a very productive day finishing off embroideries I had on the go for quite a while.  I had thought of framing some of them initially but decided to make them into cushions along with some nice floral fabric I had in my stash.  I also turned the angel embroidery into a wall hanging to match one of the cushions. Nice I think.

BONNET

FOR SALE, DOLLS OR BABIES BONNET HANDMADE FROM VINTAGE LACE AVAILABLE ON MY WEBSITE http://www.jeanetteannchristeningwear.com/ or email me jeanettod@three.com.au

TERRIFIC NEWS

My book is going to be published. I don't know how long to get it actually finished and in my hands is going to be but at least the process is in motion.  I don't know how to explain my feelings, excited or just disbelief that it is actually happening.  I will post the progress as it happens.

another holiday snap

A mother feeding her hungry chicks on the rooftop another of our holiday snaps

Holidays

I am back from two beautifully relaxing weeks touring the Southern Highlands of NSW and further south to finish up for a few days in the SA Riverland town of Renmark on the Murray River and it was all just lovely.

The scenery and wild life was amazing, we hand fed a Magpie who adopted us at Eden and the Koalas were feeding in the trees in Renmark, The ducks and their ducklings came daily for a few crumbs and the most amazing sight was at the Alexandra Lake at Mittagong where a mother duck sat in her nest on a branch in the water while her mate brought twigs and poked them into the nest.  Sitting on the same branch and straw was a family of turtles. We were totally mesmerised.  On Simones Beach Vintage blog some time ago she told us how she and her daughter collected heart shaped pebbles on the beach, well I found one then anothe at Eden beach and then got hooked and couldn't stop, even my husband became involved and the picture tells the story. The fish painting I just had to photograph it was so unusual, in a cafe at Tathra.

On our return I couldn't believe how much the garden had blossomed, we did lose a few flowers but the ones that did survive really bloomed.  I didn't have these little yellow iris last year only purple one's so they must have enjoyed being left alone instead of being fussed over. I must remember not to kill them with kindness next year and the roses were lovely.  The vegs survived and welcomed the lovely soft rain that fell the day of our return.

Need a change around

I would like to do something different with our hallway, but can't decide what

ONE OF A KIND

The lovely little vase has been handpainted beautifully and I found it in an op shop recently for $3 and I love it.

SO FRESH

It rained today soft gentle soaking rain and the orange blossom looked so white against the fresh green.

BAKING DAY AGAIN

Bread, banana cake and butter cake, rich fruit cake in the oven and biscuits ready to go in. A good enjoyable mornings work i think.

When the sun comes out

When the sun comes out I think of fresh green salads and summer fruit salad. Goodbye to the stews and soups that we seem to have had too much because of the very cold winter and goodbye to the extra kilos too ha ha we do live in hope.

BOOK

I have finally finished my book and it's on the way to the publisher. Fingers crossed it might just be accepted.

brooch collection

I love vintage jewlery and these are a few I have collected including some more modern one's I have received from friends and family