Re-evaluating my life during the pandemic as thrown my blogging schedule off course, but I’m back to share what I’ve been up to over this festive season – my most favourite time of year!
I had the pleasure of hosting a couple of functions at my house during December. I wanted to have an Australian theme this time to celebrate how blessed the majority of us have been in this country throughout this difficult year. I’ve always wanted to tie foliage on the back of chairs and using eucalypts to do this was perfect for my theme. I mixed up some foraged Australian natives with some garden flowers in jam jars down the middle of the table. A white tablecloth and black ribbon and candles was a great contrast for the natives. I found some beautiful Australian botanical wrapping paper online, which I used to wrap the presents at each place setting. I wrote names on gum leaves with silver pen and attached them to each gift.
After these functions were over, we also hosted our annual hot chocolate party – the kids love this and enjoy inviting a few friends each. It’s a very easy and fun way to do some Christmas entertaining – a full description can be found in this previous blog post.
In other news, I made the three wise men from assorted furniture legs I found in Bunnings. I used permanent markers to mark out the features, but you could also use paint. A fun and satisfying project!
Lastly, I’ve enjoyed making some nasturtium flower vinegar for gifts. This is a beautiful colour and has a lovely peppery flavour, which is great on salads. The recipe can be found on the Milkwood site.
Well that’s it – a wrap up of my Christmas activities. I’m looking forward to celebrating that very special baby’s birthday with family and friends :
For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Merry Christmas to one and all!
Finally, the pièce de résistance, this beautiful cherry and lemon jelly (from the latest edition of Delicious magazine), which was my contribution to our delicious feast. It was all a lot of fun and I can’t wait until next year!
This is the second part of my post about our Christmas tree themed Christmas from last year. Last week I shared all the details about the food and today I’m sharing the table setting details. One of the fun things I like to do each year, is to make a special little present to put on the Christmas table for each person. For each of the female guests, I made the trees pictured above from vintage napkins I found in an op shop and cinnamon sticks.
For the boys I made cars in jars parked in the snow with mini Christmas trees strapped to the roof (pictured above). These were easy to make and a lot of fun to put together. The link to the tutorial I used is 
We managed to find some Christmas tree serviettes and I made little individual Christmas trees from old corks and rosemary sprigs to place at each table setting. The tutorial for making these is 
More Christmas decorating ideas coming next week!
“Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, please put a penny in the old man’s hat. If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do, if you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you”. I love the version of this song by Harry Belafonte and could listen to it on repeat over and over! Christmas is indeed coming and I’m ready to embrace it in all its exciting glory! I’m definitely not one of those people who roll their eyes when the first early signs of Christmas start to appear.
The lead up to Christmas is my favourite time of year – I love the sense of anticipation created by this special day. As we begin to feel weary and world worn as another year draws to a close, the hope created by the baby born in the stable so long ago quickens anew. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
I’m sharing these photos from our annual bookclub Christmas party which I host each year. Styling a Christmas table combines a few of my favourite things : Christmas, entertaining and decorating! I like to pick out a theme and decorate with that in mind. This year I was inspired by the seven swans a-swimming from the Christmas carol, The Twelve days of Christmas. The seven swans a-swimming are a reference to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and fear of the Lord), which are found in Isaiah 11:1-2.
I am indebted to the very creative people at 
It really is my favourite time of the year and not least because of that little baby born so long ago who brought good news that brings great joy for all of us.
