2011 in Review...

Wow what a year 2011 was!

To be honest I am pretty astonished by how far I've come in 12 short months!
There have been times of celebration and times of heartache, but overall 2011 was a good year.
I certainly cannot deny that I grew over the year
A lot!
In fact I think in many ways I have blossomed.
- I certainly feel like I know myself and am comfortable with the direction I'm heading, more than ever before.
And that in itself feels like the best achievement of the year!

On a personal level 2011 was one of my hardest years yet.
Living without Neil for so much of the year while parenting 2 really little ones so far from home was not for the faint hearted.
But I survived it. And I am stronger for this!
It gets easier every day as the girls grow from dependent babies into little independent people in their own right.

On a creative level 2011 was a-MAZ-ing!
I feel like I've surpassed any expectations I might have had in the beginning of what I could achieve this year, and I'm definitely happy with what I've achieved!
Quite astonished as a matter of fact.
So that can only be good right?

In the first week of January 2011 I set myself some extremely large goals on the creative front - 52 projects in 52 weeks. The main aim to really push myself to learn more and more. I had a list of things that I wanted to learn all floating around in my head, and this was supposed to be the motivator to aid me in achieving it. Or keep me accountable anyway.
But it didn't take me long to work out that the weekly structure was more a stress than it was an encouragement. I was starting to feel a little bit deflated about it, which was pretty silly considering that I had actually achieved a lot I set out to - just not in the "format" I originally intended.

So by July it was time to reassess and I decided to set myself free from the weekly pressure that "show & tell Fridays" had become & just work off a list instead.

There is still a LOT on my list that I haven't touched, but to be honest most of that has been by choice. They are kind of things that I'd like to do "one day" and it will take me a lot longer than a year to get through all of them. It needs updating as well, to check off what I've achieved since July, but to be quite honest that can wait for another day because I SOOOO can't be bothered right now LOL...
Admin - ick.

But I can see my progress by putting it all in a mosaic, so that's a pretty powerful visual illustrator that I've achieved a lot of what I set out to...

My 2011 Quilts:

Actually I realised that I missed at least one off this list, if not more. But oh well.
Quite a few less than 2010, but I think the reason for that becomes pretty apparent when I look at how much other sewing I've achieved this year... and that was my main priority for 2011 - to learn to sew other things...

That's not even close to all of it either because I reached the maximum number of photos allowable of 32 and can't be bothered making another one as well LOL...
That's also not counting all my sewing for business... There was an awful lot of that too, most of which never even gets photographed.

So all I have to say to myself is sheesh! Not a bad effort!

All this leaves me wondering what to aim for in 2012.
I know a few things from my last July list that I want to focus on too. Particularly the hand paper piecing and hand stitching ones. Also to work more on my free motion quilting as well.

But on top of that there are so many goals I'd like to achieve with my blog & business in 2012.
To name a few:
**  Look into some sponsorship on my blog, because lets face it - any extra income to help fund this addiction love of fabric is good by me ;)
**  Continue doing tutorials regularly - because I love to learn & help others learn too.
**  Release some patterns for sale in my shop
**  Redesign & refocus my shop look & products to more suit where I'm wanting to aim with it
**  Finally get all my products online to my shop
**  Put more effort into growing my business now that Hannah will be in school part time.
**  Grow Blankets of Love & have more ready to donate to the hospital by April.


I've also decided to reduce my commitment to swaps in the coming year. It is time to sew more for my family & myself. And plus I'll need to if I want to achieve all these other things ;)

All I can say is that I can't wait to get sewing with you all in 2012.
You all inspire me so much!
If only I could now reign in my brain a wee bit to focus more intently on what I want to start next ;)
I'm definitely having a dose of craft ADD now that I've finished all my large projects for now.

Bring on 2012 :)

The "Working Away" Life... A Time & Motion Study - 2nd Edition...

A few days ago I alluded to the fact that we (Mr Flutter & I) have a lot going on right now. So I thought it was time for me to "diary" a little of it...
- of what exactly has been stressing us out and keeping us in suspense.
(I also don't want anyone to get the wrong impression about how we are as a couple ;) )

Image

Back in May I posted a diary entry with the details of our "fly in fly out" lifestyle. Because I regularly talk about or allude to the fact that Neil works away all the time, but only in snippets. So it was time to finally share the whole story - not just the fact Neil works away but why he does so...
(In brief we moved over here for the money, so we could afford to live on one income while I stay home with the kids & he is currently working away doing a 4 year electrical apprenticeship. So we've been staying in and 'surviving' the working away lifestyle for that - to get his trade certificate!).

