Its beginning to look alot like Christmas...

Sunday morning we were up bright and early...well early anyway...5am!!
Heading to Sorrell Market to hopefully by some well priced books from Duncan the Just tassie Books man...Unfortunately the weather had other ideas..
As we drove through town we could see the mountain had a good dusting of snow...and it was chilly!!

On the way to Sorrell...we travelled new territory...interesting but a bit bleak...the two causeways we crossed were quite spectacular.

Arriving at the Market site about 6.30am and the we managed to select about 2 boxes of books before the clouds rolled in and the icy rain began to fall. We abandoned Duncan leaving him to decide if he'd set up his stall for the day and risk more rain...
Saw a very Christmassy house on our way out of Sorrell..

Beautiful hay rolls in paddocks we passed.

Back home to cygnet for Market day there. John and I had a Nanna nap then decided to light the fire in the shop and open the doors.
Thomas had a great time trawling the stalls as usual and came back with some delightful purchases...a jar of lollies!!! and a reindeer he couldn't resist..(I think the stallholders see him coming and rub their hands together in delight)
We had many people dropping in for a look and to warm up by the fire..
Sold a few books and a number of toys went as people did a bit of Christmas shopping.
By the afternoon after closing, we were all feeling a bit worn. John had a snooze while Tom and I made gingerbread dough...

Then I had a flop too. Tom wrote some Christmas cards for friends then just lay about...

The 2nd big star went up on our Advent window display...2nd Sunday of Advent!
Monday and the weather wasn't a whole lot warmer...

We lit the fire again then got to work with orders...quite busy...
By lunchtime I was feeling decidedly cold and unwell ...had a wonderful soup from Lotus eaters to warm up...Yummy.
After delivering post up the street and closing up for the day I crashed into bed and slept the rest of the afternoon away.
Tom went off to Scouts and had a fun night of games and stories. The boys fended for themselves having a dinner of bread and cheese..

Tuesday and the sun was shining bright. The Christmas tree looked lovely in the morning sunlight.

I felt alot better and after morning chores made up a quick chocolate cake for Christmas "puddings". Tom enjoyed usual story time with John...with the extra pleasure of a bowl of chocolate cake mix to lick.

Our plants are loving the rain and sun combo...the Calendula is sprouting!!

We had another enjoyable day at work. Had a visit from a mum from school whose daughter Emma is in Tom's class. She hapily breastfed her baby while her other 2 littlies played with the toys...really lovely...we want people to come an enjoy the space in the shop and use it like a loungeroom..I took a photo of Chloe on Snowy!!

I went over to Tom's class for craft. Worked with a relief teacher named Kate and Sharon. We made angel decorations today and glittered cards ready for rudolf decorations (the old hand/feet print card!! an oldie but a goody!). Good fun.
The afternoon was so lovely we decided to go up on the hill to test drive out tent...(well at least the putting up of it anyway).

The cows were very curious and vocalised their worries about a flapping object in their midst...

Once the tent was down the cows lost interest in us.

The boys decidied it would be wise to do a it of a thistle hunt and sure enough...they had plenty of 'chipping' to do.

The boys heading down to bottom paddock

Through the marsh reeds

You can just make out the boys to the right of this magnificent tree (named "mum's tree")

Wednesday and the morning was fairly quiet. I took off at lunchtime to go in to Hobart and do some Christmas shopping. Had an enjoyable afternoon as I now have a pretty good feel for where things are. Had a lovely drive home having a long talk with Jess...catching up on'wedding' and America trip news.

Tom was home from school when I arrived so we got stuck into making chocolate Christmas puddings...licking the bowl is always the best!!

Tom planned to take them in to school as a Christmas treat for his class.

I went for an evening walk around town ..more Christmas decorations going up...

Thursday morning and St James looked so stunning in the early morning light as I set out on my walk.

It was a beautiful morning..

View out the back of flat- over garage roof

Another busy day with orders and customers. We had a visit from a Dr who works at Melbourne Therapy Centre..He has been prescribimg our medicines and was very impressed to meet John and learn more about the process of how the medicines are made..very interesting..
After school, Thomas went to Balfour House to do art with Judy. He painted a mask and enjoyed the banter with Judy while she created various mask designs fort the Folk Festival in January..
When he came home Tom helped me finish baking and decorating the gingerbread biscuits..

I went for an evening walk up the hill behind the school. A great view.

Friday morning I set out walking to Martin's point for a change. I met up with my friends Bonnie and Clyde...

Clyde is a lovely fellow..always ready to have a yarn..He and his wife have moved here from WA to be near their daughter. Bonnie is his pride and joy...a beautiful kelpie/collie cross.

We enjoyed a very warm day...about 24 degrees...cool in the shop though.
The weather built up and by 4pm we had a thunderstorm come through...almost like Sydney...but Ben the butcher told me a cold chane is due next week so we might be lighting the fire again...
John and Tom took the last of the post up, just before the rain fell...

Then Ryan arrived to spend the next hour or so discussing the details of our house plan on the hill..Very exciting...
We are off on an adventure tomorrow in search of Hypericum. We will leave at first light and head north of the island and explore. Hoping to camp at the Bay of Fires tomorrow night...if not too wet..