Fun Foto Friday (Fave Festiveness)

Yes, I've had the Festive Funk this year ... but here is the antidote.

1. Melt Cinnamon roll scented waffle bar in the oil burner (bought from a very cute Christmas shop near Clares' place.)
2. Play Christmas carols all day and night, especially obscure Soul or Punk versions to annoy the teenagers.
3. Take photographs of Christmas-sy things that make you smile, and share them with the world (i.e. you - yes, you!)
4. Eat yummy gingerbread Christmas decorations.
5. Open lovely handmade Secret Santa gift from Em before Christmas, and wear your lovely apron all day ... whilst doing all of the above.
6. Rejoice in suddenly being transformed into Mrs Christmas herself! :-) Kind of ...

Fabric Christmas Ornament (all you need is love)

These would be mine! (Thank You Dr & Mrs P)

Isn't he cute?

A bowl of baubles (try saying that fast 6 times after a glass of eggnog!)

Lovely knitted Christmas stocking found at IKEA yesterday (on sale too!)

A cuddly friend (who actually came free with a pair of boxer shorts many years ago, but I couldn't part with him. Shhhh, don't tell!)

The Tree by Me - not my finest hour, but much loved by my own Christmas angel, Little E.

In the entry: I have had a thing for painted metal decorations the last few years.

Father Christmas doll from my Mum, don't you just love his beard??

And of course, Little E, who is very happy that Christmas is finally here, cos it means Birthday number 3 is too! (Cat face painting is optional for Father Christmas visits in Australia.)

Thoughtful Thursday - The Serenity Prayer

I've been thinking about The Serenity Prayer a lot this week. This is one version:

"God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other."

Sometimes I repeat the whole prayer in my head, sometimes it's more of a shortened "God give me serenity!" urgent request. It's not here yet ... but it's coming.

I believe it's coming.


(Photograph taken in the very serene Krabi, Thailand. October 2008.)

Fun Foto Friday (Random Randomness & Ramblings)

It's been a funny old day today, and my photo selection probably reflects the state of my mind!

Little E - Isn't this what everyone does when they get a new pack of knickers?? (We did encourage her - just a bit!)


Shiny drum kit in Big B's bedroom



I don't have a knicker fetish or anything, but don't they look so cute in a pile?

Little E and her Great-Gran - she's like the Energizer bunny - keeps going and going ...

Bright washing baskets make the mountains seem not QUITE so bad!

Make Do Dinner #2 - salmon cutlets were on special for $20.00kg, I lightly pan fried the salmon, and had an unusual angel hair pasta, herb, brown lentil & cherry tomato mixture in a light cream sauce on the side (yes, not much left in the fridge again!) and it was YUM!!

I hadn't taken a close look in the veggie patch this week, so I was delighted today to find 2 baby zucchini growing really well, and these two "unusual" looking cucumbers! They are just going through that awkward teenage stage ...

Little E's swag I made for her.

I used to REALLY like Jamie Oliver. I still like him. Just not REALLY ...

And I had mushroom, pumpkin & cherry tomato risotto for tea, with good old Cadbury's dairy milk for dessert.

Life is beautiful.

Thoughtful Thursday - What if you put all your eggs in one basket ...

... and it turns out to be the TOO HARD basket??!!

Counting our Blessings ...

It's an honour to be your Godmother little Zoe. Looking forward to being a part of your journey through life. Wishing you health and happiness & love and laughter always. Lots of love, Aunty Jo xxxxx

The story of THE red dress - a modern fable (you might want to get a drink, you could be here a while)

CHARACTERS:
Girl
Sister
Niece
Dad
Friend
Jennifer Hawkins (Miss Universe 2004)

PLOT:
Girl gets asked by Sister to undertake important role at christening of niece. Girl decides she needs a new red dress, and shops high and low for THE perfect red dress. Girl finds to her horror, that "watermelon" seems to be the only red around! People say girl looks good in red. Not watermelon. Girl gives up and tries every other-colour-of-the-rainbow dress on. But she pines for red. Girl gives up altogether. Girl moans to friend about lack of red dresses in-the-whole-world. Friend (who is Trinny & Susannah all rolled into one) spends day off work searching for THE red dress for girl (even though she is appalled by meagre budget she is given.) Friend phones girl with many choices. Then friend emails girl photo of THE dress. Girls heart stops beating. It is THE red dress! It is (ahem) a little over budget, but she will love it and wear it forever! Girl is happy, although she ignores big flashing warning sign. Warning, warning - dress is being modelled by Jennifer Hawkins -warning, warning. Girl still ignores. Friend is so happy for girl, that she phones every Myer store in West Australia, to find there is only one size 10 in whole of the State! But Size 10 is only 2 minutes from where girls' Dad lives! It's an omen. Girls' Dad happily agrees to pick up dress for girl (though almost has heart attack when he thinks girl tells him it is $449.00 not $149.00. ) Dad and girl meeting for lunch next day. Dad phones girl in morning to confirm he has dress. Warning, warning - Dad says he thinks dress is a little sexy for a christening. Warning, warning. Girl doesn't do sexy (unless it's outdoor bath in Thailand.) Girl thinks it's just Dad talk and ignores him. Dad and girl meet. Dad hands over bag with dress. Girl fondles material. It is THE red dress! Big B & Little E agree - it is THE red dress. Girl buys tiny cardie to cover sexy shoulders in church. Girl spends many hours Christmas shopping and isn't able to try on dress until 2.54pm ...

CONCLUSION:
It takes a whole village to raise a child. It takes a whole cast of characters to find THE red dress. And it takes one heartbreaking second to realise you're not Jennifer Hawkins.

And just in case you think I slacked off completely ...

In between washing; tidying; taking photos; taking sick kids to the Doctor; emailing etc, I also assembled 75 photo Christmas cards and made 25 birthday invitations ...


And just because she's so gorgeous (even with morning hair!)