Rummage

I've got a feeling we're on the cusp of a great year.
A very happy new year to you and all the lovely people in your life!
xxx

We are off to the coast for a lazy, surfside Christmas with my family. I wanted to thank you for coming here sometimes and reading my waffle and to wish you a great festive season. Whatever your creed and wherever you are in this big complex world of ours, enjoy a joyous, peaceful and creative Christmas and New Year.

Much love,
Nanette
xxx

PS This wreath is actually semi-composted sugar-snap peas from my garden. A super fast, last minute Christmas decoration if you've got some odd bits of vegetation floating around.

Be well.
xo

This is the cake that I built.

This is the Frenchman who cut the cake that I built.

This is the knife that belonged to the Frenchman who cut the cake that I built.

This is the wife (stroppy and cross) who demanded the knife that belonged to the Frenchman who cut the cake that I built.

This is the neighbour (elderly and frail) for whom said cake was meant for which reason the wife was stroppy and cross and demanded the knife that belonged to the Frenchman who cut the cake that I built.

xx

PS Thanks so much for the wonderful advice in comments and emails about the stuttering. You people are the best, and if I had a few ponies spare I'd be sending them your way too!
xxxx

How are you travelling in the midst of the silly season? Well? I hope so.

Me? I'm up to my elbows in cubby colour schemes. The small people have been swept off to their Grandparents' and the Frenchman and I are attempting to build them a teeny-tiny house of their very own in the backyard.

We only have a couple of days and in typical style are at loggerheads on the overall design aesthetic. He's all about Bauhaus Form Follows Function with the occasional gothic flourish. I'm thinking rustic beach cottage. By 5 o'clock this afternoon we were both ready to head to Bunnings for a plastic pre-fab horror and then find the nearest pub for a consolation tequila. Despite the temptation, we soldiered on and think the walls might be up tomorrow. I'll take some photos when it's presentable.

Also, does anyone know anything about stuttering in young children? My two year old has, within the space of a week, developed a heavy stutter. I have read somewhere that bilingual children can sometimes have issues with stuttering. At this stage I am loath to see a speech pathologist because my gut feeling is that it will pass as her language acquisition slows to a more steady pace. Any thoughts? They would be most welcome.
xx

I hope you have a wonderful, champagne-filled weekend!
xx

I love a Christmas carol. I may be one of the few people who enjoys hearing carols in the supermarket in September. This may be commercialism at it's worst but it still puts a bounce in my step.

So without further ado, and in no particular order, I give you my top ten favourite carols of the moment:

1. Merry Christmas Baby - Otis Redding
2. The Christmas Bug - Daddy Cool
3. Silver Bells - Booker T and the MG's
4. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
5. Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing - Sufjan Stevens
6. Mr Grinch - Aimee Mann
7. Christmas Wrapping - The Waitresses
8. White Christmas - Otis Redding
9. Christmas in New York - The Pogues & Kirsty MacColl - I hear you Helen!
10. 2000 Miles - Merrie Amsterburg (although Chrissie Hynde in the original is hard to beat)

What are your favourites?
x

Christmas parties are a great excuse for dress-ups. I was op-shopped to the hilt here in a $10 pair of boots and a $4.00 dress. The dress is a cracker but I was three sheets to the wind and the photos are too blurry.

How is your festive season?
xxx

I had absolutely nothing to do with this. It's a portrait of the small person's teacher, destined to be a part of her Christmas present. If I can bear to part with it, that is.