A Year Ago...

 

hello again!

 

christmas has come and gone for another year...

it's that wonderful inbetween week.

it's a relief that christmas was peaceful

&

that we were able to take the time and enjoy each other's company

&

enjoy the preparations this year...

even though the day itself was stinking hot

&

by afternoon, after lunch we were all having nana naps...

totally zoned out.

 

i was brought back to reality by a phone call from family in nz...

it was nine at night there,

three hours ahead of us

and i had forgotten to ring them...and i think they were ready for bed!

 

i have been quietly reading about all your fantastic celebrations

and enjoying them all.

 

 

well, a year ago...

 

 

mr w and i and our son {no 3 son, below in the photo} phil were in taiwan.

 

 

 

steve {no 1 son } & amy were getting married...

 happy first anniversary to you both!

 

 

 

 

 

interestingly this celebration was just for the 'westerners'...

they had been officially married in a celebrant's office beforehand.

that morning there was a formal ceremony at the bride's house

where her parents 'gave' her to steve

and he had successfully answered the questions asked of him

by amy's family and friends.

 

at this ceremony

when they both vowed before God to take care of each other

&

then celebrated with us all at the reception.

 

that night,

on new year's eve

we were able to view the new year's arrival..of 2012,

from amy's work's roof

which had a fabulous view of the taipei 101's fireworks...

 

 

 

 

 

the start of a new year brings hope...

what are you believing for in the new year?

 

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

p.s..amy & steve are expecting a baby boy at the end of may!

 

 

 

 



About Christmas...

 

a big fat christmas hug to you all!

 

i've been waiting to find an excuse for a bit of nigella lighting...

and christmas is that opportunity!

 

 

 

 

{i've been admiring her lit up pantry shelves for months.}

 

i love having the excuse to buy gifts...

 

to eat the sweet delights i've fasted from over the last three months...

 

to have my mr w home for two weeks

&

as much of the family around as is possible these days.

 

as has already been said 'presence is much more important than presents'.

 

 

but there is a Presence

that puts purpose and perspective into the celebration of christmas

for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

but have

 

 

...this says it all for me.


wishing you and your family

a thoroughly blessed and abundant

Christmas...

with heaps of fun, friendship and family

&

a peaceful, prosperous and joy filled

year to come!


xx  xx
xxxxxxx
xxx
x


i'll be back in the new year,
but will probably visit you between now and then
if you're around.


naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Little Things Count...

 

good morning!

 

 

the christmas masterplan is all sorted...

the menu is planned and the short ribs ordered,

the turkey and ham are sourced.

the salads are decided,

the cooks have been put on contract...

the desert queen has relented to make trifle, choc marshmallow pud and tiramisu!

 

{rose & i made pompoms the other day...one for the cat & one for the tree}

 

the tree is up and trimmed,

the prezzies bought and wrapped,

we're down to the details...

 

and little things count.

 

p.s this is the sideboard i want to paint..but haven't got 'round to it yet

 

 

like dusting off the sideboard,

making room for our daughter's card from canada...

{and yay! it's got lights!}

a couple of sweet deer

&

some washi taped jars...

to be filled with christmas treats.

 

 

 

simple & effective,

just a few little things.

 

what are you working on now?

 

 

have an especially nice day today!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 



A Comfortable Place...

 

good afternoon!

 

it's so good to be sitting here again.

i've really missed you...

i know it's really only been a few days

but i love to get on here daily or at least every couple of days

and visit you all,

scattering comments like confetti,

laughing with you,

concerned for you and your families...maybe even shooting up a prayer...

or just quietly smiling as i read about your day.

 

 

this afternoon

i've realised that i feel relaxed here.

i can chat to you

and know that i've got a friend in you...

it is a comfortable place.

 

 

 

 

i've tried to be here this week

but i melted.

that day it was thirty nine degrees celsius here

and i could barely read my emails before finding a fan

in a cooler room!

 

 

i've still got a tiny bit of gift shopping to do

&

then i've really got to make out the lengthiest grocery list i'll have all year.

i think i'll take some strong men with me to help!

 

these delightfully wrapped gifts from giveaways at chantille-fleur

 

 

 

and bron@ taylor made arrived this week...

