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My 52 weeks project

Joining in with Jodi's project

Things I am Loving

This week it was all about Christmas parties......

Bubbles... 

Usually forbidden foods....

all things that glitter....

A face painter to add some cheer

playgroups are finished for the year...and we finished with a bang 

3 playgroups + 3 Days = 250 excited bodies....big and small 

 

and some beautiful gifts to show their appreciation...although the pleasure was all mine.....

 

Then today....the list was written and left for mum to attend to.....

Dance productions to be ready for....

Pleased to report I attended well to each of the requirements..... 

 

Then there is the train that has spent most of the week off the rails......

 The elf that has been providing some smiles around the house.....

 The bees that are merrily making a hive in the now abandoned cubby house....

and to end the week that was.....the most beautiful of sunsets......

Tis really the season......let the festivities continue...

Joining in with Things I am Loving over at Meghan's. 

Thursday Thankful List

* A busy street at a standstill due to a duck family

* Two skinned knees from playing basketball with friends....and a professed braveness

* Christmas cheer abounding

* Beautiful families and children coming together to celebrate the end of the year

* A teenage nephew who was a super help.

* Such kind and sweet words from families I have grown to love.

* Painted faces to bring a smile.

* The excitement building for an end of year performance and another for a lead speaking role at the assembly

* Christmas wish lists on the fridge.

* An elf bringing fun to a morning treasure hunt.

* Gifts given to valued volunteers.

* The power of prayer for a friend in need.

* Handmade gifts that are well received.

* A whole lot of bargains chosen by the teen from the OP SHOP!

* The first Christmas cards received in the mail.

* Nightly story reading at the dinner table.

* A sleepy eyed boy on a mission to find the elf.

#200 Even the "bigs" joining in the "find the elf" game.

My other lists are here.

Joining in with Thursday Thankful Lists

Cookies in a Jar...

Not a new idea...but a simple and lovely gift for those who like to bake.....I have made a whole batch up ready for my hard working volunteers that give of their time every week.

I bought 750ml jars and then followed this recipe to fil them .

I attached a Christmas gift tag with the recipe on the back...these were just a recycled Christmas card.....

Although the recipe calls for you to roll in balls to cook, I did attach a Christmas shaped cookie cutter just for fun.

So another handmade gift sorted on my list . This combined with our teachers gift....means I have achieved far more than I thought I had time for ....so much satisfaction though producing something handmade.

Joining in with Show and Tell  and My Creative Space 

Weekend Snippets

 

 

 

 

 

 

* You know it is going to be a good weekend when you can enjoy three "double yolkers" from the chicks.

*the suitcases were flung open and the decorating began

*the reading of a "new to us" book was also begun....pleased to report everyone listened attentively as mumma read.

* the stockings were hung...all five of them.

*the bunting heralded that it was now officially the Christmas season

*even the Christmas train makes it's appearance

* and look who happened on our doorstep again this year......oh what will he get up to this year....

Well December promised to come.....and come it has......bring on all that it has in store I say.

Joining in with Em at The Beetle Shack 

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 My 52 weeks Project

Joining in with Jodi's project

Things I am Loving

I am loving so much but the problem is it is all a little of a blur in the midst of busyness....

I've had my camera out so little during the rush of the week

I have been making lists though

Lists to keep the focus 

But I did discover this and after a couple of really successful shopping trips at the op shops in recent days it resounded with me about creating a lighter footprint, having things that carry memories and stand the test of time.....

A good watch.....
 

                             

Joining in with Meghan 

 

Thursday Thankful List- On Friday

* Graciousness in the face of disappointment

* The accolades of strangers to boost the confidence

*Carpooling mums to ease the load

*Time spent with the teen

* A little guy who likes to organise his mumma

*A day with my love

* Smoothies in a jar

*A garden full of frogs

*Tomatoes from the garden in my salad

*An extra pair of hands to get things done

*The excitement building for Christmas parties next week

*  The beginnings of Christmas shopping

*Potentially 3 "double yolker" eggs this week

*Happy families

*A soaking rain in the last days of December oops November

*A break in the routine of driving kids around 

#182 Lists that are slowly being worked through

My other lists are here

Teacher gift for Mrs Hawkins

In so many ways I am not at all prepared for Christmas....except.....

