Back to work...

The four day break I have been looking forward to is over. Back to work this morning for 5 hours.

Christmas day was spent at my BIL's house, we had a nice time helping the children play with their presents our SIL had made a nice lunch the day was great as I didn't have to cook.

After Lunch the kids went swimming in the pool. They had a great time jumping in while I took photos.

I got lots of nice pressies for Christmas, Pandora style beads for my bracelet, 2 WII games Monopoly and Beach Sports, and the Nourishing Traditions Book and Candle and Soap Making for Dummies. I am looking forward to trying some of the recipes in the Nourishing Traditions book.

On Boxing day we had some friends for lunch, I cooked slow cooked Roast Pork and Veges and for dessert we had home made Plum Pudding, cream, custard or icecream. I didn't cook the pudding, one of my customers gave it to me as a pressie. I can tell you it was delicous.

Yesterday we harvested another 4 kilos of tomatoes I think this is about 12 kilos to date. This morning I made "Green Tomato Pickles" they are now bottled and ready for storage. This is the first time I have made these pickles. I was going to make tomato sauce but I don't have enough ripe tomatoes.

Merry Christmas to all

Well Christmas is finally here, I still need another month at least. Still have a few last minute stitching to do but all will be finished. I only have to be in the shop for 4 hours today, then I have to go and buy my Hubby a present. Nothing like leaving it till the last minute. He is so hard to buy for and he is always with me when we are shopping so I thought I would take the opportunity while he is still at work.

I hope everyone out there in blogland has a very Merry and safe Christmas or a wonderful whatever holiday you are celebrating. If you are driving anywhere over Christmas please keep safe.

We are off to my BIL and SIL's place for Christmas lunch. It should be really nice. I will try and remember to take some photos, for a Scrapbook shop owner I'm not very good at remembering the camera. We have to make an hours drive North of here but the roads are generally quite first thing tomorrow so we will make the trip early.

Well I'm off now to wrap some of the pressies that are still all over my lounge room floor, yes thats right I'm not very organised this year, present wrapping is usually already done.

Merry Christmas to all.

Tracie xx

Markets

The Farmers Market at Warick Farm Race course was packed this morning. Some of the stalls had already sold out of produce and I was there at 7.00am - they don't "open" till 8.00am, from experience I know that you have to go there on the Saturday before Christmas at the crack of dawn. They are even open this year on Christmas Eve.

I don't buy food anywhere else if I can help it, it just doesn't taste the same and everything comes from NSW.

As well as Fruit and Vegetables, there is beef, pork (best streaky bacon and ham around), olives, honey and the best cupcakes made with seasonal produce toppings, just love them. I don't eat too many though as they just go to my hips.

Tomorrow we are having a Christmas Party at home for Steve's work, have lots to do, working now in the shop better get back to it.

Have a good day.

Christmas Traditions Quiz

Tracy did this on her Blog soI thought I would give it a go to try and get some Christmas Spirit...

Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, but i like all the pressies wrapped that same in the same paper.


When do you put up the tree? I haven't this year not having Chrissy at home so decided not to and thought we would wait for Kirby (the kitten) to be older.

Do you like eggnog? I don't know. I don't think I've ever had it.

Favourite gift received as a child? A Tipetoes Doll, I got her when I was about 5 years old, she was my favourite doll for a very long time. I still have her somewhere. My next favourite pressie was the iPod I recieved 2 years ago. I just love it and it goes everywhere with me full of country music of course.

Hardest person to buy for? My Hubby. Has everything he wants, and when you ask what he wants he says a "Porche" I have received this answer for the last 25 years.

Easiest person to buy for? All the children in my life ...

Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, I think this part of christmas is very important.

Mail or email Christmas cards? neither, phone call on Christmas morning does the trick.

Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I really can't remember...

Favourite Christmas movie? Miracle on 34th Street. The Santa Clause.

When do you start shopping? Doing very little shopping this year, trying to hand make everything.

Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I haven't but I have had a present given back that I gave someone a couple of years before. I was rather amused at the time and we still talk about it.
Favourite thing to eat at Christmas? Real plum pudding boiled in the cloth, Roast pork with good crackling.

Lights on the tree? Of course!

Favourite Christmas songs? Colin Buchanan's Version of "Jingle bells" brings a smile to my face.

Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travelling this year to my BIL and SIL's place for lunch.

Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? No

Angel on the tree top, or a star? Angel.

Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning...first thing.

Favourite ornament theme or colour? Red, Green and gold

What do you want for Christmas this year? I'm not that fussy, just something nice.

If you would like to do this Quiz too just leave a comment here so I can have a read.

Have fun.

Tracie

Only 13 days to Christmas

Wow only 13 days till Christmas, where has the year gone, I feel like it was only yesterday that it was last Christmas. I still have quite a few things to finalise before this Christmas comes around. All the pressies are well on the way to being finished, The album I was working on is finished and has already gone to it's new home.

I found this great site called "Made It" it is like Etsy but Australian, I have listed a couple of my MIL's bathmat and Christmas Table runners on there so go and have a look. They are the best and most gorgeous bath mats around. I have been using a couple of these mats for years and they wash like a rag.

I will be back later with a garden update and some album photos.

Tracie