OPAM (One Project a Month) December...

Here is the last for OPAM for 2011...

2 items this time...

A Volkswagen Combi Cushion especially for JoJo...

Pattern is 'big camper' by Hot Possum and fabric is 'Now We're Goin' Places' by Monica Lee 

for Timeless Treasures...

I even did the applique with my machine...and this was a first for me...

Back of the cushion...this is the first time I have attempted buttonholes with my machine...

so easy!!!  I'm ready for more ha ha...

Even had some VW buttons by Nikki Tervo waiting for something special like this...

Front of cushion...

and back...

and a little cross stitch for JoJo...

she just loves Santa so this was quite apt for the occasion...

only thing is...I have had it for 2 years...

Thank you so much to Peg and Kris for hosting OPAM for another month...

I know that I wouldn't have finished a lot of what I have!!!

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!!!

Red Moon Rising......and some very kind words whilst visiting Santa with JoJo

Last Saturday night we were treated to a Red Moon Rising...

and wow, what a treat it was to see...

I thought I would grab my camera and shoot away...

and these are the results...

pretty cool eh!!!!!

Almost looks like a face here......

This morning we took JoJo in to do her Christmas shopping...

she saw Santa there and wanted to go up to him and have a 'chat'...

she was quite excited by all this...

After waiting in line...there were small children there and she was very patient...

the lady took her photo and while we were looking at which one to choose she turned around and said to me.....'you are doing a wonderful job'.....

this completely threw me and brought tears to my eyes...

It made me really stop and think and realize......

it really is the simple things that can just bring joy........JoJo seeing Santa,

and those few words by the lady who was encouraging children to smile for their photo with Santa...

I will remember this for a long time...probably every time we see Santa...

and brings to mind...Stop and smell the roses!!!!