.JPG)
And just like that, Christmas is around the corner..
(Warning: this post is heavy on Christmas festive cheer).
It has been a busy, and slightly different, year for the Red Cardinals.
Our son and his family moved from Sydney to Brisbane to be near us. We have been delighted by the arrival of our first granddaughter, and love spending time with her older brothers, the boy twins as well.
We seen them all once or twice a week for 'play' time..
and are still trying to keep our 'other lives' going as well.
.JPG)
Last week the Christmas tree went up..
I made it pink to celebrate our little grandie girl...
.JPG)
I have collected the occasional pink ornament for years, but never made a big feature of them before.
.JPG)
.JPG) |
| Selfridges, London, 2004 |
.JPG) |
| Ottawa, Canada, 2010 |
.JPG)
.JPG) |
| Made for me by my dear friend M. |
.JPG)
.JPG)
.JPG)
All the fragile decorations are not coming out this year..
Instead, we are having a child-friendly theme including this fabulous Lego Gingerbread house.
The little boys love it!
.JPG)
and our Agapanthus have arrived in force:
So what does one do when feeling just a little tired from the busyness, the round of medical appointments, commitment to the community, home and family?
Well, I have begun a 'slow stitching' project, using all my stashed fabric scraps, bits and bobs, to make my 'Roxy's Christmas Journal of Stitchery', a group sew-along on Facebook and Youtube. Prompts are given every couple of weeks, and stitchers create their own visions. Many are published on Facebook.
.JPG)
Some of my works in progress..
I am incorporating vintage bits of bobbin lace and tatting, made by my late mother...
.JPG)
Most of these fabrics are left over from quilts made 20 or 30 years ago.
Will I ever actually finish the book?
I have no idea, but the stitching is soothing, and the creation is fun.
Enjoy the Season, and have a great week.
XXXX
.JPG)
Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteA new baby brings joy to hearts. The pink tree is a delightful beauty.
Thank you Salty, and Happy Thanksgiving to you.
DeleteDearest Patricia,
ReplyDeleteWOW, those Jacarandas are still putting on quite a show and also the Agapanthus. We used to have the latter but voles must have eaten all the bulbs... They're gone.
You are quite busy and of course having little ones in the family makes all things different.
We have no tree, since Campbell Soup forced us to move up north—we did give away all we had.
When we lived here in the 1990s we had big guirlandes and outside lights but one day when putting things up with almost freezing hands I looked at Pieter and said: I have an idea—went inside to grab a heavy duty garbage bag and we put it all in and gave it away again. No more cold hands, no more climbing on steps and so on.
We keep our Christmas pure religious—never have fallen for the commercial gift giving. That is done in our tradition on Saint Nicholas, December 6.
Adhering to my upbringing Christmas remains pure about the true meaning—the birth of Jesus Christ.
Busy in the chancel choir and that is a joy to do—praising God with voices.
Hugs,
Mariette
One day I imagine I will do the same thing with the Christmas decorations, but for now, I enjoy it with the children. At least it is warm here, as Mr. Cardinal likes to put lights on the house, which look very pretty. No freezing hands for him! I also make sure the reason for Christmas is highlighted, and have put out two Nativity creche scenes, as well as some cross-stitches on the theme. Making sure the little ones get the idea - they are playing with the sheep and the camels :) What a joy to sing with the choir, such lovely music at Christmas.
DeleteBEST season of the year! You enjoy your warm Christmas with the little ones! Miss Indonesia for this time of the year...
DeleteHow I love to see the jacarandas, Trish. They are really lovely! Well done for all your stitchery! The Christmas decorations are lovely and the pink tree is so pretty. Hoping to see you again before the festive season begins, but if not, have a lovely one with your family, my dear!
ReplyDeleteThank you Val, it is cheering to decorate the house for the season. As the pretty jacarandas fade, the bright red Poinsiana trees flower, spreading Christmas red and green around the city. You have a beautiful Christmas too with your family, dear Val.
DeleteHow sweet those pink ornaments are. My husband put up the outside lights over the weekend while it was sunny. This week will be rainy. I'm starting with Christmas preparations, but don't want to get too busy with them so that I can reflect on the preparation of Advent and the meaning of Christ's birth. There is always a lot to do, and having a slow stitching project is a great way to relax. Love the pieces you've created already.
