Christmas week

 First day of school holidays and we enlist Tom's help to unpack an order in the shop..
He quite enjoys himself in the process..

Lovely Lucy sends a special parcel to Tom...an additional pressie for Christmas..

He loves his light hat! Now we all have one so can work into the night...

 Saturday and the boys get to work on the cubby construction..

I take a walk down to the house and have a look about..

 The possum trees are coming back so well

 Sunday and it is the last Market before Christmas..so we fundraise for Jamboree
Isabel , Matthew and Tom sit at the stall all day...with mum Jane and me.(and occasionally John...who is busy making a cream between times in the shop)

 Gary draws the raffle...

Happy winners...the young man on the right was heard to say.."there's lunch sorted"

 Lovely thriving atmosphere today..

 Back up on the hill to continue..

I walk over to the far Paddock to chip thistles

 Great view back to the house..

The walnut tree is laden...pity we do not have the time to fence it this year...will be a feast for the possums

 Tom takes a break from construction to help me with window scraping...and glass removal

Christmas bears start to appear around town. 

Tom and I go down to garden for a while on Christmas Eve..and give a hand

 The Community Garden gang head up the street in the evening to assemble for the parade

 Tom is ready for the scout float..dressed as his favourite 'hero' ..a 'Ranger's Apprentice'
I'm all festive for a sing with Swansong....that turns out to be a fizzer however...not to worry..

 Narns and Jark have come down to sleep over for Christmas...what fun

 Floats assemble at the footy oval

 Gary looking suitably hero-ish...

 Robyn (scout leader) ..incognito

 Tom's mate Matthew has the same hero idea..just love the pose they took as I aimed the camera their direction.

 Waiting for the parade...so exciting...

The scout float is the first one ...after the police escort car has passed by..spot the Ranger

 As so it goes..

We enjoy traditional piece of Susi's Chocolate cake and Thomas chooses one present to open..another tribute to Susi...and Tom's European heritage..

Christmas morning arrives...and Thomas is very restrained...coming in at 6.30am..

We prepare John's famous Bircher Muesli for our breakfast feast..yummo

Eventually Narns and Jark come downstairs...(very early...thanks guys)

Thomas is designated Santa for the morning...a role he delights in..

Thanks Sandra..one happy boy

Lovely..thanks Libby...

Or John's version..such a joker..

Love my Sew time clock...thanks Narns and Jark

One of the top presents in Tom's opinion ..is the slingshot from Auntie Linda, Uncle Mark and Connor...good one..

Christmas portraits.. love them

After breakie..and a sit about..we decide to go up on the hill before lunch.

John and I walk down to the bottom of Petchey's Bay paddock to chip thistle...while Narns, Jark and Tom play with the new slingshot and Tom's camera.

After lunch back home, Narns and Jark have to get going back to visit Jark's family.

We have a rest then go back up on the hill to do a bit more...before the weather comes in..

On Saturday we get an early start on the hill to get more done..

We end up finishing earlier than planned as it is quite gusty and difficult to erect the frames..

We have a special engagement to attend in the afternoon anyway.

We are invited guests at Bob's 70th birthday High Tea across the road in Carmel Hall.

Very special event and a privilege to be there. 

Paul's mum has made dozens of Sponge cakes..

Guests include many from Bob's Franklin/Gordon River campaign days, political days , family and friends from far and near.

 The Kazakhstan Kowgirls provide entertainment..of sorts

 We are served tea by some of the local young girls who do a fabulous job..

 Naomi Edwards MC's

 The birthday boy..

 Matthew and Sadie are there too..

 The most delightful couple of blokes we know.

 Christine Milne sits at the table with Paul's mum and dad Bev and Max.

 Amazing cake

After the event...I do a walk of the Golf course circuit to work off some of the cake

We make preparations for an early start on Sunday to head north for our annual Hypericum Harvest..

But before I finish..

How cute is he?..my darling Benjamin