4th week of Advent and CHRISTMAS!!!

Sunday is quite a mild morning..
We enjoy breakie together then make preparations for visitors...Kimberley, Jamie and girls Emma and Georgie plus Jaimie's mum Pam and partner Robin. They are travelling down from up near Launceston to visit us...so exciting.
John helps Alex set up his awning and vege stall then I do a bit of vege shopping .
Our visitors arrive at about 11ish and we have a wonderful time catching up over morning tea..

 

We decide to take them up to Wattle Grove and have a walk around.. Delightful to be able to show them our place. A really wonderful visit enjoyed by all.

We tidy up then have a snooze when we get home...
I do some shopping in preparation for the next few days...we have a cuppa then head out for a walk ...the golf course circuit. Its surprisingly warm  having probably reached the predicted 29 degrees by now..We really should have brought water to drink.

 

 

 

Tom has a climb of a few trees along the way..but drags his heels a bit on the home run...thirsty and tired...
A big drink of water and a shower help him recover.
We have a simple pasta meal and I make a start on the Russian Beetroot Salad for Christmas eve...
After dinner Hannah and I take a walk back up to the golf course as I think my face cream fell out of my pocket as we lay on the grass watching Tom climb trees... Its a very pleasant temperature outside now and we have a lovely walk and talk....(and I find my cream too)..
We light our Advent candle and marvel at the sight of the scene filled with all manner of minerals, plants, animals and people.
After a quiet cuppa on the back step enjoying the evening light and breezes....Hannah and I enjoy a cuppa watching the Christmas episode of Downton Abbey...

Christmas Eve...is a grey morning but pleasant out.. I set up books on the table again and re-arrange the window...opening the doors at 8.30am ..
There are orders to do and emails to respond to...and I am busy all morning.
John presses a tincture and gets on with other work.
Tom and Hannah do Christmas things...writing cards and making salads, doing some shopping. They go down to Community garden to help Laura and Liz move the chooks..(in the rain).
Tom drops off Christmas cards to businesses around town...good fun.
We have a stream of customers (many of them locals) throughout the day...buying last minute Christmas gifts...books, creams , soft toys etc...
Rob (from the post office) comes down with flowers and a box filled with Lisa's Christmas cake to thanks us for our business this year....really lovely.

While Hannah and I get coffee from Lotus...John has an elderly lady in who wants an unsigned copy of Matthew Evans' book. She has just seen him working in the butcher and hopes to get him to sign the book. We don't have any unsigned copies...but John goes up to ask Matthew if he'd mind coming down to personally inscribe the book for her. He graciously agrees and makes the lady's day...(a very kind, generous response given he has been working flat out since early hours preparing food for the 'Taste" Food festival in Hobart from Dec 28-Jan 3.)
Things quieten off about 3pm..and the rain looks threatening again...Lets hope it clears again by tonight.
There is a last minute run of Christmas shoppers before we close up..
We enjoy our Christmas eve salad early so Hannah ,Tom and I can go to 6pm Christmas Eve Mass.

The church is full and there is a delightful Nativity play for the gospel..
Tom ducks out early so John can get him up to the Oval in readiness for the Christmas Pageant.
The evening cools off but the rain stays away...
The parade is wonderful... Tom is very pleased to be in the lead float with the Port Cygnet Scouts.. John even walks in the parade behind the scouts!! Lots of fun...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The floats all end up in the carpark and we stand on the hill watching the fun and listening to the Jazz band on one of the floats (Tom runs about with his friends)

We head home when the parade moves off...its getting cold out anyway..
After a cuppa and some Susi Chocolate cake..we open the traditional present of choice from under the tree...
We prepare the Advent scene for the overnight arrival of the Christmas Angel and the Christ child...
Tom goes to bed with John not far behind. Hannah and I see out the Carols by Candelight on tele...then off to bed.

Christmas morning...HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL...Tom is up at 6am to show us the beautiful mineral that was left in his sack by the Christkindli.

He makes a cup of tea for me and one for Hannah...then its up and into the presents....a fun morning..
Breakie...more pressies and family phone calls and its not even 9.30 yet!!
Very special to have Hannah with us this year...

Lovely card from Tom...

John Tom and Hannah make a start on assembling the Intelliscope that John has bought for Tom (and himself).

I enjoy a look through the beautifully illustrated 1894 copy of Pride and  Prejudice John has given me...along with two very detailed fashion history books..

 

 

We have a non-traditional Christmas lunch of quince glazed lamb, baked locally grown kipfler potatoes and baby carrots and beans in almond mustard dressing..followed by Raspberry trifle...Yummy.

After lunch we each read aloud a short Christmas themed story/poem..lovely.
Then its snooze time..
Hannah and I have a walk down towards the Sailing Club while the boys read..

Then its back to Telescope assembling...and I do a bit of sewing.

We have a casual dinner  and Tom enjoys looking at the moon and finding stars...
I'm glad to head to bed by 9.30 and leave the others to their astronomical observing...