I went on to share how I was with it all -  I was a bit of a mess at the time really,
I think you'll agree!

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But I am so relieved to say that I'm not that same mess today!!!
Shortly after writing that post, as part of my 'survival plan' as you will, I finally gave in to my resistance and I went on anti-depressants/anti-anxiety meds. 
They helped. Big time!
So much so that I thought I was ready to come off them before I actually was.
Bad idea!

As it stands today (although things can change - don't get me started on that fact!) Neil is scheduled to finish his apprenticeship in February.
After Christmas he has 3 more weeks working away and then he comes home to sit his exams.
Then we get to choose whether he continues to work away or not.
That means that the end is in sight folks - it is so close that we can actually reach out and touch it!
Yeah! 
We couldn't be more excited!

So with this in mind, and the fact that I have been doing really well in myself recently, the Monday before Christmas I came off the meds again. And this time I'm pretty sure it will be for real.
So far so good anyway.

Many would lecture me that it was completely bonkers to go off my meds just before Christmas. And they would probably be right. But for me it was the perfect time...
**  I am on holiday, **  I have no pressures, **  Mr Flutter is home,
**  It is summer. - According to my doctor that in itself makes a big difference.
**  And I have so much to look forward to in the coming year to hopefully keep me on track if I falter.

So I did. I came off them. And apart from the physical withdrawals for the first few days, (making me feel giddy, nauseous, tired and yuck), it hasn't been too bad. Dragon Mumma has had her moments in the limelight, but luckily they've been fleeting... And pretty manageable.
Insecure Mumma has also had her moments. But lets face it, that's life. And besides, she never really was far away while on the meds anyway...

So what is the point of telling you all this?!
The point is that this *almost finish* comes with it's own questions and quandries.
NOW we get to decide what to do next...

Image

Does he stay with his current company, who look after him very well, and recognise his potential, but will require him to stay working away??
Does he move to another company on a short & family friendly fly-in-fly-out roster??
Does he try and find a job locally??
Or the big one - now we will soon have no ties to Perth, do we actually want to stay here and get settled in for the long haul, or is it time to move back closer to one of our family's?!

Not much to think about at all really, is there?
Much!

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But here's the kicker - we can't actually do anything yet.
- we aren't in a position to make any decisions yet, we can still only wonder!
February may be so close that we can almost reach out and touch it, but there is still January standing in the way!
So all we can do for the moment is send these scenarios
around and around and around and around and around
in our poor tired brains and exhaust every idea humanly possible.
(Exhausting it really can be!)
And pray.

So there you have it, that is our journey.
So close, yet still so far.
But the main factors are at least now there;
I am good mentally, he is good mentally and we couldn't be better together.

The rest will come.
We just have to be patient.
Never.ever. my strong suit!!

Wish us luck...

The "Other Girl"...

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The "Other girl" came to visit me today...

She came in a suitcase, long packed away in dark corners
Forgotten but not yet gone.

With her she bought memories of days past
Sharp black suits.
Crisp white shirts.
The click of high heels coming out of an elevator.
The swirl of perfume in the air.
Manicured hands.
Made up face.
Red lipstick.

The girl tells me about her life,
The travel.
The job.
The money.
Business lunches.
Parties.
Client meetings.

How confident she feels on her path.
All she wants to achieve in her career.
How full her bank account is and all she can do with it.

She tells me she knows what she wants.
Where she is going.
How to get there.
She is so self assured.
Ambitious.
Goal driven.

So I decide to try on her clothes to experience her good life.
- But they don't fit.
Even if I suck in my breath, I can no longer squeeze into
That sharp black suit
That life.
- My life of colour too big for her suit
My barefoot days unsuitable for her heels

I try on her white shirt,
But it is not crisp on me.
White is not a colour I know.
The colour of spilt juice, and food smears - now those I know!

I do not know the feeling of self assuredness she emits.
I question everything I do.
All day long.
I only know the feeling of a child's hand in mine.
Two innocent eyes looking up at me with love saying
"Mummy, I love you so much. I'm so proud of you."
A husbands warm embrace.
Those are my assurance.

Her perfume makes me sneeze a little.
I am only used to the smells of this home.
Not always pleasant smells.
But comfortable.
And that is my favourite scent.

I know not the full bank account she speaks of.
The free spending.
The "lifestyle".
Our budget is lean,
Full of rent to pay, utilities, debt and mortgage repayments.
Just room for the necessities and no else.

