CHRISTMAS AT ANNE AND ROBERTS, and THEIR AMAZING CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

We thought our home looked special at Christmas Time but

Anne and Roberts home is extra , extra special !

They have an English Village spread all around the bottom of  their magnificent  Christmas Tree

A bowl  of punch never looked so good

12 of our good friends  ( 6 couples ) have been celebrating Christmas together - 2 weeks before Christmas - for over 20 years -

Always at Roberts and Annes because of their atmosphere, and the wonder of Christmas.
lf you weren't in  Christmas  Spirit,  you only have to visit them, and you would be
We organize the food, so that every body brings everything

 l took these photos at night in muted light, next year l'll take them in the day time.
As there are schools, and cafe's, and every thing you can think of !

AMAZING HAILSTORM HITS MELBOURNE CHRISTMAS DAY

We rang our Daughter, Grandson and Granddaughter Christmas Day and they were devastated.

They were in the middle of a freak hailstorm,with hail stones  bigger than golf balls,

They were busy blocking the holes in the 4 broken windows, to stop the rain coming in
My grandson said " Nana have a look at my Vlog tonight, as l have taken heaps of photos "

The photos below are the photos  l took off his Utube Video ( tannahtv )

They are not very clear, but they still tell a story
.

They rang that night, still getting over the shock of the hundreds of dents on their 2 cars.

Especially our Granddaughter,as she just loves her older Mercedes , called Buttercup

The back verandas roof cover, has many holes, where the hail stones went right through it

A Christmas Day to remember !

Quirky photo of the month

l like taking photos that aren't really important, but they really amuse me

The nice young couple at the end of our street have just had there 4th child.

Well. l think you can see from this photo they are still waiting for a boy.

pink, pink ,pink !

APRICOT JAM ( 2 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS )

ln Australia our beautiful Apricots and Cherry's are ready around Christmas Time.

l love apricots, hubby likes cherry's.

My apricots are ripe and guess what ? - it's 2 days before Christmas.

Thank God it's only 25% as it can get very hot at this time of the year.

Time to make my -- "APRICOT JAM " 

Actually l cut them up the night before ( but only leave about 12 apricot kernels in, -
( it helps to set them )

l bring them to the boil in a large boiler, and simmer on low for about 1 hour.

The next morning l reheat them again, and slowly add the sugar - lb to lb

The boiler held 6 lb of apricots,

l added 6 lb of sugar, 

Simmer for another hour, after it has reached the boil 

Take from the stove, and if you wish, use a potato masher to mash them more.

Put a little on a saucer to test if it's set

Pour into jars really hot

l like to seal mine with wax

Melt this container of wax on the stove in a saucepan and pour on a thin layer on top of jam

This seals it and the jam doesn't go mildewed .

While the wax sets, l wash the dishes as they get very sticky, and then l do some art work on the labels

So, - it doesn't look very arty ! - remember it is only 2 days before Christmas, crikey its a wonder l remembered to put the sugar in..

Now it's time to put the clear tops on, and then a rubber band

ln a bowl, place a little white vinegar and wipe one side of the clear cellophane

Place on top of jar and push around, place rubber band on top

Now the fun part - putting labels on the jars, and bonnets with ribbons on top.

Thank heavens the other apricots aren't ripe yet, more jam in another week.

l  forgot ! l think this is important !

l now put all my jam making stuff in a large ice-cream container, - even the colour pencils.

They are up in the high cupboard, in the kitchen with the jam jars, and other stuff l haven't used for over 10 years.

TRIVIA -SOME DO'S and DONT'S

l think this is a definite DON"T

Don't play leapfrog with a Unicorn !

Don't forget your twin sisters birthday 

Don't panic if your birthday cake collapses under the weight of the candles

Don't panic if the bird singing outside your window is a vulture

Also, if you walk to work and find your dress or skirt  tucked into the back of your knickers,
Maybe if they were behind you, they haven't seen your face 


lt is also worry if !
The gleam in your eye, is from the sun hitting your bifocals

You turn out the lights for economic reasons, rather than for the feeling of romance

You sit in a rocking chair, and you just can't get it going

Why don't slugs and snails eat weeds ?
Why do kamikaze pilots wear crash helmets ?
And why is it -that every time your favourite song comes on the radio, you have reached your destination !
enough -  l'm giving myself a headache -

REMEMBER MY 7 FOOT 2 INCH SANTA STOCKING ?

l wrote a blog recently, about my 7 ft. 2 inch Santa Stocking.

He was about to be thrown out, and my son saved him.

After all he was over 30 years, and once was much loved by the town, but of course new people take over and every thing old is thrown out.

He is now in our lounge room, and is now our family heirloom.

My grandchildren love him, and he is slowly filling up with Christmas Presents

14 more days until Christmas. l think l am just as excited as the children

Our big Santa plus -

a few more Santas in this room !