ReplyDeleteThank you Lorrie, I have always found stitching a great way to unwind. So important to reflect during Advent, and not overdo the Christmas event. We will be very child-focused this year.
DeleteWhat a 'pretty in pink' Christmas you will enjoy with all of your new, precious little grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteWe are planning a muted celebration at Christmas - our grandchildren are all grown up.
Agapanthus we have but Jacarandas no, but I retain a wonderful vision of them from our visit to South Africa.
It will be fun doing the 'pink' event, just for our little princess. She will inherit a lot of it one day! We are a little late in life with the grand-babies, and our eldest boys are just turning 13. Watching teens again is interesting :)
DeleteHi Trish!
ReplyDeleteIt's so fun to see your bits of holiday cheer. And I adore the pink!! 💗 I'm so glad you have some grands closer to you - makes Christmas magic again in a way. The flowers and colors there always wow me. I hope you all stay healthy and have a blessed rest of your week. xo
Pink Christmas has always appealed to my pink side, Carrie. This will be a magical Christmas with not one, but two, 2-year olds to play with, and baby as well. Thank you for your sweet good wishes. xo
DeleteYour Pink tree is delightful, Patricia, and just perfect for your new granddaughter. I always love to see the color of your Pink roses, and hope to plant a bush just like that in my front yard someday. Oh, those little elves are so cute. They make the Christmas season more fun, don't they? The Christmas stitching journal you started sounds nice. All the fabric and lace you are using that belonged to your dear mom is very special.
ReplyDeleteOur Thanksgiving here is this Thursday, and I'm thankful for your lovely blog and your friendship all these years, Patricia.
~Sheri
Hi Sheri, I hope you do find the perfect pink rose for your front of house. Those little elves do remind me so much of our little twin grandsons, full of sweet mischief. I love recycling my mother's haberdashery - I can't bring myself to throw any of it away. Happy Thanksgiving, and I too am thankful for a lovely bog friendship with you.
DeleteLoving that pink Christmas Tree
ReplyDeleteAw, thank you. I always did like a lot of pink :)
DeleteThe tree and your sewing items are lovely Trish. The pink suits the Christmas season and I think others will be inspired to do the same! Let the Christmas season begin! :)
ReplyDeleteOur pink Christmas is going well, and yesterday we had a birthday party here under the pink tree. Love the sparkle of the festive season!
DeleteLove the pink tree. Very refreshing from the usual colors!
ReplyDeleteIt is a fun look, with the house decorated to match. Suits our little baby girl grandie very well :)
DeleteThe pink tree and the Lego Gingerbread house!! I want them both!!
ReplyDeleteYou can do it! I found the Lego house online and love it more than the kids do, he he. Pink Christmas tree sends her best regards. 🌸🌸🌸🌸
DeleteI want to share my life story so that someone else can heal from my wound,I was diagnosed with COPD with 55-60% lung capacity. and Hiv, My doctor just said all the crying , stomping your feet will not change it so just accept it and basically patted me on the back and sent me home to die. I was devastated and was afraid to do anything. I stopped riding my bike, I was afraid to do anything that would cause any exertion. It consumed my thoughts with every breath and the fear of what to expect was almost more than I could deal with. So I couldn't get myself all time I decided to find a herbal cure online and I came across Doctor Itua on how he cure several people suffering from Hiv, and Herpes I gave him a call on this Number +2348149277967 also chat on whatsapp he gave me all the details about the cure i paid him for the medicine after 5 working days i receive my herbal medicine ,I use it for two weeks that is how I get Cured and today I'm living healthy and fine I give him thanks also promise him to testify about his work,He Can also cure the following diseases..Copd,Herpes,Alzheimer's disease,carcinoma.Asthma,Allergic diseases.Parkinson's ,Epilepsy,Cancer,Fibromyalgia,Hiv,Hepatitis,diabetes,Coeliac disease,Infertility, Asthma.Contact...drituaherbalcenter@gmail.com..Whatsapp Number...+2348149277967
ReplyDeleteLots of creativity in this post! I have not actually seen a pink tree before and your photos are lovely. I would like to see one in real life. There is something quite exciting about repurposing old items to make something new out of them. But even more exciting is that your family are now nearer to you so you can be more involved with them!
ReplyDelete