But I do know a full heart.
So I tell her of that,
I tell her of my life...

My clothes of colour and comfort;
Of *ahem* elastic waists and loose fitting dresses.
Bare feet more often than not, or
Flat shoes made for chasing.

The fragrances of my life;
Freshly shampoo'd hair squashed against my face in embrace.
Paint, playdough and crayons.
The beach.

My goals;
Getting through the day
Keeping my children fed, warm, clean
Loved.

My "Working lunches";
Of easy food
Eaten with smiles.

The soundtrack of my life;
Music to dance to.
Heart melting giggles,
Caused by tickles, chasing, funny faces,
Or just because.
Then the quiet snores of a child sleeping in my arms.

Mine is not a life without challenges
Nor I'm sure is hers.
But today we just tell of the good bits
And leave it at that.

                              ***

Once I'm finished sharing
We stare at each other, this other girl and I
Not quite sure what to say to each other.
Our worlds grown too far apart.
The gap in our thinking too wide.

She looks at me in disbelief-
The girl doesn't understand how those are my goals,
How "just that" can be enough for me.
But I assure her that they are.
- That is all.
They just.are.

So I lean over and kiss her softly goodbye.
I help her fold up that sharp black suit and crisp white shirt,
Of memories forgotten but not yet gone.
I bid farewell to the "Other girl"
The other me.
The life once had.
It has been nice to have her visit, but now it's time to let her go.
No longer to suitcases dark and forgotten.
But this time to set her free...

Nosey Parker in the Neighbourhood - Christmas Edition...

Welcome to our 2nd Nosey Parker in the Neighbourhood Linky Party! 

Wooo hooo - time to be legitimately nosey again right ;)
If you are new to Nosey Parker in the Neighbourhood then allow me to give you a little background...

Nosey Parker in the Neighbourhood is basically a monthly linky party giving us a legitimate excuse to peer through our bloggy "neighbours' " windows and get to know each other a little more.
Each month I issue a theme and questions a few weeks/month before the party starts (although I haven't for Christmas and chosen to leave it pretty open) so you can pre prepare your post if you like and schedule it.
Then we hop around and have a peruse of new found friends :)

You can find our first party (the getting to know around your home edition) here...
I have also opened it back up if anyone wants to link up to that party a little late. We'd still love to have you - better late than never I always say ;)

Then from next month it will be all about sewing/crafting for a few months. I for one can't wait for those ones!

So join us if you can, and lets talk Christmas my neighbours :)...

***

I left this theme pretty open in regards to content, but I'll put the questions that I answered in bold at the beginning of my paragraphs, so feel free to use those as a base for your post as well, if you wish :)


What does Christmas mean to me...
To me Christmas is an awesome time of year. Traditionally as a child it of course meant presents, lots of yummy food, fun with family and the start school h.o.l.i.d.a.y.s! Now as an adult I like to as well soak in the reason for the season.
It is also a time for sitting back & reflecting on what I'm so lucky to have. My great family, home, food, children, and spend time with those I most love.

What is my pre-Christmas schedule traditionally like...
The beginning of December usually starts off our Christmas schedule. We put up our Christmas tree & advent calendar on the 1st and the countdown starts from there.

It continues with Christmas themed break ups to all of our term-time activities. This year it started with the Playgroup end of year Christmas party...

Followed by the term break up of our mothers group, and Toddler Jam...

Phew... break up parties over - must be getting close to the big day :)

Some Christmas traditions that we have as a family are:

1) We always take the kids to Christmas in the Park concert/Carols by candlelight.
Usually up until then I'm not really feeling the Christmas Spirit alive in me. But those always work wonders....

We take our picnic blanket, deck chairs and picnic down to the park, starting late afternoon, and listen to the Christmas concert into the evening. This year we only went to one, run by our own church, because the other that we usually go to happened to be on the same night this year. It was a really awesome and relaxed afternoon/evening, spent with good friends/church family...

Abbie & her friend in matching outfits I made hehehe...

Say "cheese"

Our cool & clever church band

2) After sunset one night in December (or several as the case may be) we always take the kids out to look at the Christmas lights...

Goodnight sun...

Hello Christmas lights!

The rest of the time I try and hibernate away from the (mad) zoo shops as much as possible (not that easy when you have a PO box!) and stay relaxed.

We always visit church on Christmas Eve and that ends our pre-Christmas schedule.

