How to Have A Merry Little Christmas

1. Finish up the school year frazzled and well and truly ready for it all to Just. Go. Away.

2. Spend the next week getting woefully behind on your to-do list whilst procrastinating every day and generally just relaxing because, well, you desperately need to.

3. The weekend before the big day decide you had really better get organised. Go shopping to grab last few things. Don’t end up getting all of them because car decides to break down.

4. Once you finally make it home, spend the afternoon getting very sticky making Christmas treats with the kids while hubby stays with the car and organises a tow truck.

5. You really, really need to clear out the rumpus for the renovating. So spend the next day washing like a mad woman to clear that pile (hint: this requires 5 loads). In between, sort and fold like your life depends on it. The Mt Foldmore range will miraculously diminish before your very eyes. Also, take note how cute the five year old is helping carry pile after pile of clean towels to the linen cupboard.

6. Flop into bed at the end of the day satisfied but utterly worn out.

7. Wake the next day not sure that you feel one hundred percent. Soon realise it’s because you seem to have gained a UTI overnight.

8. Try to carry on as normal because after all, this is Christmas Eve now and there is much still to do. Like decorating and rediscovering the lounge room floor. Do not even look in the kitchen.

9. Do not panic either - just imagine your perfect children helping clear it all away in a matter of minutes.

10. Get a stronger grip on reality.

11. Come to the understanding that your pounding headache might need some attention. Take your temperature and realise it is slightly higher than is considered normal.

12. Ask online friends for prayer. Thank God for such amazing women.

13. Take next round of medication. Put yourself to bed and rest. Thank God for hubby willing to take children out for a while to make this possible.

14. Scan the scene and concede it is just not gonna happen how you had planned.

15. Have brilliant idea. Glean ideas from favourite magazine. Release the stress.

16. Feed and bathe children. Put them to bed. Relax with husband and a movie.

17. Go to bed.

18. Wake up Christmas morning. Have a lazy breakfast with family. Put roast on. Put dishes on.

19. Choose to ignore horrid mess of a house. Gather simple yet beautiful things, from around your home, that you love. Take these outside to gazebo hubby and kids are putting up in the back yard.

20. Lose yourself in a moment of creativity as you arrange them wistfully.

21. Invite the family to join you. Acknowledge that really this is all you need. 

22. And have yourself a Merry little Christmas!

Wishing you

Hope in our Saviour

Peace in your heart

and Joy in the little things

Happy Christmas!

A Breath of Christmas

Two more sleeps until Christmas. I could use another week!

It seems we’ve been doing a lot of surviving lately. Putting one foot in front of the other until the end of the school year finally arrived.

In the week since (yes, just a week - though it feels like two), we have already made a quick dash to visit the in-laws a few hours away.  Since returning the air-conditioning at the shops has been far more inviting than the sticky heat at home.

Gifts are all purchased now, but certainly not wrapped.

We’ve been madly cleaning and I’m happy to report that the rumpus room does still exist. Which is just as well, my family is hoping to celebrate together in there.

Last night the first of the decorations were hung. Umm, better late than never? 

I’m beginning to breathe again. I’ve decided that bedroom doors exist for a reason. The joy of the season is not worth trading for a perfect abode.

So here’s to happy memories made with family, quiet moments with meaning, and plenty of peculiar treasures.

Happy Christmas everyone! May peace and joy abound in your hearts as we celebrate our Saviour’s birth!

PS: I’ll be taking a blogging break for a week or two. Once the parties have quieted down - the renovating begins! I’ll do my best to pop in somewhere between the restoring and building. Please forgive if I have paint on my nose. 

A Star Called Yonder

I was asked to write (and perform) a puppet play for our Church Christmas Carol service. I had a ball putting it together. Sadly we did not think to record it on the evening - but I still wanted to share it with you. 

So here it is, performed especially for you from behind the lounge chair! (Please forgive the fuzzies). 

Enjoy!!

A Squishy Stocking Stuffer

Since my last post about Squishy Men I've had a few requests for a how to. I've also had time to think of a few adjustments to make it better. So without further ado...

Squishy Man 3.0

You will need:

1 Pattern (found here)

Cotton fabric – print or plain for outer; calico for lining (though you could use whatever you’ve got)

Sewing thread

Brown/black embroidery thread 

Wool/yarn (for hair)

Needles – 1 embroidery; 1 wool

¼ cup (dry) rice, roughly ground.

Funnel

How to:

1. Cut 4 pattern pieces.
1. 2 of lining
2. 2 of main fabric
2. Sew darts in all four pieces.
3. Sew lining pieces together leaving a small opening for filling (pattern allows for a 5mm seam).
4. Fill and sew opening closed. Set aside.
5. Embroider a face onto 1 piece of main fabric (I used 4 strands).
1. Mouth: back stitch
2. Eyes: colonial knots
6. With right sides together, sew main pieces, leaving an opening for inserting inside part. Turn.
7. Insert insides and hand stitch closed using ladder stitch (twice for extra strength).
8. Using wool needle pull several strands of wool/yarn through the top of the head (in a line) and knot. Trim to desired length.
9. You should now be holding your very own Squishy Man!

  

With Christmas fast approaching these would make great stocking stuffers.

NB: You are welcome to make as many as you like for yourself or family and friends. Please respect my copyright and do not make them to sell/for a profit. Thanks.