Merry Christmas from Cattle and Cushions for 2013.
May 2014 be sensational for you all!
We did some family stuff on both sides in the lead up to Christmas, and hung out at my side of the family on the actual day. It was quite nice to not have to travel anywhere, and we have been pretty relaxed since the big family dinners are now over for another year.
Travelling was totally out of the question for us in the thick of these hot, dry times unless everyone came to us. And it was really nice to hang in the pool and lie about in the air-con for a few days. And it was too hot to do anything else anyway. Had a couple of days where it got to 40 degrees and the cold climate relatives could really feel the heat here.
I was lucky enough to score this gorgeous marble cheese board and beautiful bowls to go with it. I found the Brahman placed on there by the little one. He loves his farm set and he is always playing little games with trucks and animals.
Also scored some home grown organic garlic from my Sister-in-law. She has an amazing vegie patch at her house.
And the garlic is amazing!
Love my lights!
Everyone brought the food, and it was so amazing! Turkey, ham and salads were the order of the day. Too hot for a full hot lunch out here!
The younger kids had their own table.
I made half a ham just for us on Christmas Eve. It is a Bourbon glazed ham. Just so I don't have to cook for the next week or so. I predict in two more days everyone will start jacking up on another ham meal, so I am milking it as much as I can!
More ham anyone?
This was our esky after two days of solid Christmassing. It was chock-a-block when we filled it. I think we bought a bit too much grog, but New Year will soon be upon us anyway. Detox will be on it's way then when the guilt sets in!
Merry Christmas everyone and hope your holidays were full of food, fun and copious amounts of champagne!
I have been absent from the blog for a while and while I have wanted to post for a while, life gets in the way!
Here's some gratuitous orchid pics.....
I am really into these phalanopsis orchids at the moment. They last for months and look so stunning! They don't mind being dry in their pots so they are easy care too. I have them scattered all over my house. I bought a couple last year. One died, but I think it got too wet. I have not figured out the secret to get them to bloom again for the next year, but they are alive and healthy.
These ones I bought from Big W about a month ago. They don't always have them, so when they do I snap them up quick smart!
Anyone else an Phal orchid lover?
How did it come around so quick?
I am not really organised, and before I knew it, it is here!
The boys put up the Christmas tree and I have been going full Clark Griswold with the lights. I tried last year to do lights on my pergola, but I don't think I thought it through properly, as half of them fell down in the wind and I ended up with black electrical tape everywhere.
So this year I discovered cable ties. I know, how on earth did it take me so long? And I discovered that if they aren't long enough, you can add another one on so you get the right length - revolutionary!
The things you learn in the hardware shop!
I spent all of last night putting them up, I love them - just like my own little fairyland.
I only wish that I could finish painting the pergola, it is too hot now - will have to wait until next autumn. S
LED lights are amazing, and are low on power usage aren't they?
Our tree is one I bought when H was about 2. It has been fairly good, but the plastic needles are starting to fall off everywhere.
I'm not really into chopping down a tree just for Christmas. And our pine trees are a bit ratty with the dry anyway.
I have been making clay tags at my ceramics class lately, I made so many my tree has a lot of weight to hold with those tags. I hand stamped the paisley design on all of them. They are really easy to make, and I have loved doing it. Great for gifts too! I am adding one to my teacher gifts this year.
I made quite a few.
I sprayed a few gold, but the paint was rubbing off them a bit. I prefer them plain anyway - much more rustic, and they feel so nice in your hand. I made a few trees too, but were a bit annoying and fiddly to do. I prefer the circle tags.
The boys have made so many cute ornaments over the years, they love pulling them out and telling me when they made them and which teacher was there at the time. I really love them!
So there you go! Christmas is coming, tree and lights are up. Now to deep clean the house and get ready to have our Christmas lunch here. This is my first go at Christmas lunch for 17 of us - wish me luck, because I will need every bit of it.
Also, if you have any favourite recipes that feed a crowd, I'd love to see them.
I have been playing around on Pinterest lately and found this little bit of inspiration.
I love that the simplest of ideas can just work so well and are functional whilst looking cute too.
Sure beats a blackboard with chalk dust flying about! And I imagine it would be fairly easy to keep replacing the roll when you want to.
Imagine using it to write messages to your (older) kids, like a chore list they can do while you are out or at work. Handy for lots of mums! Or you could use it to write messages to your family outlining where everyone is, at what times, to keep track of it all. Perfect for busy homes with lots of sporting commitments!
Or you could just using it as a shopping list that everyone could add to as the kitchen runs out of things.
Although this is from a Cafe/Bar, and I imagine it would be used to write up the daily specials. I think it looks great for a rustic/industrial look kitchen.
Would you use this in your kitchen? Or do you think it could be a bit too rustic and over sized?
I have been rather slack on the blog front, I feel rather guilty for neglecting it so much. But life goes on, and we get busy with other things. And before I knew it it turned into October and the blog is the last job on the list of things to do.
I took some pics in the garden as the crab apple came into bloom. I love this blossom sprouting from the trunk.
I love spring and all the flowers it brings forth. But not the weeds.....
Black and green, I never get sick of that colour combo!
The archway was looking particularly green and fluffy. White Jasmine on this one.
We put a new fence up. And this is the top of the gorgeous old gate we are using as the entrance to the orchard.
The poddy calves won't be able to graze in my garden now with my new fence.
The avenue of Chinese Elms were looking pretty good after mowing under them, and a good prune...
I said goodbye to my pram. I loved this pram to bits! Bought it for my first baby H (who is now 11) and it has seen two more babies arrive after him, and it was time to go. Now that little N is 4 and a half - it was way past time.
I gave it to a friends who needed it for their first baby. I think they will love it just as much as I did. The suspension it has is amazingly smooth, and they are pretty expensive these days. Doubled in price since I bought this one.
Our new puppy Pete the Border Collie. He has fit in quickly after Ted. He is insanely keen to work. He will round up butterflies, birds, and kids. He hasn't been trained to work cattle of sheep yet, but he is showing lots of promise and enthusiasm.
Border Collies are so intelligent and active. I can't imagine anyone owning one in the city, they would go insane. Pete would anyway!
Finishing off with a purple sky the other night. Love this beautiful weather, it's perfect!