How we celebrated Christmas this year...
Christmas Eve: 
8.00pm - get home from a lovely church service, put kids to bed.
             - run around like 2 looneys getting the house ready for the next day, putting out presents etc... and setting the table ready for the next day

Christmas Day:
12.00am - flop exhausted into bed and go to sleep
3.am - get up to unsettled baby (suspected teething)
3.30am - resign self that baby is not going back to sleep in her own bed and if I want any sleep will have to suck it up and put her in bed with me - GAH!
3.30am onwards - sleep like rubbish as baby wiggles to change position every 2 minutes
5.30am - daughter # 1 comes in all excited shrieking "the sun is up! The sun is up! Santa must have been! Santa must have been!"
Me: "Are you sure? You know he only comes to good little girls and boys don't you?"
Hannah: with a very worried face... "Yeeees"

I know... I'm very mean. But to be fair I'd had a roungh night!

So I went and got the camera and snuck into the lounge then called to Neil that I was ready so he could bring in the troops...
This is what greeted them...

An empty Christmas tree - mostly with presents addressed to other people....

Hang on Santa - What? Where are all the presents!!??

Oh wait, hang on - this is why the Christmas tree was empty...
Because "Santa" had brought a HUGE new play kitchen...

3 full "pokes" (English tradition from Daddy's side instead of stockings)...

And a Dolls House Mansion (which almost rivals our home for size!)

Generous Santa!!
...I suspect Santa might have moved to internet shopping and didn't think through the physical size of these very carefully when he ordered them this year. ;)

Once the girls had got over their awe at the toys which are bigger than them!!, we all opened our pokes...

These are special pokes - the contents were all post marked Norfolk, England. I think that must be where a base of Santa's elves work out of these days because our poke contents have been post marked Norfolk, England since we got married...
Come to think of it - they must live really close to where Neil's mum live - I wonder if she's ever spotted them! ;)

Contents of Abbie's poke:

My poke:

Santa knows me well - blue fabric & the most beautiful hand made (in Russia) Russian dolls!
And some cool novelty socks - Santa always sends socks in our pokes, it's tradition :)

 Neil's Poke:

That's a Norfolk dialect tea towel... bahaha!

Hannah's Poke:

That doll is a knitting doll. Wonder if that's more a present for Mummy or Hannah ;)

One thing that I should probably mention about our "poke" tradition is that Neil & I only have 1 poke between us and Santa finds it very funny to not name our presents for who they are to - so it's pot luck as to who gets to open what.
This year we did pretty well - Neil opened all of his (I had had a feel and figured out who's were probably who's) but while I wasn't looking he opened my leapard skin socks. HAHAHA!

On our first Christmas as a married couple he also opened my socks - that time they were rainbow toe socks. I'll never forget his confused & horrified look as to why Santa would send him such things!! He relaxed slightly after I then opened socks with "Neil" on them and he figured out that he'd opened my socks. History shows that our "Santa" really does have a sense of humour! LOL...

Anyway onto the main presents...

I'm SO happy to report that my girls both gave the most excited response to any present when they opened their quilts. I think I have 2 budding quilters fabricaholics in the making because I can't believe that they both gave more squeals of excitement about those than any other present!

In fact it was the only present that once she saw what it was Abbie opened all the way by herself. The others we had to help her open...
Would you just look at her face - oh my heart!!

Way to make my heart sing!!
I love that my girls love & appreciate what I made them so much!!

Neil got a new kindle & I got a new small TV for my bedroom to watch DVDs on.
Nice score!!

7am and it was time for breakfast...
It's traditional in our house to have a cooked breakfast:

Blackberries & Cream on pancakes. Yum!
(and yes, I made the pancakes from scratch Susan. Something that I can bake without a recipe - shock horror! ;))

8.55am - leave the house in a screaming hurry for church, which starts at 9am and is a 15-20min drive... oops...
9.12am - rock up to church
9.40am - finish the shortest service I've ever been to at our church and head off to visit some friends
9.45am - Hang out with close friends & exchange presents
11am - arrive home and start running around like a looney to prepare lunch...

Since we live overseas from both sets of our parents and most of our siblings, Christmas for us now changes dramatically every year. Growing up I used to celebrate Christmas in the same fashion every year - with my (quite large) extended family - there were often up to 50 of us, just including grandparents, aunts, uncles & cousins! So going from that to a small selection of family at best numbers is quite an adjustment I have to say!

This year we hosted and celebrated Christmas lunch at our house with 2 of my brothers, my sister-in-law and my Uncle, with a visit after lunch from my cousin and his partner. So not exactly 50 people, but an amazingly good turn out of family considering the circumstances!

