Christmas 2011...and Sea Mist

Christmas Eve morning arrived and when looking down the street I saw a mist rising up the hill to our place...and it smelt so 'salty'...

Meanwhile Mr Armchair came back from town and said we have to go down to the beach and have a look at the this Seamist!!!

Maybe you can't see it too well but it was awesome...

I'd never seen this before...but then again we have only been here 4 years...

It had a freshness about it as well...

People swimming in it...

and you could still see through it all...

It was rather magical looking down to it, but probably not for the seafarers...

Meanwhile from this Australian Good Food Magazine I made a Christmas pudding...

I used Rapadura sugar instead of white sugar...hence the caramel colour...

All good with custard on the day!!!

Mr Armchair cleaned the yard up a bit ant it looked lovely in the bright sunshine...

'Little jewels' in the water bath...

A lovely blue hydrangea...

I also made a Fruit Cake...

fruit cake is not generally a Latvian tradition but JoJo loves it, as do I...

All wrapped waiting to cut into it...

Looking at the bay window...

A candle for Christmas Eve...JoJo very excited by now...

Potatoes ready to prepare for Potato Roesti...

together with some barbequed lamb...

a nice easy dinner before the big day!!!

JoJo still getting very excited by now...

At her day programme she made some sweets...

The tree...

Opening gifts...

JoJo loves Volkswagens and I had to buy her this table and chairs when I saw it...

Very happy here...

Just after the table was bought I saw a pattern for a cushion with a Combi on it and had to buy it for her...then I made the cushion for her...

more of this in OPAM (one project a month) in another post...

And dig this, Gluten Free Mince Pies...

The it was off to our Daughter Jacqueline's place...

here she is with her DH Bill and 2 littles, Ryan and Lidija...

Jacqueline now for about the 5th year in a row has made a gingerbread house...

I think it's tradition now!!!

Mr Armchair's Brothers and their Mother...

And for the first time in his 5 years Ryan wanted to choose and give Christmas gifts...

I scored star cookie cutters...

And Lidija wanted to join in too...

here I received 2 nail polishes (she likes nail polish) and a golden olive eye shadow...

All just perfect...thank you so much Ryan and Lidi...all so very special!!!

By evening Lidija had had it...

Seeing I have a new sewing machine Jacqueline has my nearly new other machine...

and the Prints Charming book...

and she says next year everyone is getting sewn presents...

Bring it on!!!!!!!

I seem to be posting every day here...just squeezing in the last for 2011 for my blog book...

If I haven't gotten back to you thank you everyone for coming round and

leaving your lovely comments...I appreciate every single one of them!!!

SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap) 2011 sent to Lynn...and OPAM (one project a month) October revealed...

Finally I can reveal the swap parcel I sent to Ann-Marie as part of the SSCS organized by Chookyblue...

Goodies all wrapped up in a fat 1/4 (by Debbie Mumm)...

Card by Australian Designer Christine Book......

Little bag made out of a tea towel...

towel, pattern and fabric by Nancy Halvorsen......

Appliqued tea towel......

Little 'Joy' Stitchery Wall Hanging.....the front

Back......

and all together...

These items are also part of OPAM which I couldn't reveal back in October......

and Christmas decoration and tag......

I also included some other goodies for Anne Marie.....

Anne Marie I have so enjoyed making this for you......

and I was very excited......and nervous..... when Chooky asked me to be part of this fabulous swap......

I am so happy you are pleased with it all...

These items are going to be brought out at Anne Maries mountain cabin in Norway to be enjoyed every Christmas....

Thank you so much Chookyblue for organizing this swap......I have loved every step of the way!!!

SSCS (Secret Santa Christmas Swap) 2011...received from Lynn

Finally I can reveal my gift for SSCS received from Lynn...

This is the first time that I have been involved with this Swap and I have thoroughly enjoyed it!!!

Thank you so much Chooky for organizing this...it must be a mammoth task for you...

This is the card I received from Lynne...see all the little gingerbread men...

followed by a little gingerbread cutter and a felt one...

Lynn figured that JoJo has a sweet tooth...

and yes Lynn, you are dead right about that ha ha!!!!!

My parcel also included some fat quarters...

A very pretty tea towel and pot-holder...

And here are the goodies all together...

Part of the card read,

"When I read your first post about SSCS2011, and how excited you were to be participating in it,

I knew it would be especially fun for me this year......

My goal this year was bright and fun and happy"

And here is Lynn's bright, happy and very fun table topper!!!

Santa on a surfboard...palm trees...blue skies

This pretty much sums up an Australian Christmas Lynn...

Sun, surf, beach and of course Santa...

Not to mention Salty Blue Days on the beach...

And the back of the topper...just as much FUN!!!

This whole swap was fun...thank you so much Lynn and once again to Chooky!!!

Mandeni Quilt Hanging...with a touch of Christmas!

In Springtime we went to a Hanging of the Quilts at Mandeni Needlecraft...

A lovely Hanging, gorgeous quilts...lots of pics following,

Looks like an Anni Downs quilt here...

love the warm country colours...

 a cross stitch on display in the shop...

and a Christmas section that JoJo could not resist...

JoJo saw a Christmas quilt on the wall and asked for one too...

think I'll have to do that one for her...it's not very often that she will ask for something like this!!!

Christmas has come around so fast this year...

one minute I have a sling on my arm...

and the next it's almost the end of the year...

I feel like I've lost a bit of time!!!

Wishing everybody a beautiful Christmas Season wherever you are,

and a Blessed and Happy Healthy New Year...

'I believe in everything until it's disproved.

So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons.

It all exists, even if it's in your mind.

Who's to say that dreams and nightmares aren't as real as the here and now?'

~John Lennon, 1940-1980~

Well said John!!!