For my Dad

I'm thinking of him. without going into the long story that it is,

my Dad and I haven't lived under the same roof since I was 13.

This is my favourite picture of us together,

in fact, it might be the only one of just the 2 of us.

lovey, dovey.

Love Rules OK?!

Card is made by Little P.

Pop up style.

Valentine's Day is an anniversary for Big D and I.

It's the first time we kissed ... if you get my drift.

It's been 16 years since that first kiss.

Life propels us in a continuous motion forward.

It's unpredictable (control freaks beware).

It's that unpredictability that makes it exciting.

I think it's best summed up by Tim Minchin (from Matilda The Musical):

'Just because you think that life's not fair, it

Doesn't mean you have to grin and

bear it.

If you always take it on the chin and wear it,

nothing will change.

Just because I find myself in this story,

It doesn't mean that everything is written for

me.

If I think the ending is fixed already,

I might as well be saying I think that it's OK,

And that's not right!

And if it's not right,

You have to put it right!'

Christmas Fairy

Stuck for a gift idea? This came from a friend of ours (thank you Sarah).

Inside the lid is the recipe for cranberry and white chocolate cookies.

Bloody brilliant!

Traditions

Our favourite thing to do at this time of year is to take comfort in making

our own decorations & wrapping paper, we also love to make our own jams/chutney's etc.

Big D and I have done this since little P was born.

It's fantastic now that she's 8, because she is wholeheartedly involved

in both these traditions.

When you have your own household traditions for Christmas,

beyond just decorating the tree, it seems

to take the edge off the mass consumer mentality that goes on

outside the home. Yes Christmas is a mad time of year, and people really

go crazy with the spending ... trying to fill a void maybe? keeping up with

the Jones's maybe? What ever the reason, it's just stuff, it's not going to

make you feel any better about life. Where as actually making stuff can,

there's something comforting about getting out the

hand made decorations every year, they are without

doubt, our most favourite!

It really doesn't take much time to make things,

and they aren't going to be 'perfect' but that's

where the love is .... hopping in the car,

driving to the shops, finding a car space blah, etc

takes a lot more time, and a lot less thought.

(pics from Family Circle 'Homemade Jams & Preserves' brilliant book).

Grow some baubles.

Baubles, hand made fabric ones ... simple and easy to make, good for using up scraps.

I was doing paper mache with Little P, which naturally lead on to

'fabric mache' - photos soon from that experiment!

Hip (H)op - happy!

Orange and white floral and spots, linen mix I think.

Geometric pinks and orange.

And my favourite ... stripes.

Also found this rather fetching piece. Love the cross-stitch effect.

Made in Japan, cute as a button!

Santa - The Biggest Loser?

I wonder which cafe they will congregate at every Sunday Morning?

Found at the oppy - too good to pass up!