Christmas weaves a magic wand over this world

 It is only a few days till Christmas and life seems to be getting crazier and crazier with shopping, baking, present wrapping, get-togethers and going out to see the Christmas lights. 

Christmas is mid summer in Australia and I have heard today that our temperatures, at least in Western Australia's capital city, Perth, for Christmas Day will be around 41 Celsius - that is around 106 Fahrenheit! 

Even though it is hot you will see a lot of bright colour around here this time of year. Below you can see some of our flowering trees which we see on our daily walk - clockwise from top left - one of the red flowering gums, jacaranda (though from South Africa you will see lots here in Western Australia), the Western Australian Christmas Tree, and lastly a creamy eucalypt which I need to identify.

In case you missed it, I shared more summer colour in our Australian bush last week: Down in the West Australian bush this week in summer

Also colourful varieties of kangaroo paw - 

In the cappuccino strip of our city a yellow flowering tree with a pea type flower makes a shady canopy over the area -  I need to also find out what this tree is.  

My front garden has a lot of gorgeous colour this time of year. 

Crazy as it may seem in 40 degree heat, many people still have a hot roast Christmas dinner. But there are also cold drinks and salads. Top left are little Christmas puddings I make - delicious and no baking! 

Perhaps my handmade Christmas cards I have made over the last few years reflect the colours of the Australian Christmas

But I also have more subtle botanical eco-dyed cards too

And some little twiggy decorations and one made with wooden pegs! 

As I look at what is happening around us in this Covid world, natural disasters, a tragic incident with school children in Tasmania, and some health issues people close to me are currently going through, I struggle to be ''merry and bright'' but I hope that these words from Norman Vincent Peale will ring true this Christmas:

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world

and behold everything is softer and more beautiful. 

You might also like:

The Christmas in Australia edition

Summer in my garden

Thank you so much for stopping by. I wish you and yours a very safe and happy Christmas.

I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 
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!
   
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Sharon's Sovenirs 
Our World Tuesday
Pictorial Tuesday 
ThroughMy Lens 
Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity. 
       and Little bird - Pienilintu
Thankful Thursday 
Welcome to Nature Thursday
The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas - December randomness

If you are anything like me once December hits Christmas seems to be here before we know it. So for today just some December randomness.

It is summer in Australia and the colours around where we live during the lead up to Christmas are vibrant - the yellow of the Candlestick Bankisa, the yellow-orange of the Australian Christmas tree and the purple of the Jacarandas.

And my front garden this time of year in particular looks a treat - with the yellow and green kangaroo paws flowering in profusion with the backdrop of red Coral Bush and purple agapanthus. 

LOL the tinsel garlands around my kangaroo paws are to keep the parrots away, but it doesn't seem to help too much. 

I've been to a few Christmas crafting free workshops lately in our local library, handprinting gift wrapping paper and making twig decorations, 

On Friday I went to another short workshop - floral gift wrapping toppers.  This one was run by lovely Francine Metcalfe from Pollen Nation Floral Studio. Francine makes the most glorious wreaths and bouquets from Australian natives and she is partners at the Green Depot floral studio and gift shop.  We simply wrapped boxes in brown paper, tied with string, and topped with florals. Inside the boxes we popped an inspirational card - a present to ourselves or to a special friend when you or they might need a boost. I spent a lovely hour with the ladies in the workshop.

This time of year there are parties and get-togethers with family and friends. We live in a small cul de sac street, and every year we have a "street party" on the front lawn, rotating which lawn hosts the party. We all bring our own chairs, drinks and a plate to share. This year I made Cranberry Brie Bites, which someone had shared on Facebook, from Delish.com - they really were delicious and oh so easy to make. Here is a link to the recipe - Cranberry Brie Bites. 
I used almond slivers instead of the pecans and didn't use the rosemary springs. I used puff pastry sheets and the recipe made about 30 small tarts. They are just as good cold. 

I am yet to do my Christmas baking - but will have to get to it this week!

This is also the time of year for cherries - yum!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you have enjoyed my little look at the lead up to Christmas. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

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
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

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

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit and 50 Shades of Age
Little Things Thursday

Life in Reflection

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

If you are a blogger you can also link your blog to Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global. 

An InLinkz Link-up

A little bit of Christmas baking

It's nearly Christmas. Do you go all out and do a lot of Christmas baking? Or only a little?

