We’re coasting…very gently…towards the end of the year.
Exams are finished, my Mum is doing well, the garden is flourishing and I’m taking afternoon naps. It’s hard to ask for more than that! Here are a few snippets from this fun time of year…
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Small Man has been back for more indoor skydiving. As I hadn’t eaten that morning, I treated myself to lunch at Harry’s Café de Wheels. This Sydney institution has been around since 1938 and now has branches all across town. Their Penrith store is located just outside the iFly centre.
I had the house special – Harry’s Tiger – an Aussie meat pie topped with mash potato, peas and gravy. It was quite delicious and wonderfully nostalgic – I don’t think I’ve had a Harry’s pie in over thirty years…
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My Pete likes interesting shirts. This one by David Smith Australia has naked ladies hidden on it – can you see them?
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Christmas gift making started late this year, but I’m getting there. It’s been a while since I last baked these, but our chocolate marshmallow cookies are always popular…
Each one has a whole marshmallow encased inside the cookie dough…
The fruit for our mini Christmas cakes was soaked in brandy and lemon juice for two days. I saved Andrew’s delicious homemade marmalade specifically for this purpose…
Our Christmas nut cakes are completely different to those above – they’re gluten-free and filled with whole nuts and glacé fruit…
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Once every few months, my friend Will and I drive out on a Saturday morning to Haverick Meats in Banksmeadow. After stocking up, we always stop for a coffee on the way home.
On our last trip, we turned into a car park and found ourselves in the middle of a Christmas market. And then we stumbled into the magnificent Quercus & Co. Wallpaper Studio. They sell interesting, tactile designs, all hand drawn or hand painted, like these fabulous 20cm x 25cm stamp decals that stick to any wall…
I bought a few of their cards and laid them out to show Will as we drank our first coffees of the morning…
Second stop was our favourite Alchemy Café in Marrickville. It was crowded inside so we ordered and then sat on the little bench out front.
I adore Marrickville – it’s such a quirky, interesting suburb. With my decaf piccalo in hand, Will and I sat and watched the fascinating mayhem that is Saturday morning on Addison Road. There were tiny dogs, bikes, a forklift meandering down the middle of the road, and an old lady feeding stray cats in a side street…
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Pete and I visited the Brewery Yard Christmas Twilight Markets at the beginning of December. While there, we met up again with the lovely Juan and Olivia of Times Flys. Olivia showed us their latest creation – a pendant of vintage clockwork mechanisms on a smooth piece of labradorite…
Since we were at Central Park, we popped into the aMBUSH Gallery to view the Paste Modernism exhibition. The entire space was filled with wheat-pasted artwork from over 400 artists. It was reminiscent of old school scrapbooks, but on a giant scale…
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The fabulous Neweys live in our suburb and run a theatrical drapery hire company. Every Christmas, they decorate the tree in front of their house with swathes of colourful satin…
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I went to see the new Star Wars movie and came back slightly traumatised. If you want to know why, you’ll have to watch it for yourself, as I’m not giving away any spoilers. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 38 years since the original was released in 1977…
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My wonderful friend Nancy in Shanghai sent me tassels for Christmas. I love them…
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Our mad squash plant has taken off again. It seems to have recovered from the hailstorm in May and is now producing a couple of large fruit each day. We’ve been eating them in pasta…
…and stuffed with rice and vegetables (and topped with Ssamjang)…
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Finally, my clever hubby figured out how to hang my Christmas decorations to the dining room light. Instant mini-chandelier!
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I hope you’re all having a happy, fun-filled December! ♥
Fig Jam and Lime Cordial 
Seasons greetings to you and yours, may your year ahead be filled with all your favourite faces and places
looks amazing!
Oh – your light looks beautiful. Have a very happy Christmas my dear friend. xxx
Thanks for all the wonderful posts during the year. Blessings to you and yours.
Happy Christmas to you and your family! I can’t wait to see Star Wars. I remember taking my 4 years old son to the first one. I was enthralled from the beginning and loved the first 3 movies as much as Brandon. I bought the record for him and he loved listening to it. He once said “Mum, I get so excited when I listen to this.” I wonder if he still does at 42.
Celia, Pete is a very naughty boy. The naked girls on this shirt should have your face on it 😜.
Delicious looking sweets and foods. I’m getting hungry now! A beautiful mini chandelier! There are always such interesting things in your kitchen. One day I will try indoor skydiving. Enjoy your Christmas preparations!
A fascinating conglomeration for Yule!! Yep, spent some time trying to find the ‘naked ladies’ . . . actually am quite ‘famous’ for links for which most friends ask way after . . . and they usually have your name on it :) ! ‘Star Wars’ – loved all the early ones and now feel I have had my ‘elegant sufficiency’ . . . ? Have the best of months at the best of seasons . . .
Have a wonderful Christmas you and your family
Your chandelier is gorgeous! Are you tempted to just leave it there all year round? I’m starting to cruise into the end of the year now too – love to you and your boys xx
What a cute chandelier, good idea, I will make one myself. Enjoy all the festivities you are preparing
What a great way to hang your decorations. And the tassels are fabulous
It sounds like you are taking time to just enjoy!
I love the satin dressed tree. What a fantastic alternative to Christmas lights.
Your marshmallow biscuits are a hit in our house. Enjoy all that this season brings.
Is there anything in the world better than afternoon naps???? Not in my world!
Thats a brilliant chandelier Celia. So busy. Glad to hear your Mum is doing well ad that Pete has a shirt with Naked ladies on it :)
Another lovely post Celia. I love Pete’s shirt, and your decorations make a fabulous chandelier. Have a wonderful Christmas holiday – you deserve it after making all of those wonderful gifts.
Ooh pie, mash and mushy peas with gravy….brilliant! Lots going on as ever, so glad to hear that all is going well. Love that draped satin and your “chandelier” is perfect :) We decorated our tree last night and your beautiful crystals look gorgeous on it! Am very impressed with all the cakes. I’ll be spending this afternoon making desserts for the freezer – coffee ice cream and white chocolate semi freddo. Big hug x
Happy Christmas to you and your family.
I too came back slightly traumatised after watching Star Wars…I went on my own, very much enjoyed.
I’ve loved reading your posts this year and look forward to next years. Xxx
So many vibrant, tasty and colourful things in your life Celia! Merry Christmas to you xx
You live such a varied and interesting life Celia. The sign of an open heart and enquiring mind. Have a wonderful Christmas. See you (virtually sadly) in the New Year ( my visitors arrive en masse this week).
I’m loving the chandelier. I must get down to Harrys for the exact same pie – my favourite but like you, I haven’t had one for years. I’m definitely going to make your marshmallow cookies. And your Christmas cakes are gorgeous! As is the shirt! xx
What fun! I love your husband’s shirt!!!
Oh I want an afternoon nap please! It has been crazy busy here too but at least the pantry is in the kitchen. The rest of the house may be a disaster and I haven’t baked Christmas goodies yet, but I’m thrilled to have a new pantry! Let the cleaning and baking begin today, along with keeping three boys out of trouble. Yesterday they snuck my few Christmas cookies and ice cream for an early breakfast!
With all that wonderful activity, a nap seems well earned!
Enjoy the restive festive season, and here’s to a loving peaceful Christmas to all of us.
Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year to you and your family. I enjoy your blog all year long. I made ornaments from your easy-to-follow instructions and gave them all away.
I have marshmallow cream that I didn’t get a chance to use for fudge over the holidays. Your chocolate marshmallow cookies have me inspired.