December randomness

It's December and the summer heat has struck and it's beginning to look a little bit like Christmas is just around the corner.  How is your December going?  Today I am going to share a little December randomness from our corner of the world.

Below is the Candlestick Banksia (or slender banksia) - Banksia attenuata - which flowers from October to February in the south west of Western Australia. I always think the bright yellow candlestick shape flowers which grow up to 20-3-cm tall and 5cm across, are very appropriate for this time of year around Christmas. 
I blogged more about banksias here - Celebration of the Australian Banksias

At my brother-in-law and nephew's farm in the wheatbelt the harvest is well under way. They will be hoping to be finished by Christmas.

A couple of weeks ago I went to the launch of a local photo book - Loving Where We Live - Glimpses of Bunbury through the eyes of the locals.  I was very proud to have some of my photos published in this book. You can see me in the bottom photo (me on the left) with my friend Catherine Curnow who put together the book, and above that one of my photos of Sol y Sombra Spanish Dance Company. Many local photographers contributed to the book, which is a fabulous promotion for our town. The profits from the book are going to a local girl who became a quadriplegic in an accident a few years ago. 

More details and to purchase the book, please click here - Photo Book of Bunbury

Last week I started getting together the ingredients for my Christmas cooking. The actual baking I think will be next week's job.

Christmas events and end of year get-togethers with friends and the various groups I belong to have started, and I need to keep a track of my diary! Today I put aside time to put up our Christmas tree. 

Also over the last few days I have made a little gift for my writing group members. This is just a little notebook put together from craft paper and photocopy paper and sewed together on my sewing machine. You can use plain or patterned paper for the cover and embellish it as little or as much as you wish. I made mine fairly plain as they were going to both men and women.

 Very simple - First, just cut A4 photocopy paper in half. I used about 10 sheets for each book.  Cut craft card in half to make the cover. Mine was 30 cms wide, cut in half to make 15cms. Then I made a crease in the middle of the photocopy pages, and sewed the pages together into the middle of the cover. Fold the cover in half and press down the spine - a craft paper creaser is ideal for this or use a ruler. If the craft paper cover is wider than the photocopy paper pages, which mine was, fold over the edge of the cover to the inside on both sides of the booklet. Embellish the cover as you wish.

 As I made these booklets for my writer's group I included this little tip from Roald Dahl inside the cover - 

“A story idea is liable to come flitting into the mind at any moment of the day, and if I don’t make a note of it at once, right then and there, it will be gone forever. So I must find a pencil, a pen, a crayon, a lipstick, anything that will write, and scribble a few words that will later on remind me of the idea. Then, as soon as I get the chance, I go straight to my hut and write the idea down in an old red-coloured school exercise book.”

 And I've also been making paper flowers - I shared how to make them last year - How to make a simple paper flower

 Last weekend we had a little reminder that summer also brings bushfire season. Luckily for the homes near this particular fire, which we could see the smoke from our house, the water bombers came in quickly and the fire was put out in a few hours.  I hope the terrible Californian fires are put out soon.

Australian Christmas Tree

And of course we can't forget the Australian Christmas tree - Nuytsia floribunda-  in all its glory!

 How is your December looking? Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week.  

You might also like - 
How to make a simple paper flower 
How to make a paper wreath 
December randomosity 2015 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
Mosaic Monday 

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

Through My Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at Deep Fried Fruit
Little Things Thursday 

Sky Watch Friday

Life in Reflection

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