The little guy's teacher....... 

 We did it together....and now it is sitting waiting for the last day of school....which I am so glad is not for another three weeks........

(Apparently it is not cool to make gifts for high school teachers....I am sad for them...as a teacher it was always a great time of the year for lovely gifts)

Maybe I will stop procrastinating and figure out what everyone else is getting.

Joining in with Show and Tell

Lost art around town

While heading out for coffee with the hubby on Monday I was transported back to when I was a child.......

We pulled the car up in front of this sign...I haven't ever noticed it before......just an old sign painted on the back of a shop exterior wall.....faded showing it's age....

   

Until my eye was draw to the corner of the sign.....the artists signature.....

 

Mr Peter Groucott.......he was a friend of my dad's....they had the same passions...restoring and riding vintage motor cycles.....he was a painter....sorry.... sign writer .

We would see him around town...toot the horn as we passed him...usually working on the latest business to open in town or re doing the art work of an old establishment.....he drove a white van.....wore white overalls covered in paint.....always up a ladder, a big man with a bald head and a mustache.

Sometimes we would tag along with dad and visit him at home.....oh the dread...dad would be there for what felt like hours talking motor cycles and rusty bits.....sometimes there was a motorcycle in the lounge room....and always a yard full of interesting bits and pieces....He was single ...never married....

He would have been an icon around our town....leaving his signature all over the walls.

I was reminded that it is something you don't see all that often anymore.....signs these days are mostly done in workrooms or by machines....well not all but there certainly isn't the iconic sign writer balancing on ladders meticulously hand painting signage.

Hmmmm...I did smile when I saw his trademark......and the little walk down memory lane I had with it.

We even have longer phone numbers these days.

Weekend Snippets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Mulberries dropping before we get a chance to eat them.

* The monster plants are loving the pond and water feature.

*The cricket was the background noise on what felt like a summers day.

* What better place to listen to that cricket.

* Some gift crafting for the teacher all done and dusted.

* The excitement of an audition

* The jolly fellow spotted while wandering our capital city... waiting for the audition to be over.

* Just in case anyone was in denial that Christmas is coming.

* OHHH ok I was snapped kicking back in the hammock....way too long....is it dinner time already!!!

Hope you had a weekend with some festivities and a little hanging around too.

Joining in with Em

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 My 52 weeks project

Joining in with Jodi's project

Look what we made at Playgroup

Each year for the last four years we have made a piece of art to represent the families that have been with us throughout the year......

Last year we did hand prints, the year before we did a face collage.....

We have repeated that this year......

So many personalities......we got them to work on their own square....this year due to the numbers we had to make family squares .....otherwise we would run out of wall space to hang them all....... 

 

Here is just a snapshot of some ...they make me smile just looking at them...knowing we have had another fantastic year at playgroup.......

 

 

 

 

Still a few more to do this week then I will tie them altogether in a wall hanging....

Joining in with Show and Tell  

Thankful Thursday List

* Watching the exact moment the sun sets.

*The changes seen in a friends family.

* Hope realized.

*The surprise you find in the chicken coup each new morning.

* Last words as the little guy gets out of the car..."You have a great day mum"

* Grandmas and great grandmas playing with play dough along side of grandchildren.

*the innocence of a younger brother.

*a few dollars at the fair  = great fun.

*the chorus of little birds in the garden when the house is so quiet.

* an abundance of lunch shared with family 

* dedication of the man of the house to make delicious food for his family.

* the local library overflowing with free resources.

* spectacular lightening on a hot humid day.

*hair cut day in a brand new salon

* a hammock for lazy summer days.

* finding enough soft foods for  a delicate mouth.

* A day spent with a friend searching out bargains.

* the holiday plans set in concrete.

* sharing the gift of ice cream with those who love it.

#165 the outpouring of a community to help those in need.

I have been counting the gifts ....things I am thankful for...

Joining in with Tash @ Little Bit of Thyme  and her thankful lists.