My Pay it Forward Pressie...

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This is the sweet little throw rug that Ande from Burger Six made for me as her Pay It Forward gift. She forgot to take a pic so I thought I'd post a pic on my blog.

I promise to have my PIF's in the mail by January 31st to complete my end of the bargain. My PIF recipients are Pip, Marcy and Picklesticks so keep a look out in your mail boxes for a surprise.
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I've been busy this morning, making the Vegeroni Bake, a glaze for our baked ham, a spice rub to go on 2 Beer Can Chickens and now I have to wrap 10 bottles of Champagne in cellophane and bows and write in cards for our staff. I have the washing machine going, my Christmas tunes blaring and a little elf (who's name happens to be Holly!) is cleaning the house so it's all good!
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It's lovely and cool outside after a disgusting day yesterday. I went to Mt. G shopping and my car registered the temperature outside as 45C!!! It had cooled down to 34C by the time I returned home. We had really strong winds in the evening before finally getting a spit of rain around midnight. There was a bushfire about 100kms away so I hope that was extinguished with the rain. It's been raining all morning here so that has washed all the dust away. I think the forecast for tomorrow is about 23C (72F) so it should be a pleasant day.
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Still lots of organising to do, tables to set, a fresh pine tree to trim with gold baubles and meat to cook. I have one more present to add to then wrap and I'm done! Phew!
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Cheers - Joolz

A busy Christmas Eve and Day....

I spent the night before Christmas Eve baking some cookies. These were wrapped and given to our friends. Gingerbread men, butter cookies and candy cane choc biscuits.

I got up at 4.30am on Christmas morning to lay the presents under the tree. I had them all hidden in a suit case which was locked with a combination lock so the girls couldn't get to the gifts!

This was the selection of salads and meats for Christmas day lunch. It was all very yummy.

This is my Mum serving the Christmas pudding that she makes each year. Her eldest grand-daughter Kirste is helping with the custard and cream. It was a good pud!

Here we are - my beautiful family!

My 4 sisters and my Mum.

(L to R) - Sue, Julie, Leanne, Janine & Marilyn,

& Dorothy

This picture shows all 5 girls on Christmas Day, 1964 when I was about 5 months old.

(L - R) - Sue, Marilyn, Janine, Leanne and me as baby. I still have the Noddy rubber doll that I am holding. I think Leanne still has that chimp toy too.

All sisters had to hand make something featuring 'fabric' - Leanne made this calendar holder featuring the above photo. I just love it!

Sue made this cute hand bag - I love the frayed ruffled trim. She is so clever.

Marilyn made pincushions and added some pearl headed pins, 3 tea-towels and a nice pair of knickers.....yep, all made of fabric!

In this photo, you can see the pot plant. Janine glued strips of material to the pot and then lacquered the pot with varnish. It is very effective and still made of fabric. Clever!

After lunch, Jason set up the "Slip n Slide" and the kids all had a ball, sliding around in the water. It was quite a warm day, about 28degsC.

....and finally, this funny old guy arrived with a sack full of lollies for the kids. There was great excitement when he came around the corner, ringing his bell and ho-ho-ho-hoing!

He made a grand departure on a mini 4-wheeler quad bike which had us all in fits of laughter!

Let's just say we had SNOW at our Christmas lunch!! *private joke*.

As you can see, we had a lovely time at my nieces. At about 2.45pm we packed up hopped in the car to drive all the way to Melbourne to be with "A's" family. Back soon with pics of the Boxing Day cricket.

Cheers - Joolz

Merry Christmas to all....

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

'A', myself, K18 and B15 will be joining my Mum and 4 sisters, their partners and some of my 10 nieces and nephews and their children for lunch at my neices - about 21 of us. For lunch we have cold meats - turkey, chicken, ham and pork with a variety of salads. Dessert is Mum's plum pudding, hot custard and cream or fruit salad & icecream.... or both! Yum!

My neice and her husband have a lovely big lawned area which they have been preparing as a tennis court, rolling it regularly and lines marked. That should provide some entertainment

in the afternoon. Father Christmas will make an appearance for the young ones, bringing lollies.

After that we are off to the cricket so...Come on Aussie, come on, come on!!

I'll see you when we get back - stay safe,

Love Joolz

A big weekend...

Kirby headed off to Victor Harbour for Schoolies last Saturday morning. With a Falcon Wagon laden with sleeping bags, mattresses, tent, food, hair straighteners, make-up and lots of munchies, she and 3 of her mates drove out the driveway with music blaring and laughter. The first night was quite cold and miserable but the second day picked up and they had fun... so I am told!!

Brianna looked gorgeous on Grad night too! She and her friend, Maddy, danced the night away!

My treasures!

On Sunday, I travelled to Adelaide with my two big sisters and my Mum, to attend a 60th Wedding Anniversary for my uncle and auntie - my Mum's brother and sister-in-law. It was a lovely celebration with their 4 children making speeches that made me teary, such is their love and appreciation for their parents. I met my cousin, who I hadn't seen for 35 years or more. She is 6 months older than me and is about to become a grandmother in January. I think I can wait a bit longer than that!! All in all, a great but tiring weekend. I'm glad we are all home safe and sound.

Next Saturday is Kirbz 18th Birthday so the partying continues! Yay?! We are having dinner at a pub on Saturday night then a casual barby lunch on Sunday for the rellies. I am working full time this week so I am going to be a busy girl.

Cheers - Joolz