Merry Christmas friends and family!

Today is boxing day and I am feeling a little tired after another late evening spent with our neighbours'. I feel like curling up on the sofa and finishing my book this afternoon. I am reading The Quickie by James Patterson, a thriller which I am enjoying but never seem to have enough time to read more than a few pages every few days. This means that I forget what I have read and have to go back a page or two for a re-cap, so I am taking forever to finish it!
The last mail delivery on the 24th brought a surprise parcel from my blog/flickr/etsy friend Kat, (Secrets of a butterfly) over in Newcastle. I opened it on Christmas morning and found 3 pretty Cath Kidston soaps for Jemma, Amber and I, nicely presented in a red organza bag with the cutest Belle and Boo tag! It was so sweet and unexpected.
Christmas eve was lovely, we meandered over to the Dupuis' house next door in the early evening, ate, drank and chatted for hours. They all came over to us on Christmas day for more festivities. We also watched the movie The Holiday, which I had seen before but it was the perfect day to watch it and I think it's a great feel good Christmas dvd.
I got some special gifts from my family, beautiful hand made items from the girls and a spa/beauty voucher from my hubby! I also got the warm pj's and fluffy socks and watched plenty of smiling faces throughout the day. Keriann, as I suspected had made a pretty Christmas heart which looks perfect on the tree amongst all my other Scandinavian decorations.

Archie loved his new bed (an igloo style) and was curled up in it fast asleep within a couple of minutes, after playing with the wrapping paper! He remained there for the rest of the day. He is so happy now that the snow has MELTED (typical on Christmas day!) This morning he was keen to get outside and go investigating the newly revealed green grass which has been buried under snow for a few weeks. Having said that we now have another weather warning, predicting about 20cm's of snow tonight. I will try to remember to take a photo of the lounge tomorrow to add to this post.

Thursday 27th - photos added above and below of the lounge. Hazel xx

Happy Holidays!

Mid morning on Saturday and I am all alone as Craig and the girls have gone into his office to do some secret 'stuff' before Christmas.

Feeling a little tired after a late, but fun evening, which consisted of Craig's office Christmas party followed by a visit to our friends up at the lake.
I was so excited when a parcel arrived this week from my good friend Keriann all the way from New Zealand! The parcel included a lovely letter, a couple of local newspapers from the village of Havelock North, where I used to live. Also some pretty tissues from Cath Kidston and cute Christmas napkins (pictured above), which I love. The little tissue wrapped surprise has gone under the tree to be opened on the 25th. Such a thoughtful friend who knows my taste exactly. Very sweet Cath Kidston tissues sitting amongst my cookie cutters!
Christmas eve is just around the corner and we will be visiting our next door neighbours for the evening. We all get on so well as families, it does help that the children are the same age. Of course just being a stones throw away it certainly has its advantages at this time of year especially. The snow is still quite deep and the temperatures below freezing almost every day.
Archie our cat is a bit depressed, which I may have mentioned before? He sits looking out of the window with such a forlorn look on his face and is not eating very much. Occasionally he will venture outside a few feet away from the back door, only to do a swift about turn and come rushing indoors with his 'crazy wild cat look'
My shopping is all done and hidden away, with just the wrapping and labelling to do. Lots of small gifts as usual, to compensate for having no relatives around. Each year I get more nervous of getting it right as far as gifts are concerned, anyone with teenage children can relate I am sure to the ever changing fashions and trends, this weeks purple could be next weeks red! I hold on to all my receipts very carefully, just in case :)
My own wish list for material presents this year reads as follows; warm pj's, warm sweaters, warm fluffy socks, warm gloves, warm..... Actually I will be happy just to see happy faces on the day and get a few hugs from my family (even if some of them are only on facebook)
Sunday evening.
I decided to paint the lounge :) A sort of spur of the moment thing! It got finished this afternoon with Craig's help and I am really pleased with it. Previously the wall were a dark dusky pink which was ok, but looking at it for our third winter I decided a change was due. Now a warm cream with just enough contrast against the white ceiling. No longer confined to having pink soft furnishings I can make some nice new cushions for the spring. No photo to show yet as it is now too dark.Happy Christmas!Hazel xx

A white Christmas perhaps?

Some re-vamped Christmas decorations.
The snow is still lying on the ground and it looks like this year we may well have a 'White Christmas'. After the two previous winters we have pretty much adapted to having heaps of snow fall on our doorstep, although according to the locals, we haven't seen a 'proper' Canadian winter yet! We did get snowed in last Tuesday and the girls had their first 'snow day' so were thrilled to bits to have an unexpected day at home.
Last weekend was a busy one and included a get together with some friends on Saturday evening where there was even some dancing! Well, just us girls, I had great fun as I haven't moved to music (out in public) for quite a while.
Ladies having fun on the dance floor!
Our Christmas tree has been decorated by my two little helpers and it looks lovely in front of the picture window in the parlor.The photo at the top of this post is of some tired looking doves which were a faded gold colour and are now painted white, the little birds along with some felt snowflakes are this year's new decorations, which are dotted around the downstairs rooms. This is a pic of Jemma's chandelier (mentioned in a previous post) She bought it with her saved up pocket money during our trip to Boston. It comes from a shop called Urban Outfitters. A sort of contemporary meets traditional look in her bedroom.
I have been feeling festive all week because of the snow everywhere, people dressed in wooly hats and scarfs running in and out of shops with rolls of wrapping paper and fresh green wreaths. The decorations look lovely down the streets and Christmas music everywhere.
It's early Sunday morning and I am the only one up and about, the fire is already roaring and a pot of fresh coffee is brewing :D
Hazel x