Afterbits.

Eating.
Crocheting.

Gardening.

Just taking things quietly at the moment and recovering from the rush and fussle.

Christmas Glimpses.

Bright eyed and bushy tailed even with an early start - did I really think I would have a sleep in?

Finally, finally being given the very thing Archie had been dreaming of for years...

A bit of decoration for the table.

In prime position for the extended family present giving.

Christmas Eve...

The boys are in bed being read Vanessa Cabban's magical book 'Dear Father Christmas', carrots artfully arranged in the garden and Father Christmas's tray filled with sweet offerings. I was most shocked because usually he has a beer when he visits but this year has instead requested water!!!

The presents are wrapped and under the tree, stockings hung (albeit precariously) and a heavy, snoozy Christmas Eve feeling has descended upon us. No frantic making of anything tonight, just my feet propped up on the big, blue couch and a DVD. Early to bed too as I have a feeling the boys may not be too keen on a sleep in. Happy Christmas Eve xxooxxooxx.

Peeking Inside.

Can you remember this parcel from a few weeks ago that hinted mysteriously of hidden depths.

Well, now that my Mamaaa has received it I can reveal its innards... A folder covered with a bit of Cath and a lot of love for Mum to put her crochet patterns in.
The frustrating thing is that while I have lots and lots of things I want to show you, I have left my camera at my cousin's house and can't take any photos until this afternoon. AAAGGGHHH. I keep being overtaken by urges to photograph things and I can't - I know I am one for drama but it is kind of like having a limb or a sense removed... a digitally implanted sense.
Things are coming on for Christmas Eve. I am still wrapping with furious joy but am mostly revelling in having a new floor put down after 8.5 years of waiting patiently on cold concrete. It is so luxurious and of course I would be showing a photo but unfortunately cannot!
Happy Christmas Eve to you all and hopefully with a camera safely back in my hands, there may even be another post before the day's end. XXXOOOXXXOOOXXX!!!

Strawberry Picking.

I'll be honest with you. This expedition, the strawberry picking was the highlight of our weekend away, they hung in shiny red clusters, hot and jammy. Every year we travel down to Whakatane, pick strawberries, swim in hot pools and generally relax. It's the December treat and something we anticipate every year. But this year... it was awful. We were too tired and too stressed to be packed up into a camper van together. The fun, the sparkle, the pizazz of holidaying wasn't there and we all had to get on the best we could with cranky scratchiness erupting boil-like from our souls. I have to clarify that this is not normal for us, we holiday very well together and can handle being in enclosed spaces together... just not this time.

In fact, yesterday morning after a 5.15am (ish) wake up, we decided the best thing for it was to pack up and go home. Driving up towards the house was the closest to sheer giddy heaven I have been in quite some time. Separate bedrooms awaited us as well as personal space - loads of it.

And the strawberries... the sweetest I have ever eaten in the privacy of my own home.

Christmas Stockings and Stuff.

Sorry about Father Christmas popping up in the middle of these two photos jolting the order about. I wanted to show you how Father Christmas gets about in New Zealand, on the back of a fire truck with sirens blaring and providing a huge thrill at Hugo's picnic.

Hanging above and below F.C. are photos of Hugo's stocking (Archie has one already which I will photograph later) which is in the making. A few more stars dangling from the cuff and a name embroidered on and then Bob might be your uncle if you have an uncle called Bob.

We are off to the next Christmas concert. Apparently this one is two hours long with lots of leaving speeches by the senior students. I am definitely taking my crochet which Jonno is very jealous of. He did ask if he could take a book...

Chrismas decorations and a little bit of chat.

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on the wreath. I had so much fun making it although I occasionally had to remind myself when I was eyeball deep in crocheted balls that one day, there would be an end in sight. Now it is hanging up on the door, I do spend a lot of time standing in front of it, then pretending to open it whenever anyone comes in the room.
Here are a couple of photos of other things I have been working on, a Christmas decoration for Archie's teacher and a pattern very much a work in progress. I have worked out though that if you put one stuffed ball into an incomplete ball, you end up with a head wearing a hood! I know I am supposed to be finishing presents and not starting new projects but it is just so hard.
I am now very much in the home stretch of Christmas prep. thank goodness. AND I am shocked to say, very much ready for school holidays too. The thought of rising early to hurry children off to school is becoming to hard. The whole family will be happy when the boys can sneak downstairs, watch a few cartoons and rummage through the pantry unguarded.

Better put some dinner on, I am so hungry all of a sudden I think I have become almost waif-like, or at least see-through.