In truth Christmas in the Australian summer is not the best time for baking, so I usually target a cooler day to cook.





Looking for a simple Christmas cookie recipe? Try these Ginger Stars.


To find the recipe, please click on "read more" to read more!

Christmas baking while it's baking hot in Australia!

Hi everyone and welcome to my 2013 Christmas baking edition.  

While the far northern hemisphere enjoys a white Christmas we here in Australia swelter in the heat. But true to our European backgrounds we still bake the traditional goodies for Christmas - well some of us do anyway! 
I set last Monday aside for my Christmas baking. It really wasn't the weather for it (in the high 30sC), but Monday is my day off work, so it had to be done, heat or no heat. So I turned on the aircon and the overhead fan, put some cds in the player, and got to work. 

First off a new recipe for pear tarts which I saw in a Christmas magazine and wanted to try out. It is a fairly simple and easy recipe made with a base of bought puff pastry. While not technically for "Christmas cooking" we were going to our street "Christmas party" so I thought these would be something a bit different.

First you need pears - I used a pear variety which has a golden brown skin. 

Please click on "read more" to keep reading and see more Christmas baking!.... 

Christmas wishes from Australia

 Christmas is nearly here and time for Christmas baking. In Australia, those of us who are descendants of English ancestors still cling to the Christmas traditions of roast dinner and plum pudding with all the trimmings, despite Christmas day often being in the high 30 degrees C! Not an ounce of snow in sight! The weather man is predicting the high 30sC all week! I remember as a child my mum cooking Christmas dinner in a wood stove in those sort of conditions. One of these days I hope to experience a white Christmas!

I have struggled a little gathering the Christmas spirit this year, as I think about my mother who will be missing from the table for the first time this year and my mother-in-law who is retreating into her past life.
But we must keep the traditions and joy of Christmas, so finally I have done a bit of Christmas baking. Strained Glass Christmas cake, little puddings and fruit mince pies. Please serve the fruit mince pies with brandy cream - home made of course!

 And making the Coffee Log Roll for my husbands birthday last week - his favourite desert - there is brandy in this cream too!

 As Christmas approaches and I think back over the joys and sorrows of the past year, I come to Christmas with a mixture of emotions. We had joy and happiness for the wedding of our youngest nephew and as we await the birth of our eldest nephew's first child - my sister and brother-in-law's first grandchild. Congratulations too for my brother-in-law's 60th birthday, and his father's 90th birthday.
Happiness for time spent with grandchildren, children, family and friends, and renewing friendships with some of my husband's cousins who he hadn't seen for years. Good health, for the most part, and travels to places new to us in our magnificent country.  We have much to be grateful for.

But great sorrow and grief for the passing of my mother in July. Admiration, respect and love for my father. Grateful too for the love, support and importance of family and close friends. Thankful for time spent with my sister.  And love for my daughter-in-law who lost her mother in 2008 - far too young. I know she misses her, especially at Christmas. Regret that one of our grandchildren just remembers her, and the other youngest never met her - how much they all have missed.
Sadness that my mother-in-law is now entering another world where her memories of us will fade as she retreats into her earlier life. 
Sorrow too for those around the world that have been affected by death, hardship and wars.

A couple of weeks ago I went with my Dad and husband to a memorial service for those who have lost loved ones over the past year. It was a beautiful service. They had a huge Christmas tree at the back of the church decorated with beautiful glass Christmas baubles made Melting Pot Glass Studio in Margaret River, Western Australia. All those attending were able to take one home in memory of their loved one.

A reminder to treasure every day, for everyday is a gift - that is why it is called the "present".

Every new morning is a new open page along the pathway of life.

I wish you joy and happiness and love at Christmas - hug the ones you love, treasure every minute, and make the most of every day.

What are your family Christmas traditions? Are you missing someone from your table this year?

Thank you dear blogger friends for dropping by, sharing, encouraging and commenting. I value your presence and look forward to hearing from you. 

Below I share with you a few words from Norman Vincent Peale -

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, 

everything is softer and more beautiful.

I am linking up today with Mosaic Monday - please click on the link to see the work of Mary and other wonderful photographers across the world - Mosaic Monday

Click on the link to go to Melting Pot Studio at Margaret River - Melting Pot Glass

You might also like - please click on the links to go to -

Wishing you all a happy Christmas

The trees are blooming for Christmas

I wish you enough