{thank you so much!}

 

 

 

and i know just what i'm going to do with them.

 

 

 

sarah jane's sweet presents are off to a three year old in cairns...far north queensland

&

bron's hand dyed pretty pink doilies are going to be attached to some more tiny totes

... all in good time.

 

 

wishing you all the cheeriest pre christmas week!

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 



Tree Trimming & Wrapping!

 

good afternoon!

 

the tree is trimmed

&

presents wrapped...

 

 

 

well, mostly anyway.

 

i got up early this morning

&

while it was still cool

&

most were sleeping

i assembled a cupcake wrapper garland for the tree.

 

 

 

then trotting back and forth

to the christmas boxes

slowly the tree looked sparkley and pretty.

 

 

 

i can see a bit of a green gap in the middle there,

though the tree looks better from the front but the light wasn't as good from there.

 

i may add a few more decorations

in the next few days,

i've still got some fimo to play with.

 

 

 

 

after breakfast

i started wrapping...

and wrapped...

went out for coffee with a friend...

came home and wrapped again.

 

i've still a few more to buy...

then i'll wrap again!

 

how about you?

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 

 



My Real Christmas Tree!

 

hi!

 

 

are you diving into your christmas 'to do' list?

 



two days ago

i would have said

i was dipping my toes into it...

messing around at the edge of my christmas preparations.

 

yesterday

i launched into my christmas shopping with gusto!

three fifths done..yay!

 

 

now the tree,

that was a different matter...

in fact it's two trees..hehe!

 

the tree that was supposed to be full and seven feet high ...

was promised for yesterday.

 

three times

we went to the shop

and were met with reasons why the tree hadn't travelled up the highway yet.

at 6.30 pm last night

after being reassured that it indeed was on it's way

we asked them to put it in a tub of water

and keep it 'til morning.

 

 

this morning

it was there.

 

i think the lady must have seen my face drop with disappointment

at seeing the trees.

they were lean and lanky.

she sold me an extra one for five dollars

so i could tie them together to look fuller.

 

when max {our wildly furry friend in the photo}
saw them he was so excited that i decided to make the most of them
&

love them too.

 

they will scent the house with pine

...and give us real pine needles to sweep up each day..{hehe!}

..and i will decorate them with homemade cupcake bunting

and other delights.

 

 

however...
even though decorating the trees
will wait another day,
the washing up will not.

i can still plan and dream though
even when my hands are wrist deep in suds!

i hope your christmas plans
are coming on a treat...

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Zig Zag Bag!

 

hello!

 

do you remember what my goals were for last saturday?

well i really didn't expect that you would

after all i can hardly remember that far back myself!

 

 

 

i wanted to sew the 2 cushions for miss a's 'being renovated' room...tick!

i also wanted to finish the last of 3 bags for ms d...haha..now it's a tick for that as well...

{...and the apron..well i cut that out just this morning!}

my list is nearly done.

 

this is my 'zig zag bag'

the last of three bags for ms d...

 

 

 

i love the way the zig zags make other geometric forms

when two bits of zig zag meet.

 

 

 

 

last year was so busy and emotionally fraught

as we tried to get ready for the wedding in taiwan

that i can't really even remember enjoying the lead up to christmas.

 

this year i am having a good time.

 

 

i am enjoying all of the end of year parties...

i've loved picking out funny presents for my daughter & partner in canada

and wrapping and sending off their parcel...

i'm loving sewing a few presents for other people to give at christmas...

 

&

 

i'm going to enjoy decorating a real christmas tree this year.

this morning i found a sign outside a local fruit & veg shop...

 

real

christmas trees

$15

 

yay!

i was beginning to think it wasn't going to happen.

well maybe this wednesday there will be a delivery

and i will have an 8 foot high

real christmas tree in my lounge room...

but

i will try not to 'count my chickens'

just in case.

 

i can't wait for that piney christmas tree scent to bring pure joy to my nostrils!

 

are you enjoying the christmas season

this year?

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

p.s...the little red card at the top was in my kikki.k box of goodies delivered this morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Going Postal!

 

ready!

 

 

 

 

set!

 

 

 

 

 

go!

 

go! go! go!

 

for christina's ornament swap.

