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Greetings!
A Christmas parcel arrived from Canada, covered with all these stamps:
Hello to Her Majesty...
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When I send parcels to Canada,
Australia Post prints a boring white sticker to go on it, with no stamps.
Just saying...
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A few storms, a bit of rain, and the Red Cardinal Garden of Neglect threw up a gorgeous white gladioli...
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I hunted through the old books, and found The Christmas Book, c. 1980s,
and well-loved by our children.
Baby Jesus has a particular 80s baby look about him.
It is time to read it to a new generation of little people...
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We went to Flannerys and bought lots of sulphite-free dried fruits,
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soaked it overnight in good old Bundy Rum, like a good Queenslander should,
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and poured more rum over the finished cakes.
The house smelt quite frankly delicious throughout the afternoon...
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I spent a good part of the weekend making a cool Christmas outfit,
a floaty long white skirt, and a cool blue top:
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The pretty skirt fabric, $12 metre at Spotlight, cool cotton voile with frills, pintucks and ric-rac:
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No pattern was used; I made a 5 inch yolk to fit my hips, with elastic waist casing, and gathered the 2 metre length of fabric to fit.
Easy Peasy.
The top, from a length of old cobalt blue lace, over a piece of lining fabric,
was made from my TNT pattern, which I know will be quick and will fit.
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I added angel and snowflake pins found in Vancouver between flights, a few years ago.
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Only twelve days to Christmas, and lots of carol singing for moi, this week..
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How are your Christmas preparations going?
Don't work too hard.
XXXX
Your Christmas tree is adorable, mine is a Spartan old thing. The plethora of stamps is fab!
ReplyDeleteChristmas tree bows its thanks. I'm super impressed by plethora of stamps - all that licking!!
DeleteGood job we do not have aromas on the computer, my mouth is already watering at the sight of your cakes.
ReplyDeleteYou will look the belle of the ball at Christmas - what a lovely combination the blue and white makes.
The post from Canada and Australia must cost you all a small fortune.
I wore the blue and white to sing in a concert today - it went over well at the Old Folks Home..
DeletePostage is shockingly expensive, and usually costs me more than the gift is worth - but you can't put a value on family connectedness.
Beautifully festive over at your place Trish. Our copy of your Christmas story now lives with Dear Daughter. LOVE all your lovely Christmas decos and I am sure I can smell that baking from here. You will look very cool and stylish in your pretty Christmas outfit.
ReplyDeleteWhy am I not surprised you have the same Christmas story book, Michelle. I think I'll take mine over to Canada next time. Hot again today, so I'm on the mark with the cool Christmas gear.
DeleteHi Patricia!
ReplyDeleteEverything looking very festive round your house...
enjoy your week ahead..
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Hi Linda, I love to have that festive feel in our house - just for a few weeks each year. Then when I put it all away, I re-organise the furniture, the pictures, everything!
DeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteMe too Patricia!
Everything is very Christmassy at your house - looking good, and what a lovely cake.
ReplyDeleteI love your little outfit - nice to look at, and easy to wear. Just right for what will be a very busy day for you, I am sure. And very wearable afterwards, as well.
Very Christmassy indeed around here - some folks register shock when they walk in - he he
DeleteThe blue/white is very easy, and great in the heat. Tested it today and it is good to sing in.
It looks as though you are all set for Christmas!! Lovely decorations you have! Our letters and parcels tend to just have a big sticker too, but I ask for them to have stamps instead! Your parcel is a lot of fun with all of those stamps for sure!! xx
ReplyDeleteLots of Christmas action round here, Amy. Those stamps make be think of Andy Warhol paintings - I expect HM would not be amused! xx
DeleteYou're making good progress for Christmas, Patricia! That children's book looks vaguely familiar. I think we used to have it when my boys were little. I'm not sure how your parcel arrived with all those stamps. We have those boring white labels here in Canada as well. :-)
ReplyDeleteAha, Kristie, another recognition of the Christmas book, evidently a hit from the 80s. That is interesting about the stamps - maybe the sticker machine was not working at the local Post Office!
DeleteYes indeed, It is the season, but I am not at all tuned for it, though we have all the facilities for it, the darkness, the snow, real Christmas trees..
ReplyDeleteHowever, it please me to see that You feel Christmas - sy: ), full of energy!
With all the Christmas facilities provided by nature, you don't really have to do anything Mette. The atmosphere with real Christmas trees must be gorgeous. Yes, I am quite energetic about it all, but am monitoring myself because I don't want to run out of steam by next week.
DeleteIt's looking nice & Christmassy at yours. My kids are intrigued as to Christmas in Australia. We always asscoiate it with cold & wintry weather here in the UK. It's great that you can run up a dress with no pattern. Inspired me to get my sewing machine out.