Boxing day is a grey but mild morning..
John makes a Copper ointment ready for us to fill and pack first thing tomorrow for a big order to go to Taiwan.
We potter about doing a few chores etc then head to Hobart about 10ish.
We do a walk along Salamanca Place then along the dock enjoying looking at the Sydney to Hobart preparations.. We have a second breakfast at T42 degrees on Elizabeth Pier..thinking we will just have time to get Hannah to the airport....then she gets a text to say her flight is delayed 90 minutes..
So we have more time up our sleeve...We walk over to look at the latest Sea Shepherd vessel docked in Hobart.

 

 

 

 

 

The boys have a short look in Hobart Books while Hannah and I do a girl shop..then we drive to 7 mile beach near the airport and enjoy a lovely walk and play for about an hour.

 

 

 

 

We drop Hannah off at the airport...BYE NARNIE!!.... and make our way home.
We have a quiet evening together..

Thursday and John is up early re-arranging book shelves and building new ones in our storage rooms. He hope to have all our stored books in alphabetical order so it is easier to find requested books...a BIG job. I enjoy my morning walk..
We get a production line going to close label and box the Copper ointment...over 200 tubes.

The John gets Tom to help make a Rose Cream..

 

The boys go to get a large International Post box so we can pack the Taiwan order 200 creams..
We get a couple of other orders done...then Tom and I head into town to do a few jobs and have a look at the lego sales!! Tom has some Christmas money to spend. We do the rounds of all the lego shops but don't find what Tom is looking for...oh well another time!
Home again and we have dinner and enjoy another instalment of "The Northern Lights"..the latest book. Tom has a lego play, John sorts more book shelves and I have a quiet read before bed.

Friday and its lovely out even though overcast.
We have another 2 creams to fill and package Aurum/Rose/Lavender and Rose Day...but first there are some orders to attend to.
Its a full morning. We have a couple of tourists through but its generally pretty quiet.
The afternoon is spent sorting more books and with customers...a nice combo.
After work we drive in to Hobart to see 'Wild Oats' the winner of Sydney to Hobart race...(Tom also back tracks to Myer to buy a lego set he saw there yesterday)
We have dinner at the 'Taste' Festival then walk along Constitution Dock to admire Wild Oats and Ragamuffin....while we are there we see Lahana sailing up the Derwent to the finish line..we watch her arrival into dock...very exciting!!

To gets up close to his favourite yacht..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then back to 'Taste' for dessert of berry plate and icecream....delish..
Glad to head home and to bed...

Saturday is a grey start. We do a few chores...then John gets stuck into book sorting again while I do some sewing( My dress for the wedding is almost finished). Tom has been up since 6.30...building his new lego...(Thanks Sandra!! One happy chappy)

 

 

I take Tom to Finn's birthday party at 10.30...he will enjoy a few hours of boy fun..playing with wooden swords and building a bush shelter...A couple of friends from school will be there too
It's a productive day for John and I...
The afternoon is spent pottering about ..We  have early dinner then watch part one of Lord of the Rings....Really enjoyable...Tom thanks you Libby and Chris for the DVD set!!
Its a lovely peaceful evening...

3rd week of Advent

Sunday is market day...the rain comes and goes again...
I spend the morning packing parcels of Christmas gifts to get into the post tomorrow..
There is alot of activity around town today..

Bec is doing taste tests outside the Larder and Steve has set up a RV Pop-up Souvlaki Bar...which we sample...Yummy!!

 

We have alot of people through the shop and sell many books and products.. Its a lovely morning.
John and Tom sort out some more book shelves in the store room..

We eventually close the doors at about 2-ish and have a snooze.
After 3 we drive out to Gardners Bay to visit friends Pete and Anne who are talented glass makers.
They are having an afternoon tea to showcase what they do...Amazingly beautiful pieces..very gifted couple.

 

 

 

We head home and discuss whether we will go to the Carols in Burtons' reserve...but given the weather is closing in again and we still have a few Christmas gifts to attend to...we opt for a night at home...good decision!!.

Monday dawns and the sun comes and goes all day today..Unexpected showers of rain fall when you least expect them..
John does some pressing of plants while I attend to the orders.
We have a number of customers throughout the morning...and sell quite a few books.
The day passes quickly.
I have a haircut over the road at 2pm..
Tom arrives in from school with a pretty good Year 3 Report...well done Tom..
He and John go up on the hill for a bit to do some more clearing of dead trees.. I mind the shop.
I have a lovely long chat with Jess after work , get dinner on and the boys arrive home.
We enjoy a peaceful night together..

Tuesday is quite a cool start...but it promises to warm up to 22 degrees later.

 

Tom takes the second load of pressies for teachers today...and has organised his KK for Wednesday...
I get on with a number of orders before going down to Community Garden for about an hour..
We weed and pull the Garlic from 3 different beds...

I head back to the shop as we may be busy today....and we are...
Lots of customers and a number of orders to keep us busy..
The Cygnet Primary School have their end of year 'do' in the hall..

The town is buzzing.....so many cars!!