Since Christmas Day can get extremely hot here (last year it nudged 40 degrees) we tend to go for a cold, light, fresh lunch...
So lunch was prepared (again from scratch) (- that was for Susan again) by me and looked like this...

**  marinated & roasted lamb

**  cold ham

**  roasted veges (baby carrot, beetroot, capsicum, mushrooms, zuccini, parsnip, red onion, asparagus) served with a citrus vinegarette

**  a steamed aubergine salad (aubergine/eggplant with red onion, flat leafed parsley, feta, vine grown tomoatoes, walnuts, and a dressing), and 

**  an orange & fennel salad (orange, carrot, fennel, sweet sugarsnap peas, and sprouts with a lemon, honey & oil dressing)

If anyone would like recipes for any of these dishes then do say, because even if I do say so myself they were totally and utterly scrummy! There were no leftovers despite what I'd planned, and compliments all around, so I guess that speaks volumes. I even made all the dressings myself.

So.unlike.me!

We served it buffet style & all ate outside under the patio in the fresh air...

In the rather pleasant 30 degree heat - the coolest day we've had for Christmas in ages!!
And thank goodness the flies weren't around to annoy us - wonders will never cease. That was one of my favourite Christmas presents I think!...

I forgot to take a photo of our lovely desserts (prepared by my Sister-in-law) but for dessert we had the option of lemon meringue pie, carrot cake, peach crumble & custard, fruit salad and ice cream.

Or if you are a total pig like me you will choose all of the above like I did for my "lunch" the next day...

Yes, I am officially a pig.
But do you blame me?

2pm: After lunch we veged in the living room & exchanged yet more presents...
And (sleepily) talked the afternoon away until one by one various family members departed and just the four of us were left for dinner.

Somehow the girls still had enough energy after this to bounce on the trampoline (the only picture I managed to snap of my girls in their Christmas outfits - oops!!)

But I don't know where they got that energy from because I sure as heck had none!

6pm Christmas evening....
it was at this point in the day that I officially became beyond useful and started to melt down.

- Not much of a surprise considering that all week I had survived on a maximum of 5 hours per night of (interrupted) sleep, finished 8 quilts including a king size, and run around like a headless chook preparing for Christmas Day.

So at 7pm I put myself to bed in a heap of exhausted tears where I remained for the best part of Boxing Day. I was, and am, completely fine - the sleep deprivation and crazy amount of work just got to me and it was time to rest, that's all.

Not the best end to a fantastic day I admit - but at least I was pleased that I'd held off until the end of the festivities to crash and burn in a messy heap!
Still, it's something to be mindful of next year so I don't get a repeat...
Note to self: Do not push self so hard next December! (hmmmm - yeah right...)

So that was our Australian Christmas.
A totally wonderful day!

Look forward to reading about yours! If you've done a Christmas post already then feel free to just link up that. It doesn't have to follow my questions this time to count.
But I do just ask that you use the button & link back to this post somewhere in your post.

The After Mass...

I hope you all had (or are having if you are on the other side of the world to me) the most fabulous Christmas!!!

We did.

I'll hopefully be back tomorrow with the low down on our Christmas Day, assuming Mr Linky fixes my linky feature in time for the Nosey Parker post to go up tomorrow.

In the meantime this is what my today (Boxing Day) looks like...

(Through the words of Dr Seuss...)

The news
Just came in
From the County of Keck
That a very small bug
By the name of Van Vleck
Is yawning so wide
You can look down his neck.

This may not seem
Very important, I know.
But it is. So I'm bothering
Telling you so.

A yawn is quite catching, you see. Like a cough.
Is just takes one yawn to start other yawns off...
NOW the news has come in that some friends of Van Vlecks
Are yawning so wide you can look down their necks.

At this moment, right now,
Under seven more noses,
Great yawns are in blossom.
Their blooming like roses.

The yawn of that one little bug is still spreading!
According to latest reports, it is heading
Across the wide fields, through the sleepy night air,
Across the whole country toward every-which-where.
And people are gradually starting to say,
"I feel rather drowsy, I've had quite a day."

Creatures are starting to think about rest,
Two Biffer-Baum Birds are now building their nest.
They do it each night. And quite often I wonder
How they do this big job without making a blunder.
But that is their problem.
Not yours. And not mine.
The point is: They're going to bed.
And that's fine.

***

(In the words of Kat...)

A happy few days
A monumental work shift
A strong sense of self
Then the littlest rift...

The glow of year hard
Slowly comes to an end
With tears of exhaustion
And hugs from a friend.