ReplyDeleteYes, even after a lifetime of hot summer Christmas, I still think in terms of snow scenes at Christmas time. The power of cultural influences. Christmas day in Australia often includes swimming at the beach or in a pool, and most people eat salad with the Christmas meats.
DeleteI do like the look of that cake! Those two blue baubles are beautiful. Suzy xo
ReplyDeleteTime to put frosting over those cakes, Suzy.
DeleteI love the blue baubles, which DD bought me in Europe a few years ago. Very precious to me. xo
That rum fruit cake looks delightful, Patricia. I can smell it from here. I really like all your blue ornaments. I just noticed that I have many purple ornaments, which I will post with my tree. Oh my gosh, that old Christmas book is a treasure. Did I ever tell you that I love children's books the most? It's so nice to see you are enjoying the Christmas season, my dear friend. I'm right along there with you.
ReplyDeletelove,
~Sheri
I think we all love the children's books, even as we ourselves become older. They bring such strong and special memories of our own childhood. The Christmas season is always a pleasure - all we need is a bit of snow to cool down our torrid summer heat!
DeleteOh Patricia your Christmas cake sounds and looks yummy - my husband the yachtie would love the rum flavour!
ReplyDeleteA very pretty Christmas skirt - I've always loved pintucks too. You're such a good dressmaker...I haven't made anything for myself for so long now.
A very festive post!
Only eight more sleeps!
Shane x
Ah, another pintuck fancier. Isn't it great we can now purchase fabric with the tucking already done for us. Dressmaking is my relaxation these days, especially as I have had to give up some other things I used to do. Christmas cake with Bundy rum - a Queensland specialty! x
DeleteYour holiday outfit is so pretty. It looks both ice like for our winter and cool enough for yours. Bet that cake does smell wonderful.
ReplyDeleteDarla
Your worked me out, Darla: ice white and cool blue!
DeleteEven in the heat, cake with rum is an excellent choice - maybe with champagne instead of mulled wine...
Love your choice of outfit Patricia. It looks lovely. As always very professional.
ReplyDeleteYour christmas cake sure looks good. I can smell it from here.
I take christmas at a slow pace ..always have.
I have everything organised.
Will have to bake some more mince pies..
Wishing you and your family a wonderful time together..
A happy christmas.. and thank you for your support with my blog and posting.. great friendship through blogging.
love val xxx
Thank you Val, the blue and white sends its regards :)
DeleteI am impressed you have everything organised already - I am only beginning on the food preparations. I'll bet your mince pies are delectable! Happy Christmas, and thank you for your friendship. love P. xx
Oh, that cake looks fab!
ReplyDeleteI love getting parcels covered in stamps. I agree - it makes them feel so special.Maybe it's because I used to collect stamps as a kid.
Hi Jenny, I love the parcel with the stamps, and am keeping it under the Christmas tree to admire, even though I know there are Christmas wrapped gifts inside! It makes me think of Andy Warhol's series portraits!
DeleteLove the dress, Patricia. And, the cake and Christmas decorations!!
ReplyDeleteHi Debra and thank you. Hope your Christmas prep goes well, and you have a beautiful season.
DeleteLove your Christmas book, the animals are so sweet. Love the sound of cake plus rum. How clever to make an outfit and without a pattern. Am in total awe. I find sewing a button on too much. My Christmas preps are all done: gave the dog a bath. Anymore preps would be overkill. xx
ReplyDeleteBlighty, Merry Christmas. I have copied the book for circulation to grandchildren (so I can keep the original to myself, greedily). So funny re the dog - I do hope you added little doggie reindeer ears, the perfect Christmas touch! xx
DeleteI love your cool Christmas outfit, Patricia, but still find it hard to imagine celebrating Christmas in 40C+ heat, when over here we're busy wrapping up warmly. :-) Very few Christmas preparations happening here as we'll be visiting family who will take very good care of us. Normally I'm busy baking goodies to take with us, but not with only one useable hand. Sigh....
ReplyDeleteAnything to keep cool, Perpetua. You'd think we would be used to it, but alas, No - we express surprise and dismay re the heat, Every Year!! I'm so sorry your hand is still out of action, and can appreciate the frustration you must feel at Christmas time. Wrap up warmly and wear some of those gorgeous socks you knit.
DeleteThank you Val for your Christmas wishes - and the same to you! Don't like the sound of busiest week ever, makes Christmas prep rather difficult... Well done re the lights on the balcony; we have a few of those too. Hope you have a wonderful holiday, and maybe some sewing time? xx
ReplyDeleteMy goodness you have been busy, Patricia. How lovely to go to the ballet too! I don't know how you find the time to do so much, I really don't. You must hardly ever sleep :) Have a wonderful and magical Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI love my sleep - I just don't do much housework, ha ha
DeleteYou have a perfectly wonderful Christmas too, Val. I am wondering, does the harbour ever freeze? That would be interesting..