 

 

The women from Lotus have been going up and back to the B&B with food for Bruce's wake this afternoon. Alex drops by to get some medicines for this afternoon when they attend the Cremation.
I have an afternoon tea at school this arvo...a thankyou for volunteer helpers..
Then we will all attend the wake for a bit..
Then I have the last  School Board Meeting of the year..
A busy afternoon/evening.
The afternoon tea is held in the Kitchen Garden and is very pleasant...drinks and nibbles and a nice chat with teachers and other friends..
Back at the shop there are big orders that have come through last thing in the day..
We prepare then for packaging..then head up to the B&B to Bruce's wake.

There are so many people there from all aspects of the Community...a real tribute to Bruce. Lovely to see some photos that have been set up for all to see..

There are good conversations sharing memories of Bruce, tears and hugs...a really valuable coming together...
Then to Board meeting at 6.30...finishing not too late this time at 9pm.. A small group attending, but a good meeting.
Glad to get home and sit quietly by the Christmas tree.

Wednesday is warm and bright to start with anyway....

 

I get up not long after John and forgo my walk to get on with packing orders instead.
A brief stop for breakfast, putting out a load of washing then back to work..
I go across to the Prize-giving Assembly at 11.30am..(even get an Official welcome as a Board member in the opening address)  Thomas receives an Award for displaying Mutual Respect...and element of the school behavior motto FLAMES...

Multiple awards are presented for all areas of excellence...
The day turns overcast and threatening...but it remains warm...

 

John is struggling with exhaustion today so takes time out to have a rest during the afternoon..
It's a pleasant afternoon...selling a few more books and toys too..
I do some baking after work then we have early dinner as I've made sushi while baking..
After dinner we all take a stroll around town.. It is so sunny and warm that I can't settle down to do sewing yet...maybe later ..

 

We have such a long twilight this time of year. There is lovely sunset colour in the clouds at 9pm...

 

A really restful evening.

Thursday is mild out this morning...

 

 

Thomas' last day at school this year (they will go down to the park for a picnic later) ...and Narnie arrives tonight Yay!!
We get on with orders and have early customers as I open the doors at 8.30am..
John has a full-on morning making Sphagni...a big job.
Santa is out and about delivering early...

Cygnet Primary troop past...must be heading to the park too.

The morning passes quickly.
We sell alot of books through the day..
I head into Hobart to do a bit of shopping before getting Hannah from the airport...
So lovely to see her..

 

Beautiful light as we head into the Huon Valley.

 

The boys greet us as we arrive home and we enjoy a good chat.
They are keen to show Hannah the lamp John has bought from Talon's Trove shop...then we light the advent candle and move another star from the path to the sky above the stable...not many more stars now. Tom brings some more wooden animal figures to the scene tonight.. before making our way to bed.

 

 

Friday is grey and cool out...but lovely all the same.
I notice the fushia in our garden is in flower..

Hannah and Tom enjoy a morning snuggle..

We open the doors early just as we are in the shop at 8.30am getting on with a few jobs anyway..
Santa is doing the garbage collection today!!

The morning is fairly quiet so we get on with paperwork...good to catch up...
By lunchtime there are more people streaming through the shop. We sell books and other goods too...nice.
Thomas and Hannah have sorted Tom's school books and tidied up a bit. They go to RV for morning tea..then stop in at the newsagent where Hannah purchases a toy Helicopter (for herself) to play with.
While the batteries are charging they potter about together. So lovely for Tom to have the company of his sister.
They ride up to the oval have a wonderful time flying the helicopter...
Back home and they have some late lunch and rest time.
We have a mix of customers through the shop..
Tom has spotted some Christmas fairies up the street...fun

 

The afternoon passes in no time..

We get ready to head out about 5.30ish as we have been invited to have drinks at Paul and Bob's place.

We stop at Randall's Bay for a bit of a walk as we are a little early..

 

It's a delightful gathering of people..and we enjoy a lovely evening of conversations. Thomas has a terrific time hooning around the bush with some other boys about his own age. A great time had by all.

 

Saturday morning John and I are up a bit after 5am and on our way by 5.30...heading north to do another Hypericum Harvest.. Thomas and Hannah are spending the day together in Cygnet ...glad they do not have to travel the 800km journey...
We have a really successful harvest as the Hypericum is in full flower...and weather is perfect for us.. A real joy.

 

  

 

 

The Hypericum stains our hands deep red...

 

 

Spectacular views of Mt Roland as we travel along..

 

We make our way home stopping in Deloraine for lunch then Oatlands for a coffee (as we start to feel our early start).

We arrive home about 5.30ish .
Tom and Hannah have had a good day. They had morning tea at RV and went to the park. Tom's friend Finn came for a play for alot of the day . (so that took the pressure off Hannah a bit) Hannah cleaned and baked a cake in preparation for visitors tomorrow...lovely girl

 

Hannah and I set up the laptop in the shop and settle into cosy chairs to watch "White Christmas" a Golden Oldie!!...lovely way to end the day.