Fatigue and weariness
Unsettled and tense
With so many questions
Towards our future - suspense!

So an all day bed fest
Though unscheduled will remedy
My sore soul and joints
Of this I have certainty.

Sleeping, and resting
And stroking new quilt
Snuggling, and dreaming
Shifting back littlest tilt.

All is right and will be
With rest and renew
Though I would not change past
- No surprise to me, nor I bet you!

I like to be busy
And will remain so I'm sure
But even busy girls need rest
To relax and restore.

I'll be back really soon
And rearing to go
Because rest, while a need
Does challenge - I don't like to be slow!...

So I'll end this poem
Which while fun, must close
And continue lazing in bed
Which I thought best to disclose.

***

So far my rest day has gone like this...

7am wake up call from kids
- nudge husband out of bed to deal with it
Go back to sleep

9am wake up call from kids
- smile at husband and kids and talk to them for a minute
Go back to sleep

10am - decide to write off plans for the day and spend the whole day in bed instead
Go back to sleep

1.08pm - look at disbelief at the clock
Smile from within at how good that last sleep felt
Think you must finally be starting to unwind
Get up for "lunch" - which looks like this...

Carrot cake, fruit salad, lemon meringue, peach crumble, custard...

And feel ever so naughty and decadent...

1.28pm feel ever so slightly gluttonous and sick
But content
1.30pm go back to bed

Read
Drink
Stare into space
Relax
Pray
Relax more
Start to smile

5.30pm get up and have dinner
Have a spa bath with the kids
Skype with in-laws
Bedtime for girls

Time to enjoy an evening with feet up with my hunny
Still unsettled and with so many questions (**that is a whole other blog post - will explain soon I promise!)
But charged and ready for all the new day will bring...
All the better for taking a day off!

I hope that your after mass is being just as kind :)

Back (hopefully) tomorrow with Nosey Parker in the Neighbourhood Linky - Christmas Edition...
(Am waiting on linky subscription to renew...)

Sunday Snippet - Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to you & your loved ones!!

Hugs

It's just as well I can sew!!!

Because that seems to be the limit to my domestic goddess ability!!!

I have no gardening ability - aka I kill every plant within a 10m radius of my home -
And today, yet again, I proved that the kitchen and I are not friends!!

It all started with a crazy notion (inspired by this kitchen goddess) that I would attempt to make some homemade mince pies this year as a surprise for my pining-for-all-things-an-English-winter-Christmas-brings husband.
This will (I think) be his 9th Christmas in hot climates, and so I'm told "it's just not the same" apparently.
I wouldn't know any differently but whatever...

Anyway, out of love for him I decided to be a "proper wife" (a joke for the benefit of my Mother-in-law not his words ;) ) and give the home baking thing a go. Susan had assured me that it was easy as pie (mince pie to be exact!).
So on Tuesday I got busy making some mincemeat to let it "age" for a few days in the fridge.
Recipe found here.
And today, with Neil's arrival home imminent, we got busy making the pies...

I had planned to make Susan's pastry recipe, because it did sound yummy! The only problem was that when I went to make a start it turned out I'd used all the caster sugar making lemonade.
Doh!
So instead we decided to use the shortcrust pastry that I knew we had in the freezer.

We got busy cutting...

We got busy filling...

We got busy singing Christmas carols...

Spot danger mouse in the background? I told you she gives me grey hairs!!

Ahhh, so pretty we thought - "Daddy will be so proud"...

We watched them cook and held our breath...

But we needed have bothered holding our breath, because despite me greasing the billeo out of those darn muffin tins they still stuck...

Booo hooooo hooooo.....

And our lovely mince pies ended up looking like this...

Total slush!!

Very nice tasting slush, but still slush none the same...

I did manage to get a few, almost whole ones, so at least we have a somewhat decent plate full to present to Mr Flutter this afternoon on his arrival...

It's the thought that counts right?

To be honest I really don't think he'll mind in the slightest - Now he has the perfect excuse to eat 10 of them at once with a spoon and a plate full of custard. Sounds like his dream come true to me LOL...

I just hope that the Christmas cake I also made for a surprise for him turned out better!
Me being in the kitchen baking sure is love I tell you!

But to end on a more positive note, I just got a text from my sewing machine repair man and Big Brother is ready to be picked up. WOOO HOOOO for that!!

Hope your Christmas baking has gone a little smoother!!

PS don't worry about giving me advice of what to do next time. I already know what to do better next time - IF indeed there ever is one :) LOL...