 

 

have you posted yours?

 

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 



Red.

 

hi!

 

meet red.

 

red the gingerbread man...

 

 

red is a gingerbread man with plenty of bling!

 

 

 

he's a blingin' red head.

 

 

 

here's his dog...

red dog.

 

 

they've been hanging around together

ever since they were stitched up!

 

 

 

red the gingerbread man & red the dog

are part of the christmas ornament swap

@ christinalowry designs.

 

they'll be posted off to their new home

by the end of the week.

 

thanks so much for all your kind comments

...i'm feeling much better now...

and i'm sure it's because of all the love you sent to me!

 

many hugz to all of you...

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 

 



Retro Christmas Fabric!

 

good morning!

today is our 35th wedding anniversary!!

when reading 'small acorns' post today
i was reminded that it was 'guy fawke's day' in new zealand on that day...
except that it was a saturday in 1977.

our reception was held in my parent's back yard
and we did have fireworks...rockets and sparklers and the whole deal!
i was nineteen and mr w was twenty one...
i don't think either one of us thought we'd ever get this far..hehe!

i still have the wedding cards i received,
i'll have to dig out the best of them and show you...
you'll have a good laugh!

 

 

 

last week i bought a metre of retro christmas fabric

from tanya @ suburban jubilee.

 

 

 

 

it arrived on friday.

it is light but has a great barkcloth texture

the gold is glorious and the colours perfect.

i think it must have been made in the fifties..maybe early sixties.

 

 

 

 

i've been thinking all weekend

about what to make with it.

 

my first thought was cushions

but then thought i don't want them ending up on the floor,

the fabric is too precious.

so i've been thinking of a table runner...

or one for my sideboard...

or perhaps placemats...

or even frame some of it for a christmas picture.

 

what would you do with it?

 

 

it's fun just thinking about it!

 

have a magical monday...

 

naturally Carol xox

 

 

 

 

 

btw...if you get in quick you can have some...

i checked this morning and there was some left in tanya's shop on her blogsite...

$7 metre + postage = it's a steal!

 



A Little Bird Told Me...

 

 

...that there will be an

 

'ornament swap'

 

this year!

 

 

 

are you interested?

 

i am

&

i've signed up at christina's blog to enter!

 

 

isn't it a great idea?

 

thanks christina.

 

go over here and sign up now

'cos entries close on october 21...so we only have a week,

but we have until the end of november to make and post it.

 

 

these pics are off our 2010 black and white tree;

we normally have another pine with coloured ornaments too.

 

this year i would love to have a real tree though...

what are you planning?

or is it too far ahead yet to have thought anything?

last year we were preparing for our son's wedding in taipei

and didn't really celebrate much at all..it was too close and too stressful.

i'm looking forward to a christmas at home this year

with a few handmade goodies to boot.

 

i can't wait to see what everybody makes...

i can't wait to see what i come up with, come to think of it,

hopefully inspiration will hit.

 

all the best

 

naturally Carol xox

 



Merry Christmas!

wishing you all a...

blessed & merry

christmas!

whether you pop in occasionally or often...

thank you!

i haven't got my own computer back yet,

won't have it replaced or fixed until the end of january

after i get back from no. 1 son's wedding in taiwan,

so 

i wish you all a very merry christmas

from the bottom of my heart!

i will pop in and cruise around the blogosphere when i can this week

and may comment at random...

but am signing out here for a month...

i love your friendship

so i'll be around 

and see you back here

in the new year!

happy new year...

naturally Carol xox

Glad Tidings of Great Joy ~ Christmas 2010...

we

wish you

a merry Christmas

2010

open your Christmas card...here

(sound on!)

have a wonderfully blessed and joyful Christmas day!

naturally Carol xxoxx

Christmas Eve...A Son Was Given...

amazing, wasn't it?

that God gave His Son to be on earth...

little and vulnerable

for us!





Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

to all bloggers everywhere!!!

may Joy and Peace join you

in celebrating this season of Love...

the Love of God giving His only Son to the world

as a baby...

that men should not die...but have eternal Life!!!

give generously...

receive graciously...

in the true spirit of Christmas!!

 

 

 

with love from me and my family

 

naturally Carol xox